Category: Human stupidity

Two-Man Police Department Acquires $1 Million In Military Gear | Techdirt

An ultra-safe Michigan town of 6,800 has claimed more than $1 million in military equipment through the Defense Department’s 1033 program. The program allows law enforcement agencies to obtain anything from file cabinets to mine-resistant assault vehicles for next to nothing provided the agencies can show a need for the equipment. Most can “show” a “need,” since it’s pretty easy to type something up about existential terrorist/drug threats. Boilerplate can be adjusted as needed, but for the most part, requests are granted and oversight — either at the federal and local level — is almost nonexistent.This has come to a head in Thetford Township, the fourth-safest municipality in Michigan, and home to more than $1 million in military gear and two (2) police officers.

Source: Two-Man Police Department Acquires $1 Million In Military Gear | Techdirt

“We’re Gonna Take Everyone” — Border Patrol Targets Prominent Humanitarian Group as Criminal Organization


The prosecution of No More Deaths volunteers, who leave water in the desert for migrants, reveals the group is being targeted by the Border Patrol.

Source: “We’re Gonna Take Everyone” — Border Patrol Targets Prominent Humanitarian Group as Criminal Organization

Suburban Express Sued By Illinois Attorney General For Behaving Like Suburban Express | Techdirt

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, seeks a restraining order against the company to stop it from publishing customers’ financial information, halt harassment and prevent the company from forcing riders to accept unfair contract terms. If the company does not change its practices, Madigan said, the attorney general wants the company out of business.The company’s actions, Madigan said, constitute “flagrant and numerous violations” of Illinois’ civil rights and consumer protection laws.“My lawsuit alleges that Suburban Express has long been engaged in illegal discrimination and harassment of college students in Illinois, particularly University of Illinois students and their families,” Madigan said at a morning news conference at the Thompson Center to announce the lawsuit.

Source: Suburban Express Sued By Illinois Attorney General For Behaving Like Suburban Express | Techdirt

Man who believes current air quality is ‘too clean’ named to US Environmental Protection Agency advisory board | The Independent

A man who once claimed that the air in America was “a little too clean for optimum health”, has been appointed to an advisory board of America’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Source: Man who believes current air quality is ‘too clean’ named to US Environmental Protection Agency advisory board | The Independent

Student Loan Lenders Created A Fake Person Whose Points Were Uncritically Repeated By Numerous News Outlets | Techdirt

The character of Drew Cloud ran a “independent, authoritative news outlet” named the The Student Loan Report, which was created after Cloud purportedly “had difficulty finding the most recent student loan news and information all in one place.” How nice. But like so many things in 2018 Cloud wasn’t real, something only confirmed with the company that created him after The Chronicle spent more than a week trying to verify Cloud’s existence.

Source: Student Loan Lenders Created A Fake Person Whose Points Were Uncritically Repeated By Numerous News Outlets | Techdirt

State Trooper Facing Murder Charges After Tasing A Teen Riding An ATV | Techdirt

Grimes had been driving about 35 mph on an ATV when Bessner — a passenger in a moving patrol car — fired his stun gun at the teen during a chase on Detroit’s east side.Grimes slammed into the back of a parked truck and flew off his ATV. The impact of the crash ripped gashes into his forehead, both cheeks and upper lip and dislocated his skull. Doctors pronounced him dead on arrival at St. John Hospital.

Bessner has a history of using excessive force and has been reprimanded before for using his Taser inappropriately, including using the device on handcuffed suspects. The investigation into Bessner’s conduct shows that over a four-year span ending in 2017, he had 40 use of force incidents, 17 pursuits and five car accidents.

Source: State Trooper Facing Murder Charges After Tasing A Teen Riding An ATV | Techdirt

Judge Agrees: Perfectly Fine For Google To Deny Ad Placement For ‘Honey Cures Cancer’ Claims | Techdirt

Abid, who goes by the first name “Shaq” on LinkedIn, claims to have developed “a divine cure for cancer” consisting of “only honey herb and spice.” Google, he insists, will not allow him to advertise the product through AdWords.He is seeking $10 billion for what he believes is a violation of his First Amendment speech and religious rights, for loss of business, and for pain and suffering. Also, he wants the opportunity to advertise on Google when people search for cancer cures.

Source: Judge Agrees: Perfectly Fine For Google To Deny Ad Placement For ‘Honey Cures Cancer’ Claims | Techdirt

Apple Sued An Independent Norwegian Repair Shop In Bid To Monopolize Repair — And Lost | Techdirt

More recently, Apple has been harassing an independent repair shop owner in Norway named Henrik Huseby. After Norway customs officials seized a shipment of 63 iPhone 6 and 6S replacement screens on their way to Huseby’s repair shop, Apple threatened to sue the store owner unless they agreed to stop using aftermarket screens and pay a hefty settlement

Source: Apple Sued An Independent Norwegian Repair Shop In Bid To Monopolize Repair — And Lost | Techdirt

Doctors tried to lower $148K cancer drug cost; makers triple price of pill | Ars Technica


Last year, doctors presented results from a small pilot trial hinting that smaller doses could work just as well as the larger dose—dropping patients down from three pills a day to just one. Taking just one pill a day could dramatically reduce costs to around $50,000 a year. And it could lessen unpleasant side-effects, such as diarrhea, muscle and bone pain, and tiredness. But just as doctors were gearing up for more trials on the lower dosages, the makers of the drug revealed plans that torpedoed the doctors’ efforts: they were tripling the price of the drug and changing pill dosages.

Source: Doctors tried to lower $148K cancer drug cost; makers triple price of pill | Ars Technica

Homeopath “treated” 4-yr-old boy’s behavior problems with saliva from rabid dog | Ars Technica


Homeopath: it treated “slightly rabid dog state.” Critic: That’s “patently absurd.”

Source: Homeopath “treated” 4-yr-old boy’s behavior problems with saliva from rabid dog | Ars Technica