A Murdered "Transgender Woman," and Numbers

This murder victim, found in a burning vehicle, was described as "brutally" killed.  "Activists" have chalked this up as the 18th "transgender" person murdered in the United States this year.

For those who have not been following the numbers, the tally of "transgender" murder victims in 2018 was 26 and in 2017, the number was 29.  So, looking at the portion of the year that has passed, we are about on track with 2018, and still down from the figures in 2017.

As in most of the cases, police do not know whether the most recent victim's gender status was a motivational factor in the killing.  Often, risk factors such as involvement in drug or sex trafficking, or other criminal enterprises, are tied to the circumstances in which transgender decedents were murdered.

An LGBTQ activist commenting in the story (ironically named George Wallace) claims that "transgender women of color are killed at a greater rate than that of their peers."  This likely depends on who one considers to be "their peers."  Statistical analyses I have performed in prior years shows it not to be true that "transgender women of color" are killed at a greater rate than biologically female women of color.  In fact, the numbers I examined reflected that they are killed at a lesser rate, possibly because, as physiological males, they generally have greater physical strength with which to defend themselves.  It is possible (and I have not statistically analyzed the contention) that "transgender women of color" are killed "at a greater rate" than those who are not "of color."  However, it is extremely well documented that biological "women of color" (with the exception of Asian and Pacific Islanders) are killed at a higher rate than biological "white" women.  Accordingly, this also does not support the premise that the "transgender" identity element of the "transgender women of color" is a significant factor in their relative rate of mortality from homicide.

In short, to the extent that LGBTQ "activists" are attempting to use the small number of annual murders of "transgender women of color" to suggest that "transgender women of color" need special protections against homicide, the case has gone objectively unsupported.

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/black-transgender-woman-23-found-dead-burned-car-florida-n1053006

Buried Baby Case Mostly a Defense Verdict

The sensational case of the cheerleader charged with killing and burying her newborn baby has ended with a conviction on only one charge, that of "gross abuse of a corpse."  Key defense evidence included medical opinions that the child was stillborn, supporting the defense theory that the defendant, who had admittedly concealed her pregnancy and the birth, had no role in any intentional murder.  Basically, the jury found the prosecution had only managed to prove improper disposal of remains.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/jury-finds-brooke-skylar-richardson-not-guilty-on-murder-charge/ar-AAHcBIU#page=2

Vicious, Westchester Coon Confirmed Rabid

A raccoon that attacked at least three people in Westchester County, NY, has been confirmed to have been infected with rabies, and the victims are undergoing treatment.  The animal is suspected to have been squatting in a nearby, vacant house, and was reportedly beaten to death with an iron tamping rod while engaged in combat with its final victim.  Residents voiced concerns that the animal may have passed the infection to other animals in the vicinity, leading to a continuing, potential danger of additional attacks. 

https://abc7ny.com/pets-animals/raccoon-that-attacked-3-people-in-ny-confirmed-to-have-rabies/5531743/

Mystery Afoot at Florida Coastal Law School

As a preliminary Trigger Warning, the media report to which I have linked below is from Glawker, but the silver lining is that it was authored by our own Sister Staci, who used to visit occasionally at our old Disqus site.

Obviously, the school is teetering a bit, with a report of a cryptic comment from the administration suggesting that it could rise or fall within seven days.  This triggers a memory of the fate that befell Charlotte School of Law ("CSL"), which had been given a period of time to agree to certain Department of Education ("DOE") conditions, one of which involved posting of a substantial surety for the refund of students' tuition if the school shuttered.  Despite public posturing that CSL intended to meet DOE's conditions, it eventually became obvious that Infilaw, the controlling entity, had never intended to allow any such a thing.

Is this simply deja vu?  None of the media reports contain any information on the mystery of the loan funds, which Florida Coastal claims to have not received.  Notably, there is also no announcement on the DOE's Federal Student Aid website concerning the alleged non-disbursement of the funds.  There was such an announcement when loan funds were withheld from CSL, and this casts some question on Florida Coastal's claim that the agency has not released the funds.  Concurrently (as Sister Staci points out) there has been a sudden, and probably not purely coincidental, change in Florida Coastal's administration.

In an attempt to get to the bottom of this story, this reporter has submitted a request via the DOE's FOIA site, this date, seeking any correspondence or documents that would explain the non-disbursement of funds or reflect any conditions DOE has set on release of funds to Florida Coastal School of Law.  FOIA processes are notoriously slow, so chances are, the passage of seven days will bring us the rest of this story before I receive any response from the agency.

