Islamic "justice": flog a 75-year-old woman...

...for the crime of having two young men bring her bread. CNN notes:

A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports.

[...]

The case has sparked anger in Saudi Arabia.

"It's made everybody angry because this is like a grandmother," Saudi women's rights activist Wajeha Al-Huwaider told CNN. "Forty lashes -- how can she handle that pain? You cannot justify it."

Under Islamic law, one of the young men was her "son," since she breast fed him as a child; the court claimed this was not true. I'm sure the religious police know better than she does who she suckled.

Only the anger, horror, and determination of the people can change oppression. I'm glad to see that Saudis are outraged.

Islamic "justice": flog a 75-year-old woman...

...for the crime of having two young men bring her bread. CNN notes:

A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports.

[...]

The case has sparked anger in Saudi Arabia.

"It's made everybody angry because this is like a grandmother," Saudi women's rights activist Wajeha Al-Huwaider told CNN. "Forty lashes -- how can she handle that pain? You cannot justify it."

Under Islamic law, one of the young men was her "son," since she breast fed him as a child; the court claimed this was not true. I'm sure the religious police know better than she does who she suckled.

Only the anger, horror, and determination of the people can change oppression. I'm glad to see that Saudis are outraged.

Punchin' Skippy

Nothing like having an intruder jump through your window to get the adrenalin going...particularly when you're in your underwear...and the intruder is heading for your kid's room.

Beat Ettlin rose to the challenge, subdued the kangaroo before it could hurt his son, and tossed it out of the house. "I kept marveling at what he did," his wife said. "I called him my hero. My hero in Bonds undies."

As Superman showed us, however, heroes do their best work in their undies.

Punchin' Skippy

Nothing like having an intruder jump through your window to get the adrenalin going...particularly when you're in your underwear...and the intruder is heading for your kid's room.

Beat Ettlin rose to the challenge, subdued the kangaroo before it could hurt his son, and tossed it out of the house. "I kept marveling at what he did," his wife said. "I called him my hero. My hero in Bonds undies."

As Superman showed us, however, heroes do their best work in their undies.

McCain beaver joke not funny in N.C.

I'm really glad the headlines about this story pointed to McCain's joke about beaver management in Mississippi and North Carolina -- a program that is currently designated for $650,000 of federal funds, but which has already saved more than $5 million, according to federal and state wildlife officials.

One wonders if John McCain has taken a page from Bobby Jindal's "ha ha ha, volcanoes" playbook.

McCain beaver joke not funny in N.C.

I'm really glad the headlines about this story pointed to McCain's joke about beaver management in Mississippi and North Carolina -- a program that is currently designated for $650,000 of federal funds, but which has already saved more than $5 million, according to federal and state wildlife officials.

One wonders if John McCain has taken a page from Bobby Jindal's "ha ha ha, volcanoes" playbook.

Science is back

In lifting an eight-year limit on stem cell research today, President Obama explained his goal:

"To ensure that in this new administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisers based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions."

[...]

"Rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," he said in the East Room of the White House, filled with advocates of stem cell research who cheered and applauded his annoucement. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given a capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."

Science is back

In lifting an eight-year limit on stem cell research today, President Obama explained his goal:

"To ensure that in this new administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisers based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions."

[...]

"Rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," he said in the East Room of the White House, filled with advocates of stem cell research who cheered and applauded his annoucement. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given a capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."

Time for a bit of Despair

Despair.com strikes again. Heh.

Time for a bit of Despair

Despair.com strikes again. Heh.

Deathwatch for newsprint

Time magazine offers this list of the top 10 newspapers most likely to go bankrupt or all-digital.

The Boston Globe is on the list; so is the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Deathwatch for newsprint

Time magazine offers this list of the top 10 newspapers most likely to go bankrupt or all-digital.

The Boston Globe is on the list; so is the Cleveland Plain Dealer.