A Rose Grows In India

a really good article in the New York Times about Rose Venkatesan, India’s first trans-gender TV host

A complex procedure even for experienced hands, the process of tying a sari is particularly hard for Rose, who was raised as a boy, and used to be known as Ramesh Venkatesan. Her mother never taught her the skill and refuses to see her wear one. Even so, the outcome was flawless.

When it is broadcast on Vijay television to an audience of up to 64 million people in the southern state of Tamil Nadu later this month, “Ippadikku Rose” (“Yours, Rose”) is expected to cause a sensation, introducing India’s first transgender celebrity to television. [Ed Note: who are America's transgender celebrities? I don't think Amanda Lepore counts]

The show’s director, Anthony Thirunelveli, said the half-hour talk show had been conceived as a program suitable for family viewing but would discuss issues of sex and sexuality, confronting “hush, hush, under the carpet subjects.” The first nine episodes will tackle, among other things, divorce, sex and relationships among the mostly young employees in India’s call centers, and sexual harassment.

The main attraction will be Rose herself, who now goes by only one name. A poised, 28-year-old, American-educated former Web site designer with a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, she started wearing women’s clothes full time four years ago and is still waiting for acceptance from her family and society at large.

If nothing else, the show will start to propel downtrodden groups of transsexuals, or hijras, into the mainstream.

“Transgenders in India are seen as immoral and evil,” Rose said, calmly leafing through the script of her first show — an interview with a prostitute about her recently published autobiography. “I will break that image by being articulate, intelligent and a bit like the girl next door.”

“This is a radical development,” she added. “There have been transsexuals in Indian movies, but always as the object of ridicule or as villains. This is the first time in the history of Indian television that a transgender person has been featured as a television anchor.”

His anxieties are understandable in a country where the boundaries of sexual tolerance are shifting daily, with much uncertainty and unpredictability. Fashion TV was briefly banned for showing too much flesh; a film star’s career was threatened after comments that appeared to condone premarital sex; and fringe political groups like nothing better than to stir noisy (and often spurious) paroxysms of moral outrage.

The channel was not searching for controversy, but executives were so impressed by Rose’s screen presence and determination to fight prejudice that they agreed instantly to give her a show despite her lack of experience.

“People here will not openly let transsexuals into their homes,” Rose said, disclosing that she had deliberately isolated herself from college friends and neighbors to avoid rejection

Rose said attitudes were no less hostile in parts of the United States, where she had spent three years studying at Louisiana Tech University. “There, people were aggressively homophobic,” she said. “America is very hypocritical when it comes to its stand on sexual minorities. Historically, India was very progressive about this until the British came and imposed a Victorian sense of morality, which still remains.”
[Ed. Note: Goddamn christian morality]
Rose said she had no desire to shock, but just hoped that she would be watched.

“As a person, I am very open, but this is a big television channel which goes out to millions of people,” she said. “We don’t want any bad reaction.”

Here's a clip of Ippadikku Rose” (“Yours, Rose”)


reading that article reminded me of something similar in Begum Nawazish Ali, a transgendered talk show host in Pakistan who is breaking down barriers of her own and is (or was in 2006) a huge star and almost a feminist icon

The talk show host making waves in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (and apparently Kashmir) is purportedly a stylish, middle-aged, socialite widow of an army colonel. Her monologues are often laced with sexual innuendo, she flirts openly with her guests, and sometimes embarrasses them with probing questions about their private lives. Her guests include some of Pakistan's most well-known personalities: the urban elite, film and television stars and even some top politicians. Most are nevertheless thrilled to be invited to appear on a program millions are watching.

Viewers are obviously fascinated too. Dinner party conversations here in Karachi are often peppered with anecdotes about her risqué banter and sly digs at Pakistani politics. Women call the television station to inquire about the tailoring of her sequined blouses and where to buy her glamorous saris.

The thing is, Begum Nawazish Ali is actually a man. Ali Saleem, the 28-year-old man who dons lipstick, mascara and a wig to Begum Nawazish Ali, has managed to break many taboos in conservative Pakistan through the character.

When I nonchalantly mentioned that the host was in drag to the Kashmiri journalist, his eyes almost popped out of his head. That was almost a bigger surprise for me. I thought that fact was obvious to everyone and was part of the show's success. Certainly no Pakistani woman on television could get away with the kind of double entendres she gets away with.

To the actor Saleem, there is little doubt about why audiences are tuning in – they’re all waiting to see what the well-coiffed, manicured character will say next.

Female guests often find themselves comparing wardrobes and jewelry with her, while male guests have had to bear the brunt of a suggestive proposition from her. "Some people compare her to Dame Edna's character on British television," said Saleem, "but Begum Nawazish Ali is much too sophisticated to ever be that crude."

So popular is the show that advertising rates during its weekend prime time slot are triple that of other shows in similar slots. Saleem is now one of the highest paid television hosts in the country and is constantly receiving offers from rival channels to bring the show to them.

