August 31, 2005
Like those Al Qaeda, but far worse!
Now this is customer service!
A BRITISH man has been sent a letter threatening him with hospitalisation and horrors worse than the London bombings if he failed to pay his phone bill.
The Royal Mail customer was warned in an unsigned letter on official notepaper that the terrorist attacks which killed 56 people would be nothing compared to the suffering heading his way, the Daily Mirror reported.
Kevin Harding, 39, from Carlisle in northwest England, switched phone line provider to Royal Mail as it promised cheaper calls to his girlfriend in the US.
"Dear Mr Harding," the letter began, before informing him in mangled English his balance was going up to £600 ($1430) from £292.65.
"Failure to pay will result in you being hospitalised," the chilling letter warned.
"If you thought the events of July 7 and July 21 were bad, that is nothing compared to what will happen to you.
"If you fail to pay your outstanding bill, we have told you verbally what we will do to you. This is just to remind you we will carry out our promise."
Royal Mail vehemently denied the letter was sent officially and vowed to launch an investigation.
Draw those veils, ladies...
With tedious debate still going on about the whole hijab or not to hijab debate, there was (yet another) article in the dead-tree version of the Daily Telegraph (hence no link) about if you were going to ban hijabs, you'd have to ban bikinis as well.
There was some justification for this view, which I can't recall exactly, but it was very similar to the hoary old argument that the coverings are a great Feminist expression because it stops men looking at you as a sex object.
Well, excuse me for pointing out something, but that sort of thinking demeans both sexes. It damn well isn't the woman's fault that some guy goes, "Ooh! Look, that woman is just a sex object!"; and I also find insulting the idea that men are so incapable of controlling their lust that women better cover up or the man might do something he regrets.
I mean, really, if you want to wear it, fine, but keep the lame "It's an expression of Feminist ideals" argument out of it, K?
Back to the "Bikini/Hijab" dichotomy - this, I find particularly amusing because of this bit from the Koran.
24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms
"Drawing a veil across your bosoms" sounds closer to a bikini than it does to putting something on your head.
(Heehee....he said "bosoms")
Didn't take it all too well
Well, Brogden's not too cool with his fall from grace, it seems:
FORMER New South Wales Opposition Leader John Brogden was rushed to hospital last night after an apparent suicide attempt.
The disgraced Liberal Party politician collapsed at his electoral office in Mona Vale, Sydney. He was carried out on a stretcher by paramedics about 10.50pm. Today's Australian newspaper said he had slit his wrists.
The 36-year-old was unconscious.
Emergency calls to police were made by family members and friends.
Police last night said Mr Brogden was in a stable condition in Royal North Shore Hospital with "minor injuries".
August 30, 2005
I'm so suave
| Cary Grant You scored 16% Tough, 23% Roguish, 28% Friendly, and 33% Charming! |
You are the epitome of charm and style, the smooth operator who steals the show with your sophisticated wit and quiet confidence. You are able to catch any woman you want just by flashing that disarming smile. When you walk into a room, the women are instantly intrigued and even the men are impressed. When you find yourself in trouble, you are easily able to charm your way out of it, or convince others to help you. You're seen as dashing, suave and romantic. Your co-stars include Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, and Joan Fontaine, stylish women who know a class act when they see it.
|
 |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Classic Leading Man Test written by gidgetgoes on Ok Cupid |
Imagine...
...the closest thing to Apartheid in the Western World.
Hijabin' it Up
There's been talk lately over whether to ban headscarves in Australian public schools.
A ban is a bad idea for a few reasons - mostly because
a) It is more likely to be totally ineffective and end up having girls wear the damn things out of defiance.
b) I'm a bit leery of the state dictating what you can and can't wear, as it tends to get to be a bit of a slippery slope.
(As the PM says: "If you ban a headscarf you might, for consistency's sake, have to ban a ... turban...."It does become rather difficult and rather impractical.")
On the other hand, Australian public schools do have set uniforms, and if said headscarf isn't part of the uniform - well, then I'm sorry, them's the breaks. Find a school that will let you wear it.
Of course that brings us to the question, "Should public schools add certain elements of religious/cultural significance to their school uniform policies?"
