Gathered from the popular website www.StellaAwards.com, The True Stella Awards is an outrageous collection of America’s most frivolous lawsuits Named for Stella Liebeck, the woman who won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit after spilling hot McDonald’s coffee on herself, humorist Randy Cassingham’s popular website chronicles the hard-to-believe and amusing claims brought before the U.S.courts. The most ridiculous of these lawsuits are given the honorable” Stella Award. In The True Stella Awards, Cassingham documents the most outlandish of these real-life cases, including: * The man who legally changed his name to Jack Ass, and then sued MTV because their TV show and movie Jackass infringed on his trademark and demeaned his good name” * The songwriter who left a minute’s silence on his record only to be sued by the estate of another songwriter who copyrighted his own silent” song * The man who sued an amusement park after being the victim of the ultimate act of God”: He was hit by lightning while standing next to his own car in the parking lot Stunning and hilarious, The True Stella Awards reveals the extremes people will go to in the pursuit of justice.”

The True Stella Awards

Humor & Entertainment

Cassingham, Randy

Humor

Plume

A high-spirited collection of some of American history's most notorious frivolous lawsuits includes the stories of a man who changed his name to "Jackass" and then sued MTV, a songwriter who was sued for a moment of recorded silence, and a mortgage company that sued a victim of identity theft for its own negligence. 40,000 first printing.

The True Stella Awards: Honoring real cases of greedy opportunists, frivolous lawsuits, and the law run amok

Dutton Adult

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. This is True is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in True say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" "We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." Yes, True's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. This Book This is the first book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's first year. Stories like: A jury in a murder trial deliberated with the help of a seance to ask the victim who had killed him. A woman had to sue her ex-husband to regain custody ...of her breast implants. A man legally changed his name to one with 291 letters in it, and THEN went home to tell his wife. We highly recommend that you click on the cover image above and read a sample -- it's free. We're sure you'll be quickly hooked and want the book to get the rest! (Tip: you can also subscribe to the newsletter at our web site.) This updated version includes the Introduction and Preface from the original paperback edition. What Is This is True? This is True is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, True is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True [v1]: Deputy Kills Man With Hammer: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines from the World's Press

Freelance Communications

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. This is True is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in TRUE say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" "We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." Yes, TRUE's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. This Book This is the second book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's second year. Stories like: <ul>
<li>Two robbers were in the process of their crime when one changed his mind and arrested the other.</li> <li>Pigeons in Britain are so lazy they've learned how to get around the city on commuter trains.</li> <li>A man sued his doctor because he survived his cancer longer than the doctor predicted.</li>
</ul>
What Is This is True? TRUE is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, TRUE is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True: Glow-in-Dark Plants Could Help Farmers: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines From the World's Press

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. This is True is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in TRUE say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" "We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." Yes, TRUE's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. This Book This is the third book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's second year. Stories like: <ul>
<li>Only 68 of 200 Anglican priests could name all 10 Commandments, but half believe in aliens.</li> <li>Insurance company offers policies to protect virgins against immaculate conception.</li> <li>Homeless man in Florida has his pet hamster taken away to a shelter; he’s tossed back to the streets.</li>
</ul>
What Is This is True? TRUE is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, TRUE is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True [v3]: Pit Bulls Love You, Really: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines from the World's Press

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. This is True is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in TRUE say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" "We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." Yes, TRUE's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. This Book This is the fourth book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's second year. Stories like: <ul>
<li> People upset by stormy "El Nino" weather find Al Nino in phone book and call him to complain.</li> <li>Library study reveals the most-commonly stolen books: the Bible and the Koran.</li> <li>Wife has husband's ashes made into an egg timer when he dies so he can still "help" in the kitchen.</li>
</ul>
What Is This is True? TRUE is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, TRUE is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True [v4]: Artificial Intelligence Like Real Thing: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines from the World's Press

