View from the Ledge (June 15, 2016)

View From The Ledge

(Chuck channels the spirits of his landmark 1980-1996 zine)
June 15, 2016

If you're of the view that Mecca is this sacred, solemn, contemplative place that Muslims are obliged to pray at once (at least) in their lives . . . whoa, baby! The story and photo spread in the New York Times Magazine last Sunday creates a sorta Islamic version of the U.S.-bred "prosperity gospel." [NY Times]

Jeez, Get a Room, Guys! In Australia's Northern Territory, a kangaroo and a pig maybe "identify" differently . . .. [BBC News]

U-S-A! U-S-A! Notre Dame's tax return for 2014 shows former coach Charlie Weis receiving $2.05m (umm, the same that he has received every yr since he was fired in 2009). But at least that contract is over; his 2012 Univ. of Kansas coaching contract (on which he was fired in 2014) paid him $5.6m last yr and will, again, this yr. Nothing succeeds in America like failure! [USA Today]

Street prices in Paterson, N.J.: a Percocet tab (30mg): $25; baggie of heroin: $2. [New York Times]

Congratulations to KayJayII's North Korea--lauded in Monday's Global Nutrition Report. While America and 13 other countries got dogged for obesity, DPRK was cited for its great "progress" . . . in having the fewest adults with Body Mass Index over 30. [New York Times]

Curtis Eidam, 35, was arrested last week in Clinton, Tenn., for DUI and a handgun violation. He was bedecked in, let's see: "white skirt, white leggings with pink stripes," "high heels," "chastity belt." And a ribbon around his goatee. (He helpfully gave up the key to unlock his genitals.) (However, in his mugshot, he appears to "identify" as a "he-man" who can totally kick my butt.) [WYSH Radio (Clinton, Tenn.)]

Kinder, Gentler Justice (not quite Aaron Persky-level, though): In Kerry, Ireland, Judge James O'Connor sentenced a DUI farmer to 3 yrs in prison . . . but also gave him a 6-month delay in reporting because there's a dating fair coming up, and the judge wants him to have a shot at finding Ms. Right. [Irish Independent]

The Republican convention next month will be yet another opportunity to show how much we miss U.S. Sen Ted Cruz. As Matt Taibbi reminded us in Rolling Stone recently, Cruz (as Texas Solicitor Genl) once informed us, "There [is] a 'government' [i.e., Constitutional] interest, [his law brief] maintained, in 'discouraging . . . autonomous sex.'" (For those of you in recovery/rehab, he's saying you have no "right"--y'know, as in that "life" and "liberty" stuff--even to private, consensual, solo yanking. TrusTed, indeed.) [AmericaBlog]

Back on Friday. Thanks This Time to Russell Bell and Denise Sanabria.