I'd say no, since the State Education system is supposed to be totally God-free, (Well, Except for the bizarre SRE classes I had that seemed to be mainly fundamentalist Christian propaganda rather than actual classes on Religion - but that's another topic.) and once you open the gates for this, you end up with things like young Muslim girls not being allowed to participate in school sport, or drama or other such thing....
Of course, there's also the question of just how "Islamic" headcoverings are, certainly, they're not specifically prescribed in the Koran, and it should be noted that the Bible has similar guidelines for women (which, curiously, isn't followed outside of old women wearing hats to church).
Then, according to this article from Amir Taheri, the hijab has as long and illustrious a history and as deep a religious significance as.....flared trousers.
As a final word, it's one thing to have your deity prescribing sexual behaviour, but once he starts making bizarrely inconsistent and seemingly random laws on everything from diet, clothing, tattoos, reading Harry Potter, whether you can boil a kid in its mother's milk or whether men with deformed genitals are allowed to go to worship....
....then it's time to give the old geezer the heave-ho.
Let's end the post with a quote from Abol-Hassan Bani-Sadr first President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"...scientific research had shown that women's hair emitted rays that drove men insane"
I guess we should shave it all off, just to be sure....
UPDATE: Professor Bunyip has some more on the subject, including this delightful quote from this Age article by Iktimal Hage-ali, deputy chairwoman of the Youth Advisory Council.
It is not an element of culture, it is not an act of defiance nor is it a fashion statement to clash with the broader Australian community — it is a religious obligation that all Muslim women must follow.
Ok, fair enough....
....I guess she just forgot that one time...
Dress Ups
Apparently, Balinese jails are very spiritual places, where one might reconnect with God:
SYDNEY model Michelle Leslie swapped catwalk couture for a Muslim chador yesterday in her bid to seek mercy from Indonesia's court system.
Since her arrest one week ago after police allegedly found two ecstasy tablets in her handbag at a dance party, Leslie has consistently using a sarong to cover her head, shielding herself as she walks from the Polda holding cells to the police building.
But Leslie yesterday emerged from her Bali jail cell wearing the top of a full black Muslim head covering – a chador – her face hidden and black netting covering her eyes.
Members of Leslie's legal team confirmed that the 24-year-old was a Muslim but refused to comment on any details of her religion, or whether she had grown up Islamic or if it was a recent conversion.
Edit: According to here, she's been submitting to Allah for over a year
And, when asked the reason for the radical dress, members of her legal team and the family's spokesman, who has now arrived in Bali, gave differing accounts.
Her Australian lawyer Ross Hill, when asked whose idea it was to wear the chador, said: "Well, that's just something that we all thought about, just to keep her covered, you know. We are just trying to keep things down."
Then, more than an hour later, responding to a list of written questions from the media, family spokesman Sean Mulcahy said: "Michelle, as a Muslim, made the decision to wear the hijab to find solace with God, not for any other purpose."
Here she is:
So pretty.
Not sure how she sees anything, though. Must be like dressing up in those big mascot outfits - you know, where you have the little black patches to see through:
Still, I think I prefer the old Michelle...
Local Muslims aren't happy:
Sean Malcahy, a spokesman for the Leslie family and her lawyers, said the media's reporting of her attire had been inflammatory and triggered outrage among Muslims in Australia.
Ummm.... "Media Reporting of the attire was inflammatory"...huh?
The way they reported it, or just that it was reported at all?
Are people really that hyper-sensitive?
Considering that they reported on every excruiating step of Schapelle Corby's trial, I hardly think they're going to ignore any of this.
"This has turned into a religious storm," he said by phone from Sydney.
"It's caused a lot of offence and kicked up a big fuss.
"I've been on the phone to the Islamic Council in Sydney this morning, they don't see any problem with the fact that she is a Muslim, but if we have offended anyone in the Australian Islamic community we apologise for that."
Anyway, the latest news is that the outfit wasn't solely for religious reasons at all, but to keep away the bitches in her cell:
She shared a cell and the other women constantly ribbed her about her good looks, because they were jealous, Mr Malcahy said.
"They gawk and the guards gawk and want to touch her," he said.
Bitches! The lot of 'em
More at CurrencyLad, who makes the following observation:
I think Australia's Islamic community should apologise to Michelle for something else buried at the bottom of this report: "They [fellow women prisoners] gawked and the guards gawked and wanted to touch her."
That burqa - it does wonders for instilling respect for women in the minds of Indonesian men doesn't it?
