tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15474422138065884752024-02-19T11:26:40.543-08:00WEIRD STUFF FROM ALL OVERSo much weirdness in the world! <br> So little time<br>Here I chronicle a small part of it.<br> Saudi Arabia is currently leading.Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-32287666135248710662011-09-15T12:10:00.000-07:002011-09-15T12:11:04.266-07:00Somewhere - Donkey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't ask!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObb7CE7E9qWJqO_bLXWRGhDlVmR954u2lFytLIX6QwLTaObi2y1ah0kjkW9Gn3SrGs9sUonBlb6WfjT2YAw_X7kPpf5t7OyYQUaAv9ocUYCbTJAtlMZgN4vnJWu5PKQBzHYdhj-ZDdfgn/s1600/braying+donkey..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="539" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObb7CE7E9qWJqO_bLXWRGhDlVmR954u2lFytLIX6QwLTaObi2y1ah0kjkW9Gn3SrGs9sUonBlb6WfjT2YAw_X7kPpf5t7OyYQUaAv9ocUYCbTJAtlMZgN4vnJWu5PKQBzHYdhj-ZDdfgn/s640/braying+donkey..JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-45501783696229978002011-08-01T08:37:00.000-07:002011-08-01T08:37:00.809-07:00CANADA MORE LIKELY USA - Stupidity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Older we get....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ONE <br />
<br />
<br />
Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. <br />
<br />
I asked for a half dozen nuggets. <br />
<br />
'We don't have half dozen nuggets,' said the teenager at the counter. <br />
<br />
'You don't?' I replied. <br />
<br />
'We only have six, nine, or twelve,' was the reply. <br />
<br />
'So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?' <br />
<br />
'That's right.' <br />
<br />
So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets <br />
<br />
(Unbelievable but sadly true...)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa32ciEm-bbAFnuLEb9H7g9hJPLTvteTillwDh_6iAe70xjV6kAsokYvI62_7hwNMN4gTgvd2q_YZTXG8XxccdipRwB3Ta4rup3U4vVr_MYqaJNtCrAQ7iVAshVK6MKzRbT2_7xQRA9M/s1600/mcnuggets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa32ciEm-bbAFnuLEb9H7g9hJPLTvteTillwDh_6iAe70xjV6kAsokYvI62_7hwNMN4gTgvd2q_YZTXG8XxccdipRwB3Ta4rup3U4vVr_MYqaJNtCrAQ7iVAshVK6MKzRbT2_7xQRA9M/s400/mcnuggets.png" width="237" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
TWO <br />
<br />
I was checking out at the local Walmart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those "dividers" that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. <br />
<br />
After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the divider, looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. <br />
<br />
Not finding the bar code, she said to me, 'Do you know how much this is?' <br />
<br />
I said to her "I've changed my mind; I don't think I'll buy that today." <br />
<br />
She said 'OK,' and I paid her for the things and left. <br />
<br />
She had no clue to what had just happened.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq1PiALH-DaPla2xuT-w7JWh6NwJebUJSWQZ-3cEpble4HcpfIaMm0Rtn24n4ohyphenhyphenpu_K6X4Qvah2R5uvKWopvdGkuLtD2RMOQhWtCKd3owSvPqBJxdGiBNr5d1sIhp7IXeVfQZJ4UDYM/s1600/checkout+divider.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq1PiALH-DaPla2xuT-w7JWh6NwJebUJSWQZ-3cEpble4HcpfIaMm0Rtn24n4ohyphenhyphenpu_K6X4Qvah2R5uvKWopvdGkuLtD2RMOQhWtCKd3owSvPqBJxdGiBNr5d1sIhp7IXeVfQZJ4UDYM/s320/checkout+divider.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
THREE <br />
<br />
A woman at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. <br />
<br />
When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM 'thingy.' <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC6if0bom_TA-FSRVQNz-RU4TtAOyHWV3GCn4wm4gU_qjfVOq1y70fI8wEUy0zUNigmlun1SyYaXpibljnpeS7GtiarA-JN8uE-7Ydc60a7KAvFfAVUnOPVNXV4NYP-T9YYeSl0is234/s1600/computer+tower+credit+card.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC6if0bom_TA-FSRVQNz-RU4TtAOyHWV3GCn4wm4gU_qjfVOq1y70fI8wEUy0zUNigmlun1SyYaXpibljnpeS7GtiarA-JN8uE-7Ydc60a7KAvFfAVUnOPVNXV4NYP-T9YYeSl0is234/s1600/computer+tower+credit+card.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
(keep shuddering!!)<br />
FOUR <br />
<br />
I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. 'Do you need some help?' I asked. <br />
<br />
She replied, 'I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?' <br />
<br />
'Hmmm, I don't know. Do you have an alarm, too?' I asked. <br />
<br />
'No, just this remote thingy,' she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, 'Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk....' <br />
<br />
PLEASE just lay down before you hurt yourself !!! <br />
<br />
<br />
FIVE <br />
<br />
Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, 'I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?' 'Just use paper from the photocopier', the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five 'blank' copies. <br />
<br />
Brunette, by the way!! <br />
<br />
SIX <br />
<br />
A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, the kid had eaten ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and he should be fine. The mother says, 'I just gave him some ant killer......' <br />
<br />
Dispatcher: 'Rush him in to emergency!' <br />
<br />
Life is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Someone had to remind me, so I'm reminding you too. Don't<br />
laugh.....it is all true...<br />
<br />
With thanks to Kamal Badyal.</div>
Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-8087614506477394132011-07-26T20:18:00.000-07:002011-07-26T20:29:37.386-07:00USA - SCREWED<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Government is always weird. However, the government of the USA is currently out-weirding them all.<br />
<br />
Are they really willing to destroy the economy of the USA - and by chain reaction - send the economy of the whole planet down the tubes just to make a point? In one week, we will know for sure.<br />
<br />
My comment on what the US government is doing to the people of the USA RE: the budget debt ceiling.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KpiDLk_4tReWedRY8ZH0Ss8Y-x9DxLBx9wRvZ84EvpqJ4w_G_ddDR8ZfFv3O1J7h_HoxMjo7rtPeh7F25Nivi4d-JiU7QMWs5Nwa1XDHAo-N3gjG_tLyg9KRe7LoXAJfKBa1Cf5Y7-FP/s1600/screwed+by+congress.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KpiDLk_4tReWedRY8ZH0Ss8Y-x9DxLBx9wRvZ84EvpqJ4w_G_ddDR8ZfFv3O1J7h_HoxMjo7rtPeh7F25Nivi4d-JiU7QMWs5Nwa1XDHAo-N3gjG_tLyg9KRe7LoXAJfKBa1Cf5Y7-FP/s320/screwed+by+congress.png" width="253" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-47385972955109447112011-04-17T01:34:00.000-07:002012-12-17T19:28:39.467-08:00INDIA - Child Sex Slavery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I started this blog, I promised myself that no legitimate news would be taboo for me to report. After watching this video, I almost wish I hadn't made that promise to myself. This is probably the most difficult topic for me to handle. The person who sent it to be also sent along a note: </span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"No one should have to go through this kind of torture.I can not believe how a human being is capable of thinking and inflicting such immense torture onto another person.I saw this video a few days back and was completely disgusted with the kind of men we have in our society... it shows the ghastly things a man is capable of doing. In today's world,there are beasts everywhere.Societies in all the parts of the worlds are degrading.There is a war between good and evil with evil winning.Until and unless good starts winning,nothing can change..."</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The woman in the video Sunitha Krishnan, who has made a career of rescuing trafficking victims (who then become trafficking survivors) shows immense courage and conviction. Please take the time to watch this. Surely you can spend 13 minutes of your day to inform yourself and perhaps to feel grateful thazt, with all the troubles in your life, at least you haven't suffered this. Unless, of course, you have. If you have, then skip this video; you have already suffered enough. Or watch it and passs it on, so others will know.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: red; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WARNING: THIS VIDEO SHOWS GRAPHIC IMAGES OF TORTURED CHILDREN.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jeOumyTMCI8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-52999445709668397152011-03-20T19:40:00.000-07:002011-03-20T19:40:16.792-07:00MY TRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There has been a surprising lack of weirdness in the trisaster in Japan. Mostly I see horrible devastation and radiation and people acting in a heroically civil manner. I made this picture to salute people we could learn from in this.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo-desc insitu-trigger" id="description_div5544669653"><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651059">This is my recognition of the spirit, courage and civility of the Japanese people and their response to the recent trisaster.</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651056">This is a reminder that the Sun is always shining. Sometimes we just can't see her.</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651050">Below is the the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami, while Fujiyama soars above the tragedy. Above all, the benevolent presence of Amaterasu-no-Kami, the Sun Goddess and chief deity of the Shinto religion, gives her blessing and strength to her people, the people of Japan.</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651053">(Note: I am neither Shinto nor Japanese. If I have hurt anybody's religious sensibilities, please let me know and I will correct the matter.)</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yHTatMB_u4xDnAnDDLzQMNbq48YcrqFUM3RhS6Ql5lPlHtxYierPE-E6SSdqWHmJASyLo3xAJyvxnSWaFwXxTEVscEVZlnMg0lbXKFTk5DI4FYbD6gnVrpNXKNJfw_1pGBzKu_wFyp2u/s1600/Japanese+Earthquake+tribute+2+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yHTatMB_u4xDnAnDDLzQMNbq48YcrqFUM3RhS6Ql5lPlHtxYierPE-E6SSdqWHmJASyLo3xAJyvxnSWaFwXxTEVscEVZlnMg0lbXKFTk5DI4FYbD6gnVrpNXKNJfw_1pGBzKu_wFyp2u/s400/Japanese+Earthquake+tribute+2+.png" width="400" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062"><br />
</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062"><br />
</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062">ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062"><br />
</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062">From Creative Commons</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651062">With much thanks to Derek Visser. Three of his photos were used to make the Fukushima plant here:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5530864283/">www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5530864283/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5529845859/">www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5529845859/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5529038135/">www.flickr.com/photos/vizpix/5529038135/</a></div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651065">To the United States Air Force<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/5529732202/" id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651079">www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/5529732202/</a><br />
