Travis McCoy, singer/frontman for the hip-hop/punk group Gym Class Heroes was arrested in St. Louis on Tuesday evening following their Warp tour set because of an altercation during their first song. According to Rolling Stone, McCoy reacted instinctively to a racial slur hurled by a front row fan who then hit the singer’s injured knee (he was wearing a brace). Here’s more from their story.

The punk-hop group had just finished the first song of their Warped Tour set, “Peace Sign,” when a black audience member near the front row called the New York-based singer a “fucking ignorant n****r.”

McCoy calmly asked the man, “What did you just call me?” As security was removing him from the crowd, the frontman reached down and broke his microphone over the man’s head. McCoy immediately apologized for his reaction and said it wasn’t representative of him as a person. “I’m sorry. But when someone calls you something that ignorant and that offensive, you have to bash their head in with a microphone,” said McCoy. The audience cheered as the man in question was carried away by security. Local police are not releasing the victim’s name at this time.

McCoy was arrested onstage at the end of his set. He was released early this morning on $500 bond, and this afternoon the band’s manager, Bob McLynn, issued a statement that reads, “Somebody in the crowd was taunting Travis with racial slurs. Travis invited him onstage with the intent of calling him out in front of the crowd, with absolutely no intention of a physical altercation. When he tried to help him onstage, the guy hit Travis in the knee area (which has been in a brace because of a recent sprain), forcing Travis to defend himself. At this point, a scuffle broke out. This whole incident is unfortunate. Travis McCoy and Gym Class Heroes are anything but violent. Their message is about racial unity and having a good time. It’s amazing that in 2008 there are still people out there that would say such ignorant things.” McLynn adds that McCoy has apologized to the Warped Tour’s founder and the band’s fans.

Why peeps need to be hatin’? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with kids nowadays? Why bother spending however much on a ticket to see a musical act when your intention is to insult them and then be subsequently surprised when they get mad and beat your ass? I don’t blame McCoy for conking that dumbass on the head. If someone had insulted me and then hit me in a sensitive, injured area I wouldn’t think twice about calling them out and giving them a chronic beatdown.

I loved the Gym Class Heroes before I heard this story, and now, I have a new reason to love them: beating by microphone. Better not let Amy Winehouse read this story, she’s already in enough trouble.

Article submitted by Number 6

What is lawfare and how does this relate to the cult?

In the post 9/11 era, new terms and new ideas to describe how war is currently being fought today have popped up in the media, in the press, in the think tanks and on blogs on all sides of the spectrum. One such term is lawfare. On page 55 of the book Unrestricted Warfare, it calls for the use of “international law warfare (seizing the earliest opportunity to set up regulations)” along with a set of other types of warfare that an enemy with more firepower cannot withstand for long. Since 2001, the term has been used to describe how individual supporters of terrorism have tried to silence people who expose them.

Take the case of Khalid bin Mahfouz, a Saudi Arabian billionaire who sued American author Rachel Ehrenfeld for libel in the UK because in her book Funding Evil she named him as a major contributor of money to terrorist organizations. British libel laws place the burden of proof on the defendant, and given Dr. Ehrenfeld’s limited resources even with government documents as proof, she lost. In 2008, Governor George Pataki of New York signed Rachel’s law, which grants protection to American citizens being sued by what are called libel tourists. The laws of the US and the UK are different when it comes to freedom of speech and the protection of that right.

Lawfare, to give you a tl;dr (too long, didn’t read) definition, is the use of a country’s legal system by an individual or corporation to utterly crush their adversaries. The term is currently used in the context of the War on Terror, but the definition should be broadened to include any other individual or group who tries to ruin an adversary in court, including and especially, the Church of Scientology.

But wait, there’s more…

“k” has been called away once more, leaving me to attempt to fill her shoes on the whole Hulk Hogan/Terry Bollea/Nick Hogan/John Graziano car crash he said/he said debacle, so bear with me as we attempt to update you.