During an arduous three-hour hair and make-up session before the recording of a show, Saleem was philosophical about the reasons why the show has clicked with audiences.

"I think Begum Nawazish Ali inspires women in particular because she is a strong, glamorous, opinionated woman who is unafraid of saying what she thinks and of flirting with men if she feels like it," explained Saleem. "Men, on the other hand, find her intriguing because she transcends all kinds of restrictions and plays with their imagination."

So far, despite the thin line Saleem treads between the outrageous and the socially acceptable – overt sexuality of any kind is frowned upon in conservative Pakistan – his celebrity guests have also been good sports.

Surprisingly even Pakistan's firebrand religious leaders have never attacked the show. "We couldn't convince [the head of the main religious parties alliance] Qazi Hussain Ahmed to come on the show," said Saleem, "but he was very good-natured about it. He praised the Begum and said he would rather just watch the show on television."

Even a septuagenarian belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist political party, claimed that he did not know what he was getting into after appearing on the show.

Here she is on Al-Jazeera's "Everywoman" (starting at 5:40)

(and here are a lot more clips if you're interested)

isn't it sort of ironic that in countries that a lot of people look at as so oppressive especially sexual, there are shows with positive transgendered role models while in America you can look far and wide for any recurring and thoughtful portrayal. Could you imagine a show, a talk show where a transgender host, in a non camp manner talks frankly about issues and has guests of power onto her show and it becoming a phenomenon?
(But if you can imagine that and there is such a show in America please let me know- I'd love to be watching it)

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In Solidarity with Kurt Westergaard

and the staff of Jyllands-Posten who reprinted the 12 newspaper cartoons of Mohammed today to show support for the cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard. Yesterday three men who were plotting his death were arrested.
Said one newpaper standing in solidarity
"We are doing this to document what is at stake in this case, and to unambiguously back and support the freedom of speech that we as a newspaper will always defend," said the Copenhagen-based Berlingske Tidende.
And because I believe in free speech and also like to stir up controversy here are the 12 images of the prophet Muhammed












God may be great but the free flow of information is greater

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I’m Speechless: This Guy Should Be

The Pride of Franklin County, Kansas’ Ottawa Herald
(from Wonkette)

Don’t betray your heritage for Obama’s ‘change’
By GARY SILLETT, Community Viewpoint

A couple years ago, President Bush thought it would be a good idea to turn over control of one or more vital seaports in the continental United States to an Arab-owned conglomerate. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth including from me.

How could this be? we asked. In the aftermath of 9/11, as we now remember it, that would be like handing the keys of New York City to Osama Bin Laden. I believe there are some of you who remember who he is?

The hue and cry was deafening. To suddenly find our seaports our points of entry, our gateways to the world in the hands of Muslim fundamentalists was not only abhorrent, but also frightening. Even with countless reassurances from Bush administration officials, Arab corporation executives, et al, there was no convincing us this was a good idea for us or for the future of America. That dog don t hunt.

Well, now comes another bad idea … maybe even worse. The Democratic Party actually intends to put a Muslim fundamentalist in the White House. Yes, you read it right. They want to put a man of Muslim origins in the White House.

Barack Hussein Obama hit the campaign trail from nowhere and continues to gain momentum as his political handlers crank out generic catchphrases to lure the unsuspecting voter with words like hope and change.

Now there s nothing wrong with hope or change. It has been our tradition as a nation that when we get tired of something or someone, we exercise our constitutional rights and throw them out. That’s why we asked our representatives for term limitations. But to even consider turning over the reins of government to a Muslim fundamentalist would be, as my grandmother used to say, throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Some Web sites suggest Obama will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance. He refuses to wear an American flag lapel pin. He will not face the flag during the playing of the National Anthem nor will he sing it or even mouth the words. [Editor s note: Other reputable Web sites refute each of those claims and show Obama leading the Pledge of Allegiance in the Senate.]

I know, there are some of you out there right now who are ready to say these are only symbols: Icons of days gone by; Relics of the past. You want change. We should all remember that these relics, symbols and traditions are not just representative of some coffee clache or sewing circle. These are traditions handed down from father to son, mother to daughter. They represent the deep-seated patriotism that brave men and women have given their lives to uphold for more than two centuries.

To elect Barack Obama to the highest office in the land would be nothing less than spitting on the graves of the victims of 9/11, as well as the memory of the countless thousands of American loyalists who have pledged and given their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in defense of those tired old symbols and icons of the greatest nation on earth. In many cases, these things are all that is left to families of American heroes who heard the call and stepped forward and defended not only their heritage, but the legacies of millions in foreign lands.

Hold fast to these symbols and icons, I say. Hold them up every day and pledge that they are still important to us all. Keep reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Sing the National Anthem. Place your hand over your heart in remembrance of all those who gave their lives so that we all may do so. Remember that they are the very fabric of which our nation is made. Our flag is not just a symbol. It is representative of our soul as a nation. It embodies all the hopes, dreams and aspirations of those who have gone before us, those who are defending freedom today and those who will choose to do so in the future.