and <br />
the US Pacific Fleet(Navy)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/compacflt/5529922582/">www.flickr.com/photos/compacflt/5529922582/</a></div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651068"><br />
</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651068"><br />
</div><div id="yui_3_3_0_1_13006720032651068">The other images used are in the Public Domain.</div></div></div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-23326345258882507012011-03-09T18:18:00.000-08:002011-03-09T18:20:33.615-08:00USA - It's Not Nice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I dedicate this to the people of Tunisia and Egypt and Libya and Bahrain and all the others who have decided that the time to say "Enough!" is now. <br />
<br />
Over a month and. although there has been a lot of news, nothing has come across my desk that fits my definition of weird. Not wanting to bore my readers (both of you) , I did come across this song by Malvina Reynolds, one of my favourites. She was a unusual enough to qualify as weird, I think. She looked like the dried-up sour self-righteous, conservative Church Lady biddy, but was in fact a fiery, outspoken, socially progressive singer/songwriter/poet whose songs are still widely sung. Her most well-known are <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRxvaVhVN7A">God Bless The Grass</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_2lGkEU4Xs">Little Boxes</a>. </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVhxRzcN0Y9aGmpD6wAGwVduvUChS8G3hCfDnBZUrf12vpMPeqADlZvxG03fm9li6EOPpKAvdMBb3yWZGYa5hIXHidOOi6sXRTVfbMDzHARgVAhLWiFkQ5k2zHQyi8iyH3QV38uxEaKFo/s1600/Malvina%252BReynolds%252B%252BSings%252Bthe%252BTru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVhxRzcN0Y9aGmpD6wAGwVduvUChS8G3hCfDnBZUrf12vpMPeqADlZvxG03fm9li6EOPpKAvdMBb3yWZGYa5hIXHidOOi6sXRTVfbMDzHARgVAhLWiFkQ5k2zHQyi8iyH3QV38uxEaKFo/s320/Malvina%252BReynolds%252B%252BSings%252Bthe%252BTru.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Today I share with you a little gem called <i>It Isn't Nice. </i>It's a weird sort of song. Catchy tune, too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="390" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/UvC4xq32AX8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/UvC4xq32AX8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_92209179"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/MALVINA/mr073.htm"><span style="color: #993366;"><b>It Isn't Nice</b></span> </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1964 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1993. This original version of the song was banned from the radio in Japan--in Japanese, but not in English!<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">It isn't nice to block the doorway, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> It isn't nice to go to jail,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> There are nicer ways to do it,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But the nice ways always fail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> It isn't nice, it isn't nice, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> You told us once, you told us twice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But if that is Freedom's price,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> We don't mind.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">It isn't nice to carry banners </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Or to sit in on the floor, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Or to shout our cry of Freedom </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> At the hotel and the store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> It isn't nice, it isn't nice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> You told us once, you told us twice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But if that is Freedom's price,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> We don't mind.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">We have tried negotiations</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> And the three-man picket line,<sup><a href="http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/MALVINA/mr073.htm#1">1</a></sup></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Mr. Charlie<sup><a href="http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/MALVINA/mr073.htm#2">2</a></sup> didn't see us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> And he might as well be blind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Now our new ways aren't nice </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> When we deal with men of ice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But if that is Freedom's price, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> We don't mind.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">How about those years of lynchings </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> And the shot in Evers' back?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Did you say it wasn't proper,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Did you stand upon the track?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> You were quiet just like mice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Now you say we aren't nice, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> And if that is Freedom's price, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> We don't mind.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">It isn't nice to block the doorway,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> It isn't nice to go to jail,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> There are nicer ways to do it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But the nice ways always fail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> It isn't nice, it isn't nice, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> But thanks for your advice, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> Cause if that is Freedom's price,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> We don't mind.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #993366;"><b>Additional notes</b></span><br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1547442213806588475&postID=2332634525888250701" name="1"></a>1. This refers to an injunction limiting pickets to three. Nancy says she now sings "token picket line," as being less obscure and more gender-inclusive. <br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1547442213806588475&postID=2332634525888250701" name="2"></a>2. <i>The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang</i> defines "Charlie" as "white men regarded as oppressors of blacks.--used contemptuously. Also Mr. Charlie, Boss Charlie."</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div></div><br />
</div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-81382231319163256312011-02-03T20:31:00.000-08:002011-02-03T20:31:45.876-08:00SUDAN - Flogging A Woman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have come across this vimeo video of a woman in Sudan being flogged. I apologise for posting three such brutal posts in a row, but what can I say? This is the world we live in. I hope my next posting will be pleasantly weird.<br />
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</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="333" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17618458" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/17618458">Flogging of Sudanese women in Khartoum</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5433250">Anne Enke</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/sudan"></a><br />
<div id="article-header"> <div id="main-article-info"> <h1><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/13/sudan-woman-flogged-youtube">Sudan investigates </a>case of woman seen being flogged on YouTube clip</h1><div class="stand-first-alone" id="stand-first">Footage sparks international condemnation as police laugh and joke as they administer whipping to screaming woman</div></div></div><br />
<ul class="article-attributes"><li class="publication"> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a>, <time datetime="2010-12-13T15:15GMT" pubdate="">Monday 13 December 2010 15.15 GMT </time> </li>
<li class="history"><br />
</li>
<div data-global-auto-refresh-switch="on" id="article-wrapper"> <figure> <img alt="Screengrab from a YouTube clip of a woman being lashed in a carpark by police in Sudan." height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/12/13/1292253048428/Screengrab-from-a-YouTube-007.jpg" width="460" /> <figcaption>Screengrab from a YouTube clip of a woman being lashed in a carpark by police in Sudan. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/sudan" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Sudan">Sudan</a>'s judiciary has launched an investigation into the public flogging of a woman after footage of her being whipped by laughing policemen was posted to the internet.
The YouTube video shows an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVXRuAaCVlY&feature=player_embedded" title="">unidentified woman in a long black dress and a headscarf being ordered to sit down in a parking lot</a> (<strong>Warning:</strong> Video contains graphic images of violence some may find disturbing).<span style="color: red;"> [NOTE: YouTube removed the video saying that it was too graphic. That's strange. I remember once watching a beheading on YouTube.]</span>
A uniformed policeman proceeds to whip her all over her body as she screams in pain. A second officer laughs when he realises he is being filmed, before joining in the punishment, which lasts a minute and a half.
Flogging is relatively common is northern Sudan, where sharia law is often enforced arbitrarily. But the cruel, nonchalant behaviour of the security forces amid the distress of the victim in this case caused a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/11/sudan-laws-control-not-morality" title="">stir in the country and the diaspora</a>, and even attracted condemnation in some pro-government newspapers.
Initially Sudan's deputy police chief, Adel Al-Agib, tried to downplay the incident, saying that the footage was circulated in order to damage the image of the country, <a href="http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-judiciary-orders-probe,37253" title="">according to the Sudan Tribune newspaper</a>.
But the judicial authority, which oversees the legal system, released a statement yesterday saying it had launched an official inquiry to see if the punishment had been administered improperly.
"The investigation was started immediately after the images of the young woman, being punished under Articles 154 and 155 of the 1991 Sudanese penal code, appeared on the internet," the judiciary said in a statement, according to state media.
These articles allow up to 100 lashes for adultery and running a brothel, in addition to a jail sentence. In this case the woman's alleged crime is not known, although comments on social media sites suggest it could have been the wearing of trousers, which has in the past been judged to violate a law governing "indecent or immoral dress".