When we last discussed this story, k eloquently and painstakingly laid out all the facts before you. Nick Hogan/Bollea drank alcohol which was likely purchased and provided by his father Terry/Hulk. Nick then got behind the wheel of his yellow Toyota Supra also purchased by his father. Nick put on his seat belt, but apparently didn’t insist on his passenger wearing one. Nick then raced down a residential street at rates stated to be close to 100mph. Nick then lost control of his vehicle and hit a palm tree.

Nick walked away from the accident with scratches, John on the other hand, is in what appears to be a permanent coma-like state, with a large portion of his front skull missing and his frontal lobe caved in. It is likely he will never regain consciousness and certainly NEVER walk again. For all intents and purposes, John is a vegetable. Even more ironic is John escaped TWO tours of duty in Iraq only to come home and become a victim of drunken, reckless driving at the hands of his supposed “best friend.”

After much media manipulation and efforts to sway the public opinion in their favor, Nick was ultimately sentenced to 8 months in county jail. Then audio tapes of Nick and his father scheming to make money off of Nick’s “misfortune” were released, including statements where Hulk suggested John was asking for it karmically, and that God was dishing out his punishment for John being a “negative” person (which apparently refers to the fact that John “yelled” a lot before he was so severely injured.)

But wait, there’s more…

Not that I am *happy* to report this, but it does put things into perspective. It seems actor Bill Murray, whom we reported a couple weeks back, was in the midst of a divorce from second wife Jennifer, isn’t the only issue in the breakup of his 10-year marriage.

Jennifer Butler-Murray filed for divorce from the very anti-Hollywood Murray citing physical and substance abuse issues, as well as infidelity, as her reason for divorcing the 57-year old actor. Butler, who just turned 42, worked as a costume-designer in Hollywood when she met Murray and the couple were married in 1997.

According to our earlier report, Butler claimed Murray abused her on several occasions, but specifically cited an incident last November when he hit her in the face and told her she was “lucky he didn’t kill her.” Pretty damning stuff for a guy known for playing generally sweet, but odd-ball characters. As I stated in the original post, Bill Murray is one of my favorite actors of all time and I was really disturbed to hear this stark account of his private behavior.

Well, as with all things out-of-the-blue, there are two sides to EVERY story. According to the New York Post, Jennifer Butler-Murray is NO saint herself. Here are the details from that story:

Bill Murray’s wife claims that he is the violent and booze-addicted one in the family - but police documents show that she has allegedly tied one on and kicked up some trouble herself.

Jennifer Butler-Murray has gotten a reputation in her suburban Charleston, SC, neighborhood as an avid drinker who gets “physical” with her children and gets into bizarre police incidents.

On March 17 of this year, Butler-Murray allegedly got drunk and two of her kids ran over to a neighbor’s house for help, according to a report filed with the Sullivan’s Island Police Department.

The trouble started after a witness saw her shouting loudly at one of her kids, the report said. Cops went to her home to investigate.

“I spoke with [her] and advised her of the complaint,” the responding officer wrote. “The w/f [white female] seemed to be very impaired and didn’t want me on her property anymore, she slammed the door and I left the residence.”

Later, a neighbor called cops saying Butler-Murray’s kids had come to his home seeking help.

“I then had the complainant meet me at the police station to talk with the juveniles . . . They informed me that their mother had been drinking heavily and had [become] physical with them,” the report said.

Butler-Murray’s lawyer, Richard Rosen, declined to comment.

The report said Bill Murray was in California at the time. The kids were sent over to a family friend until he got back.

Well isn’t that SPECIAL. I refrained from passing any judgment on this case or his wife, despite my misgivings about the one-sidedness of her story, but apparently my first instincts were correct, it seems Jennifer isn’t an angel who has been cruelly abused by an uncaring and callous husband. It looks like she too has some “issues” as it were and takes them out on the innocent kids.

For all we know, and I am merely speculating, she may be the catalyst in the breakdown of this marriage and Bill may have been lashing out at her abuse of the kids. I will be keeping you posted on this story and I hope in the end, my beloved Bill will be vindicated. Not for being perfect, but at least not as the vicious monster his estranged wife portrayed him as. It takes two to tango folks.

