Topic

Law, Crime & Justice

A collection of 27 issues

A Fowl Felony: Why Chickens Are Banned from Crossing the Road in Quitman, Georgia

The classic joke gets a legal answer in Quitman, Georgia, where an ordinance forbids chickens from crossing the road. More than just a punchline, this peculiar law reveals its practical origins in public safety and animal control from a bygone era.

Law, Crime & Justice History Oddities & Curiosities

One Match, No Rights: The Fire That Forged the Third Reich

A fire ravaged Germany's parliament in 1933. Within hours, the Nazi party used the blaze as a pretext to suspend civil liberties, arresting political opponents and laying the legal groundwork for a dictatorship. The question of who lit the match became terrifyingly irrelevant.

History Politics & Power Law, Crime & Justice

The Solicitors of Liberty: How Jehovah's Witnesses Forged the First Amendment

A surprising number of crucial First Amendment precedents weren't set by politicians, but by Jehovah's Witnesses. Their legal challenges in the 1930s and 40s established foundational rights for all, from the freedom to distribute literature to the right to refuse compelled speech.

History Law, Crime & Justice Religion & Philosophy

Neither Swamp Nor River: The Story of Brazil's Buffalo Police

On Brazil's vast, swampy island of Marajó, where police cars fail, the Búfalo Batalhão patrols on water buffalo. Since the 1990s, this unique unit has used the powerful animals to navigate flooded streets and pursue criminals through difficult terrain.

Law, Crime & Justice Geography & Places Oddities & Curiosities

Heavy Metal Justice: When Cartier Brought a Steamroller to Fifth Avenue

In the mid-1980s, facing a flood of knock-offs, Cartier took a dramatic stand. On New York's Fifth Avenue, executives used a steamroller to publicly crush thousands of counterfeit watches, a bold act of marketing and a powerful defense of brand authenticity.

Business & Economics History Law, Crime & Justice

A Measure of Mold: The Surprising Reality of the FDA's Food Defect Levels

The FDA's 'Defect Levels Handbook' sets maximum allowable levels for unavoidable impurities in food, including mold. For instance, frozen strawberries are only deemed adulterated if the average mold count is 45% or more, highlighting the practical realities of food production.

Food & Lifestyle Science & Nature Law, Crime & Justice

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