Bad ThinkingBad ThinkingA skeptical view on things. A skeptical view on things. Articles
Earth in the line of fire
2008-03-11 14:14:00 Death rays (= a gamma ray burst) may hit the Earth and cause a mass extinction when a nearby unstable star goes supernova - which it might do at any time within the next few hundred thousand years. The bad thing for us (if we should still be around when this happens) is that our little backwater of a planet seems to be right smack in the middle of the bullseye when the thing goes off. Better head for the bunker. More About: Fire , Line
Nicaraguan mass going to the dogs
2008-03-11 14:11:00 Last Sunday, hundreds of dogs, many of them dressed as babies or clowns, were taken to celebrate mass in the Nicaraguan town of Masaya, in an annual ritual where the owners pray for their pets to be cured or avoid falling ill. Here's an idea: How about taking them to a vet instead. More About: Dogs , Mass
Fire extinguishers to be banned in Britain
2008-03-11 12:49:00 In blocks and flats, after being deemed a "fire risk" by professional risk assessors, according to this: But a review of two residential blocks in Bournemouth has raised concerns that householders could delay their escape to tackle a blaze. There is also concern that the use of extinguishers by untrained people could add to the danger. The report has the backing of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and extinguishers have already been removed from the two blocks – Admirals Walk and the 10-storey Avon House. Source Simon de Bruxelles, "Extinguishers banned as ‘fire risk’," The Times, March 11, 2008 More About: Britain , Banned
Man slips on grape, sues company for £300,000
2008-03-11 12:47:00 If only there were a way to round up people like Alexander Martin-Sklan and dump them in the middle of the Atlantic... More About: Company
The dirty Mr. Clean
2008-03-11 12:04:00 So much for the "high morals" of the anti-corruption crusader. Although, why this should be big news all over the world is difficult to understand. Depending on the political preferences of the individual, reactions to this non-event ranged quite predictably from "shocked" (Democrats) to being beside themselves with glee (rich Republicans). But what I don't understand is, why do people claim to be so "shocked" over this matter? Did they really think that Spitzer would turn out to be any different than any other sleazebag caught with his pants down around his ankles? Politicians will be politicians. And just writing about them is enough to make me want to wash my hands afterwards. Also, if it hadn't been for all his hypocritical bluster and high talk, this whole thing would only have been about yet another power-crazy asshole who couldn't keep his dick in his pants. Whether he's unfaithful to his wife (since he presumably promised her at some point when they got married that he w... More About: Clean , Dirty
At least 25 dead in twin suicide bomb attacks
2008-03-11 11:59:00 In Lahore, Pakistan: The deadliest blast demolished much of the federal police headquarters in the heart of the eastern city, while the other hit an advertising office several kilometres (miles) away. Two children were among the dead. ... Lawyer Wali Mohammed Khan, who was on the second floor of the building when the explosion happened, said the blast was "so intense that I was literally blown off my chair." "There was blood everywhere. I also saw mutilated limbs and body parts scattered around the reception area of the building," Khan told AFP. The Federal Investigation Agency headquarters also housed the offices of a US-trained special investigation unit created to counter terrorism, and that was probably the target. Source "Twin suicide attacks kill 25 in Pakistan's Lahore," AFP, March 11, 2008 More About: Suicide , Dead , Bomb , Attacks
Simon Hoggart on homeopathy
2008-03-10 18:42:00 Among other things, here. More About: Simon , Homeopathy
Haiti's "supreme master" of voodoo
2008-03-10 18:24:00 A national federation of "Haitian voodooists" has been established in Haiti. The voodooists also have a formal leader, their first-ever "supreme master" (his name is Max), who was recently appointed in a ceremony. It's all part of the continuing and seemably unstoppable rise of traditionalist madness all over the world. Related posts • Man threatens to kill family with voodoo curse (and a gun) • Voodoo in a Florida cemetery • Voodoo football More About: Master , Supreme
Acid mailed to Austrian politicians
2008-03-10 18:20:00 At least four packages containing butyric acid have been mailed to local politicians in Austria, and one of the recipients ended up in hospital. A suspect has been arrested. More About: Politicians , Acid , Austrian
The new seven deadly sins
