Blunders 2010: A year of err

If there were no blunders, there certainly would be less for late-night TV show hosts to talk about and political cartoonists to riff on. We cannot say we enjoy when others make mistakes, but we certainly revel in wrapping up some of this year’s most notable blunders. If only a mistake a day kept the media away. One thing’s for sure: 2010 has been a markedly quiet one for Britney Spears.

Pilfering for pension

Bernard Terrace Elementary students and neighborhood residents were kept inside and unaware as FBI agents and a S.W.A.T. team assembled to apprehend Michael Francis Mara, the Grandad Bandit. Suspected in at least 25 bank robberies since 2008, Mara also stole a Toyota “because he needed a more reliable car.” Did he wear sensible shoes, too?

Unsaintly behavior

After the NFL came after the Who Dat Nation, another round of cease-and-desist orders came from Steve Monistere, who registered the company Who Dat Inc. in 1983, claiming ownership rights to the phrase “Who Dat.” From our cold, dead, Saints Super Bowl Champs koozy-clutching hands!

Fashion police

Every couple of years or so politicians go on a tirade against sagging pants. This year was no exception, as Lafayette State Rep. Rickey Hardy’s bill to ban sagging pants was rejected. Our Metro Council picked up where the bill left off, approving a “Low Pants, No Chance” campaign. Wonder if next year we’ll see an “Uggs? You Must Be on Drugs!” campaign.

The loneliest number

A full-page ad in The Advocate signed by more than 50 local pastors opposed to the resolution and a deluge of phone calls and e-mails to Metro Council members spurred One Baton Rouge’s organizers to pull the item from this year’s agenda. Again. Be yourself…(somewhere else?)

18 years later

The black bear’s been our state animal since 1992, but a reliable count of their presence in Louisiana wasn’t done until this year. Results could affect the decision whether to delist the bears from the threatened/endangered list, which would likely cause someone to earnestly recommend the tiger as a replacement.

Inmate ingenuity

Joe Lewis of Alexandria was caught trying to smuggle contraband (mostly tobacco and a couple of muscle relaxers) into Rapides Parish Jail via his prosthetic leg. Probably just trying to get a leg up on the competition. Yeah, we went there.

Illicit listening

After a routine search at New York’s Rikers Island jail facility, rapper Lil Wayne was found with contraband—an MP3 charger and headphones, which were wrapped in a potato chip bag in the trash can. He spent time in solitary confinement for his transgression. He’s since been released and was even spotted at a Hornets game last month.

Photo oops

During President Obama’s May visit to Grand Isle, BP bused in hundreds of temporary workers, according to Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts. Maybe they were misdirected film extras. Oil? That’s just chocolate sauce!

Playing dress-up

Activist James O’Keefe and friends, dubbed the “Teabuggers,” talked their way into U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office pretending to be with the phone company and were promptly met by U.S. marshals. They insisted no one was intending to bug anything. Also, it wasn’t Halloween.

Un-happy hour

Former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter resigned after allegations he stalked and harassed a former employee and conducted inappropriate criminal background checks using official computers. For once, it wasn’t Chelsea’s Café’s fault!

Public service

After federal investigations into wrongdoing in Baton Rouge’s courts (Operation Illegal Motion), 10 defendants were sentenced, including a former city prosecutor, chief investigator for the public defender’s office, former police sergeant and Mayor Holden’s sister. It pays to know the system.

Graceful indictment

St. Gabriel Mayor George L. Grace was indicted on federal racketeering, bribery and fraud charges. An undercover FBI sting involving a conceptual garbage-can cleaning service led to some of the charges. Dare we say, “taking out the trash?”

An Anh-est suggestion

During the congressional hearing of BP America President Lamar McKay, U.S. Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao from New Orleans said, “Well, in the Asian culture we do things differently. During the Samurai days, we just give you a knife and ask you to commit harakiri.” The recently unseated Congressman meant well.