SCOTUS Is So Stupid!

Religious prayer is allowed in municipal buildings.

Greece, New York wins a public battle. I guess we have no separation of church and state in the eyes of the Supreme Court. In a ruling of 5-4, the town of Greece won against a man who believed the public meeting places (such as non-religious city hall) shouldn't allow prayer.

So I am hoping an imam gets an opportunity to preach an Islamic prayer at a city hall meeting. I hope an atheist can speak at a city hall meeting.

The five members of the conservative wing of the Supreme Court of the United States once again think backwards when it comes to the country's diverse citizens.

Four White men and one Black man who have no common sense ruled for localities to use prayer whenever they open up a government meeting. Saying that Christian prayer is allow in civic meetings.

Again SCOTUS blog reports that Supreme Court rules that the town's practice of opening its town board meetings with a prayer offered by members of the clergy does not violate the Establishment Clause when the practice is consistent with the tradition long followed by Congress and state legislatures, the town does not discriminate against minority faiths in determining who may offer a prayer, and the prayer does not coerce participation with non-adherents.

A Black Catholic priest gives the benediction.

By the ruling, it was reversed. The 5-4 decision with an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy on May 5, 2014. Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas join the majority opinion except as to Part II-B. Justice Samuel Alito filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Scalia joined. Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Scalia joined as to Part II. Justice Steven Breyer filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined.

The reaction to the courts ruling was diverse. Christian conservatives and others who feel that religious expression has been overly curtailed in public settings were happy with ruling. Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, called the court's decision "a great victory for religious liberty."

Along with their supporters the Jewish and atheist women who filed suit against the town of Greece were disappointed by the court's ruling.

A number of Jewish organizations, including the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League, had filed amici curiae briefs in support of the respondents, and expressed disappointment with the majority's decision.

The Town of Greece residents give a prayer before they do public meeetings.

Secular groups were also disappointed. Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, for example stated: “We are disappointed by today’s decision. Official religious favoritism should be off-limits under the Constitution. Town-sponsored sectarian prayer violates the basic rule requiring the government to stay neutral on matters of faith.”

Ira Lupu, a law professor emeritus at George Washington University who specializes in the First Amendment, called the court's ruling "a very bad decision" because it undermined the Establishment Clause.

Lupu explained that the court decision "does not insist on any [...] reasonable effort to make prayer nonsectarian or to push for diversity. The majority faith in a particular community can dictate the prayers and minority faiths could be left out if they don’t step up and say, ‘Hey, what about us?'"

The Los Angeles Times pointed out that the decision divided the justices along religious lines, as well as ideological ones. All five justices in the majority were Catholics, and three out of the four dissenters were Jewish.

Ohio Criminal's Life Ends With Speed!

Ohio criminal made a poor decision while on the road.

I used Google to find out the name of a victim of a roadway tragedy in Dayton, Ohio this week.

I kind of know this person. Back in the day, I worked at gas station on Harshman Road in Dayton. When I was a cashier, there was this little man who was heavily tattooed  who came into the gas station quite often.

He would usually be in the gas station with a young white woman and they would often act "suspiciously".

The city records often told a tale of a man who had a temper. A man who couldn't keep his foot off the pedal. A man who would drink more than his share of alcoholic beverages. A man who didn't believe a seat belt was necessary when he was driving.

Joshua Richmond, 31 was apparently speeding on Valley Street. He lost control and crashed into two vehicles. He was pronounced dead.

Although we here at Journal de la Reyna send our condolences to the family of Joshua Richmond, I am guessing his mistakes (i.e. county lockup) didn't change his behavior. This incident cost him his life.

Vehicle collision on local street kills man.

Nearly a year ago, Richmond was a knife welding man tried to carjack literally a man on bicycle.

WHIO-TV reports that Richmond, a 4-foot, 111-pound man tried to steal a bicycle Monday morning on the 1200 block of Keifer Street.

When another resident came out to the parking lot, the man approached the resident with a knife before tripping and dropping the weapon, according to the incident report.

The resident was then able to kick the knife away, police said.

When police arrived, they found an apparently intoxicated Richmond, stumbling around in the parking lot while cursing the man who pushed him down “for no reason,” according to the incident report.

Mos Def On The Banned List!

American rapper was denied entry into the United States. Yasiin Bey, known as Mos Def was to perform at an event in Boston but he was stopped at the gate.

Mos Def  (Dante Terrell Smith known as Yasiin Bey) is an activist and rapper.

Brooklyn based entertainer was denied entry into the country this week. He was supposed to perform at the Together Boston event but somehow his change of residence and political views may have been the reason for his denial.

“We regret to inform you that due to immigration / legal issues Yasiin Bey is unable to enter back into the United States and his upcoming U.S. tour has been canceled, including May 15th, Together Boston’s show at The Wilbur Theatre,” the statement read. “Individual ticket refunds for this show are available at point of sale.”

The Grammy and Emmy nominated rapper/actor recently relocated to South Africa, though it’s unclear whether he gave up his American citizenship. No reason was given for the denial of reentry.

Mos Def is well known for his left-leaning political views.

In 2000, Mos Def performed a benefit concert for death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Mos Def performing on Late Night  with Jimmy Fallon.