2008-03-10 16:16:00 In its eagerness to resurrect every Dark Age inanity possible, the Catholic Church under the demented leadership of Darth Ratzinger has now turned its attention to the "deadly" (oooh) sins. Yesterday, an updated list was published in the Vatican newspaper, and it pretty much followed expectations (=low), with vague generalizations like pollution, social injustice, causing poverty and drug abuse being among the new "thou shalt nots." Amusingly, "excessive wealth" is also on the list, which means that the whole Catholic Church just sent itself straight to hell (and it was about time, too). Rounding off the list is something called "tampering with the order of nature," whatever that means, and, inevitably, genetic experimentation. Things like slavery, paedophilia, preventing free thought, controlling people's lives through pointless dogma, causing unnecessary psychological anguish through the teaching of evil and absurd fables as fact to children, and continued attempts at thwarting t... More About: Sins , Deadly
Palestinian terrorist is a "holy Islamic martyr"
2008-03-10 15:59:00 The terrorist responsible for the recent bloodbath in Jerusalem has been "honoured" with the status of shahid, or "holy Islamic martyr," by the official Palestinian Authority daily newspaper, according to this (see also this). There's also a collection of interesting quotes in the article. More About: Terrorist , Martyr , Holy
Britain is a great place for grumps
2008-03-10 15:52:00 This according to award-winning New York Times journalist Eric Weiner. In The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place s in the World, he claims that British people are never happier than when at their most miserable: "For the British, happiness is a transatlantic import. And by transatlantic, they mean American. And by American, they mean silly, infantile drivel." His book has received rave reviews, but despite of that, it still sounds interesting. More on this here. More About: Britain , Great
Child molester serving 400 years killed in prison
2008-02-18 20:05:00 Repeat sex offender Shannon Lee Grailing, who received his sentence in 1996, was fatally slashed across the throat by a fellow inmate in prison in Sacramento. More About: Prison , Child , Years , Killed
Godman arrested in fake currency scam
2008-02-18 19:55:00 Nityananda Swami is an "expert at chasing away evil spirits," and he has "many bureaucrats and political leaders" among his worshippers, according to this. He's also, of course, a criminal, involved in trading tiger skins and circulating fake currency. More About: Arrested , Currency , Fake , Scam
Cathal O'Searcaigh, the pederast poet
2008-02-18 19:52:00 Cathal O'Searcaigh is a celebrated Irish poet and playwright. He also travels to Nepal a lot, and he does this for three reasons: 1) the chance to write in a totally different environment, 2) the deep spirituality of the people, and, apparently, 3) the opportunity to fuck a lot of teenage boys. See this and this for more details. More About: Poet
Is keeping a stolen car in your garage permitted under Islamic law?
2008-02-18 19:37:00 That's what Islamic terrorist Ezzit Raad in Australia was worrying about, according to this: ALLEGED terrorist Ezzit Raad was anxious about a stolen car being in his garage in case it was not "halal" — permitted under Islamic law — the Supreme Court heard yesterday. When he expressed doubts that it was right for him to store the car, he was allegedly asked by another man, Ahmed Raad, "You will point a gun at (an unbeliever's) head and shoot him but you will not put the stolen car here? … What's wrong? What's the difference?" Prosecutor Richard Maidment, SC, yesterday read parts of the men's alleged conversation to the court. He said Ezzit Raad did not respond to the gun-pointing remark with outrage but replied, "This is different, all right? Don't put that with this." It was alleged that, as Ezzit Raad continued to protest about the car, a third man, Aimen Joud, told him that the mujahideen "brothers in Chechnya" also stole to support Allah's cause: "You just see all t... More About: Garage , Stolen
Students recruited by jihadists on Facebook
2008-02-18 19:35:00 Radical British jihadist groups are actively operating and recruiting students on the social networking site Facebook and other forums, according to this. More About: Students , Jihadists
Sewage workers stalked by zombie
2008-02-18 19:03:00 It can't be easy, being these guys: Workers at Southern Water's treatment plant in Eastbourne, East Sussex, said they have been scared to enter tunnels after being followed about by a "humanoid figure" as they went about their jobs. Mark Wey, a sewage treatment worker, got permission from his bosses to hire a paranormal investigator to launch an investigation into the sewage spirits. Mr Wey hired parapsychologist Michael Kingscote who paid the tunnels a visit. And what did the "investigator" find? Absolutely nothing, of course, but he was still sure that "there is definitely paranormal activity" going on. Mr Wey said the figure, which followed workers about often laughed at them and staff could hear "muffled conversations" coming from behind the tunnel walls. Another worker said: "I believe in ghosts and I'm sure there's something in there. I dread doing the night shift. "It's not funny going to work and worrying that a zombie might be around the corner." Shouldn't these i... More About: Zombie
Homosexual rape rampant in Zimbabwean prisons
2008-02-18 18:57:00 According to The Zimbabwe Gazette. More About: Rape
Two witches beaten up by sorcerer
