New York City , early 1900s
Month: April 2021
Man Fined for Farting On Cop Argues Farts Are Protected Forms of Expression
The alleged flatulent was hanging at the park with friends when he was approached by a group of police officers—that’s when things got windy.
A 22-year-old Austrian man who made headlines in June of last year after he was fined €500 euros (~$600) for farting on a police officer argued in court that his fart actually falls under freedom of expression, Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard reported last week.
In a decision released by the administrative court in Vienna, the court lays out some much needed detail in regards to the alleged events that transpired on that fateful day, meaning that we as readers can look at the facts and come to our own conclusions about whether the fart was indeed protected speech.
The ordeal began on June 5, 2020, when the farting man—named “Mr. AB” in the document—was hanging out with a friends at an unnamed park when a group of police officers approached them during a routine identity check.
That’s when things got windy.
“When he released the intestinal gas, the complainant was sitting on a park bench,” the document reads. “He then lifted his buttocks and tensed up a little before letting the intestinal gas escape.”
“The complainant’s friends laughed at the intestinal gas and witness F made a joke,” the document continues. “Due to the resulting entertainment from the intestinal gas, the defendant grinned at the officers.”
In court, the man argued that the fart was not intentional and that, even if it was intentional, it would still fall under his fundamental right for freedom of expression.
Unfortunately for the wind-breaker, the judge didn’t buy his argument.
In a detailed legal assessment of whether farting is indeed a protected form of expression, the judge argues while farts and burps can cause “social inappropriateness” they do not contain “communicative content,” and even if they did, it would still be considered “a form of expression that transcends the boundaries decency.”
The judge did show some sympathy for the man though, reducing his fine from €500 euros to €100, citing his financial situation and the fact that he had no criminal record.
However, speaking to local Viennese newspaper Kurier, Matej Zenz, the man’s lawyer, made clear that this is a hill his client is willing to die on, and that they would be appealing the decision to the country’s constitutional court.
“It’s a matter of principle for us,” the Zenz said, “because it’s petty to get a punishment for a fart.”
Bookmaker Slashes Odds on ET Disclosure
In anticipation of the forthcoming Pentagon UFO report due to be released later this year, an Irish bookmaker has reportedly reduced their odds on extraterrestrial disclosure to a significant degree. Known for offering a vast array of novelty bets, including some centered around the Loch Ness Monster, the website Paddy Power has long offered annual wagers regarding whether or not the reality of ETs would be confirmed in a particular year. For 2021, they had originally set the odds at a not-altogether-outlandish 200 to 1. However, in light of an impending report on the phenomenon to be issued by the United States government, they say that the chances have now changed dramatically and the site has now pegged the possibility at a mere 20/1.
For those who are particularly bullish on the idea that extraterrestrial disclosure is imminent, the website is offering 50 to 1 odds on the big event happening by the end of April, which is down from the previous chances of a whopping 500 to 1. Should one wish to hedge their bets and simply wager that aliens will be confirmed by the end of the decade, the group is also offering 7/1 odds on such a scenario unfolding. And for those who are pessimistic about the nature of these hypothetical ETs, the website has you covered by offering 500 to 1 odds on humanity going to war with aliens by 2030. Whether one would be able to collect on such a bet is another matter entirely, since battling our extraterrestrial overlords may take precedence over cashing in on an unfolding invasion.
Remarkably Cool Looking Tricycle
The 1936 Sky King tricycle applied aerodynamics to its steel frame. Made by Canadian toy company Junior Toy Corporation, it was named after an action television show about a pilot. The show was called Sky King.
The original 1936 models go for $3000, reproductions are made in Taiwan and go for around $345.
Lightning Strike Shatters Tree in Seconds
An amazing piece of security camera footage from a high school in Wisconsin shows a lightning strike shattering a sizeable tree in seconds. According to a local media report, the jaw-dropping event occurred during a storm on Thursday morning in the city of Wautoma. As students were preparing to take a test, they were shaken from their studies by a monstrous thunder clap seemingly coming from right outside the school. The discovery of a downed tree near the building and a subsequent check of the security camera footage led them to find the stunning scene that had been captured on film.
In the video, a monstrous lightning bolt can be seen striking the top of the tree, causing it to briefly illuminated by fire. Seconds later, the entire tree crumbles to the ground in an instant, leaving behind only a pile of destroyed timber and broken branches. Reflecting on the remarkable moment wherein their school day took a dramatic turn, Wautoma high school principal Jennifer Johnson said, “initially, the students and staff were startled by the event; however, after realizing what had just happened, they were fascinated by the rare incident that occurred just feet from them.”
Old Car City: The World’s Largest Classic Car Junkyard
If you drive 50 miles north of Atlanta, in the U.S. state of Georgia, along Interstate-75 and then turn right for U.S. Route 411 towards Chatsworth White, you will arrive at a patch of forest with acres upon acres of old rusting cars. A sign in the front reads “The world’s oldest junkyard jungle, here 80 years.”
Old Car City contains over 4,000 classic cars from the mid century — most of them from year 1972 or older — strewn over 34 acres of forested property. There are old Fords, big-finned Cadillacs and even the rare 1941 Mack milk truck. Visiting all of them will take you over six miles of walking.
The roots of Old Car City goes back to 1931 when the Lewis family opened a general store in a small town called White, formed only a few years earlier. They sold various items ranging from clothing to car parts, tires, and gasoline. When the United States entered World War II, and resources such as steel and tires became scarce, the Lewis family smartly added a scrapyard business. They bought junk cars, scrapped them and sold the parts. By the late 1940s, the general store had turned into a full fledged auto salvage yard. It was in this environment that Dean Lewis, the current owner of Old Car City, was born.
Dean spent his entire childhood playing with the cars. One day he is on the racetrack, the next day he is a school bus driver. “I drove ’em a million miles. Never moved an inch!,” he told CBS News. Cars and trucks was all he knew. So when Dean finally acquired the business from his parents, in 1970, he had an entirely different plan. Dean decided that he would preserve the cars rather than scrap it.
For the next several decades, Dean spent thousands of dollars acquiring various junked and wrecked vehicles from auctions, private parties and recycling yards. One of Lewis’ more popular vehicles is a 1946 Ford truck used in “Murder in Coweta County,” a 1983 film starring Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith.
In the following years, Old Car City grew so much that he had to buy more land to keep everything on. Initially, Dean sold some scraps, but it wasn’t the place where collectors could score a bargain. Every car had a nostalgic value and Dean refused to let go until he felt the money was worth it. Many visitors looking for parts left the place grumbling and dissatisfied. But if you asked him, he would say “Everything is for sale.”
Dean doesn’t say that any more. He realized that he could make more money charging visitors for admission and for taking photographs than selling off the displays.
Today Old Car City is visited by hundreds of visitors each year who pay $15 to stroll around, or $25 if they want to take photographs. Dean no longer sells parts. They are now part of this fantastic museum.
Classic Simpsons Scene
In this scene from the animated TV comedy ‘The Simpsons’ Lisa and Bart go to the Kwik-E-Mart where the proprietor Apu is extremely paranoid after recently being robbed.
The MarkoZen Blog 