In the subtitles on the clip, a policeman can be heard telling the women that her punishment is 53 lashes, and that she will be jailed for two years if she does not submit to the flogging. Another voice says the woman should comply because "we want to go [home]".
During her ordeal, which was witnessed by numerous passers-by, the victim shouts repeatedly for her mother and grabs one the whips of one of the policeman in a vain attempt to stop the beating. The case follows the well-publicised trial last year of Lubna Hussein, a UN worker who was arrested with a dozen other women for <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/04/sudan-woman-trousers-court" title="">wearing trousers at a party in the Sudanese capital</a>, Khartoum.</figcaption></figure></div></ul></div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-62548709697031607442011-02-03T16:46:00.000-08:002011-02-03T17:09:07.379-08:00BANGLADESH - Whipped Top Death At Age 14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1353234/Bangladesh-girl-14-whipped-dead-affair-married-man-rape-cousin.html">Whipped to death </a>for having 'affair' with married man: Horrific fate of girl, 14, lashed 70 times after alleged rape by cousin</span></h1><div class="float-r hidden" id="digg-button"></div><br />
<div class="thinFloatRHS"><img alt="Executed: Mosammet Hena, 14, who was whipped to death for having a relationship with a married man, was allegedly raped by her cousin" class="blkBorder" height="423" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/03/article-1353234-0D083AAA000005DC-139_233x423.jpg" width="233" /> <br />
<div class="imageCaption">Executed: Mosammet Hena, 14, who was whipped to death for having a relationship with a married man, was allegedly raped by her cousin</div></div>A teenager whipped to death in Bangladesh for having a relationship with a married man was allegedly raped by her cousin, it has emerged.<br />
Four Islamic clerics were arrested this week for ordering Mosammet Hena, 14, to receive 100 lashes in a fatwa or religious edict at a village in the south-western Shariatpur district.<br />
It has now been reported that the teenage girl was raped by her married cousin and then accused of having an affair with him.<br />
The girl collapsed after she was lashed in public with a bamboo cane around 70 times on Monday, police chief Shahidur Rahman said.<br />
She was taken to hospital, but died hours later.<br />
Police chief Shahidur Rahman said the 40-year-old man with whom the girl was allegedly involved was also sentenced to 100 lashes, but he fled to escape the punishment.<br />
'We are hunting for the man,' he said.<br />
The girl was reportedly beaten by the man’s family before the lashing sentence was passed.<br />
‘What sort of justice is this?’ the girl's father asked the BBC.<br />
‘My daughter has been beaten to death in the name of justice. If it had been a proper court then my daughter would not have died.’ <br />
<div class="relatedItemsTopBorder"></div><div class="relatedItems">Fatwas are illegal in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation governed by secular law</div>But Islamic clerics often preside over courts that use Sharia law and issue fatwas to deal with issues including extra-marital relationships.<br />
Such incidents usually occur in remote villages where police are unable to gain quick access.<br />
<div class="clear"></div><div class="thinCenter"><img alt="Distress: Villagers gathered outside the teenager's home after news of her execution" class="blkBorder" height="286" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/03/article-1353234-0D07E3EB000005DC-152_468x286.jpg" width="468" /> <br />
<div class="imageCaption">Distress: Villagers gathered outside the teenager's home after news of her execution</div></div><br />
Sharia law punishment was outlawed by the Bangladeshi High court last but this latest incident is not the first since the prohibition.<br />
<div class="clear"></div><br />
A 40-year-old woman died in December having been caned over an alleged affair with her stepson.<br />
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</div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-32818200096179506772011-02-03T16:18:00.000-08:002011-02-03T16:39:55.520-08:00AFGHANISTAN - Two Stonings.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Allahu Akbar!</div><br />
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<object height="370" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/9eb_1293414372"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/9eb_1293414372" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="370"></embed></object></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350945/Horrific-video-emerges-Taliban-fighters-stoning-couple-death-adultery.html">Stoned to death with her lover:</a> Horrific video of execution of girl, 19, killed by Afghan Taliban for running away from arranged marriage</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold;">TALIBAN SPOKESMAN: 'Anyone who knows about Islam knows that stoning is in the Koran, and that it is Islamic law. There are people who call it inhuman - but in doing so they insult the Prophet. They want to bring foreign thinking to this country'</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT</span></div><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Horrific video footage has emerged of Taliban insurgents stoning a couple to death for alleged adultery in northern Afghanistan.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Hundreds of villagers can be seen on the video standing around as the woman, Siddqa, is buried up to her waist in a four foot hole in the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Two mullahs pass sentence before the crowd begins to throw rocks at her head and body as she desperately tries to crawl free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">But the 19-year-old collapses to the ground, covered in blood - but miraculously still alive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">At this point a Taliban fighter shoots her three times in the head with an AK-47The crowd can be heard shouting allahu akbar as she is killed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Her lover, Khayyam, is then marched in front of the crowd with his hands tied behind his back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">He is blindfolded with his own tunic and crouches down close to the ground as he tried to protect his body from the stones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">But he is battered to the floor by a barrage of rocks. He can be heard sobbing before eventually falling silent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The stoning - the first to be documented on film since the Taliban were ousted from power - took place in the district of Dashte Archi, in Kunduz, last August.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Officials said that Siddqa had run away after being sold into an arranged marriage for $9,000 against her will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">She ran away to be with Khayyam, who was already married and had two children, and the pair eloped to Pakistan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">But it is understand that they returned to their home village after being reassured by leaders that they would be unharmed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">It was a terrible mistake. They were dragged from their families' homes at 2am by Taliban fighters and then put before a kangaroo court before being executed. <br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The incident took place last October near the Afghan border with Tajikstan, a conservative district with a heavy extremist presence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The area remains under Taliban control, but regional police have said those behind the stoning will be charged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Police chief General Daoud Daoud told the BBC: 'Special police investigators will be sent there, we will find them and they will be brought to justice.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Most of the video has not been shown because it was too graphic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid defended the stoning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">He told the BBC: 'Anyone who knows about Islam knows that stoning is in the Koran, and that it is Islamic law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'There are people who call it inhuman - but in doing so they insult the Prophet. They want to bring foreign thinking to this country.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span>Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350945/Horrific-video-emerges-Taliban-fighters-stoning-couple-death-adultery.html#ixzz1CwhMYGGB" style="color: #003399;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350945/Horrific-video-emerges-Taliban-fighters-stoning-couple-death-adultery.html#ixzz1CwhMYGGB</a><br />
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For even more information, see <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/01/anyone-who-knows-about-islam-knows-that-stoning-is-islamic-law-there-are-people-who-call-it-inhuman.html">Jihad Watch</a><br />
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</div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-6564323359447625942011-01-17T21:55:00.000-08:002011-01-17T21:55:49.710-08:00USA - Do-It-Yourself Gastric Bypass SurgeryAre you seriously overweight and want a Gastric bypass operation? Your insurance doesn't cover it or you have no insurance? Try this at Amazon.com (NOTE: Anesthetic not included):<br />
