rajeev on rediff: mr. singh goes to washington, and will deliver some nasty surprises

nov 24th, 2009

the original 'mr smith goes to washington' was a nice movie. this one ain't gonna be nice.

http://news.rediff.com/column/2009/nov/24/rajeev-srinivasan-on-prime-minister-singhs-visit.htm

mohammedans don't like christists emulating them

nov 23rd, 2009

how dare a mere christist sexually assault a 12 year old? having sex with 9 year olds is a mohammedan privilege, as demonstrated by the great one himself. 

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_457618.html

ah, yes, the pleasures of being a religious minority person in a mohammedan country. 

the prohibition against pork: it is too much like cannibalism?

nov 23rd, 2009

i was listening to a podcast by christopher hitchens from kqed's forum program, and he -- an atheist and a true secularist -- claims that the proscription against pork in judaism is because the pig is very close to humans, and eating pork is pretty much akin to eating human flesh. in fact, pigs are biologically close to humans, so much so that pig livers and even pig skin have been transplanted into humans. pigs are also very smart -- i read in new scientist that they are among only a small handful of animals that are self-aware, that is, if they see themselves in a mirror, they realize it is themselves, not some other pig. also, i understand that pigs are one of the few animals that deliberately lie: if a pig knows where some food is hidden, it will deliberately throw others off the trail! so human!

once jews made this prohibition, mohammedans blindly followed it. 

does anybody have any opinion on the truth or plausibility of this assertion?

i have enjoyed a bit of barbecued baby-back rib in my time, and it is rather tasty. that also reminds me of a short story about how gourmands were treated to the most exquisite and tasty meat (if a little salty) at a restaurant, and how they loved it until they noticed that the fattest among them were regularly disappearing -- they realized the meat they ate was from their peers!

also does anybody remember the hilarious film "eating raoul" about a couple of restaurateurs (one a stunning female) who lure S&M enthusiasts via ads, dispatch them by beating them over their heads with frying pans, and then serve them as delicacies? yes, eating raoul. literally.

there was also a peter greenaway film ("the cook, the thief, the wife, and her lover") where the wife bakes her murdered lover and forces her cruel husband the cook to eat him, or at least parts thereof ("it's a delicacy", says she fetchingly).

Reformist Writer Mansour Al-Hadj: In My Youth, I Was Taught to Love Death

nov 21st, 2009

yes, both the desert cults worship death. (the other one is more up-front about it, by putting up the bleeding

apparently these guys believe in the literal truth of these statements. i read that terrorist qasab, when he was shown the corpses of his dead fellow-terrorists in the morgue, was shocked to realize that they didn't exactly smell of musk!

what a combination: idiocy, and brainwashing in unverifiable statements! i wonder why nobody has come back from heaven and verified the 72 virgins business. so i guess the mullahs just say, "that's so. you have to believe. trust me." yeah, right. oh, whatever happened to skepticism?

this is a new promise -- that 70 or your relatives will also go to paradise. do they also get to share the 72 virgins? does that "70 of your relatives" include females? do they get to share the 28 boys, also promised?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shahryar