Wear it or be abused - that's the message.
August 27, 2005
Can a Dick be Dickless?
Not only is Superman a dick, he also has no dick.
August 26, 2005
That'll learn you
I guess this guy knew what was best for his parishioners.
Three leaders at a Korean church in Sydney's north have been jailed over the bashing of a female church member who did not attend regular services.
Junior assistant pastor Chi Yeong Yun, 37, and bible study teachers Tom Chae-Yong Lee, 22, and James Kang, 21, from the Open Door Korean Church at Chatswood, pleaded guilty to assaulting 19-year-old Angela Kim in July last year.
In the NSW District Court today, acting Judge Joe Gibson gave Yun, described as the architect of the plan, a 12-month jail term while Lee and Kang were sentenced to up to six months.
All three had served some time in custody although were on bail in the leadup to the trial.
On July 8, 2004, Ms Kim was kicked and punched by the three men at a park in Bobbin Head in Sydney's north leaving her with extensive bruising to her arms, legs and buttocks.
I'm sure that made her as keen as punch to attend church next Sunday, right? (Forgive the pun, by the way)
In the future if people had problems he would attempt to counsel them using the teachings of the bible, Kang said.
Considering some of the guidelines in the Bible....best stick to your other methods, guys.
Not so smart, now, are we?
This article has stirred up a bit of controvery...
HALF the population will dismiss this story - but a new study claims the cleverest people are far more likely to be male than female.
Men are more intelligent than women by about five IQ points on average, making them better suited for tasks of high complexity, according to the authors of a paper due to be published in the British Journal of Psychology.
Yay! Another useless study!
The "Your Say" section is entertaining, though...
From: Mel
Comment: I don't buy it. If they're so much smarter, why can't they remember relevant birthdays or to hang up their towels? Maybe they're all worn out from carrying around those huge heads. But when you think about it, big brains are pretty useless when all the blood is flowing the other way.
Rrrrrow! You go girl!
From there, the comments seem to veer on to a collection of anti-feminist rants, like this:
From: carl weathers
Comment: Feminism is destroying our society. If women had stayed in the kitchen then there would be no unemployment problems and men would still earn enough to support their families on a single-income.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's probably a bad idea to shut more than 50% of your country out of the workforce. It's definitely not good economic sense, for one thing.
...And then, there's this puzzling entry:
From: Janne
Comment: Even if we men are meant to be smarter i still think the average person is an idiot so its not that impressive , maybe i a man an average person to someone else so i stupidly suggest we are all just different levels of fools
EH?
A Dingo ate my.....oh, maybe not
A 25-year-old woman has walked into an Alice Springs newspaper office claiming to be Azaria Chamberlain.
Looking at her photo, that's the least of the chick's problems.
How about a smile for the nice people at home, eh?
Header
Before anyone else points this out...
I know what "alea iacta est" means in Latin.
The header is a little misleading, I know, but I don't think it means "May you live in interesting times" - that's a separate, Chinese proverb. I just added it because I like it as well.
I also know it's likely that Caesar never actually said it - it's merely attributed to him by Suetonius.
Additionally, if he did say it, it is more likely that, since (according to Plutarch) he was allegedly quoting the Greek poet Menander, that the phrase was uttered in Greek, ie anerriphthô kubos
Anyway, that was just clearing up some things.
August 24, 2005
The English language is finally complete:
Good News Everybody!
Mark Latham might have failed to make it as a politician, but his ability to throw his weight has left an impact on society.
"Man boobs" - a jibe directed at the Labor man during a cricket match in which his excess flab was criticised, has been given official status as part of the English language.
Along with "westie", "retrosexual" and "Generation XL", the term is one of 1500 new entries in the 7th edition of the Collins Australian Dictionary, due out next month.
W00t!
Other newcomers:
- Boomerang kid: a young adult who, after living on their own for a time, returns to live in the parental home
- Adulescent: an adult still actively interested in youth culture
- Stepford wife: a woman who accepts her husband's authority and devotes her energies to domestic matters
- Man boobs: overdeveloped breasts on a man, caused by excess weight or lack of exercise
- Retrosexual: a heterosexual man who spends little time or money on his appearance
- Generation XL: overweight children or young adults who spend a great deal of time on sedentary pursuits
Get Over It
Oh, my heart is breaking:
PAUL Keating is so consumed with hatred for John Howard he is working on a way to preserve his legacy by creating a library devoted to his prime ministership.
