Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Strike me down
Legal case against God dismissed
A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served.
The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling.
He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God.
Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed.
"Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant this action will be dismissed with prejudice," Judge Polk wrote in his ruling.
Mr Chambers cannot refile the suit but may appeal.
'God knows everything'
Mr Chambers sued God last year. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".
He said he would carefully consider Judge Polk's ruling before deciding whether to appeal.
The court, Mr Chambers said, had acknowledged the existence of God and "a consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience".
"Since God knows everything," he reasoned, "God has notice of this lawsuit."
Mr Chambers, a state senator for 38 years, said he filed the suit to make the point that "anyone can sue anyone else, even God".
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/7673591.stm
A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served.
The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling.
He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God.
Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed.
"Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant this action will be dismissed with prejudice," Judge Polk wrote in his ruling.
Mr Chambers cannot refile the suit but may appeal.
'God knows everything'
Mr Chambers sued God last year. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".
He said he would carefully consider Judge Polk's ruling before deciding whether to appeal.
The court, Mr Chambers said, had acknowledged the existence of God and "a consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience".
"Since God knows everything," he reasoned, "God has notice of this lawsuit."
Mr Chambers, a state senator for 38 years, said he filed the suit to make the point that "anyone can sue anyone else, even God".
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/7673591.stm
Friday, October 10, 2008
Review-The Veiled Kingdom
Review of:
The Veiled Kingdom.
Author: Carmen Bin Ladin
By Me
Once again,another interesting book sent by my mother(thanks Mum).
Although the spelling is slightly different, Carmen Bin Ladin is indeed the sister-in-law of Osama Bin Laden. The spelling being different because of Saudi custom. Although the book was written after 9-11, and in reaction to her family being portrayed as guilty through association, the book only briefly dwells on Osama.
He is of course, portrayed as a deeply religious fundamentalist, but is only mentioned in passing.
The real story is about Saudi culture and the restrictions placed on the female population, and on Carmen and her daughters in particular.
Carmen was born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and an Iranian mother.
Her subsequent marriage and life with her Saudi husband in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, and her revulsion at the life of women in Saudi form the central theme. It is a deeply personal account of her life and her struggle to fit into 'the veiled kingdom'.
Carmen doesn't attempt to vilify either her husband or Islam, rather shed some light on its practices, and explain her reasons for ultimately rejecting its restrictions-as practised in Saudi Arabia. As far as I can tell she remains a Muslim.
Having three daughters, her reasoning certainly seems understandable, especially as they have all now graduated from US universities and have their own successful lives and careers.
Carmen must be applauded for having the courage to write such a revealing insight into such a closed world, which still must come at a cost to her security.
Each religion has its fundamentalist factions, be it Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. It is not up to us, to judge other faiths, and neither does this book. What it does though, is give us a fascinating insight into an insular alien culture.
Definitely recommended.
The Veiled Kingdom.
Author: Carmen Bin Ladin
By Me
Once again,another interesting book sent by my mother(thanks Mum).
Although the spelling is slightly different, Carmen Bin Ladin is indeed the sister-in-law of Osama Bin Laden. The spelling being different because of Saudi custom. Although the book was written after 9-11, and in reaction to her family being portrayed as guilty through association, the book only briefly dwells on Osama.
He is of course, portrayed as a deeply religious fundamentalist, but is only mentioned in passing.
The real story is about Saudi culture and the restrictions placed on the female population, and on Carmen and her daughters in particular.
Carmen was born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and an Iranian mother.
Her subsequent marriage and life with her Saudi husband in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, and her revulsion at the life of women in Saudi form the central theme. It is a deeply personal account of her life and her struggle to fit into 'the veiled kingdom'.
Carmen doesn't attempt to vilify either her husband or Islam, rather shed some light on its practices, and explain her reasons for ultimately rejecting its restrictions-as practised in Saudi Arabia. As far as I can tell she remains a Muslim.
Having three daughters, her reasoning certainly seems understandable, especially as they have all now graduated from US universities and have their own successful lives and careers.
Carmen must be applauded for having the courage to write such a revealing insight into such a closed world, which still must come at a cost to her security.
Each religion has its fundamentalist factions, be it Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. It is not up to us, to judge other faiths, and neither does this book. What it does though, is give us a fascinating insight into an insular alien culture.
Definitely recommended.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Don't you want to live in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi cleric favours one-eye veil
A Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.
Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive.
The question of how much of her face a woman should cover is a controversial topic in many Muslim societies.
The niqab is more common in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, but women in much of the Muslim Middle East wear a headscarf which covers only their hair.
Sheikh Habadan, an ultra-conservative cleric who is said to have wide influence among religious Saudis, was answering questions on the Muslim satellite channel al-Majd.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The loss of freedom in Hong Kong
It is a public holiday here in Hong Kong-to celebrate the Communist government of China's takeover of the mainland.
This story has been reported in Hong Kong. An 18 year old has been arrested for making 'malicious' rumours about a local bank.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
'The lady doth protest too much me thinks'. If there is truly nothing wrong, why have the govt arrested someone for an opinion? Sticks and stones....!
The idiots who then queued for hours to withdraw their savings even though the govt guaranteed their deposits are to blame.
If I want to say that ABC bank is not safe, I should be able to. It may be my opinion. If I say that I have proof that ABC bank is not safe-I must back up my claims.
I personally believe that all Hong Kong banks are not safe-HSBC, Standard Chartered, Bank Of China, etc. This is of course pure supposition on my behalf, I have no proof.Only the proof that half a dozen banks throughout the world have had to be rescued in the last 10 days.
This man should not be in custody. Arrest the CEO of AIG etc for destroying the economy.
Taken from RTHK in Hong Kong
Man held over malicious internet message
01-10-2008
Police in Hong Kong have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the sending of malicious messages over the Internet with criminal or dishonest intent. The suspect was detained by officers of the Commercial Crime Bureau in Kwai Chung. The case concerns an online message which was posted on an internet discussion forum last Thursday, alleging that a Hong Kong financial institution would be closed down. Police were unable to confirm whether the arrest was linked to rumours about bank stability, which led to thousands of depositors withdrawing up to two billion HK dollars in deposits from the Bank of East Asia last week.
This story has been reported in Hong Kong. An 18 year old has been arrested for making 'malicious' rumours about a local bank.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
'The lady doth protest too much me thinks'. If there is truly nothing wrong, why have the govt arrested someone for an opinion? Sticks and stones....!
The idiots who then queued for hours to withdraw their savings even though the govt guaranteed their deposits are to blame.
If I want to say that ABC bank is not safe, I should be able to. It may be my opinion. If I say that I have proof that ABC bank is not safe-I must back up my claims.
I personally believe that all Hong Kong banks are not safe-HSBC, Standard Chartered, Bank Of China, etc. This is of course pure supposition on my behalf, I have no proof.Only the proof that half a dozen banks throughout the world have had to be rescued in the last 10 days.
This man should not be in custody. Arrest the CEO of AIG etc for destroying the economy.
Taken from RTHK in Hong Kong
Man held over malicious internet message
01-10-2008
Police in Hong Kong have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the sending of malicious messages over the Internet with criminal or dishonest intent. The suspect was detained by officers of the Commercial Crime Bureau in Kwai Chung. The case concerns an online message which was posted on an internet discussion forum last Thursday, alleging that a Hong Kong financial institution would be closed down. Police were unable to confirm whether the arrest was linked to rumours about bank stability, which led to thousands of depositors withdrawing up to two billion HK dollars in deposits from the Bank of East Asia last week.
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