2008-02-18 18:51:00 In a tribal area in the Indian state of Orissa: The incident came to light after the victims, Tulasa Mali and Ratna Mali, from Kandulbeda village were admitted to a hospital on Thursday. Police have registered a case against the sorcerer, Shyam Sundar Gouda alias Paraja. According to sources, the two women's children were down with fever a few days ago. When their health did not improve despite medical help from Kundra hospital, Tulasa and Ratna decided to approach Paraja, a sorcerer who was visiting their village on Thursday. "As soon as Paraja saw them, he shouted that they were witches and had cast spells on their children. The sorcerer said they were also a threat to other villagers. He then tied them with chains and started beating them mercilessly," said Tulasa's husband, Mangala Mali. Two villagers, who were present at the spot, told Piraja to stop the assault but to no avail. We managed to free the two from his clutches with great difficulty, he added. Source "Two 'wit... More About: Witches
UFO museum to open in Russia
2008-02-18 18:49:00 In the city of Togliatti, according to this. More About: Open , Russia , Museum
Woman to be beheaded for witchcraft in Saudi Arabia
2008-02-18 11:32:00 Fawzi Falih, an illiterate woman in Saudi Arabia , is soon to be beheaded for the crime of "witchcraft." According to The Times, Falih was arrested by the religious police, who beat her and forced her to fingerprint a false confession. Among her accusers was a man who claimed that she had rendered him impotent through sorcery. Related posts • 400 lashes for black magic More About: Witchcraft , Saudi Arabia , Woman
Rushdie death fatwa reaffirmed again
2008-02-18 11:23:00 According to this: On Friday, Hamid Ansari deputy head of Khomeini's Archives in an interview with the state television said, "Imam Khomeini's fatwa on Salman Rushdie has historic significance on Islam and it was not just a fatwa. It was a verdict which still holds today." These "renewals" happen pretty regularly (see, for example, this and this). Related posts • Executions in Iran More About: Death , Fatwa
Michael Newdow tries to remove "under God" again
2008-02-18 11:17:00 Lawyer Michael Newdow is again trying to have "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, this time in New Hampshire, according to this. I hope he succeeds.
"You don't tell the white fella what he can't understand"
2008-02-18 10:58:00 Is oral sex with an 11-year-old boy part of the traditional culture of Torres Strait islanders? That's what a 61-year-old teacher in Australia claims. More About: White , Understand
Atheist group moves into church
2008-02-18 10:42:00 The Atlanta Freethought Society has bought the 142-year-old former Collins Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. Almost poetic, in a way. More About: Atheist , Group , Moves
Apparent muti killing sparks mob violence
2008-02-18 10:31:00 A nine-year-old girl was murdered recently near Durban in South Africa. One of her eyes had been gouged out, and there were (unconfirmed) reports that her genitals had been cut off. This led to a mob of 800 people trying to set fire to a house belonging to a well off family, who was targeted because (so the local reasoning went) the family members must have made their money from selling body parts for muti purposes. Police intervened, and were forced to use stun grenades to calm the situation. More About: Violence , Sparks , Killing
"Assimilation is a crime against humanity"
2008-02-18 09:49:00 The Islamist führer of Turkey revealed his true colours yet again, at a political event in Germany on Sunday a week ago: A crowd of 16,000 expatriate Turks cheered Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a vast indoor auditorium in Germany on Sunday as he told them to resist assimilation into the West. The political rally by Germany's biggest ethnic minority upset German politicians, who objected to a major public event on German soil being advertised on posters in Turkish only. Erdogan indirectly addressed those concerns, saying it was right for Turkish immigrants to learn German and other languages so they could integrate, but wrong to abandon their Turkish heritage and assimilate. "Assimilation is a crime against humanity," he told the crowd. Many Turks had travelled from France, Belgium and the Netherlands to hear his hour-long address in the shiny venue, the Koelnarena. I have a very simple question that has been asked many times before: If your "Turkish heritage" is so impo... More About: Crime , Humanity
Teenage binge drinking in Britain
More articles from this author:2008-02-18 09:34:00 Binge drinking in Britain is a problem. According to this, the number of teenagers who need medical treatment after drinking alcohol has soared by nearly 40% in six years, which means that hospitals now treat 8,000 drunk teens per year. And here's the sad story of Mark Shields, who drank himself to death the night before his 18th birthday in a drinking spree that lasted little over half an hour. Que all the hand-wringing moralizing and conservative calls for a return to "traditional values." More About: Drinking , Teenage 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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