Or he could try, like, getting over it. I mean, it's been nearly ten years mate.
Time to move on!
It's bad enough that in Year 12 English I had to sit through Mr Tatham and Simon Cowan waxing lyrical on the "great man", but a decade later?
Can't he just bugger off and keep his personal problems to himself?
Git.
Former Keating cabinet members told the magazine that the former prime minister had been ruled by his hatred of Mr Howard and his devastation over the loss of the 1996 election.
"He's become obsessed about John Howard to the exclusion of the rest of his life," one former cabinet colleague said. Another said: "I can't bear the way he still goes on about why he lost the 1996 election."
Reason Number 1 - He was Paul Keating.
Former cabinet colleague John Button told The Bulletin he was horrified by Mr Keating's "recession we had to have" comment.
"(It) confirmed my view that at that time he was totally out of touch and a political f...wit."
Wasn't the fat that he was "totally out of touch and a political fuckwit" common knowledge? Geez. Talk about living in a bubble.
[[Phillip]] Adams said part of Mr Keating's difficulty in accepting the defeat was that he "craves love". "He's not a happy man. I think his condition is a combination of personal disappointment and sadness at what he sees as the ingratitude of the electorate."
Those damn uppity voters. Where's their gratitude? I mean, come on, the BIG PICTURE was damn exciting.
Additionally, Phil's not the guy to talk to if you want to get over an obsessive hatred of Howard.
The article details Mr Keating's use of colourful language towards journalists and, at times, his own cabinet, despite a vow to restore camaraderie.
"He failed to know how to lead cabinet. Everything leaked. Everything," said a colleague.
"Paul's legacy is that he gave us 10 years of John Howard, and counting," said an unnamed colleague. "He cannot get around that."
Take a bow, Placido Domingo.
August 23, 2005
I thought they all did that.
I love the "file photos" that the media sometimes puts in to illustrate articles.
Here's the ABC's effort to report on the Islamic-Australian summit with the PM in Canberra:
The headline: Summit seeks ways to stamp out radical views
And the picture:
with the caption:
Moderate views: Prime Minister John Howard says the summit will not be a forum for extremism
Eh? What does that picture have to do with the summitt or moderate views? It's just a bog-standard file picture of Muslims praying.
It gets better though - Check out this story from News Ltd:
THE South Australian Government wants to attract Indian IT workers to the state.
Deputy Premier Kevin Foley said the sate was in "desperate need" of key technology skills, including software and systems integration.
The Government hopes a trade mission led by Premier Mike Rann to New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai next month will prompt interest among young Indian technology graduates and help to plug the skills gap.
Fair enough.
Check out the accompanying picture (which unfortunately, is a little small):
Because as we know, all Indians (especially IT workers) ride elephants.
Everywhere!
(Even Adelaide)
Maybe that's how they're going to get them to South Australia - a few howdahs should do the trick.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Here's good news!
MUSLIM community leaders have united to denounce extremism, terrorism and the teaching of hatred at a summit in Canberra aimed at fighting the possible emergence of radical Islamists in Australia.
President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Ameer Ali said the meeting, convened by Prime Minister John Howard, was "constructive and fruitful" and that the Muslim community had an unreserved commitment to the safety of all Australians.
Yay!
However...
ONE of the Islamic leaders meeting John Howard today suspects September 11 was a conspiracy and asks "why did 4000 Jews not show up for work" on the day of the attacks?
Abdul (Ray) Rahman Deen also says there were no black box flight recorders found in the wreckage of the World Trade Centre after hijacked planes were flown into the twin towers, killing thousands.
....and you were doing so well.
Update: I made a stealth edit to conceal my illiteracy... (ie "two" not "to")
August 21, 2005
Randomness!
From this article:
Highlight of the day was a sheet-covered trailer declaring "Peter Beattie kills platypus and whales".
Ragin' Russ
Russell Crowe sure can rub it in:
"I got to go up to Luke Ricketson, look him in the eye and say 'Lukey, how did you enjoy that game?'," said Crowe after the Rabbitohs thrilling 17-16 victory over the Roosters all but ended the 2002 premiers NRL season.