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<h1 class="Title"><a href="http://hothardware.com/News/Stranger-Than-Fiction-DoItYourself-Gastric-Bypass-Kit-Invades-Amazoncom/"><span style="font-size: large;">Stranger Than Fiction: Do-It-Yourself Gastric Bypass Kit Invades Amazon.com</span></a></h1><div class="Byline">Saturday, January 15, 2011 - by <a href="mailto:michael.s@hothardware.com">Michael Santo</a></div><div class="Body"> <div>Obesity is a problem in the United States, and it's not a secret. Gastric bypass surgery is a radical, often last-ditch effort to "cure" the problem, and apparently some have decided that it's not something that requires a doctor: there appears to be a DIY kit available on Amazon.com. <br />
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Just to be clear, there are two sellers available, but the kit isn't sold by <a href="http://hothardware.com/Tags/amazoncom.aspx">Amazon.com</a> (or fulfilled, either), so Amazon Prime is not an option. Including shipping, the kit will run you about $280, but the item really includes 3 kits, in case you get it wrong the first time. There is no anesthesia included, so you'll have to get that somewhere else. <br />
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<center><img alt="" src="http://hothardware.com/newsimages/Item15891/GastricBypass.jpg" style="height: 320px; width: 564px;" /></center><br />
It has a buyer rating of 4.5 out of 5. However, some have reported the instructions are not very clear. The fact that they insert 3 kits in the one item may be seen as a comfort, as you will have multiple tries. It is similar to the case with screen protectors, we assume, where it is almost a requirement that more than one attempt be made.<br />
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In reality, a look at the reviews show that all are tongue-in-cheek. That said, because of that we have no idea how the kit is really rated. Just remember, since it's not sold by Amazon Prime, you have to rely on Amazon's Marketplace policy for returns, which is not as liberal as its own. If you have an experience with the kit, please leave a review at Amazon.com, or in our own comments, below.</div><div> </div><div>To see the comments, click on the article title.</div><div> </div><div>BTW, this item is no longer available. Sorry, fatty!</div></div><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3a93/0/0/%2a/i;44306;0-0;0;24082266;3137-500/250;0/0/0;;%7Eokv=;sz=500x250;fmzid=2566;;fmcls=ATF;tile=1;qcseg=D;qcseg=T;qcseg=2893;qcseg=2785;qcseg=2783;qcseg=2355;qcseg=2354;qcseg=2353;qcseg=2351;qcseg=2350;qcseg=2348;qcseg=2346;qcseg=2345;qcseg=2344;qcseg=2341;qcseg=2340;qcseg=2338;qcseg=1554;qcseg=1286;qcseg=1160;qcseg=1159;qcseg=1158;qcseg=1156;qcseg=1149;qcseg=1148;qcseg=1147;qcseg=983;;%7Eaopt=2/1/71/0;%7Esscs=%3f" target="_top"><img alt="Click here to find out more!" border="0" src="http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif" /></a>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-72555095767880354682011-01-14T00:54:00.000-08:002011-01-14T00:54:15.294-08:00FRANCE & SAUDI ARABIA - Pres. Sarkozy and Wife Strolling On The BeachThe happy couple on the Riviera. Or maybe by the Arabian Sea. You be the judge.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKw2y1R4O9SeNvOLClKTvXFDW6wQFInmhJtWdnleh453DzZU-XeW_Whf3fL8YkOltSxlHpE2cKrSbp17l6kjA9NKrP4ukoe7va9mPmz5QKUcImpxgnmMXy1fU-iFrXbqXSGG6HqvfNQZW/s1600/sarkozy-wife-complete.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKw2y1R4O9SeNvOLClKTvXFDW6wQFInmhJtWdnleh453DzZU-XeW_Whf3fL8YkOltSxlHpE2cKrSbp17l6kjA9NKrP4ukoe7va9mPmz5QKUcImpxgnmMXy1fU-iFrXbqXSGG6HqvfNQZW/s640/sarkozy-wife-complete.gif" width="430" /></a></div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-48060908995815438082011-01-10T15:42:00.000-08:002011-02-18T16:08:14.108-08:00USA - (I think) - TEXTS GONE WRONG!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">n</div>By popular demand, here are some very strange autocorrects.<br />
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So sit back and enjoy...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeY9f64jjUkrV6x91XhOoTy1BAhv1cCFKMur0S8_k86HbZbJRFQVMae6_YxQsDroMLxlQs56lsZ62gvrNdYrOQlesoiYZFGuY2Xdy8GhEVp2sLa_O-E4yeuNpPv0cxnsIdGgOC19IiQU/s1600/kudi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeY9f64jjUkrV6x91XhOoTy1BAhv1cCFKMur0S8_k86HbZbJRFQVMae6_YxQsDroMLxlQs56lsZ62gvrNdYrOQlesoiYZFGuY2Xdy8GhEVp2sLa_O-E4yeuNpPv0cxnsIdGgOC19IiQU/s1600/kudi.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1eAB1rgEvcQk50IPCLlYUb-h10CuBQ8J8ADoNDGpedmj82b2Q5JGlT8RNRa7O3RpGcnECZ1FJYlEHMaO8a_qnJG3illHerZs0xha1vPHKgzWoERnzSvS_H66JcZhWEN0c_a7XmCahio/s1600/ttb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1eAB1rgEvcQk50IPCLlYUb-h10CuBQ8J8ADoNDGpedmj82b2Q5JGlT8RNRa7O3RpGcnECZ1FJYlEHMaO8a_qnJG3illHerZs0xha1vPHKgzWoERnzSvS_H66JcZhWEN0c_a7XmCahio/s320/ttb1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVryA3RvGz53HkRffwvM77p85OdMha4IOZ4IRsUfeM4y7XOGzxro_whCR0On2HAAYKs3tQy6kY-_RRyNin-5nPlPdwWLFRd83Pa53bJe7HDjmztRTJL9AtlEh_uYP7kFSM-ALBfr4Ulhc/s1600/texts+gone+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVryA3RvGz53HkRffwvM77p85OdMha4IOZ4IRsUfeM4y7XOGzxro_whCR0On2HAAYKs3tQy6kY-_RRyNin-5nPlPdwWLFRd83Pa53bJe7HDjmztRTJL9AtlEh_uYP7kFSM-ALBfr4Ulhc/s1600/texts+gone+bad.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDa6HGCd2gFVMb8rZFhzIe_p53u94KMU9-sknoSfFLYLmHQs7l9DWdF-T2hpW86gASjceywnbZoKuIe3jWUiJx9SaplcmCqviuqEFGvLWphSToaHcWOkC5OGQyeB-mB9WgCYB-e6heqw/s1600/singh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDa6HGCd2gFVMb8rZFhzIe_p53u94KMU9-sknoSfFLYLmHQs7l9DWdF-T2hpW86gASjceywnbZoKuIe3jWUiJx9SaplcmCqviuqEFGvLWphSToaHcWOkC5OGQyeB-mB9WgCYB-e6heqw/s1600/singh.gif" /></a></div></div>Simayananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12690050614711171210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-61478367949390058282010-10-29T17:44:00.000-07:002010-10-29T17:48:19.497-07:00USA - We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident...<div style="text-align: center;"><i>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_men_are_created_equal" title="All men are created equal">all men are created equal</a>, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness" title="Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness">Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness</a>. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson in the<a href="http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html"> Declaration of Independence. </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFq4Oh5XviwZlMc3FgZhjq_3EuGDx-v8misNAAmwQWEn5pxOrGNRSA-BHugV8AmzK-ha_7uVgvbqMHWZaZeGQwvucKzhnPzXFHfu-YZK70Jm2B-jZMbiwrd4dNtfmerh_d2r52Jx1iFE/s400/Thom+and+Sally.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Thom and Sally" </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/American-Sphinxthe-the-Amazing-Relationships-Between-Sally-Hemings-and-Thomas-Jefferson"><i>Sally Heming and Thomas Jefferson</i></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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A bit of Americana for your purusal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrcbYMaReUmguDuLX261GyEpmaqy8kROvPMkxL4uZ1cdWoeqSNE6RUFXZROIGfu9NJ08WB3lq_KNUq4DsQeg6AxxgXkLJeCPYwqFByThIIDcGBHjbUgWXik6vFZFikVDQcGJwjwi8gzY/s640/Slave+sale.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="436" /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrcbYMaReUmguDuLX261GyEpmaqy8kROvPMkxL4uZ1cdWoeqSNE6RUFXZROIGfu9NJ08WB3lq_KNUq4DsQeg6AxxgXkLJeCPYwqFByThIIDcGBHjbUgWXik6vFZFikVDQcGJwjwi8gzY/s1600/Slave+sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-44111915806270453832010-08-22T22:53:00.000-07:002010-08-22T22:53:52.444-07:00SAUDI ARABIA - A Spine For A Spine<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once again, let's hear it for Saudi Arabian justice!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It seems the doctors don't object to this. Just remember that the next time you go into surgery. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And perhaps just as alarming (to me, anyway) Amnesty International, of which I am a member, is suggesting that he just be fined <i>or flogged. </i>I have already posted in this blog about flogging. Go figure.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/08/saudi-arabia-amnesty-international-urges-authorities-to-flog-suspect-instead-of-imposing-harsher-punishment-spinal-cord-mutil.html">SAUDI ARABIA:</a> Human rights group urges authorities to flog crime suspect instead of imposing spinal cord punishment</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c5u1DOV_wBBK4QSsT0QXYckjS2f-gmPtln7mtc29WvDWIHtYRPSN-GHV6nIOj6fCkJomkcgpxpOSwSlZYs3x2nqQ8voX4pM9BBZdGqBXaqOV8ZSRKnQtIRbMbMR-1nxo7n03Cnpdb0A/s1600/spinal+cord+-+Saudi+cut.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c5u1DOV_wBBK4QSsT0QXYckjS2f-gmPtln7mtc29WvDWIHtYRPSN-GHV6nIOj6fCkJomkcgpxpOSwSlZYs3x2nqQ8voX4pM9BBZdGqBXaqOV8ZSRKnQtIRbMbMR-1nxo7n03Cnpdb0A/s400/spinal+cord+-+Saudi+cut.png" width="348" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">August 21, 2010 | 7:30 am</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You know a country's human rights situation is bad when even Amnesty International is urging that a guy be methodically whipped or caned on his back as a compromise to avoid an even harsher sentence.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Human rights monitors have grown alarmed over the case of a Saudi man who might have his spinal cord severed as punishment for badly injuring another guy during a fight a few years ago.