Mos Def appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher where he spoke about racism against African Americans, citing the government response to Hurricane Katrina, the Jena Six and the murder conviction of Mumia Abu-Jamal. He appeared on Real Time again on March 27, 2009, and spoke about the risk of nuclear weapons.

Mos Def said that he did not listen to any of Osama Bin Laden's messages because he did not trust the translations.

In July 2013, Mos Def, under the new name Yasiin Bey, appeared in a short film released by the human rights organization Reprieve, depicting the forced-feeding methods used at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps. This transpired after a document containing the military instructions for the procedure was leaked.

Something Ain't Right At Will And Jada's House!

The Fresh Prince and his princess are facing legal troubles.

Famed couple Will and Jada Pickett Smith are facing some questioning by the Los Angeles Children's Service because of their daughter Willow's crazy antics.

The Huffington Post reports that media sources swirling around their young daughter Willow was lying up with an older man. That picture below has the media going bonkers. Now all of sudden, our friends in the junk food media will "whip their hairs" into this scandal.

“The investigation was formally opened last week and is being taken very seriously by the department. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been extremely cooperative with officials. Of course, they aren’t happy that their parenting skills are under scrutiny, but they understand," a source told the website, adding that social workers will be speaking to Willow separately, as well as former Disney star Moises Arias, who was pictured with her in the photo.

The Huffington Post has reached out to both Smith and Pinkett Smith's reps for comment, but has yet to hear back at this time.

Picture worth a thousand words.

Meanwhile, the 42-year-old actress and matriarch of the family, brushed off the notion of any controversy after the photo of Willow sparked attention, telling TMZ's cameramen:

"Here's the deal: There was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it and you're acting like covert pedophiles, and that's not cool."

Will Smith has yet to make any comment regarding the photo, but viral photos seem to run in the family, as a photo of him helping a fan announce her pregnancy has exploded online.

Dirty Rotten Politico Mitch McConnell Beats Insurgent!

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is one of the most dirtiest politicians ever to be in Washington, DC.

The senator who happens to be the Minority Leader in the Senate managed to beat back an insurgent from the right. The Tea Party endorsed Matt Bevin was roundly defeated by McConnell's dirty tactics.

In the general he will face Alison Lundergan Grimes, the secretary of state for Kentucky.

He's already preparing to scare the Kentuckians into believing Grimes is the "devil".

McConnell is considered vulnerable as reflected in his low approval ratings.

This election race is one of only two Republican-held seats that is considered a tossup, the other being retiring Senator Saxby Chambliss's seat in Georgia.

Game on.

The most controversial race is off and we'll see if Alison Lundergan Grimes can beat a dirty, but effective and savvy political foe.

It's official! Thank you Kentucky, together we will make history this November! #kysen pic.twitter.com/SX3f6DOi0w
— Alison L. Grimes (@AlisonForKY) May 21, 2014

Mikey D's Rolls Out A Son Of A Mac!

Company launches new promotion that is already causing an uproar.

Who's bright idea is to have this as a mascot for the world's most successful and yes controversial fast food restaurant?

The Chicago-based McDonald's corporation is retiring Ronald McDonald, the iconic clown who is a part of every young child's experience with a Happy Meal.

The clown hasn't hasn't been a feature since 2007.

The company unwraps the most unappealing mascot ever.

Are you happy?

Now doesn't that bring a child to McDonald's?

How many underpaid employees will suffer for this epic rollout of the "Happy" mascot?

If you're not a fan of the creepy box thing, you're not alone. It's being slammed on social networks and I hope that the McDonald's executives hear the word.

After all their CEO Donald Thompson, can lose weight eating a handful of those meals!

Meanwhile at Happy Headquarters... pic.twitter.com/ljcoUIb5PF
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) May 20, 2014

Actor Questioned In Death Of His Wife!

Actor Michael Jace is facing charges for murder.

Michael Jace is under the spotlight. The actor who is best known for his role as staunchly Christian (but secretly gay) officer Julien Lowe in the FX hit series The Shield is now going up the creek for the death of his wife April.

April Jace, 40, was found fatally shot in her home in south Los Angeles last night, and Jace has now been booked on a homicide charge. TMZ reports that Jace himself called police, and that he said on the 911 call, "I shot my wife." Sources say he was home alone; his wife came home with their two children, and he allegedly shot her a short time later—as the children, both under 10, looked on.

Jace also has starred in the movies The Replacements, playing a prison inmate turned football player; Forrest Gump, playing a member of the Black Panthers; The Fan, playing an arrogant ticket scalper; as well as an array of TV appearances including the 1995 HBO TV movie Tyson (as boxer Mitch Green), Law & Order, Cold Case, and the 1999 Fox TV movie Michael Jordan: An American Hero (as Jordan).

Jace was detained by the Los Angeles Police Department on May 19, 2014. Police had responded to a home in the Hyde Park section of South Los Angeles after receiving a report of a domestic violence incident.

Police took Jace into custody for questioning in her death. On May 20, he was formally charged in her shooting death.

We here at Journal de la Reyna send our condolences to the family of April Jace. Her husband threw away a career.