"He said 'I knew you'd find me."
August 20, 2005
Who's smiling now?
QUEENSLAND voters have showed their disdain of the Government's handling of the State's health crisis by ousting Labor in two by-elections.
While the loss of the two seats will not unseat the Government - after today it will hold a 17-seat majority in State Parliament - it does indicate a dramatic shift away from Labor for the first time in seven years.
"This could be the rebirth of conservative politics in Queensland," Opposition and Nationals leader Lawrence Springborg said.
The Nationals did not contest either of the seats, traditionally safe Labor territory, but supported the Liberal Party candidates.
Former Liberal Party state president Michael Caltabiano will become the member for the eastern Brisbane seat of Chatsworth after a swing of more than 11 per cent against Labor, while Terry Rogers took Redcliffe in Brisbane's north with a swing of more than seven per cent.
Mr Caltabiano, who is also a former Brisbane City councillor, won 51.84 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against 48.16 per cent for Labor's Chris Forrester.
In Redcliffe, voters gave Mr Rogers 51.55 per cent of the vote, compared with 48.45 per cent for Lillian van Litsenburg for Labor.
This nearly makes up for Barnaby Joyce.
Nearly.
Church has image problem - seeks another crazy
Like the Scientology didn't have enough of an image problem already with its vapid celebrity membership, now we hear this:
YOU could argue that she is the most influential woman in America, not least because her daily television program reaches into the living room of almost every home in the US.
Television insiders insist she can single-handedly turn books into bestsellers and mere celebrities into megastars. But now, glamorous talk show host Oprah Winfrey has become the target of the controversial Church of Scientology.
The campaign is being led by its most famous disciple, 43-year-old Tom Cruise, who is doing everything in his considerable power to convert her to the cultish faith. Cruise recently bought a house two doors away from Oprah in the glamorous suburb of Santa Barbara, California. The two are close friends. Winfrey regularly sings Cruise's praises on her show, and it was there that he chose to make his first public declaration of love for his new fiancee, 26-year-old Katie Holmes, in a toe-curling spectacle.
Sure, he's just trying to kill her....
Drugs...I'm going to say Drugs
To continue my Doctor Who watching, I picked up Ghost Light.
Some observations.
- The hell? It makes no sense.
- Besides that, the "period" episodes of Dr Who date far better than the "sci-fi" ones, because the BBC can actually do convincing period pieces, whereas its spacey stuff tends to be hampered by the cardboard sets and dodgy looking aliens.
- The Doctor is being an absolute bastard to Ace for a good period of this episode. Talk about your emotional abuse!
- Oh. My. Gawd. Blatant lesbian overtones with Ace and Gwendoline giggling as they dress each other behind a curtain. *Shakes head* I certainly don't recall that when I watched it as a six year old.
I think I'm a Clone Now
Just came back from seeing The Island.
Can someone tell me why Scarlett Johansson has only one facial expression?
You know, the one that screams, "The ten year old boy who lives next door has been whacking off over me in the shower."
That's the one.
August 18, 2005
Idle Australians
Fan of Australian Idol?
(No, no need to apologise...yet).
The Spin Starts Here sets you straight with the first recap from the new series.
Yet....the Dalek Moves!
While I'm waiting for the new Dr Who to return, I decided to go back and watch some of the old series.
Since I'm the child of the 80s, the show was in its final seasons then, and hence the doctor I remember best (apart from Tom Baker, of course, but he was before my time, really) is Sylvester McCoy, so, might as well start with his "reign".
Actually, tell a lie, I also remember Colin Baker - but only because of the violence of his tenure. (I think his Doctor once dissolved a few goons in a pool of acid).
Anyway, to start my trip down nostalgia lane, I popped in the DVD of Remembrance of the Daleks.
A few points:
- The Daleks must have been down at the pub prior to this episode, since they're wobbling like nobody's business.
- The Special Weapons Dalek is the best EVA!!
- I can remember thinking that Ace's ensemble was pretty spiffy. Mind you, it was the eighties, so I guess I should have expected when I viewed it again that she was wearing some bizarre bomber jacket/skirt/stockings combo.
- I don't know why everyone bitches about McCoy's portrayal of the Doctor. Hell, before the show the guy was best known for putting ferrets down his trousers, so you can't expect anything too amazing.
