Weekly Daily Brickbats Archive 2009 January 22-31

Chinese human rights activist Yao Lifa disappeared just two days before he was to attend a reception at a United States consulate to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration. Family member say the government has detained him before and officials did not want him to attend the reception.

State-run Chinese media omitted parts of Barack Obama's inauguration speech in their translations. Not surprisingly, those parts happened to be his references to the United States facing down communism and fascism, as well as his warning to governments that silence dissent that they are on the wrong side of history.

Natalie Shea, 6, drew some pictures with chalk on the sidewalk in front of her Brooklyn home. That didn't sit well with one neighbor, who called authorities. The Department of Sanitation sent her parents a letter threatening them with a $300 fine if they didn't remove the graffiti.

Gary Rostren placed his garbage outside his home in Blackburn, England, one day when he went to work. While he was gone, someone or something knocked over the garbage can spilling the contents. Officials gave him a £60 fine for not properly disposing of his garbage. Rostren fought the case in court and won. The prosecution cost taxpayers £5,000, according to The Daily Mail.

Jasbir Singh said he just wanted to show his support for the police when he placed a police union bumper sticker on his car. One Lockland, Ohio, police officer apparently didn't want his support. He cited him for displaying a law enforcement emblem. Singh paid the $100 fine, but now he is suing the city for violating his First Amendment rights.