There are so many reasons to investigate Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from the killing of protesters to the support of terrorism to the backing of countries like Syria in crushing its own citizens. Iranian legislators, however, have accused Ahmadinejad’s aides of working with genies. Various aides have been arrested this month for magic and calling forth gjinns or spirits, including chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei.
Continue reading “Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s Aides Arrested For Sorcery and Consorting With Genies”
Category: International
After reading this on Reddit, I had to share but you may want to get through your breakfast first. I have been repeatedly to China and have had some exotic foods (including hundred-year-old eggs) but I have never run into tong zi dan (童子蛋), or “Boy Egg.” Known also as “Virgin Eggs,” the eggs are the official food of Dongyang, China and are made by steaming them in the urine of young boys.
Continue reading “No Yolk: Boy Eggs in China Rely on Real Boys”
The shocking video below shows the attack that resulted in the lifetime ban of Kazakh player Armand Masimzhanov, 20. The Football Federation of Kazakhstan banned Masimzhanov for the flying kick from behind delivered to one of his opponents, Radmir Muksinova.
Continue reading “Kazakh Player Banned For Life For Assault on Opposing Player”
Current members of the Obama Administration (as well as former Bush officials) are claiming that all that torture under President Bush finally paid off in supplying the leads to eventually finding Osama bin Laden’s hideout. What is striking is not only the lack of any support for the claims, but the immediate effort of Obama officials to justify torture. No doubt these are the same officials supporting Obama’s decision to bar prosecution of individuals who carried out the torture — and later barring the investigation of those who ordered the torture.
Continue reading “A Victory For Torture? Obama Officials Attempt To Justify Torture in Claiming False Credit For Bin Laden Killing”
We have another addition to our series of American Taliban, religious and political leaders who seem to struggle to match our enemies with their own brand of religious extremism and hateful speech. A blog on People for the American Way has an astonishing quote from former prosecutor and Tea Party founder Judson Phillips. Phillips wanted to tell the world that Bin Laden was wrapped in pig fat before he was buried and then questioned whether the President waited to announce the killing during Donald Trump’s The Apprentice out of spite.
Continue reading “Tea Party Founder Objects To Obama Interrupting The Apprentice For Bin Laden Announcement and Wanted Bin Laden Wrapped In Pig Fat”
This video has surfaced that purportedly shows the “imam from the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem” vowing to revenge the death of Osama bin Laden and kill “the western dogs” responsible for his death. However, while this tape is getting a lot of hits, there is still no identification of the alleged imam from one of Islam’s most sacred mosques.
Continue reading “Video: Imam in Jerusalem Calls For Revenge For Bin Laden’s Death”
The video below shows Pereira defender Luis Moreno kicking an owl during a Colombian league game to the horror of many watching the game. Moreno has been given a fine of Colombian pesos ($15,173) for the kick. I just saw this video from a couple months ago and find it astonishing that some people can be so callous in the treatment of animals.
Continue reading “Fowl Play: Soccer Player Fined For Kicking Owl Mascot”
We have seen the continued political attacks from the some on the right on journalists in American politics. They are an easy target by politicians who try to get followers not to listen to independent journalists. However, the annual World Press Freedom Review shows reporters continue to serve their critical function in the world under intense threats and coercion. Last year, 102 journalists were killed.
Continue reading “Report: 102 Journalists Killed In 2010”
Below is today’s column in USA Today on the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Continue reading “Bin Laden: A Time To Reflect”
Various news organizations are reporting that Osama Bin Laden is dead. President Obama is expected to announce the news. Bin Laden was reportedly killed in Pakistan by an operation involving Navy Seals but the story is still unfolding. YahooReports indicate that he was shot in the head after he and his bodyboards resisted an attack by the elite unit.
Continue reading “BIN LADEN DEAD”
After arresting hundreds of Christians for attempting to worship in unapproved services, the Chinese have turned to Buddhists for a crackdown that has reportedly taken the lives of two Tibetans. Chinese forces raided the Kirti Monastery (shown left) after accusing monks of disrupting social order and . . . wait for it . . . defaming their religion. That’s right, the government that occupied Tibet, killed Tibetan monks, sent the Dalai Lama in hiding, and destroyed countless temples has accused these monks of defaming their own religion.
Continue reading “China: Who Will Rid Us of These Meddlesome Monks?”
This morning I kissed by co-human carer and fed my companion animal before sitting down to blog on the recent publication by the Revd Professor Andrew Linzey, a theologian and director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Linzey has denounced the use of the word “pet” and “owner” as derogatory. Don’t even get him started on references to animals as “beasts” or “critters.”
Continue reading “Pet Companion Animal Peeve: Professor Calls For the Elimination of Such “Derogatory” Terms As “Pet,” “Beast,” “Owner,” and “Wildlife””
We have previously followed the trend against free speech in the West ranging from anti-blasphemy laws (including a resolution supported by President Obama) to hate speech prosecutions for criticizing everything from religion to homosexuality to overweight people. England has been a focus of many of these stories. Now, on the Isle of Wight, musician Simon Ledger, 34, has been arrested after singing “Kung Fu Fighting” and a passing person of Chinese descent cried foul.
For those of you still marveling over Susan Boyle’s surprise performance in 2009, meet Edward Reid who took nursery rhymes to a new level on “Britain’s Got Talent” this weekend.
Continue reading “Meet Edward Reid: They Were Happy and They Clapped Their Hands”
How much do you want that really perfect cup of coffee? This article from Reddit caught me eye. It was not that Kopi Luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee at as much as $3000 a pound (though I have seen other bags offered for as little as $200 a pound, but then again, you have to ask yourself, is it pure civet poop?). It was the unique processing used to produce the beans.
Continue reading “Cacaccino: Civet Droppings Become World’s Most Expensive Coffee”