- McCoy and Aldred's commentary is absolutely hilarious. You might think they were out there doing their damn best to express the deep emotions inherent in the serial, but in reality, they were just trying not to laugh at the cardboard sets. Ha ha!
Still, good viewing. Now, what's next...
(I wish they had the one with the clowns on DVD....)
August 17, 2005
Nerdgasm II
But....no...you can't take it out of its packaging...it's no longer a collectable!
NOOOOO!!!!
Nerdgasm
You see, if you cut sex out of your life, you have time to create cool things like:
...the All Your Base Rhapsody!
August 15, 2005
Back in the Saddle
I'm back, but too lazy to post.
Maybe later...
August 12, 2005
August 11, 2005
Possible Contender for "Biggest Freak of the Millenium"
Quote: "I have a thousand years of power".
Ok.....
Poor Kittys
Proof that, if it hadn't already, the Internet has now jumped the shark in a truly spectacular way.
Presenting: StuffOnMyCat.com.
God Save the King!
I'm not sure if this makes me more or less proud of my Irish ancestry:
Goat Crowned King of Ireland
A wild mountain goat was crowned King of Ireland overnight in an annual ritual whose origins are lost in the mists of history.
For three days, Charlie, a grey billygoat with brown trimmings, will reign over this year's Puck Fair - one of Ireland's oldest and best-loved street festivals - in Killorglin, in the south-western county of Kerry.
"Nobody really knows how it came about or when," said Jean Kearney, a spokeswoman for the festival, which is expected this year to attract more than 100,000 visitors for a marathon of music, drinking and dancing.
"It has been traced back to the 1600s, but some say it dates back to a festival held in pagan times."
One theory is that the event pays tribute to a wild goat that alerted the town to the advancing armies of English military leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century.
Another is that it stems from the pagan Celtic festival of Lughnasa, when feasting and sacrifices marked the start of the harvest season, and that the goat is a pagan fertility symbol.
My theory is it's just something the locals decided when drunk.
August 10, 2005
I am not convinced...
Oh, this is great...just great.
EIGHT Islamic spiritual leaders who preach to hundreds of Muslims in Victoria each day refuse to accept that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the September 11 attacks.
I mean, I'm all for presumptions of innocence, but the guy has confessed, multiple times, for God's sake!
Responding to a survey, the imams from suburban and regional mosques ignored bin Laden's own confession.
Asked if bin Laden were responsible for the attacks that killed almost 3000 people, Carlton mosque imam Rexhep Idrizi said: "We don't know."
Acting Werribee mosque imam Riyad Ahmad said: "I have it only from one side. I'm not sure really."
Fitzroy mosque acting imam Bilgim Alpay said: "I don't know. It's very hard to answer. There are a lot of political games."
Wacky Zionists - at it again!
As a side note, the next time these Imams complain about being "unfairly targeted", remember this.
Not their finest hour, to be sure.
August 09, 2005
HUGS MEAN LOVE!!!111
Sick? All you need is a hug!
IT'S a truth mums have known for years - there is no better medicine than a cuddle.
Scientists have discovered that hugs can reduce heart disease, cut stress, help longevity and improve public speaking.
The key lies in the "feel-good" hormone oxytocin, released during childbirth and breastfeeding.
Researchers examined the effect of cuddling on 38 couples. Both sexes benefited from hugs, with oxytocin levels soaring.
University of North Carolina researchers found people in loving relationships released more oxytocin than others. This could explain why married couples are healthier than single people.
All those years of hugging people and never a word of thanks.
I'm basically Jesus!
...without the horrible, slow and painful death on a bit of wood.
August 06, 2005
August 05, 2005
Such...Negativity...
The Blithering Bunny looks at the wisdom of Hollywood - notably Kate Hudson.
Kooky Kate Hudson has revealed that she sprays herself with water to protect herself from negative people in Hollywood.
The 26-year-old actress says she also carries crystals to ward off negative energy.
The Skeleton Key actress said: “When I’m around people who have bad energy, I usually carry some water and I just kind of, like, put it on myself.”
“It’s not like a holy water, just something to cleanse myself if someone’s really negative.
“And I carry around crystals too. I feel it’s important to protect yourself.”
Ooh! But there's more.
Wanker of the Week
Why was this dick given Australian citizenship, for fucks sake?
Abu Bakr is a dual Algerian and Australian citizen.