Beware of wolves in sheep s clothing, it’s been said. Don t betray your heritage simply for the sake of change. Heed the voices of your fellow Americans, past, present and future who call upon you to uphold the principles of the United States and protect them from pretenders like Barack Hussein Obama.

Gary Sillett is a Princeton resident and a pressman at The Ottawa Herald.

I don’t know what it is but..there seems to be something off about that guy. A kind of xenophobia. But also maybe it’s just me but whenever I hear the word “heritage” and like “defend our heritage” I tend to think of white men in robes riding in the night and like southern segregationists. Or guys with confederate flags flying in their lawns.
Not a good look.

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Ciao, Romano

Italy's government has collapsed!!!
Wait- that probably didn't need exclamation points; the collapse of the Italian government seems to happen at least every two years.
Anyway after 20 months in power and after surviving nearly three dozen (!) confidence votes the the Italian government when Prime Minister Romano Prodi lost a vote of confidence in Parliament and was forced to resign.
The final margin of the vote 161-156.
When the vote was announced some senators cracked open a bottle of champagne (actually hopefully it was prosecco)

God I love Italia
Romano of course tendered his resignation.
"According to the Italian news agency ANSA Italy has had 61 governments in the 62 years since the end of World War II. Prodi's lasted 618 days, the seventh- longest." wow wow. Politics in other countries is so much funner than here. I mean this is a story but it's not at all shocking.


What was shocking to me at least was that if elections were held today, as many are urging, that everyone's old friend Silvio Berlusconi would probably be brought back into power. Oh Silvio, oh. I don't know what to say really...hopefully this time around you won't say stuff like this:

At a rally during the 2006 election campaign:
"Read The Black Book of Communism and you will discover that in the China of Mao, they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilise the fields."

On left-wing voters at a conference of retailers during the 2006 campaign:
"I trust the intelligence of the Italian people too much to think that there are so many pricks around who would vote against their own best interests."

At the launch of the 2006 campaign:
"I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone."

Promising to put family values at the centre of his campaign:
"I will try to meet your expectations, and I promise from now on, two-and-a-half months of absolute sexual abstinence, until [election day on] 9 April."

To German MEP Martin Schulz, at start of Italy's EU presidency in July 2003:
"I know that in Italy there is a man producing a film on Nazi concentration camps - I shall put you forward for the role of Kapo (guard chosen from among the prisoners) - you would be perfect."

During the controversy raging over the above remark:
"I'll try to soften it and become boring, maybe even very boring, but I am not sure I will be able to do it."

To a German newspaper:
"In Italy I am almost seen as German for my workaholism. Also I am from Milan, the city where people work the hardest. Work, work, work - I am almost German."

At the Brussels summit, at the end of Italy's EU presidency, in December 2003:
"Let's talk about football and women." (Turning to four-times-married German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder.) "Gerhard, why don't you start?"

On Italian secretaries (comments made at the New York stock exchange):
"Italy is now a great country to invest in... today we have fewer communists and those who are still there deny having been one. Another reason to invest in Italy is that we have beautiful secretaries... superb girls."

On Mussolini:
"Mussolini never killed anyone. Mussolini used to send people on vacation in internal exile."

In the wake of 11 September:
"We must be aware of the superiority of our civilisation, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and - in contrast with Islamic countries - respect for religious and political rights, a system that has as its value understanding of diversity and tolerance...
"The West will continue to conquer peoples, even if it means a confrontation with another civilisation, Islam, firmly entrenched where it was 1,400 years ago."

His response to worldwide condemnation of the above speech:
"They have tried to hang me on an isolated word, taken out of context from my whole speech."

"I did not say anything against the Islamic civilisation... It's the work of some people in the Italian leftist press who wanted to tarnish my image and destroy my long-standing relations with Arabs and Muslims."

On Italian justice:
"Eighty-five per cent of the Italian press is left-wing and among the judges it is even worse... There is a cancer in Italy that we have to treat: the politicisation of the magistracy."

On judges pursuing former Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti on charges relating to the Mafia:
"Those judges are doubly mad! In the first place, because they are politically mad, and in the second place because they are mad anyway.
"If they do that job it is because they are anthropologically different from the rest of the human race."

On his trial, now suspended, in which he denies charges of bribing judges to prevent the sale of a state-owned food company to a rival:
"I believed and still believe that citizen Berlusconi should be praised for having prevented the state's wealth from being looted... I was expecting a Gold Medal for Civil Worthiness for ensuring the state earned 2,000bn [lire]."

On himself:
"The best political leader in Europe and in the world."
"There is no-one on the world stage who can compete with me."
"Out of love for Italy, I felt I had to save it from the left."
"The right man in the right job."
"I don't need to go into office for the power. I have houses all over the world, stupendous boats... beautiful airplanes, a beautiful wife, a beautiful family... I am making a sacrifice."