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP266309 November 19, 2009 No. 2663 Reformist Writer Mansour Al-Hadj: In My Youth, I Was Taught to Love Death In an article in the liberal e-magazine Aafaq (www.aafaqmagazine.com ), reformist writer Mansour Al-Hadj, one of the magazine's senior reporters, described the Islamist education he received as a youth in Saudi Arabia, which stressed the culture of death and the glorification of martyrs. The same messages, he said, were conveyed by the Islamist propaganda to which he was exposed as a university student in Sudan. Following are excerpts from his article: [1] "Growing Up in Saudi Arabia, I Did Not Learn to Love Life... [But] to Love Death as a Martyr for the Sake of Allah" "After the suicide bombings in two hotels in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, a friend of mine said to me: 'I think something's wrong with the world. Why would a person blow himself up when love of life is a natural human instinct?' I answered: 'Love of life is a natural instinct, but love of death for the sake of Allah is a creed [in Islam], by which the believer brings himself close to the Creator of Life. "Growing up in Saudi Arabia, I did not learn to love life. On the contrary, I learned to love death as a martyr for the sake of Allah. I was taught that love of life is a characteristic of the hypocrites [i.e. insincere Muslims], and that the ones who protect their lives most keenly are the infidels, as stated in the Koran. I also learned that one who does not participate in Jihad or prepare himself for Jihad dies a hypocrite, as stated in the hadith. "I learned that, had Allah thought this world worth as much as the wing of a mosquito, [He] would not have permitted the infidels to drink even a sip of water in it, as stated in the hadith. And I was taught that this world, which will [one day] cease to exist, is a prison for the believer, who wishes to escape it, and a paradise for the infidel, who wishes to enjoy all that is in it. "I learned about the exalted rank that Allah bestows upon the martyr, [a rank so exalted] that his body is not washed [after death] and you do not say the prayer [for the dead] over him - for the purpose of washing is to purify the corpse, and a martyr's death in battle is itself an act of purification. "Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, member of the [Saudi] Fatwa Committee and the Supreme Judiciary Council, has said: 'A shahid who dies in a battle with the infidels to promote the word of Allah should not be washed, or wrapped in any shroud other than the clothes in which was killed, because the blood that covers him is a sign of his martyrdom, and should remain on his body and not be removed by washing. When he arises on the Day of Resurrection, the blood dripping [from his body] will have the fragrance of musk. This blood is the result of obedience to Allah, and it must stay on [his body] because it is [a sign of] Allah's grace. [For the same reason,] the prayer [for the dead] must not be said over him, because Allah has honored him with martyrdom, and this [immediately] puts him on an exalted level, for Allah has said that the martyrs are [not dead, but are] "alive [and] are provided sustenance from their Lord [Koran, 3:169]."" "[In Saudi Arabia], we were also taught that every martyr has six privileges. [First of all], from the very first blow, he is absolved and can see his place in Paradise. [Second,] he is spared the torments of the grave. [Third], he is spared the great fear [of Judgment Day]. [Fourth], the crown of honor is placed on his head, each of the precious stones in it worth more than this entire world. [Fifth], he marries 72 wives from among the Virgins of Paradise. [And sixth], he can intercede on behalf of 70 of his relatives, [ensuring that they join him in Paradise after their death]. "When I was young, I enjoyed listening to Islamic hymns, like the rest of my generation, because in school and in Koran school they taught us that listening to secular songs is forbidden, and that those who listen to them and do not repent will be punished by Allah by having [molten] lead poured into their ears. This [threat] was accompanied by [all sorts of other] stories told by the preachers and clerics. "[For example], they frightened us with a story about a young man who was listening to secular songs [on the radio] while driving his car at an insane speed. [The car] flipped over, and as he was dying, and the paramedics [arrived and] prompted him to say the shahada, but instead of repeating the shahada he repeated the words of the song [he had been listening to]. This, we learned, was proof of the unfortunate end [he would suffer] for his sin of loving music." The Hymns We Learned Exalted the Martyrs and Urged Muslim Mothers to Welcome the Death of Their Sons "Most Islamic hymns speak of jihad for the sake of Allah, of the Muslims' suffering throughout the world, and of the high rank that Allah bestows upon the martyr. These are hymns full of militant zeal, which stir up the emotions and the fervor of the youth, and arouse their desire to join the ranks of jihad to defend Islam and raise its banner... [Some hymns] address the mothers, urging them to accept the death of their children and take pride in their death as martyrs for the sake of Allah. "Here the text of one of these hymns: 'Weep not and regret not, o mother of the shahid. Today your sons [have joined] the generation of anticipated victory. Tell everyone: My son gave up his life for the Lord. My son was a proud man, and for him death is life. Lucky is the heavenly bride who shall receive such a bridegroom, whose fragrance spreads all around him. We shall make you smile again, o mother of the shahid. O mother, do not weep. I am the ransom of Islam, and today my faith has called me. Refraining [from waging jihad] is forbidden. You can ask me about the gardens of Paradise, but this world is worthless rubble. We shall make you smile again, o mother of the shahid. We are bound by a covenant with Allah that we shall never accept humiliation. We come as the army of truth. We protect the lands of Islam. Allah is protecting us, so we do not fear the tyrants. We shall make you smile again, o mother of the shahid.' "I grew up hating life. The closer I felt to Allah, and the more my love for Allah grew, the more I hated life and despised [the sinners] - those who fight Allah and his Prophet by acts of disobedience, and those who do not worship Allah in the right way, which [1] naturally [believed] was the Sunni way. "I was taught that I must hate the Sufis for the sake of Allah, because they are people who follow 'forbidden innovations.' I was taught that the Shi'ite creed is [also] corrupt because they show too much reverence for the [fourth Caliph], the Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib, and revile the Companions of the Prophet. "As for hating the infidels and non-Muslims, [I was told that] this is fundamental to the faith, because love for Allah and love for his enemies cannot live together in the heart of a Muslim." "Most of the Booklets in the Library of [My] KoranSchool Were... about the Jihad Fighters and the Miracles They Performed" "In my [youth], I admired two groups of jihad fighters: the Arab and Afghan fighters who were fighting the Russians [in Afghanistan], and the Sudanese fighters. [The latter] were fighting their own brethren in Sudan, yet they called it jihad and called their fallen 'martyrs.' Like everybody else in Saudi Arabia, I read stories about the courage of the jihad fighters in Afghanistan and about the miracles they performed - how the angels fought beside them and how their bodies did not rot [when they were killed] but gave off a fragrance of musk. "The Saudi authorities helped these jihad fighters, and [Saudi clerics issued] fatwas in their support. These stories made a great impression on us. Most of the booklets in the library of [my] Koran school were about jihad, and about the jihad fighters and the miracles they performed. I still remember how, at the end of the prayer, the mosque imams used to call [on the worshipers] to support the jihad fighters in Afghanistan." When I Was a Student in Sudan, We All Watched a Sudanese TV Series about the Life of the Jihad Fighters and Their Virtues "In late 1998 I began my university studies in Sudan. [At the time] I was deeply impressed by a [Sudanese] documentary called 'The Fields of Sacrifice,' which aired every Friday evening. All the students, who came from the various parts of the world to study Arabic and Islam, keenly followed this program, which showed the [daily] lives of the jihad fighters before, during, and after battle. [The show also included] enthusiastic speeches by their commanders, and hymns and poems recited by the fighters. "I remember scenes describing the lives of [the fallen] - men in the prime of their youth who were killed in that war. I clearly remember the voice of the narrator describing the virtues of these martyrs, their words and deeds, and [I remember] how I longed to be in their place. That program made a great impression on the students. It was a dose of jihad propaganda at the end of every week. I don't know what became of it and of those who directed it after 2005, when the Islamists in Sudan signed peace treaty with those who had been called 'enemies of Allah,' but who now had become partners in the Sudanese government. "The Islamic regime in the Sudan used to hold 'wedding celebrations' for martyrs killed in the war, in which they celebrated the martyr's marriage to the heavenly brides. These functions were attended by government representatives, who would give the family a sum of money, and the most important part of the wedding was a speech by some high-ranking official, and [also] the singing of hymns that would fire up the people who came to offer their condolences. "The best of the Sudanese youth died victims of this Sudanese jihadist propaganda. The Islamists in Sudan exploited religion to recruit young men who were eager to die for Allah. [Sudanese] youths competed to join the jihad battalions known as 'tank killers,' seeking martyrdom and ready to blow themselves up to destroy the enemy tanks. The Sudanese politicians took pride in these fighters, saying 'the enemy has tanks but we have tank killers.'" [1] www.aafaqmagazine.com, October 24, 2009.