Here is what Sister Staci was able to tell us:

https://abovethelaw.com/2019/09/florida-coastal-dean-resign-missing-student-loans/

Out of nostalgia, and simply because this seems to be possibly heading down a familiar path, I reprise for my colleagues here the 2017 Peeps Diorama, "Harlot School of Law," which was so infamously banned at ABA Journal for its shocking "sexual references":

https://soundcloud.com/user-712998617/the-harlot-school-of-law

Injunction Kicked to the Curb, A Mere "Paper Tigar"

Unsurprisingly, Judge Tigar availed himself of the discretion the 9th Circuit had seemed to leave him, to once again extend his "nationwide injunction" interfering with administration policy on asylum claims.  In certain media venues of limited relevance (nameless here), the decision was trumpeted, but, it was short-lived.  The 9th Circuit reacted with speed (as grudgingly acknowledged in the same, nameless venues), and then, so did the Supreme Court (as yet, largely unreported, and certainly not newsworthy at ABA Journal).

This is an important development, and not simply for this case.  During the present administration and the preceding administration, "nationwide" injunctions by U.S. District Courts have highlighted the need for judicial adults (in the guise of the higher courts) to step in and put an end to competing, usually politicized, efforts of various partisan U.S. District Judges trying to rule the world from their individual federal courtrooms.  This action by the Court is necessary from the perspective of restoring orderly, judicial supervision of lower courts quite frankly running amok.  The phenomenon needed to be taken in hand, and now, it has been.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/supreme-court-allows-trump-asylum-restrictions-to-take-effect/ar-AAH9vk4?li=BBnb7Kz#page=2

France - Making California Look Sane by Comparison

In my morning review of news sites I found this gem on Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/world/france-business-trip-death-employee-sex-workplace-accident

From what I gather, France has some law approximating what we Americans would describe as a workers compensation death benefit.  In and of itself, that doesn't offend me, but the following fact pattern is just insane.

Parisian man is sent on a business trip about 90 miles south of Paris.  He has overnight lodging at L'Hotel A.  After the workday and on his personal time, the man meets a mademoiselle and they retreat to her place of accommodation at L'Hotel B and proceed to get busy.  Man has a total eclipse attack of the heart mid-coitus and drops dead.  Man's family seeks the workers comp death benefit from man's employer.

Even in California, the family, much like the decedent, would be screwed.  Getting some strange, even in one's one hotel, let alone a stranger's hotel, is not in the course and scope of the man's employment (I'm guessing).  It's what we would (appropriately) call a frolic. 

Well, the French don't see it the same way.  The court ruled in favor of the family because, I kid you not, boning "is a matter of everyday life, like taking a shower or a meal."

When approached for comment, the family said only: "thankfully, we got our fucking compensation."  (Okay, maybe I made that one up).

Abel Cedeno Heads Off for a Fourteen-Year Stretch

Horrific injustice ruled in court today, as Bronx teen Abel Cedeno was sentenced to fourteen years in the slammer for killing one class mate with a switchblade, and injuring another.  This, even though Cedeno, who has since "come out" as "bi," claimed to have been forced to use his knife when assaulted by "slurs" and a barrage of deadly, airborne pen caps, pencils and paper balls.

Apparently, that wasn't enough for the court.  I guess a poor, homophobicly-bullied kid can't get a break, even at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation.  WTF is the world coming to?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/bronx-teen-sentenced-to-14-years-for-killing-classmate/ar-AAH5Qrp#page=2

CNN Hits New Low with Completely Speculative "News Story"

This crafty couple fooled their guards during a custodial transfer, and have not been located after a six hour head-start.  The police don't have any idea where they are, but don't think they could have made it all the way from Arizona to Mexico.  To reiterate, the police have no idea where the fugitives are, but, since they have not been found, it is possible they are being assisted on the sly by a vast and hitherto unknown network of "white supremacists."  Or space aliens, or maybe Mormons, deplorables, or Republicans.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/fugitive-couple-facing-murder-charges-may-be-getting-help-from-white-supremacists-authorities-say/ar-AAH4zp1


I mean, who else COULD it be???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLpmswBKVN4

AOC Wants Every Republican to Vote Against Impeachment

Interesting, as an opposition vote from every Republican, in concert with the non-Republicans that don't support impeachment, means it likely won't get far.  Also, it will be hard to tar the Republicans for voting against it when they won't be the only ones.  You can piss and moan about "corruption" in D.C., but as far as I have ever been able to tell, the vast majority there are for it.

The more interesting point is how increasingly crazed and fanatical all of AOC's press pictures are looking.  It makes me wonder if some of her "moderate" colleagues are slipping chemicals into her drinks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/aoc-wants-republicans-on-the-record-against-impeaching-trump/ar-AAH686E?li=BBnbfcL#page=2

Lisa Bloom Exposed (Courtesy of IP-Law-Ass)

Just when you thought there wasn't anything about Harvey Weinstein that hasn't been exposed, a new book is coming to market to do just that.

Included in the book is an interesting memo from Lisa Bloom to Harvey Weinstein...

https://mobile.twitter.com/yashar/status/1171414194446581761

These people truly are the worst.