A joke about Aids told by Mr Berlusconi:
"An Aids patient asks his doctor whether the sand treatment prescribed him will do any good. 'No', the doctor replies, 'but you will get accustomed to living under the earth'."

His response to critics who said the joke was offensive:
"They have lost their minds; they really have come to the end of the line, indeed they have gone beyond it. I would advise them, too, to undergo sand treatment..."

On his alleged conflict of interest as prime minister and one of Italy's biggest tycoons, with major media holdings:
"If I, taking care of everyone's interests, also take care of my own, you can't talk about a conflict of interest."

On a proposal to base an EU food standards agency in Finland, rather than the Italian city of Parma:
"Parma is synonymous with good cuisine. The Finns don't even know what prosciutto is. I cannot accept this."

On history:
"The founders of Rome were Romulus and Remulus ..."

but I doubt it. Oh, Silvio I guess I'll be able to take some solace (quantum solace) in the fact your government will probably only be around for a year or two.
Can someone convince Beppe Grillo to run? per favore?

Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popolo,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.

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Geert Wilders: 9/6/1963-?/?/2008

Don’t know who he is? Neither did I, but don’t bother to get more familiar with him because he’s probably going to die soon. Geert Wilder is a Dutch Parlimentarian who just made a movie comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf and just said "I believe the Koran is, indeed, 'Mein Kampf.' They are the same package," Wilders said. "I believe that our culture is far better than the retarded Islamic culture."
Wow, wow. Guy is obviously fearless and isn't worried about speaking his mind in a very "controversial" manner.
So..he’s probably not making it to see 2009

More gems from the soon to be late Mr. Wilders

"People who watch the movie will see that the Koran is very much alive today, leading to the destruction of everything we in the Western world stand for, which is respect and tolerance," Wilders, the 41-year-old leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, said last month in a telephone interview

Five months ago, he called for the Koran to be outlawed in the Netherlands.

"I believe our culture is much better than the retarded Islamic cultures," he told FOXNews.com. "Ninety-nine percent of the intolerance in the world comes back to the Islamic religion and the Koran."

Referring to the increased population of Muslims in the Netherlands, Wilders has said:

"Take a walk down the street and see where this is going. You no longer feel like you are living in your own country. There is a battle going on and we have to defend ourselves. Before you know it there will be more mosques than churches!"

Later, Wilders suggested that Muslims should 'tear out half of the Koran if they wished to stay in the Netherlands' because it contained 'terrible things' and that Muhammad would 'in these days be hunted down as a terrorist'. These statements caused strong reactions in Muslim countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. (Ed. Note: strong reactions being a code name for murderous plots)

On 8 August 2007, Wilders opined in a letter to the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant that the Koran, which he called a "fascist book", should be outlawed in the Netherlands, like Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. He stated that: "The book incites hatred and killing and therefore has no place in our legal order.

And he’s already under constant security precautions

Geert Wilders stayed away from regular meetings in parliament for several weeks. Even though a member's presence is not mandatory, it is uncommon not to show up for weeks on end. Wilders has stated that he did this out of concern for his personal security. Having been assigned a new seating position in the parliamentary meeting hall (one further away from the public observation area), he has once again started to attend meetings.

Wilders is under constant security protection because of frequent threats to his life. On 10 November 2004, two suspected terrorists were captured after an hour-long siege of a building in The Hague. They had three grenades and have been accused of planning to murder Geert Wilders as well as then fellow MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali. In September 2007, a Dutch woman was sentenced a 1-year prison term for sending out more than 100 threatening emails to Wilders.

I’m sure his security detail is loving him right now

Geert, rest in peace (eventually.)

(A quick note to my Islamic brothers and sisters everything offensive written above wasn't from me)

And slightly off subject but looking at his wikipedia picture I am reminded of that age old question: gay or European?

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The 5th Pillar

I think it started when I saw Malcom X but ever since then, ever since I've known about it I wanted to go on Hajj.

I'm not Muslim, though people used to think I was and a part of me feels like I would be executed in an Islamic country but I've dreamed about going on Hajj just once. Maybe it is that obsession with secret and forbidden knowledge that I have, maybe its the overt surrender to faith and belief, maybe its the oneness and brotherhood that everyone share, maybe it's because in most religions, besides Hinduism there is no proscribed ritual pilgrimage or maybe it's just because I'm not supposed to (and no one puts Baby in a corner) but the whole thing holds a great mystery and appeal to me. Who knows, maybe I'll put on a hijab and learn basic Arabis and take a trip...
But since "today" is the last day of this year's Hajj and because (I have readers in Afghanistan(!)] I can do this I wanted to do some kind of post about it.
So here it is...