Since 1989, he has lived in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He has a pregnant wife and six young children.
He says he cannot discourage his students from going to Afghanistan or Pakistan to train in terrorist camps.
"It will have nothing to do with me," he said. "Myself, I tell them what Allah said.
"They don't ask me. When they do understand the religion, they don't ask me."
Abu Bakr says he does not accept other religions.
"I am telling you that my religion doesn't tolerate other religion. It doesn't tolerate," he said.
"The only one law which needs to spread, it can be here or anywhere else, is Islam."
Great. He's been here sixteen years and has managed to absorb less Australian culture than someone who's watched twelve minutes of Crocodile Dundee.
And to top it off: A total fruitcake; and he's got six sprogs with another one on the way.
Dear God, why did you let this man breed?
On second thoughts: Why would someone sleep with this guy?
I mean, the beard! Why do they all feel compelled to grow such ridiculous facial hair?
Tim Blair has more on the old bugger, including:
He said the problem was that there were two laws - Australian law and Islamic law.
Now, I'm pretty sure that when you agree to become a citizen of this country you FUCKING AGREE TO OBEY ITS LAWS.
(Unless, of course, you are an indigenous actor, but that's another story.)
UPDATE I: Via helpful Tim Blair commentator "pog-ma-thon":
When Benbrika became a citizen he swore:
From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose Democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect,
and whose laws I will uphold and obey.
According to DIMIA:
“With citizenship, there are also certain responsibilities expected of all Australians. You will, for example, be required to:
1. Obey the laws and fulfill your duties as an Australian citizen;
2. Enrol on the Electoral Register and vote at Federal and State/Territory elections and referenda;
3. Serve on a jury, if called on;
4. Defend Australia, should the need arise.
These privileges and responsibilities are subject to the same rights and exemptions as Australian-born citizens.”
So, it would appear that Benbrika did not make his citizenship pledge in good faith, and should be regarded has never having become a citizen.
Time to ship the bugger off, I say.
Not to Afghanistan - the folks back there have had enough of theocratic nutters. I say drop him off on Antarctica or something.
UPDATE II: You'd think this guy would be an ideal target for the ridiculous anti-religious vilification laws in Victoria, rather than the two guys targeted for "making fun of Islam".
August 03, 2005
Suitable for All Ages
My life is rated PG.
What is your life rated?
Pity.
Welcome News
Alcohol helps you think, say scientists.
!!!!!!
Sorry, I'm just excited...
The Tenth Planet
It seems scientists have discovered a tenth planet and are looking for naming suggestions.
I would request all like-minded geebons to help me push Mondas.
I mean, Mondas!
Imagine the possibilities!
Ok, maybe not.
Yay for Cultural Diversity
Why the hell is this sort of thing occuring in our country?
The Federal Government has condemned the practice of sending girls overseas for arranged marriages.
The Foreign Affairs Department has confirmed that 12 girls, younger than 18, have approached the Australian embassy in Beirut asking for help after being sent to Lebanon.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison says it is an abuse of human rights.
He says those responsible could be prosecuted under Australia's new sexual trafficking laws.
The men in question should be castrated.
Brutally. if at all possible.
August 02, 2005
No more premierships for you!
Well, it's official. Newcastle can now get back to sucking...
THE Australian Rugby League (ARL) has granted Newcastle captain Andrew Johns a clearance to play for English Super League club Warrington next month.
What's that Skippy?
Kangaroos are cute....and DELICIOUS!
Russia is the biggest overseas market for the meat, accounting for almost one-third of kangaroo meat exports, and almost half of Australia's total exports to Russia, Austrade said.
Tonnes of kangaroo meat are exported to far east Russia each month, where it is turned into sausages and snapped up by hungry consumers.
"Australia can't produce enough kangaroo meat," importer Igor Dorokhov said.
"We need 100 containers per month, Australia can only produce 25.
"It's good meat; cheap and good."
Sounds better than hog anus, I suppose.
But isn't he concerned of the "cuteness" of them?
"Their threshold for 'Oh I'm not going to eat kangaroo, they're such fluffy and nice animals', I guess, is much lower because there is not much choice, (and) they are used to exotic things."
Well, there it is.
August 01, 2005
I'm Back!!!
I have returned.
Don't all cheer at once now.