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Amnesty International has urged Saudi Arabian authorities not to deliberately paralyze the man as a form of retribution for injuries he allegedly caused with a cleaver during a fight.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"We urge the Saudi Arabian authorities not to carry out such a punishment, which amounts to nothing less than torture," Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, acting director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Program, said in a statement. "While those guilty of a crime should be held accountable, intentionally paralyzing a man in this way would constitute torture, and be a breach of its international human rights obligations."</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">According to Amnesty International, a court in the northwestern Saudi Arabian town of Tabuk had asked hospitals whether they could mutilate the man's spinal cord as requested by his alleged victim. One hospital apparently said it could create the injury.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Amnesty said the court could decide not to impose the punishment and instead sentence the suspect to jail, hand him a stiff a fine or at the very worst, systematically whip or cane him on the back.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Basically, Amnesty, among the world's leading human rights groups, is advocating one form of torture in place of an even more horrific punishment.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The man's name has not been publicized. He was originally sentenced to seven months in prison. Amnesty says he was tried without a lawyer.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-- Los Angeles Times</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-59422363991810748412010-08-10T13:55:00.000-07:002010-08-10T14:24:06.547-07:00USA - Pea In Lung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Two posts in one day. These things usually come in threes. We'll see.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1pMC6lUDY5yXj14wh-Xyb8iA-BMxvaQoUxJBByfnMfXFSp27lhbWktQ5sg3wEVvUTDThE98NM6sOvzN0-yeCuC0xqKDja3Dg5Zqb2kjJ0wOgB8R1UFUV5OABWgO0L-ksmHmO8PcSwEs/s1600/lung+pea+plant+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1pMC6lUDY5yXj14wh-Xyb8iA-BMxvaQoUxJBByfnMfXFSp27lhbWktQ5sg3wEVvUTDThE98NM6sOvzN0-yeCuC0xqKDja3Dg5Zqb2kjJ0wOgB8R1UFUV5OABWgO0L-ksmHmO8PcSwEs/s320/lung+pea+plant+3.png" /></a></div><br />
I heard on the news about this dude who had a pea growing in his lung. That was too good to ignore so I goggled on "pea plant in lung." Yups, here's gramps and gramma, too, discussing this weirdness. Honest, I couldn't make this up. How could he aspirate something as big as a pea? From <a href="http://www2.turnto10.com/lifestyles/news/2010/aug/10/health-check-pea-plant-lung-ar-186510/">NBC New Health Check</a><br />
<br />
<object height="295" width="429"><param name="movie" value="http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=2c7634e4f5e9102da6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=JAR&embed_player=1" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=2c7634e4f5e9102da6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=JAR&embed_player=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="429" height="295"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Since a stroke a while back, I have some trouble aspirating food. I guess I'll be very careful to cough it all up, especially when eating raw seed things. And I might stop eating radish seeds entirely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-19119819272846174602010-08-10T10:52:00.000-07:002010-08-10T10:52:44.720-07:00CAMEROON - Breast Ironing<span style="color: #000099;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">How many worthy causes can one person handle? This is the strangest I've gotten in a while. It definitely is tragic; it also qualifies as weird.<br />
<br />
Feel free to take action.<br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="gmail_quote"><br />
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<tr valign="top"> <td style="padding-right: 20px;">Hi Mai,<br />
<br />
Lots of women have mixed feelings about their breasts. We push them up, strap them down...but at the end of the day, they're a part of our bodies and ourselves. Unfortunately, mothers in Cameroon have waged war against these buds of womanhood. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AF.kW/zKcQ/Bc3c5" style="color: #1b8abe; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">In an attempt to prevent sexual violence and curb teen pregnancy, Cameroon mothers are ironing their daughters' breasts. » </a> <br />
<br />
Girls' breasts are pressed on with hot stones to make them less attractive, a painful procedure than can cause bruises, deformities, abscesses, and even the disappearance of one or both breasts. Breast ironing starts at the first onset of puberty, and as diet in Cameroon improves, girls are starting puberty at a younger age. <a href="http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AF.kW/zKcQ/Bc3c5" style="color: #1b8abe; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Girls as young as nine are having hot stones pressed against their breasts. » </a><br />
<br />
Mothers may think breast ironing is "for their [daughters'] own good," but it's not a replacement for adequate sex education.<a href="http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AF.kW/zKcQ/Bc3c5" style="color: #1b8abe; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> Urge the UN Secretary General to speak out against breast ironing and advocate for sex education in Cameroon. »</a><br />
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Kayla<br />
ThePetitionSite </td> </tr>
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WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-75278894228470422572010-07-24T00:33:00.000-07:002010-07-24T00:33:01.861-07:00USA TOTALLY AMAZING CHALK DRAWINGS<div><div><br />
This time, no beheadings or floggings or bulging tatoos. Today, I have something nice-weird. Enjoy!<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><blockquote style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(16, 16, 255); border-style: none none none solid; border-width: medium medium medium 1.5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 3.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4pt;"><div><div><div><div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left: 10pt;"><tbody>
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<tr> <td style="padding: 0in;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div></div></div></td></tr>
<tr> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><div><div><div><div style="margin-left: 0.25pt;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold;">THE COLORED-CHALK MAN IS BACK</span></span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 3.75pt;"><div><div><div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div><div><b><span style="color: maroon; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: maroon; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold;">This guy continues to amaze people with his sidewalk 3D chalk drawings.</span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #000099;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">ALL THESE PICTURES ARE FLAT, DRAWN ON THE SIDEWALKS!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">(I have a bunch more of these, if anyone is interested. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ0jl_zDSxvvSkGglD1qswFkBEdrWASNsQ0sF_-U8M0l1KNZ2EPh6ZCrDDZQkIDumEyzZqxgBw9278YxdKpaGsjGCr3LdjfIPbpRi_4k27N5qGMTCzVC7qsJHLtw9FrH-EUaTxVwAuMg/s1600/image017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ0jl_zDSxvvSkGglD1qswFkBEdrWASNsQ0sF_-U8M0l1KNZ2EPh6ZCrDDZQkIDumEyzZqxgBw9278YxdKpaGsjGCr3LdjfIPbpRi_4k27N5qGMTCzVC7qsJHLtw9FrH-EUaTxVwAuMg/s320/image017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> </div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-21610011911749888812010-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:002010-07-11T12:12:22.422-07:00USA - MONEY TALKS...I'm not sure if this qualifies as weird. <br />
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My husband asked me to create for him a graphic of Money talks, male bovine defecation walks for his blog. I came up with this: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsPn9gK1YiHkDc1zbNYdNUluYW4M9ierYffFu5Z3ntZY82y2TGfrPW6ab2irCvF2Z0fNC6NZmHg2QouBjLzOELHP4YN1YiBxTJ-Dk1gphFR3pg1c0hVS4opFKnpHU4_ol5p6gkuzXd1ZB/s1600/money+walks+green.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsPn9gK1YiHkDc1zbNYdNUluYW4M9ierYffFu5Z3ntZY82y2TGfrPW6ab2irCvF2Z0fNC6NZmHg2QouBjLzOELHP4YN1YiBxTJ-Dk1gphFR3pg1c0hVS4opFKnpHU4_ol5p6gkuzXd1ZB/s1600/money+walks+green.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglojSXLvkkYjppmecHEq4E4tjiv6-tR1tq0RAD76XjNbm8bSw4EmjQODnbMwk99r36tl7r-DWBHVDr9EemTyn6sK4zUWbwF9aZzGcwZ_iOsCHr1cYReUPFghggdAoXleKmhKHnAMg37ndf/s1600/bullshit+walks.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglojSXLvkkYjppmecHEq4E4tjiv6-tR1tq0RAD76XjNbm8bSw4EmjQODnbMwk99r36tl7r-DWBHVDr9EemTyn6sK4zUWbwF9aZzGcwZ_iOsCHr1cYReUPFghggdAoXleKmhKHnAMg37ndf/s1600/bullshit+walks.gif" /></a></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-40325754074840757802010-07-01T12:28:00.000-07:002010-07-01T12:28:32.772-07:00GULF OF MEXICO (AND SPREADING): Not With A Bang...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOW3U5BbRkmvBNMzBWtSWrMh3aXxTnuo7Sf8ori_D_17YmArGHgBRDfhpFzC9sk5Y87buv6m_R04ruyn7RYMXLglI3y2XRDnPPvDnJngDXS1FYuvlwAp5tXiKCnCahV_5sQ0u4P1Q_99I/s1600/BP+-+text.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOW3U5BbRkmvBNMzBWtSWrMh3aXxTnuo7Sf8ori_D_17YmArGHgBRDfhpFzC9sk5Y87buv6m_R04ruyn7RYMXLglI3y2XRDnPPvDnJngDXS1FYuvlwAp5tXiKCnCahV_5sQ0u4P1Q_99I/s640/BP+-+text.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The weirdest post of all. <br />