from Wikipedia

The Hajj (the holy matrimony of faith and guidance of Islam) is associated with the life of Muhammad, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca predates Islam, and was considered ancient even during his lifetime in the 7th century. Many Muslims believe that it goes back to the time of Abraham in 2000 BC. Pilgrims would join processions of tens of thousands of people, who would simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals. Each person would walk counter-clockwise seven times about the Kaaba, the cubical building towards which all Muslims pray, kiss the sacred Black Stone on its corner, run back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drink from the Zamzam Well, go to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, then proceed to Muzdalifah to gather pebbles, which they would throw at a rock in Mina to perform the ritual of the Stoning of the Devil. The pilgrims would then shave their heads, perform an animal sacrifice, and celebrate the four day global festival of Eid ul-Adha

The Hajj was based on a pilgrimage that was ancient even in the time of Muhammad in the 7th Century. According to Hadith, elements of the Hajj trace back to the time of Abraham, around 2000 BC, and it is believed that the angel Gabriel, who revealed the location of the Zamzam Well, taught the rites of the pilgrimage to Abraham's son, Ishmael.

Each year, tribes from all around the Arabian peninsula would converge on Mecca, as part of the pilgrimage. The exact faith of the tribes was not important at that time, and Christian Arabs were as likely to make the pilgrimage as the pagans. Muslim historians refer to the time before Muhammad as al-Jahiliyah, the "Days of Ignorance", during which the Kaaba contained hundreds of idols representing totems of each of the tribes of the Arabian peninsula. The idols represented multiple faiths, from pagan gods to symbols of Jesus, Mary, Hubal and Allah.

Muhammad was known to regularly perform the Umrah, even before he began receiving revelations. Historically, Muslims would gather at various meeting points in other great cities, and then proceed en masse towards Mecca, in groups that could comprise tens of thousands of pilgrims. Two of the most famous meeting points were in Cairo and Damascus. In Cairo, the Sultan would stand atop a platform of the famous gate Bab Zuwayla, to officially watch the beginning of the annual pilgrimage.

In 632, when Muhammad led his followers from Medina to Mecca, it was the first Hajj to be performed by Muslims alone, and it was at this point that the Hajj became one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The Kaaba had been cleansed of the previous idols, and Muhammad ordained it as the house of God

During the Hajj, male pilgrims are required to dress only in a garment consisting of two sheets of white unhemmed cloth, with the top draped over the torso and the bottom secured by a white sash; plus a pair of sandals. Women are simply required to maintain their hijab - normal modest dress, which does not cover the hands or face.

The Ihram clothing is intended to show the equality of all pilgrims in the eyes of Allah, symbolizing the idea that there is no difference between a prince and a pauper when everyone is dressed equally. The Ihram also symbolizes purity and absolution of sins. A place designated for changing into Ihram is called a miqat.

While the pilgrim is wearing the Ihram, they cannot shave, cut their nails, wear deodorant or perfume. They may not swear or quarrel, kill any living thing (even an insect) or engage in sexual intercourse.

On the first day of the Hajj, the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah {the 12th month}, the pilgrims perform their first Tawaf, which involves all of the pilgrims entering The Sacred Mosque (Masjid Al Haram), and walking seven times in a counter-clockwise direction around the Kaaba, kissing the Black Stone (Hajr Al Aswad) on each circuit. If that is not possible due to the crowds, they may simply align themselves with it and point to the stone. Each complete circuit constitutes a "Shout" with 7 circuits constituting a complete tawaf. The place where pilgrims walk is known as "Mutaaf". Only the first three Shouts are compulsory and the rest optional, but invariably almost all perform it seven times.


Eating is not allowed and the tawaf is normally performed all at once, the only exception being the drinking of water. Men are encouraged to perform the first three circuits at a hurried pace, followed by four times, more closely, at a leisurely pace.

After the completion of Tawaf, all the pilgrims have to offer two Rakaat prayers at the Place of Abraham (Muqaam E Ibrahim), a site near the Kaaba. However, again due to large crowds during the days of Hajj, they can instead pray anywhere in the whole mosque.

After Tawaf, the pilgrims perform sa`i, running or walking seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This is a re-enactment of Ibriham's wife, Hajar, frantic search for water for her son, before the Zamzam Well was revealed to her by an angel sent by God. The circuit used to be in the open air, but is now entirely enclosed by the Masjid al-Haram mosque, and can be accessed via air-conditioned tunnels. Pilgrims are advised to walk the circuit, though two green pillars mark a short section of the path where they are allowed to run, along with an 'express lane' for the disabled. The safety procedures are in place because previous incidents in this ritual have resulted in stampedes which ended in the deaths of hundreds of people.

