Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Buck Foston's bar sues over liquor license

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., July 2 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man seeking to open a bar called Buck Foston's filed a lawsuit accusing his city's mayor of blocking approval of his liquor license.

Larry Blatterfein of New Brunswick filed a federal court lawsuit accusing Mayor James Cahill of blocking the transfer of a liquor license to Blatterfein's new sports bar from another city restaurant, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported Friday.

Blatterfein said he met with Cahill earlier this year and explained the name is a play on words "evocative of a century-old sports rivalry between the New York and Boston sports teams."

The lawsuit states Cahill admitted to being Red Sox fan but said his opposition to the name stemmed from his opinion of the phrase as vulgar.

Cahill spokesman William Bray said the mayor is not attempting to block the liquor license transfer.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Bray said. "The mayor did tell him he did not like the name, however, the mayor also told him he has the first amendment right to the name."

Bray said the delay is due to the lack of a tax clearance certificate from the state Division of Taxation.

"Until we receive that, we can do nothing under state law," he said.

Artist reveals gas station's high prices

ORLANDO, Fla., July 2 (UPI) -- A Florida artist weighed in on the controversy over a gas station's refusal to post its high prices by "playing the role of a sign" for about 6 hours.

Performance artist Brian Feldman said he spent 6 hours Thursday in front of Sun Gas near the Orlando International Airport with a sign around his neck listing the station's $5.79 price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline -- believed to be the highest in the country -- as well as the prices for mid-grade and premium fuels, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

"This is an art installation, and I am playing the role of the sign. Hopefully, they'll do the right thing and post their prices. But if they don't, I'll do my best to make sure they get the attention they deserve," Feldman said.

The station and the Suncoast Energy station across the street are embroiled in a legal battle with the city of Orlando over their refusal to post their prices on their signs. The city passed an ordinance requiring gas stations near the airport to post their prices, but the stations refused and are incurring fines of $250 per day while attempting to fight the law.

Attorney Gus Benitez told Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez Thursday he believes the ordinance oversteps the city's authority.

"We believe and we contend this is price control," Benitez said. "The city is doing this only to affect the price."

David King, an attorney for the city, said officials are not interested in regulating prices, they just want to ensure the prices are posted for consumers.

"The consumer has a right to know. ... They're the ones who are being preyed upon in this area," King said.

Contempt ruling for courtroom gesture

ORLANDO, Fla., July 2 (UPI) -- A Florida man was found guilty of direct criminal contempt for raising his middle finger at a prosecutor while attending a murder trial.

Matthew Bartlett, 28, was called before Chief Judge Belvin Perry near the end of Thursday's proceedings in the Casey Anthony murder trial and shown courtroom camera pictures of himself making the gesture at prosecuting attorney Jeff Ashton, WOFL-TV, Orlando, reported Friday.

Perry cited a sign at the entrance of the courtroom stating "any gesture, facial expression or audible comment showing approval or disapproval during a court proceeding is absolutely prohibited."

"I'm truly sorry for doing this. This was something stupid, and I'm not sure why I even did it," Bartlett said.

Perry sentenced Bartlett to six days in jail along with a $400 fine and "applicable statutory court costs."

Bartlett has the opportunity to appeal the ruling and was informed of his right to a court-appointed attorney.

Woman finds blood in her fries

HOUSTON, July 2 (UPI) -- A Texas woman said she wants a blood test performed on a cook at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Houston after she found blood on her french fries.

Susan Mosher said she was eating at the restaurant on the Kingwood neighborhood with her husband when she discovered the blood on her fries, which she had already partially eaten, KPRC-TV, Houston, reported Friday.

Mosher said she gave the plate to her waitress, who brought it back to the kitchen.

"She comes back and tells me, 'Yes, the guy did cut himself when he was making the sandwich, but he has a Band-Aid on it now, so, he's good.' I'm like, 'Really?'" Mosher said.

She said she contacted the restaurant's manager and corporate office to ask for the cook to be given a blood test, but she instead received only an apology and a $100 gift card.

Cracker Barrel released a statement saying it could not legally force the cook to submit to a blood test but the company would reimburse Mosher for any testing she had performed on herself.

"Cracker Barrel was very concerned about this incident and regrets the distress it has caused," the statement read. "Please know that we have systems and processes in place to ensure that all quality standards are met."

Kathy Barton of the City of Houston Health Department said the city is not investigating the matter because there is no evidence the restaurant failed to dispose of all contaminated food once the problem was discovered.