Jeebus this video is scary. I am not entirely sure where this took place, but from the close quarters, the Asian sounding language and the general crazaziness, I’d say Japan.

I once worked in a cubicle infested hell-hole. Actually all my former jobs have been cubicle hell, but this particular job fostered this kind of attitude and there were the occasional “flare-ups” to put it mildly. I remember once when the company was heading in the sh*tter we had a “department-wide” meeting, but when we looked around the room, several of our co-workers were missing. During the meeting, after much hemming and hawing, it was announced a major restructuring was taking place, and they sequestered us while the unlucky members of our team were escorted like common thieves from the premises.

This was the same company which had to hire security after they “dismissed” a guy who, after the Columbine incident, muttered something to the effect of “those kids had the right idea.”

This must be how livestock feel in captivity. All living creatures need some damn space, sheesh.

That said, had one of my co-workers thrown a monitor at me I would have kicked his f*cking ass down the damn stairs. For reals. I will cut you for tossing company issued equipment at me. RUDE!

Same incident, different angle and with sound — did they taz that guy?! Damn!

Via the always excellent Dlisted.

Glosslip Radio, in its continued coverage of the internet anti-Scientology movement fronted by activist group Anonymous, is proud to announce another great radio show. Tomorrow evening’s show, at a special day and time, Thursday May 29th, 9:00pm EDT, will feature Maureen Bolstad. Maureen, an 18-year veteran of the Church of Scientology’s most devout sect, the Sea Organization, will be joining us to discuss her heartbreaking story of disconnection from her family, including her twin sister, and her harrowing experience of escaping the Hemet, California SO site called Gold (Int) Base.

Maureen and I met recently at a gathering of many ex-Scientologists while I was visiting Los Angeles with my family a couple weeks ago. During this visit, I spoke with many ex-Scientologists, and they all had compelling stories to tell of their time in the cult, but Maureen’s was especially fascinating and sad. I look forward to being able to give her an opportunity to share her story with our listeners and we hope you can tune for tomorrow’s special show. Below is Maureen’s photo and bio.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SHOW!

I was born and spent my childhood in Santa Clara County; lived there until I was 16. I became involved with Scientology through a friend of my mother when I was 14. I was tricked into joining the Sea Organization along, with my little brother and, later, my twin sister. I was in the SO for 18 years. I spent 17 of those years out in Hemet at the Int base. I left staff in 2000. I tried to remain a public Scientologist for 5 years, but it didn’t work out. I left Scientology in 2005.

I was officially labeled a Suppressive Person by the CoS in Los Angeles in 2006. I’m currently going to college, but I’m self employed too. I do video dp work, photography projects and office admin and bookeeping. My brother and I are on good terms, but my twin sister is still involved in Scientology and she has stopped speaking to myself and most of our family.

Join the Sea Arrrrgh, make yer mark and fly the colors — June 14 protest of the Cult of Scientology. from TheDonzerlyLight on Vimeo.

Anonymous as an entity continues to amaze and inspire me with their creativity, dedication and enthusiasm. Many thought their global protests wouldn’t make it to the summer when they first began in organizing in January. But June 14th’s global protest themed, “Sea Arrrgh” will mark the 5th of these protests and the pressure and attention they are creating to expose the crimes of the organization which now runs Scientology are drastically affecting the CoS.

Record numbers are shying away from joining or participating in Scientology’s “stress test” traps to sucker in new recruits. The Organizations are “downstat” (losing numbers), the Church is losing money from its rank and file members, and even beloved celebrities have turned away from the Church and are speaking out against its decades of abuses.

Most recently, the UK courts struck down an attempt by the corruptible local law enforcement to keep protesters from using the word “cult” to describe the Church of Scientology, after London police went after a 15-year old who was peacefully protesting.

The Church of Scientology’s days of abusing members and behaving like a criminal organization are numbered. They will soon realize that good men and women will not stand by and allow them to operate business as usual anymore. Will you join the fight?

Visit www.enturbulation.org to find a protest near you.

The mysterious “k” will be covering this story in more depth later, but I wanted to give a quick update on the Nick (Bollea) Hogan/John Graziano car accident trial.