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This is a post I hoped I would never write. As you, my readers, know, I practice the virtue of chardi kala, translated in many different ways, but all having the meaning of eternal optimism and never giving up. I am still practicing, but it is hard.<br />
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No doubt by now you have heard about the massive oil spill by British Petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico in the Caribbean Sea, truly a paradise on earth. Or at least it was until 20 April 2010. On that day the Deepwater Horizon oil rig - owned and run by British Petroleum - exploded, caught fire and began gushing massive amounts of crude oil into the pristine waters around it. Eleven were killed and 17 injured. That was tragic, but it is just the beginning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xDAD2yGo9R1KDR03f3Oj5L1V7C8qpHuURIcMzFDlJ1-0uzvw_iWdM1W3IGyyFjjefm-nAfWnVudC6a02tuq6pOxVlu-gLzEB7tgYQNuFZeVfUPmYEMAuOaCgA9w39oPB-NblTZMs06ke/s1600/Deepwater++++Horizon+explosion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xDAD2yGo9R1KDR03f3Oj5L1V7C8qpHuURIcMzFDlJ1-0uzvw_iWdM1W3IGyyFjjefm-nAfWnVudC6a02tuq6pOxVlu-gLzEB7tgYQNuFZeVfUPmYEMAuOaCgA9w39oPB-NblTZMs06ke/s400/Deepwater++++Horizon+explosion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The amount of oil gushing into the Gulf is estimated at somewhere between 1,475,000 and 4,200,000 gallons per day ( 5,583,432 and 15,828,729 liters/day). No one knows how much oil is in this well, how long it can keep gushing. Years or decades, if it is not somehow stopped. So far nothing has worked. In fact, efforts have actually made it worse. </div><br />
Here's a nice little widget to help you calculate.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="5" marginwidth="5" scrolling="no" src="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/oil-ticker/" width="310px"></iframe></div><br />
Those are pretty dry figures for most people, so here's a more graphic look. This is what the spill looks like right now (30 June 2010): <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3N4beXKRBGYGz-GRp4lU8uiy_dF9AH0qRfZIPExtX2r2LSdny5ArkGvboTxWxzohf9_8XPMhC15Ypr5bPjxunCEGCC6WAzMyg2uKBVmV8JGwEw3r-4QRbuhTc3bYcywZMvSyQoN6M21/s1600/new+orleans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3N4beXKRBGYGz-GRp4lU8uiy_dF9AH0qRfZIPExtX2r2LSdny5ArkGvboTxWxzohf9_8XPMhC15Ypr5bPjxunCEGCC6WAzMyg2uKBVmV8JGwEw3r-4QRbuhTc3bYcywZMvSyQoN6M21/s400/new+orleans.png" width="400" /></a></div>I realise that most of my readers really can't relate to southern Louisiana, so here is the spill in other locations where I have readers:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7oZCziW9ODznzMbQV25Ty3yv472gRC-OIIc-M827_YXU7xObf4bWWM8bolWzQ_UHLBmU6pk5szb3JJplNXnDORlCWzZSOacECJFS_S_mmlMYjPU1siVSlynXy0ZTLh3TMJb7bNCzpUho/s1600/OIL+SPILL+SIZE+SIX.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7oZCziW9ODznzMbQV25Ty3yv472gRC-OIIc-M827_YXU7xObf4bWWM8bolWzQ_UHLBmU6pk5szb3JJplNXnDORlCWzZSOacECJFS_S_mmlMYjPU1siVSlynXy0ZTLh3TMJb7bNCzpUho/s400/OIL+SPILL+SIZE+SIX.png" width="400" /></a></div>If I happened to miss your locale, go to<a href="http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/#loc=Kansas+City%2C+MO+64118%2C+USA&lat=39.220735&lng=-94.5727598&x=-94.5727598&y=39.220735&z=7"> Ifitwasmyhome</a> to move the spill to wherever you live.<br />
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Perhaps you'd like to see it as it happens.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="490" marginheight="5" marginwidth="5" scrolling="no" src="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/oil-ticker/video.html" width="300px"></iframe></div><br />
If that's not enough to bring it home to you, here are a few oil-soaked pelicans. I find this horribly painful to look at.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZIdVxPndKYFTAc8L_rFCnkaAjcIrW_1BvfpQJtn6tINDrQOVyodXvcIuT6o139p_QlE9G7bh4BxJv4dHNyu1d-4IT3gXArTS1Zv5MWQvXmBV4Z05QLpha1207JRNvZaNiP6DWm_MyXUH/s1600/oiled+pelicans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZIdVxPndKYFTAc8L_rFCnkaAjcIrW_1BvfpQJtn6tINDrQOVyodXvcIuT6o139p_QlE9G7bh4BxJv4dHNyu1d-4IT3gXArTS1Zv5MWQvXmBV4Z05QLpha1207JRNvZaNiP6DWm_MyXUH/s320/oiled+pelicans.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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In addition, massive amounts of methane gas has been released into the water. This may well turn out to be even more dangerous than the oil. The methane depletes the water of oxygen, leaving all the sea life devoid of the element that is necessary to all life on earth. It is feared that the methane will cause a dead zone where nothing can live, possibly for decades. Also, scientists believe that a huge methane bubble is forming under the water. When it bursts, it could release a tsunami of 20-60 ft (6.1-18.3 m), certainly enough to engulf most of the Caribbean islands. For more information on the gas leak, go here: <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rense.com/general90/gasleak.htm">Gas Leak 3000 Times Worse Than Oil</a>. </span><br />
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And, by the way, with our current technology <i>we have no way to cap or contain the methane. </i><br />
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I guess that's not enough bad news. It is now hurricane season. (For those of you in Asia, those are typhoons.) There will be hurricanes. In fact, the first one is blowing right now. Hurricane Alex did not move close to the spill, but there will be another hurricane and another and another. <br />
<div></div><br />
The next thing to consider is the ocean currents. The Gulf Stream is an ocean river that runs from the Caribbean to Europe.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Eventually this oil and methane and all their problems will reach Europe. They will also travel up the Atlantic coast of North America all the way to Canada and all points north. No one knows how much of the ocean will die. Certainly a large part of the Caribbean Sea will and it will take decades to recover. In the meantime the many people who make their livings along the Gulf, either fishing or in the tourist trade, have lost their means of livelihood. It is even possible that the land they live on will become uninhabitable. Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana has been alerted that a mass evacuation may become necessary, if a hurricane again hits the state. It is likely that once gone, the people will not be allowed to return due to the toxic oil and gas along the coast.</div><div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The earth is one big ecosystem, based primarily on our oceans. If a large part of one ocean dies, that will have a cascade effect on the rest of the planet. How far could this go? Worst case scenario: Bye-bye. "Not with a bang, but a whimper." If you don't recognise those lines, they are the conclusion of T. S Eliot's poem, <i><a href="http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/tseliot/1076">The Hollow Men</a>. </i>To hear the whimper go to<a href="http://www.facebook.com/powerwithoutpetroleum?akid=1142.505695.89QXPG&rd=1&t=2&v=app_4949752878#"> Power<i> </i>Without Petroleum</a> and listen hard at 0:25. <i> </i><br />
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Best case scenario: the southern coast of the United States becomes uninhabitable for a period of time and much of the sea life in the Gulf of Mexico dies, with devastating consequences to the people who now live there. As it is impossible that there be no hurricanes in the season, we can be sure that the winds will carry the oil throughout the region, damaging all it touches. That damage cannot be estimated at this time, except to say it will be extensive.<br />
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This morning (1 July 2010), going through my inbox, I found this article in the daily UN bulletin: <br />
<div id="main-article-info"><blockquote><h1><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/30/biologists-find-oil-spill-deadzones"><span style="font-size: small;">Biologists find 'dead zones' around BP oil spill in Gulf</span></a></h1><div class="stand-first-alone" id="stand-first">Methane at 100,000 times normal levels have been creating oxygen-depleted areas devoid of life near BP's Deepwater Horizon spill, according to two independent scientists</div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbB1Y5WugrSJOPfvOGcI486KtY_F5i9rim28TrNlhMiRlHTSY7Cj2rxlVwj0GNkLCSS1PGteK7ASBh2lSxr86qTWl7eIkxz8qC1tRSGgT9YxszwZ13mN5tjnmax9U8wkqZUq9J1fATgE/s1600/oil+dead+fish+sean+gardner+reuters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbB1Y5WugrSJOPfvOGcI486KtY_F5i9rim28TrNlhMiRlHTSY7Cj2rxlVwj0GNkLCSS1PGteK7ASBh2lSxr86qTWl7eIkxz8qC1tRSGgT9YxszwZ13mN5tjnmax9U8wkqZUq9J1fATgE/s320/oil+dead+fish+sean+gardner+reuters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="stand-first-alone" id="stand-first"><br />
</div><div class="stand-first-alone" id="stand-first"><br />
