Bad Cop/Bad Cop: In case you missed it, the King County Sheriff’s office has demoted a chronic problem officer who reportedly threatened to arrest a pregnant woman and her veteran husband for accidentally turning into a Metro transit station last December, and then suggested the couple’s 18-month-old daughter would be seized by government authorities. Meanwhile, a former KC Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of theft, stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance.
Seattle Cops Seize Scooby Snacks: On Saturday, bike cops busted a man for selling pot-laced rice krispie treats outside of Hempfest.
Gun Nuts Get Vicious: Pro-gun trolls are calling and harassing Seattle businesses that have decided to go gun free—including Cafe Racer, the scene of a mass shooting last year.
Judge Deliberates WikiSentencing: Bradly Manning may get 90 years for giving military secrets to WikiLeaks.
Adoptive Parents on Trial: A Skagit County couple is facing homicide, manslaughter, and child abuse charges after their 13-year-old adoptive Ethiopian daughter was found dead from hypothermia in their backyard. The case is shining a light on the gaps and lack of oversight in Washington’s adoption system.
Oh Look, a Witch Hunt: Saudi Arabia has a special “anti-witchcraft” police force whose sole purpose is to root out witches—mostly immigrant women—and punish them with lashings, imprisonment, and death:
By 2011, the unit had created a total of nine witchcraft-fighting bureaus in cities across the country, according to Arab News, and had “achieved remarkable success” in processing 586 cases of magical crime, the majority of which were foreign domestic workers from Africa and Indonesia. Then, last year, the government announced that it was expanding its battle against magic further, scapegoating witches as the source of both religious and social instability in the country. The move would mean new training courses for its agents, a more powerful infrastructural backbone capable of passing intelligence across provinces, and more raids. The force booked 215 sorcerers in 2012.
Get That Child His Sodomy Badge: Christian radio hosts are telling their listeners that the Boy Scouts will be handing out new merit badges in sodomy, incest, and cannibalism now that gay children are allowed in scouts. I’m skeptical—the gay men I know are too vain about their physiques to eat that much red meat.
Surprise, Surprise: US Senators only represent their wealthy constituents, study finds.
Meanwhile, in Egypt: The senior leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, the movement behind ousted president Mohamed Morsi, is being held on suspicion of inciting violence and murder. The Brotherhood pledges to remain nonviolent. Egypt remains in a state of emergency; almost 900 people have been killed there since Wednesday.
How to Die on the Internet: NPR host Scott Simon tweeted from his mother’s deathbed, and more terminal patients are taking to social media to share their deaths with the world.
Down the Hatch: California prisons have been given the go-ahead to force-feed prisoners entering their seventh week of a massive hunger strike, who are near death.
Yesterday I felt like I was coming down with a cold. On the advice of a holistic doctor, I went home and ate a rack of ribs (and a cookie), and watched Katy Perry’s documentary, Part of Me. I awoke this morning feeling great. Coincidence???
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