TMZ, reporting live from the courtroom.

Nick is being given 5 years of probation, 500 hours of community service, had his license revoked for 3 years (until he’s 21) for his culpability in an accident which left his friend John (an Iraq-war veteran) in a coma-like state.

Nick is being handled ever so lightly. Unbelievable. What about the booze that was in his system provided by his father Hulk Hogan earlier in the day?

Nick stares blankly at the judge, revealing the dumbass lurking behind his eyes. This Judge is really playing for the cameras, shut the F up and get on with it. Who do you think you are, Judge Ito?
Everybody wants to be a star.

Judge reading from Nick’s letter to the court. Nick wants to make up for his mistake.

*rolls eyes* Read Glosslip’s coverage for context to my disbelief on his sincerity.

Judge says Nick had a cavalier attitude towards his driving responsibility, but believes Nick is being sincere in his apologies, but that doesn’t take away the pain from John’s life being destroyed, and his family being heartbroken. Judge is going to incarcerate Nick. Here it comes: 8 months in the Pinellas County Jail.

Well, there you have it. That judge was MORE than fair considering the history of recklessness from this family.

Former ice dancer and two-time Olympic champion Oksana Grishuk was allegedly drugged with the date-rape drug GHB about a month ago, and is coming forward with her story in hopes it will help someone else:

Oksana Grishuk, who skated for Russia and won Olympic gold in 1994 and 1998 with ice dance partner Evgeny Platov, tells PEOPLE she was having a dinner meeting last month with a business acquaintance she had known for two years at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, in Dana Point, Calif., to discuss developing a vitamin and nutrition line.

She says she started feeling lightheaded over dinner after drinking from the second of two glasses of alcohol that police investigators later told her had been laced with “a common date-rape drug.”

“I felt my body having the shakes, I was feeling cold and my lips felt numb and there was a burning sensation in my chest,” she says.

Paramedics were called to the scene and rushed her to a nearby hospital where Grishuk, 36, was treated and released. […]

Apparently both glasses of wine were laced with the drug:

Police found residue on the first glass and collected the pill from the second drink, and preliminary reports indicate that both glasses were drugged, Amorino said. Police also are testing Grishuk’s blood.

She had the first drink in the hotel lounge, and it was after finishing her second drink, a glass of red wine, in the restaurant, that she noticed a small pill at the bottom and alertly notified the manager. Police have ruled out that any hotel employee was involved in the incident.

Grishuk says she first suspected something was wrong when she noticed her glass of red wine turning cloudy. “He kept pushing me to drink,” she said of the acquaintance. “But I’m not a drinker. It was a meeting and I wanted to stay alert.”

Grishuk wants to alert other women to the danger of date rape drugs and warned it could happen to anyone at anytime, she says.

“I was very lucky,” she says. “I was in a public bar and restaurant and never left my drink,” she says, thinking she must have been drugged while looking away from the table. “That’s very scary. Always keep an eye on your glass.”

Outside of becoming a hermit and never going out in public, there’s really no way to totally protect oneself from something like this happening, but you can minimize the chances by always watching your drink (whatever that drink may be), keeping an eye on your companions, and not becoming so inebriated that you aren’t fully aware of the circumstances around you.  You can also be aware of the effects a drug like this can have on your system so you can recognize the signs:

What are its short-term effects?
At lower doses, GHB can relieve anxiety and produce relaxation.Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and difficulty breathing.GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.

What are its long-term effects?
As the dose increases, the sedative effects may result in sleep and eventual coma or death. GHB has reportedly been used in cases of date rape. Because GHB is odorless and tasteless, it can be slipped into someone’s drink without detection.

Always be aware, and if you suspect anything is wrong, get help immediately.

It’s been a while since we’ve discussed our favorite other addict, Lindsay Lohan. You may recall 2007 was a less than stellar year for Lindsay, as she released BOMB after BOMB at the box office, picking up like five Razzie awards for her thriller “I Know Who Killed Me,” oh yeah, and she went to rehab three times and was busted twice for cocaine possession and driving under the influence.

But wait, there’s more…