There seems to be an endless series of theories as to what occurred 9-11. Homosexuality, Israel, abortion, and other causes have been cited by religious groups. Given those theories, it is perhaps not so surprising that Scientology has come to claim its standard villains: psychiatrists.
Continue reading “Scientology Solves 9-11: Psychiatrists Did It”
Pakistan appears to have end the conflict with the Taliban but yielding to their extremist demands in northwest Pakistan. Under a new accord, Islamic rule will be allowed in the region and Pakistan will back off from its attempt to control the region. The result will likely increase the violence in Afghanistan and power of the Taliban.
Continue reading “Beating Them By Joining Them: Pakistan Reaches Peace Accord with Taliban That Caves Into Demands for Islamic Law and End of Military Offensive”
Another scientific report has denounced the environmental damage caused by beef consumption in the United States. Nathan Pelletier of Dalhousie University in Canada has released a study showing how cows consume a disproportionate amount of food (more than they produce in meat) and cause 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Continue reading “Hamburgers and Hummers: Scientists Denounce Meat As Major Cause of Global Warming”
Students of Hampshire College are complaining of harassing or intimidating telephone calls. Nothing new there, such calls can be common particularly when the students are leading a political cause. Yet, the alleged caller was Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, who they claim was upset over their effort to get the school to divest from Israel. They allege that Dershowitz (who had a child go to Hampshire) has been calling students and threatening to organize a boycott of the school.
Continue reading “Hampshire Students Accuse Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz of Intimidation”
NATO countries are shocked by the proposal of a leading U.S. military officer on how best to handle drug dealers in Afghanistan. NATO’s senior military commander Gen. John Craddock does not understand why NATO should bother with the need to establish that any given drug dealer is associated with the Taliban. He believes that we should just shoot them all without proof in yet another example of how the United States has emerged as a perceived enemy to the rule of law.
There is yet another terrible crime associated with India’s caste system. In Patna, eight members of a family where shot, beheaded, and thrown into a river after Ratan Mandal, 21, a poor villager, married Kanchan Kumari, 18, above his caste in secret. Fifteen people from the wealthy girl’s family have been charged.
Continue reading “India Family Shot and Beheaded in “Honor Killings””
England continues to use criminal laws and travel bans to punish individuals for controversial speech. One such controversial writer, Dutch politician Geert Wilders, now says that he is going to try to get into the country despite a ban to contest the use of such laws to punish free speech. He was invited to visit the country by a member of Parliament.
Continue reading “Right-Wing Dutch Politician Geert Wilders Challenges British Ban Over His Writings”
In yet another crackdown on free speech over criticism of a religion, the editor and publisher of The Statesman has been arrested for running an article that contains material insulting to Muslims. The Statesman’s editor Ravindra Kumar and publisher Anand Sinha were arrested in Calcutta.
Indian newspapers are reporting that an Indian company is about to introduce a rival to Coca Cola: Cow Urine soda. This ultimate un-cola (or ungulate cola) is made with a base of gau ark (cow urine) though they prefer to call it gau jal (cow water). My doubts about the authenticity of this story have been dispelled by the widespread report in India, where there are long-held views of the health benefits of cow waste, including tooth paste and face powder. I personally like the cow dung after shave to give me that cudly feel in the morning.
Continue reading “The Real Thing: Indian Company Introduces Cow Urine Soft Drink”
A Saudi judge in Jeddah has again given the world a taste of law under the country’s medieval Sharia system. A 23-year-old pregnant woman who complained about being gang raped has been found guilty of adultery (even though she is not married) and ordered that she serve one year in jail and receive 100 lashes.
Continue reading “Saudi Arabian Judge Sentences Pregnant Gang Rape Victim to Jail and 100 Lashes”
With unprecedented inflation making its currency worthless and rampant starvation and cholera, most people would have a hard time celebrating, but not the family and friends of President Mugabe, who have drawn up the list of items needed to celebrate his 85th birthday. The list (below) includes 2,000 bottles of champagne (Moët & Chandon or ’61 Bollinger preferred); 8,000 lobsters; 100kg of prawns; 4,000 portions of caviar; 8,000 boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates; 3,000 ducks; and other essentials. One thing barred is “No mealie meal” — the corn product that is sustaining millions of people in the country.
In Ipswich, Australia, a 16-year-old boy who was told by police to lay down in the street or be tasered by police. The boy complied and was then run over and killed by a car. It is a compelling case of negligence, even if the boy was acting “aggressive.”
Further entries on Sunday will be delayed due to my deployment on the Cutter U.S.S. Taney (USCGC Taney (WPG/WHEC-37)).
My two eldest sons and I are scheduled to sleep over on the Taney on Saturday night. Men going off to sea on a warship is nothing new, but not since the Fighting Sullivan brothers has one family decided to serve in the same ship.
Our ally Afghanistan is given the world another legal atrocity: sentencing two men to death for translating the Koran (Quran). Continue reading “Two Men Sentenced to Death for Translating Koran”
The international community and the Council of Europe’s Anti-Torture Committee have denounced the widespread use of castration by the Czech Republic for sex offenders. The Council has called for an end to what it refers to as invasive, irreversible and mutilating” punishment.
Continue reading “Czech Republic Denounced Over Castration Practices”