As part of this ritual, the pilgrims also drink water from the Zamzam Well,

The next morning, on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the pilgrims leave Mina for Mount Arafat. This is considered the highlight of the Hajj, as they stand in contemplative vigil, near a hill from which Muhammad gave his last sermon. Pilgrims must spend the afternoon within a defined area on the plain of Arafat until after sunset. No specific rituals or prayers are required during the stay at Arafat, although many pilgrims spend time praying, talking to God, and thinking about the course of their lives. If a pilgrim does not spend the afternoon on Arafat then their pilgrimage is considered invalid

As soon as the sun sets, the pilgrims leave Arafat for Muzdalifah, an area between Arafat and Mina, where 49 pebbles are gathered for the next day's ritual of the stoning of the Devil (Shaitan). Many pilgrims spend the night sleeping on the ground at Muzdalifah, before returning to Mina

At Mina, the pilgrims perform Ramy al-Jamarat, throwing stones to signify their defiance of the Devil. This symbolizes the trials experienced by Abraham, as he wrestled with whether or not to sacrifice his son per God's demand. The Devil challenged him three times, and three times Abraham refused. Each pillar marks the location of one of these refusals. Each pilgrim must hit each pillar at least seven times.[4] Because of the crowds, in 2004 the pillars were changed to long walls. Pilgrims climb ramps to the multi-leveled Jamarat Bridge, from which they can throw their stones at the three jamarat.



After the Stoning of the Devil, an animal is sacrificed. This symbolizes God having mercy on Abraham, and replacing his son with a ram, which Abraham then sacrificed.

Traditionally the pilgrim slaughtered the animal himself or oversaw the slaughtering. Today many pilgrims buy a sacrifice voucher in Mecca before the greater Hajj begins; this allows an animal to be slaughtered in their name on the 10th without the pilgrim being physically present. Centralized butcher houses will sacrifice a single sheep for each pilgrim, or a cow can represent the sacrifice of seven people. The meat is then packaged and given to charity, shipped to poor people around the world. At the same time as the sacrifices occur at Mecca, Muslims worldwide perform similar sacrifices, in a four day global festival called Eid ul-Adha.

On this or the following day the pilgrims re-visit the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca for a tawaf called the Tawaf az-Ziyarah (or Tawaf al-Ifadah) which is an obligatory part of the Hajj. The night of the 10th is spent back at Mina.

On the afternoon of the 11th, pilgrims must again stone all three jamarat in Mina (seven pebbles per jamarat). The same ritual must be performed on the following day.

Pilgrims must leave Mina for Mecca before sunset on the 12th. If they are unable to leave Mina before sunset, they must perform the stoning ritual again on the 13th before returning to Mecca.

"Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.

"I have been blessed to visit the Holy City of Mecca, I have made my seven circuits around the Ka'ba, led by a young Mutawaf named Muhammad, I drank water from the well of the Zam Zam. I ran seven times back and forth between the hills of Mt. Al-Safa and Al Marwah. I have prayed in the ancient city of Mina, and I have prayed on Mt. Arafat."

"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white."

"America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white - but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color."

"You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth."

"During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug - while praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana."

"We were truly all the same (brothers) - because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude."

"I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man - and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their 'differences' in color."

"With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-called 'Christian' white American heart should be more receptive to a proven solution to such a destructive problem. Perhaps it could be in time to save America from imminent disaster - the same destruction brought upon Germany by racism that eventually destroyed the Germans themselves."

"Each hour here in the Holy Land enables me to have greater spiritual insights into what is happening in America between black and white. The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites. But as racism leads America up the suicide path, I do believe, from the experiences that I have had with them, that the whites of the younger generation, in the colleges and universities, will see the handwriting on the walls and many of them will turn to the spiritual path of truth - the only way left to America to ward off the disaster that racism inevitably must lead to."

"Never have I been so highly honored. Never have I been made to feel more humble and unworthy. Who would believe the blessings that have been heaped upon an American Negro? A few nights ago, a man who would be called in America a white man, a United Nations diplomat, an ambassador, a companion of kings, gave me his hotel suite, his bed. Never would I have even thought of dreaming that I would ever be a recipient of such honors - honors that in America would be bestowed upon a King - not a Negro."

"All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds.

Sincerely,

Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

inshallah

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Barack's A Nazi

in case you didn't know.


But when you think about it the signs were there all along:

The Nazis and certain Muslims in the 1940s had an alliance.
Those same Muslims eventually became the leaders and propagators of the Baath Party and its ideology.
Who was the last leader of the Iraqi Baath Party? Saddam Hussein.
What is Barack Obama's middle name? Hussein.

I'm just saying.


Good enough to Seig Heil but too good to put his hand on his heart during the National Anthem (as required by law.) For shame.

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Ephemeral Desires: Things that are too cool/trendy for me*

*but I'd still like to see or experience

• These tilt shift photos look so cool and actually dolike small scale models. It's so weird. I would love if I were able to do it, but I don't know how I'd learn. Oh wait there's a youtube how to. Amazing (I <3 the free flow of information and handy video clips)
  
• Speaking of art, I want "Alison Jackson: Confidential" where...well...just read the article, I'm not sure I can write a one sentence synopsis and it's really interesting.
  