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. 
"This is True" is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. 
But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in TRUE say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" 
"We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." 
Yes, TRUE's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." 
Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. 
This Book 
This is the fifth book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's first year. Stories like: 
<ul>
<li>Woman decides the secret to marital happiness is to marry herself.</li> <li>Man ordered by court to submit urine sample, test results show he's pregnant.</li> <li>Police officer applicant arrested when his routine background check shows he's a fugitive.</li>
</ul>
We highly recommend that you click on the cover image above and read a sample -- it's free. We're sure you'll be quickly hooked and want the book to get the rest! (Tip: you can also subscribe to the newsletter at our web site.) 
What Is This is True? 
This is True is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, TRUE is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. 
Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True [v5]: Cost of Being Poor Rising: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines from the World's Press

Thought-Provoking Entertainment. It's Randy Cassingham's mission in life to get people to think more, and he illustrates WHY that would be a good thing with his laugh-out-loud examples of what happens when people don't. The entertainment part comes first: that's why people will read the stories, Randy says -- and once you get into them, you can't help but to think about some of the issues raised. 
"This is True" is one of the first newsletters on the Internet (since early 1994), and it wouldn't still be going strong if it didn't deliver week after week. The stories, each about 100 words, are timeless examples of humanity going spectacularly wrong. 
But at the same time, Randy says, "despite this incessant flow of oddness, I increasingly have more hope for humanity as time passes." Why? "I've said before that far from being a cynic, I'm a frustrated optimist, and perhaps that attitude has something to do with it -- the 'optimistic' view means looking for the positive. Readers often say it this way: 'I thought I was dumb, but after I see what people featured in TRUE say and do, I end up feeling pretty good about myself.'" 
"We all do dumb things sometimes," he says. "We see ourselves in the stories, and hopefully we're 'not that dumb' and vow to think more, and be stupid less." 
Yes, TRUE's primary mission is entertainment, but who are we really laughing at? Randy's answer: "Humanity -- ourselves, and we are better for that. I categorize This is True as Social Commentary. One story doesn't usually create very deep commentary, but over time, you bet clear messages emerge. It gets pretty deep sometimes: it's why my blog entries often end up with dozens of -- and sometimes more than 100 -- comments. Readers who want to can examine, in detail, what it means to be human." 
Or, you may just laugh at the stories and move on. 
This Book 
This is the sixth book in the This is True series, with more than 500 stories and headlines from the publication's first year. Stories like: 
<ul>
<li>Bank approves credit card for 3-year-old, even though her application notes "mommy says no."</li> <li>Man ordered by court to submit urine sample, test results show he's pregnant.</li> <li>Elvis Presley's old TV antenna accidentally sent to auction house, someone pays $1,725 for it.</li>
</ul>
We highly recommend that you click on the cover image above and read a sample -- it's free. We're sure you'll be quickly hooked and want the book to get the rest! (Tip: you can also subscribe to the newsletter at our web site.) 
What Is This is True? 
This is True is a weekly feature that retells strange-but-true stories from "legitimate, mainstream" news outlets from around the world, each capped with a humorous, ironic, or opinionated comment (and, with luck, some combination of the three). On their own, the stories are pretty entertaining. But when you read the stories over time, certain themes start to emerge, and suddenly you realize there's a bigger picture. A really big picture: a new understanding of humanity begins to emerge. Yes, TRUE is entertaining, but it's also truly thought-provoking. Both the fragility and the power of the individual becomes clearer. And you'll realize that some stories only look amusing -- and you'll realize you're actually angry! But it's anger with a purpose: you'll see you have the power to stand up and demand change. It's why so many readers say they'll subscribe for life. 
Each week's column consists of eight or more brief odd stories, each with its own "slug" (title) and "tagline" (comment), plus a Headline of the Week. If you've read this whole page, you're obviously the sort of person who likes to know things, and to think. The This is True books (like this one) compile a year's worth of columns, plus some extra headlines -- more than 500 in all.

This is True [v6]: Platform Shoes Claim Another Life: And 500 Other Bizarre-but-True Stories and Headlines from the World's Press

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