</div></div>As long as I can remember, the scientists have been screaming "Wolf!" alerting us to this or that which they claim is going to wipe us out. As I child I grew up with "nuclear annihilation." That was the biggie. There have been others: the hole in the ozone layer, swine flu (twice), bird flu, global climate change and I'm sure others that I have forgotten. And it seems, life causes cancer. There is truth in all these scientific assertions, but there was also something we could do to stop or at least alleviate the disaster. As I see it, this is different because we are helpless to do anything except pray. Of course, I am not a scientist, and the only way I see out of this is divine intervention. Even if the spill can somehow be stopped, we can do nothing about the methane. This is the time more than ever before that we need to dig deep within ourselves and find the high spirits, the chardi kala, that is a part of us. It takes courage to look tragedy in the face and carry on without panic or depression. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div></div><i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>And what caused all this? Of course it was British Petroleum cutting corners on safety to save money and increase profit. It was Pres. Clinton who authorised the deep sea drilling. It was Pres. George W. Bush who so favoured the oil interests and permitted a lack of oversight to allow BP not to follow the safety measures. It was Pres. Obama who did not immediately step in to correct this corruption from the previous administration. But it was also all of us who are dependent on petroleum, who refuse to cut back on our usage, we who demand more and more. In the end, if we had not demanded this oil, if we had lost our lust it, BP wouldn't have been able to make the profit that drove them to build this rickety structure upon the rickety structure of our economy. So what now? We have learned why greed is such an evil thing. Whither our good, green beautiful earth?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I keep thinking about the ending of Dr. Strangelove. (A great movie. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you see it while you still can.)</i></div><i><br />
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Remain in chardi kala, my dear brothers and sisters! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d9JCdV7CP_2y1pDRKug0wa0eVvOng0N3HbnWwylOEhqTq9YIJAC9kqP4_dWQiT0O5HnxoVnk8Bx8tom-miCfvE3z4adbEhQdUTUSQkLLOtghMWdUq9_vuhlTCoh0wtrLtQfJ3PJnLuK1/s1600/4+smilies+large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d9JCdV7CP_2y1pDRKug0wa0eVvOng0N3HbnWwylOEhqTq9YIJAC9kqP4_dWQiT0O5HnxoVnk8Bx8tom-miCfvE3z4adbEhQdUTUSQkLLOtghMWdUq9_vuhlTCoh0wtrLtQfJ3PJnLuK1/s320/4+smilies+large.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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pictures: <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deepwater_Horizon_offshore_drilling_unit_on_fire_2010.jpg">the fire - United States Coast Guard </a>(via <i>Wikipedia)</i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/30/biologists-find-oil-spill-deadzones">dead fish - Sean Gardner (Reuters)</a> </i><br />
<a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/caught_in_the_oil.html">the pelicans - Charlie Riedel (AP)</a><br />
the earth - courtesy of NASA <br />
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</div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-58335517421400583262010-06-13T19:03:00.000-07:002010-06-13T19:03:55.987-07:00SAUDI ARABIA - Breast Milk Makes A SonJust when it seems Saudi Arabia can't get any weirder!...<br />
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(Please forgive the lack of an illustration. Every picture I could think of posed a danger of my arrest.) <br />
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<a href="http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/saudi-clerics-advocate-adult-breast-feeding/19504280">Saudi Clerics Advocate Adult Breast-Feeding</a><br />
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(June 5) -- Women in Saudi Arabia should give their breast milk to male colleagues and acquaintances in order to avoid breaking strict Islamic law forbidding mixing between the sexes, two powerful Saudi clerics have said. They are at odds, however, over precisely how the milk should be conveyed.<br />
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A fatwa issued recently about adult breast-feeding to establish "maternal relations" and preclude the possibility of sexual contact has resulted in a week's worth of newspaper headlines in Saudi Arabia. Some have found the debate so bizarre that they're calling for stricter regulations about how and when fatwas should be issued.<br />
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Sheikh Al Obeikan, an adviser to the royal court and consultant to the Ministry of Justice, set off a firestorm of controversy recently when he said on TV that women who come into regular contact with men who aren't related to them ought to give them their breast milk so they will be considered relatives.<br />
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"The man should take the milk, but not directly from the breast of the woman," Al Obeikan said, according to Gulf News. "He should drink it and then becomes a relative of the family, a fact that allows him to come in contact with the women without breaking Islam's rules about mixing."<br />
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Obeikan said the fatwa applied to men who live in the same house or come into contact with women on a regular basis, except for drivers.<br />
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Al Obeikan, who made the statement after being asked on TV about a 2007 fatwa issued by an Egyptian scholar about adult breast-feeding, said that the breast milk ought to be pumped out and given to men in a glass.<br />
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But his remarks were followed by an announcement by another high-profile sheik, Abi Ishaq Al Huwaini, who said that men should suckle the breast milk directly from a woman's breast.<br />
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Shortly after the two sheiks weighed in on the matter, a bus driver in the country's Eastern Region reportedly told one of the female teachers whom he drives regularly that he wanted to suckle milk from her breast. The teacher has threaten to file a lawsuit against him.<br />
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The fatwa stems from the tenets of the strict Wahhabi version of Islam that governs modern Saudi Arabia and forbids women from mixing with men who are not relatives. They are also not allowed to vote, drive or even leave the country without the consent of a male "guardian."<br />
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Under Islamic law, women are encouraged to breast-feed their children until the age of 2. It is not uncommon for sisters, for example, to breast-feed their nephews so they and their daughters will not have to cover their faces in front of them later in life. The custom is called being a "breast milk sibling."<br />
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But under Islamic law, breast milk siblings have to be breastfed before the age of 2 in five "fulfilling" sessions. Islam prohibits sexual relations between a man and any woman who breastfed him in infancy. They are then allowed to be alone together when the man is an adult because he is not considered a potential mate.<br />
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"The whole issue just shows how clueless men are," blogger Eman Al Nafjan wrote on her website. "All this back and forth between sheiks and not one bothers to ask a woman if it's logical, let alone possible to breastfeed a grown man five fulfilling breast milk meals.<br />
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"Moreover, the thought of a huge hairy face at a woman's breast does not evoke motherly or even brotherly feelings. It could go from the grotesque to the erotic but definitely not maternal."<br />
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Al Nafjan said many in the country were appalled by the fatwa.<br />
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"We have many important issues that need discussing," Al Nafjan told AOL News Friday. "It's ridiculous to spend time talking about adult breast-feeding."<br />
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Unlawful mixing between the sexes is taken very seriously in Saudi Arabia. In March 2009, a 75-year-old Syrian widow, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, living in the city of Al-Chamil, was given 40 lashes and sentenced to six months in prison after the religious police learned that two men who were not related to her were in her house, delivering bread to her.<br />
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One of the two men found in her house, Fahd, told the police that Sawadi breast-fed him as a baby so he was considered a son and had a right to be there. But in a later court ruling, a judge said it could not be proved that Fahd was her "breast milk son." Fahd was sentenced to four months in prison and 40 lashes, and the man who accompanied him got six months and 60 lashes.<br />
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The original adult breast-feeding fatwa was issued three years ago by an Egyptian scholar at Egypt's al-Azhar University, considered Sunni Islam's top university. Ezzat Attiya was expelled from the university after advocating breast-feeding of men as a way to circumnavigate segregation of the sexes in Egypt.<br />