• "A new game show from Fox will pit contestants against a lie detector. All you have to do is truthfully answer questions like "Have you ever cheated on your wife?" in front of a studio audience, and you, could win up to $500,000" It's called The Moment of Truth and I kinda want to go on it-I feel I'd be amazing. I mean I have nothing really to hide or lie about and I'm rather shameless, especially if I were to imbibe a bit beforehand.
• The Japanese have created a robot that laughs. All I want is when our Robot Overlords assume control is that the end comes quickly (and at first I thought my fear of robots evolving was kind of a joke but somehow it has become serious and frightening.) [UPDATE 11/30: And apparently the Japanese have also created a robot that feels pain. Doesn't anyone else see where this is heading?]
  
• Eliza Dushku who I absolutely loved loved loved as Faith on Buffy is starring in a movie about "group sex" called "Sex & Breakfast" (I wonder which came first.) Apparently it's not lurid or anything but is provocative and I want to see it so I can support her now that she's all grown up (and I did not realize she was only 26)
• Another movie I want to see is "The 13th Disciple" a film that apparently gives Jesus an evil twin. It's blasphemous enough it might just work (and kinda reminds me of a movie idea I thought of during a long road trip about making a movie about the life of the Prophet Mohammad starring a Japanese lesbian, or something like that.)
  
• Have I been able to hide my excitement about the impending return of Futurama? Well that's because (I kinda forgot about it till reading this article) I didn't want to get too excited and have it yoinked away again from some show like The Moment of Truth.
  
• A Couple of Sporting Wishes
• The Angels have been quite busy this offseason, signing Torri Hunter, attempting to trade for Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrera and so I would like if Ned Colleti could even pretend to act like he's trying to improve the Dodgers this winter. I really don't like the Angels
  
• Steve Spurrier returned to Duke, or at least its campus, yesterday. Can he please come back? I'm sure K would dampen down his ego a little bit for that.
  

• Movies Opening this Week

• The Savages
  
• The Protagonist
• Chronicles of An Escape (Cronica de una fuga)
  
• The Rocket, eh
  
• Awake starring Hayden Christensen, Terence Howard, Jessica Alba and the guy who dumped Michelle Pfeiffer (and I actually kinda wanna see this just to figure out how the doctors will benefit by Hayden's death. It seems like a cool plot idea)
  
• and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

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Material Lust: Things that are too cool/trendy for me*

*but of course I still want

• Stuff for the Dream House
• The Sorapot is such a beautiful new twist on the teapot; it looks so frickin cool and unlike anything else. It actually looks like the future and I want one- I'd even gladly give up any kettle whistling (though I refuse to acknowledge that I can become a "friend" of it on Facebook)
• "The By Appointment chairs from Moritz Waldemeyer change color to match your outfit... An aura is projected around each chair to match the color of the fabric you’re wearing" Once again, so trippy. Does it do stripes? (cuz neither do I)
• A Bit of Miscellania
• So what you're telling me is that naming a teddy bear after the Prophet Mohammed is an insult to Islam, blasphemous and an act to be punished? Who knew? And what would naming a vibrator after him be considered? just wanna know for hypotheticals sake, of course.
• A Connect The Dot Tattoo seems so edgy but playful (just like me! j/k) I'd think I'd get a smallish one on my back- that sensation of someone writing on your back is kinda fun. I just don't know what the design would be...
• I'm sure a few friends would really enjoy the direct iPod to iPod transfer enabled by miShare. And it's not really expensive at all. I would get one but I feel I may have to accept that "it's better to give than recieve."
• Why yes! I would enjoy being made a Lady in the Principality of Sealand. And for only 20 pounds. Whatta deal.
  
• Fashion! (or something like it)
• Now I'm nowhere close to even thinking about getting married (and if I were I would want a much more unique wedding dress) but this is a kind of cool idea for my bridesmaids. "Twobirds is a boutique bridesmaid dress company that designed one dress that can be worn in ten different ways."
• From Pianegonda a Lovesick Heart Ring
• "The Panty Pops" by Victoria's Secret "are brightly colored and pattered ladies undies that come packaged like lollipops. Panty Candy is a line of thongs made of equally vibrant fabric packaged as “bon-bons.” They also have a Camy and Panty Cone, a gift set for the holidays that includes a tank top and matching undies wrapped in a big ice-cream box." Seems like a perfect opportunity for getting into a sticky situation...
  
