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February 20, 2008

Freeze! It’s the Vice Squad! Part 3: The Saudi Arabian Edition.

On February 13, 2008 the organization Human Rights Watch sent a letter to King Abdullah bin Abd al-‘Aziz Al Saud on behalf of Fawza Falih, who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crimes of “witchcraft, recourse to jinn, and slaughter of animals”.
 
The letter highlights in aggravating detail the gaping flaws in the Saudi Arabian justice system.  It starts with her being held in detention at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice for “witchcraft”.  Does this mean Saudi Arabia has their own Vice Squad?  You know, like this or this?  What did this wily “witch” do?  According to my pals with the Vice Squad a man allegedly became impotent after being “bewitched” and a divorced woman (Can there be divorced women in Iran?  With the way the Vice guys are going I just assumed they wouldn’t allow divorces anymore.) reportedly returned to her ex-husband during the month predicted by the witch said to have cast the spell. 
 
Misery loves company.  Read the letter so you can feel my pain.  I’ve got to say, Christoph Wilcke, the letter’s author, has laid out a rational argument for a pardon for Fawza Falih.  Let’s hope it helps.

Posted by r.l.elson at 06:01 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

February 07, 2008

2008...You Dirty Rat!

For those of you playing along at home, the Chinese New Year is February 7, 2008, and we are about to enter the Year of the Rat.
 
The Chinese lunar calendar is cyclic, with the same 12 representative animals going around and around.  We’re about to leave the Year of the Pig behind us.  Then, it will be all about the Rat, the first in the 12 year cycle of animals.  So, what does it mean to be in the Year of the Rat?
 
According to the anonymous posters at Wikipedia, “Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.”  For any expecting parents out there, a child born between February 7, 2008 and January 25, 2009 is a Rat.  Again, according to the folks at Wikipedia, you have the following to look forward to. 
 
“Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.
 
Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.
 
Rats consider others before themselves, at least sometimes, and avoid forcing their ideas onto others. Rats are fair in their dealings and expect the same from others in return, and can be deeply affronted if they feel they have been deceived or that their trust has been abused. Sometimes they set their targets too high, whether in relation to their friends or in their career. But as the years pass, they will become more idealistic and tolerant. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats can find true happiness.
 
According to tradition, Rats often carry heavy karma and at some point in life may face an identity crisis or some kind of feeling of guilt. Rats are said to often have to work very long and hard for everything they may earn or have in life. However, a Rat born during the day is said to have things a bit easier than those who are born at night. Traditionally, Rats born during the night may face extreme hardships and suffering throughout life. Rats in general should guard themselves against hedonism, as it may lead to self-destruction. Gambling, alcohol and drugs tend to be great temptations to Rat natives.
 
Professions include espionage, psychiatry, psychology, writing, politics, law, engineering, accounting, detective work, acting, and pathology.”
 
To learn more about the Chinese New Year, check out the Wikipedia entry.  For more ratty details, check out the rat specific entry.

Posted by r.l.elson at 06:29 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

February 02, 2008

A Blog About the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant. Yes, You're Reading the Title Correctly.

I’ve never been to Toronto Canada.  It’s on the “to do” list.  Everyone I know that has gone there has had nothing but nice things to say.  They tell me how clean it is, how nice the malls are, and that the dining is excellent.  My friend Greg, from What Greg Eats, tells me when speaking of Toronto to you guys I should be sure to mention the Valhalla Inn.  He says, “It’s one way to visit Valhalla without the whole dying a glorious death in battle thing.”  Anyway, Toronto has always seemed cool to me.
 
Recently I came across a frustrating story in the Toronto Star about Stephanie Conover and the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant.  Conover, last year’s winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant, was invited to be a judge at the upcoming Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant being held today, February 2.  She agreed, and submitted a biography for the event.  According to Conover she said she was an entertainer, singer, and dancer.  That she was involved in charitable works.  She also listed her hobbies of songwriting, knitting, painting, yoga, reiki, and tarot.
 
After receiving her bio, Karen Murray, the pageant’s director, revoked their offer.  The Toronto Star quoted Murray as saying, “We just got her bio a week ago and we don’t agree with it.  We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult.  Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world."
 
In a letter to Conover from Murray and another official of the pageant they stated, “We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience.”  The letter also offered some quotes from the Bible and said, “We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them.”
 
Seriously?  I mean, seriously?  As Murray points out in the article, the pageant does not receive government funding and has the right to decide who acts as a judge in their pageant.  Which if that’s the case, she is correct.  But come on, seriously?
 
Murray says that Conover must be a “very vindictive person” to go to the press with this.  I’m guessing she’s a very insulted person, I know I would be.  In fact, I am a very insulted person.  The idea that Stephanie Conover isn’t qualified to be a beauty pageant judge because she does reiki and tarot readings seems a little silly to me.  Perhaps, only those like Murray who “adhere to God’s principles” can tell if a woman looks hot in a swimsuit.  I seem to recall the moving story of Moses, who parted the Red Sea to create the catwalk for the first ever Miss Egyptian Jew Pageant.

Posted by r.l.elson at 02:28 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)


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