India plans surge in solar power

nov 23rd, 2009

too little, too late.

yeah, i am waiting for the day we see the 'robert vadera memorial x-ray machines' at airports, which will scan everybody else, but will not scan robert vadera, whose only claim to fame is that he is married to the daughter of sonia gandhi. (that of course, makes him exempt from security checks at indian airports, along with the PM, the chief justice and the speaker of parliament). i think the idea is that his precious body must not be touched (frisked) by anybody else because sonia gandhi's daughter owns it.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shahryar

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8370944.stm India plans surge in solar power India has approved plans for a huge increase in the amount of electricity it generates from solar power. It aims to boost solar output 1,000-fold over 12 years from its current negligible level. Its 20 gigawatt target would power several big cities. The government wants to reduce India's dependence on coal and boost the export industry for solar power equipment. Critics say solar power will supplement - and not replace - fossil fuels even under India's most ambitious plans. Concerns over land "The cabinet gave its approval for launching of the Jawaharlal Nehru national solar mission, Solar India," Information Minister Ambika Soni said in Delhi. The $19bn (£12bn) three-phased plan aims to boost solar power output across the country from close to zero to 20 gigawatts by 2022. It is hugely ambitious and has been welcomed by the country's renewable energy suppliers, although some say it is unclear where the money will come from, says the BBC's technology correspondent Mark Gregory. But even if everything does go to plan, solar power will only meet a small part of India's burgeoning energy consumption, he adds. India hopes to build a solar power industry that matches early leaders in the sector such as China, Germany and Japan. There is no shortage of the key raw material in India but high population densities could be a problem, our correspondent says. Industrial scale solar power plants require a lot of space, so there are questions about where they can be built in India without throwing large numbers of people off their land, he says. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8370944.stm Published: 2009/11/20 16:34:13 GMT © BBC MMIX

martin wolf: what obama could not bring himself to say

i guess the manchurian candidate is finding it hard to talk back to his daddies in beijing. so he will do the next best thing - take it out on the indians.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7e8bfed6-d3b2-11de-8caf-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

the yank actually are in a stronger position than china (better to owe money you have no intention of repaying than to have a client you need to keep paying) - except the chinese have their manchurian in office.

SNL: China Won't Bend Over for Obama

The comedy show Saturday Night Live has a witty take on US-China relations and Obama's latest visit to China:



So the question is - who will bend over for whom?