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A year ago, Attiya was reinstated to his post.Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-89406054830524557702010-05-28T00:56:00.000-07:002011-02-18T16:06:23.091-08:00INDONESIA - Smoking Toddler - Indonesia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: 12pt;"> <br />
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2-Year-Old Toddler Smokes 40 Cigarettes Per Day!<br />
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This is strange and weird and also tragic. Also disgusting.<br />
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I suppose I shouldn't be moralising.<br />
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</span></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-81066543051203718372010-05-22T13:09:00.000-07:002011-02-18T16:10:03.623-08:00SPAIN - GOOD ON THE BULL!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A powerful commentary about one of the cruelest "sports" on earth. Right there with dog fighting, cock fighting, bear baiting, etc. Please check out: <a href="http://animom.tripod.com/bull.html">The Extreme Cruelty of Bull Fighting</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKv579Bg4pRGnskpodv2hwAc0HLFmKU3BS3RJPGnjSmQimcD4tjg8f7Fmt-8uovxJDTppCOfNc5QdAjsl5zF6cb07Oc4L1WyxRYHohhnofArJxCzRGmrwkrTECPKVGMMqrdzrEurjDDm0/s1600/bull+fighter+gored.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKv579Bg4pRGnskpodv2hwAc0HLFmKU3BS3RJPGnjSmQimcD4tjg8f7Fmt-8uovxJDTppCOfNc5QdAjsl5zF6cb07Oc4L1WyxRYHohhnofArJxCzRGmrwkrTECPKVGMMqrdzrEurjDDm0/s640/bull+fighter+gored.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG38ne6LmdG8QiYevfltEULakMZ8H6jP6-z0gTARcLvtbCytAQ9w4rK352qMFhVcijNFJBAC0DiKNGUVDh2icYqPVisK9o6Mbkf7LnFCXYFfYbi7kWEIxIduPAFwXyACgsJz-LS4qJQHE/s1600/bull.gores+matadore+in+crotch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG38ne6LmdG8QiYevfltEULakMZ8H6jP6-z0gTARcLvtbCytAQ9w4rK352qMFhVcijNFJBAC0DiKNGUVDh2icYqPVisK9o6Mbkf7LnFCXYFfYbi7kWEIxIduPAFwXyACgsJz-LS4qJQHE/s640/bull.gores+matadore+in+crotch.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-32377330978434430642010-05-20T00:30:00.000-07:002010-05-20T00:30:03.054-07:00I DO NOT LIKE BULLIES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I saw that Pakistan banned Facebook because of that "Draw Mohammad" contest. This is my response.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie41W9zmJ9ZzzGKQz8FXZ5ZjWZkOh7hyphenhyphenoxLESDNGmDGLIR2tGjbf3s4yLUAJhkBU-O65EHQHbrE0v28t7jdvCNTYfH6nSswBZBi-hrGJgwK0L0_IuKDob8-4tXB21hULoPL5LQMVsPZHtA/s1600/pakiflag+ala+Mohammed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie41W9zmJ9ZzzGKQz8FXZ5ZjWZkOh7hyphenhyphenoxLESDNGmDGLIR2tGjbf3s4yLUAJhkBU-O65EHQHbrE0v28t7jdvCNTYfH6nSswBZBi-hrGJgwK0L0_IuKDob8-4tXB21hULoPL5LQMVsPZHtA/s640/pakiflag+ala+Mohammed.png" width="640" /></a></div>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-46476953649251804472009-10-31T16:46:00.000-07:002009-10-31T16:48:26.735-07:00INDIA - ONE DEAD SINGHThis post is about a burnt body, the body of a man murdered in the antiSikh riots of 1984. Read it and weep.<br /><br /><br />On 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, was shot and killed by her Sikh bodyguards reacting to her ordering the Army to storm the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, killing an unknown number of pilgrims gathered there in honour of the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.<br /><br />There followed several days of mayhem directed toward the Sikhs of India, especially in the city of Delhi. Many Sikhs were doused with fire and burned alive. these are my thoughts on one of the dead. (What follows is reprinted from <a href="http://roadtokhalistan.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-dead-singh.html">The Road To Khalistan.)</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENmyN713rxHp7FSqn8uSefp_udT7_ekelxAusJ5Q0zEfb9jJ9vU06O2egYaOcOTLh8H8FSTDpoOTIzfu6QgvSCR4OD6z2watdvxndQ2kV-vIxI0E1me-KxX-JWnoVAgmL9XcX7MaNraQ/s1600-h/Burnt+body.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENmyN713rxHp7FSqn8uSefp_udT7_ekelxAusJ5Q0zEfb9jJ9vU06O2egYaOcOTLh8H8FSTDpoOTIzfu6QgvSCR4OD6z2watdvxndQ2kV-vIxI0E1me-KxX-JWnoVAgmL9XcX7MaNraQ/s400/Burnt+body.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396740712842094050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Who is he? Who is this Singh? I have spend countless hours staring at this photograph asking myself questions. Whose son is he? Whose husband, whose dad, whose brother, whose uncle, cousin, friend? Is someone waiting anxiously at home for him, waiting for a footfall that will never come?<br /><br />Where is he from? Does he live in Delhi or is he just visiting? Where was he born? What is his pind? When was he born? How old is he?<br /><br />What is his occupation? Is he an engineer, a doctor, a professor? Or is he a taxi driver or a trucker?<br /><br />What are his politics? Is he an Akali or a member of Congress? Is he a Khalistani or a Bharata Mata lover? Or is he political at all? Is he just trying to live his life and not really concerned about the niceties of the larger world.<br /><br />Why is he keshdhari? Is it just habit, following family custom? Or is it deeply meaningful to him? Does he pray each day, do naam jap, love Vaheguru? Or are those just incidentals that have fallen by the wayside of his life? Where is his turban? How does he feel as it is ripped from his head and his kesh is exposed?<br /><br />How does he feel as he realises the mob is coming for him, chasing him down the street or dragging him from his home or his car or from the bus? What goes on in his brain as the petrol is poured on him and set alight? What is he thinking as his body burns? Or is he beyond thought? Is he aware of the laughing jeering mob around him, enjoying watching his final agonising moments of life on this earth?<br /><br />What is his last awareness as he dies alone, surrounded by merciless thugs?<br /><br />Questions without answers. Whoever he is, he deserves to be remembered. I doubt he had even a death certificate, so I have made him one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bBkYnxUy2a_s-rHYnimStRAov9OKI50_E4lN9e1I44MVoqzARz1Df32oJ30-pA-mLCL29fmrR9QcRtOCplVgv3hrqQkQDdA80EshBQNVoCo7i0AelVco7ETRPRYPEFd4VS2BTJQUyx8/s1600-h/DEATH+CERTIFICATE+FLICKR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 515px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bBkYnxUy2a_s-rHYnimStRAov9OKI50_E4lN9e1I44MVoqzARz1Df32oJ30-pA-mLCL29fmrR9QcRtOCplVgv3hrqQkQDdA80EshBQNVoCo7i0AelVco7ETRPRYPEFd4VS2BTJQUyx8/s400/DEATH+CERTIFICATE+FLICKR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396749783374744210" border="0" /></a>(Click to enlarge)<br /><br />There is something so very final about the certificate. And, of course, I realise that all I have written is wrong and must be rewritten to reflect the truth of 25 years later...<br /><br />Who was he? Who was this Singh? I have spent countless hours staring at this photograph asking myself questions. Whose son was he? Whose husband, whose dad, whose brother, whose uncle, cousin, friend? Was someone waiting anxiously at home for him, waiting for a footfall that never came?<br /><br />Where was he from? Did he live in Delhi or was he just visiting? Where was he born? What was his pind? When was he born? How old was he?<br /><br />What was his occupation? Was he an engineer, a doctor, a professor? Or was he a taxi driver or a trucker?<br /><br />What were his politics? Was he an Akali or a member of Congress? Was he a Khalistani or a Bharata Mata lover? Or was he political at all? Was he just trying to live his life and not really concerned about the niceties of the larger world.<br /><br />Why was he keshdhari? Was it just habit, following family custom? Or was it deeply meaningful to him? Did he pray each day, do naam jap, love Vaheguru? Or were those just incidentals that had fallen by the wayside of his life? Where was his turban? How did he feel as it was ripped from his head and his kesh was exposed?<br /><br />How did he feel as he realised the mob was coming for him, chasing him down the street or dragging him from his home or his car or from the bus? What went on in his brain as the petrol was poured on him and set alight? What was he thinking as his body burned? Or was he beyond thought? Was he aware of the laughing jeering mob around him, enjoying watching his final agonising moments of life on this earth?<br /><br />What was his last awareness as he died alone, surrounded by merciless thugs?<br /><br />He was our brother and he was one single human being, one Sikh among the thousands murdered during the madness of those days in 1984.<br /><br />He is our brother and he deserves justice.<br /><br />One final, unanswered question: When?Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1547442213806588475.post-83335164674403915772009-10-25T22:35:00.001-07:002009-10-25T22:39:08.996-07:00The Hawk Escorts The Sparrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5ci0En58VfrKykHHrern7ILWCT8U9tm7ALLkkBj-urBh5cZV2gaQSBB4DNgLdCkSpD4tikA4RgHey1cVKnVcFVzlVqa3ZcFWmn6bald9O7EChqgurN_bCbg3T6hYcYEbVWPmX1ILoMM/s1600-h/Sparrow+and+Hawk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5ci0En58VfrKykHHrern7ILWCT8U9tm7ALLkkBj-urBh5cZV2gaQSBB4DNgLdCkSpD4tikA4RgHey1cVKnVcFVzlVqa3ZcFWmn6bald9O7EChqgurN_bCbg3T6hYcYEbVWPmX1ILoMM/s400/Sparrow+and+Hawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396778951422634898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW9_xw9FroImFzsd5scNTKbgVo15BSQBnayA4XJnxWpruOynU-6kjg4ZqxYwKPUuBvuAjG7xxiGqYgfMdJM5I3XK9pgmAqLpfiAT7NEXQt2axI0kvhkL-hG2YBRy5UnwMi4hrURO-6WU/s1600-h/Sparrow+and+Hawk.jpg"><br /></a>Maihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093308712240415770noreply@blogger.com0