• A Pair of Patent Shoe Boots
• A Taffeta strapless dress by Miu Miu
• RM's Moon dress
• From Burberry comes a Military Cape Jacket
  
• And finally Hautelook.com is "a new members-only site whose clients get exclusive access to 48-hour online private sales." I think it could be amazing (and is getting a lot of in the know buzz) Registration is free and if you do sign up if you tell them that jacqui.dey@gmail.com sent you I'd love you all for ever and longer
  

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Ephemeral Desires: Things that are too cool/trendy for me*

but I still would like to see, see happen or experience

• I wish I had enough disposable income so I could really enjoy Polyvore like I feel I would with an extra few thousands
• I want to find a woman who actually needed a "Her Depot" or a pink gps because they just couldn't handle the real thing.
• According to US weekly, for Scientologist parents: "It's all about being positive and supportive," says the couple's friend (Hubbard advised parents to "try to be the child's friend.") As for discipline, one former church member tells Us that Scientologists do not scold their children, but instead explain that bad behavior (like throwing a toy) is the "wrong action." (A Scientology rep tells Us, "How a parent disciplines their child is left up to the parent.")Cruise and Holmes, says their pal, are very lenient and do not like to give Suri too many rules: "Suri pretty much does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. If she fusses before bed, they let her stay up later. If they want her to go swimming and she cries, they'll take her out. If she whines about food, they'll ask her what else she wants to eat. They always want to please her." Hmm I kind of wish my parents had been Scientologists. No wait, no.
• I wish I liked cookies more because this Cookie Diet by Dr. Siegal would then be AMAZING. Who am I kidding, it's amazing no matter what.
  
• Jay Reatard is apparently the new hottness. I feel I need to see him before he gets too popular and I feel he's sold out. I wonder if his name is pronounced Retard- I'm sure those jokes would get old fast.
• Speaking of music NaS' new album is rumored to be titled Nigga. I will actually support that if for no other reason than maybe on a receipt it will say I purchased 1 Nigga for like 13 bucks. So much for the NAACP burying the N-Word.
• Speaking of race, Whoopi has called upon Al Sharpton to apologize to the Duke Lacrosse kids, I mean it is the least he can do, though it won't actually do anything.
• The LA Times did a feature on X-Rated Prestige pictures, all of which I would like to see because I have a dirty mind plus I would enjoy the changing nature of decency and the artistic quality, of course. And some actually seem really interested and cool.
• This movie may not be "prestigious" but I want to see Juno because I love Michael Cera and so would see him in anything (short of a glass box having sex with my friend-that would be weird.) Juno is not a glass box and I don't think any of my friends are working on it so I am definitely there
• A movie I'm not sure I want to see: According to reports there may be a Brokeback Mountain sequel-"Although we won’t be seeing his pal Jake Gyllenhaal, 26, Heath Ledger, 28, is currently in negotiations to reprise his role as Ennis. “It will follow the nasty process of being openly gay in 1963 Wyoming, an insider tells OK!.� “Ennis will finally come out of the closet.” I actually don't know how I feel about that. I think I kind of wanting him to be in his trailer and pine endlessly for his one true love until he died, though this could work too.
• News on the Coming Glorious Socialist Revolution:
• The Chinese are thinking about setting up a Communist Branch in space...whenever they have a permanent space presence. That could be cool, though they may need a new logo. A hammer seems kind of ineffective and pointless in zero gravity.
• Back on this front in the Interplanetary Class War, Mikhail Gorbachev drew loud cheers in New Orleans Friday when he promised to lead a local revolution if the Army Corps of Engineers doesn't keep its promise to improve levees by 2011."We will be coming back," the Soviet Union's last leader said, through an interpreter, during a ceremony in the Lower Garden District. "If this pledge is not fulfilled, we will start a new revolution in New Orleans." though let's not forget Gorbachev let the Soviet Union fall apart with his damn freedoms. Still I'm all about revolution, and if there should be a rallying point New Orleans is the place- the city the government forgot.
• I want to unexpectedly run into a portrait of a saint that J. Michael Walker painted in honor of certain L.A. streets. That was a great part of Rome seeing images of saints on certain tucked away streets.
• Another unexpected surprise- now that I stumbled upon and learned about it I kind of want to put on a performance of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens. Is that not the best name ever? For anything?
• Viacom is finally offering Daily Show clips online and they're doing it huge, by having 13,000 clips "representing every minute of the show since its 1999 inception" at thedailyshow.com Yes! I missed you Stephen vs. Steven.
  
• Slash, or Guns N'Roses and other sorts of epic rock hedonism has written a book, which doesn't seem like it will disappoint. You can read some excerpts here.
• I don't think there will be nearly as much sex and drugs in this but still:"The 99," an Islam-themed comic book complete with superheroes, hit stands in select U.S. cities. Like U.S. superheroes Batman and Superman, the characters are not overtly religious, but rather promote universal values such as goodness and love.Each superhero embodies one of the 99 attributes that Muslims ascribe to Allah" I wouldn't imagine sampling that, for purely anthropological reasons of course.
  
• The newly planned Star Wars series should be interesting in its own right. I enjoyed Episode II and III and though I refuse to be so intense as to read the novels I do spend to much time in the Star Wars portal on Wikipedia, so I'm nerd enough to probably watch a few episodes.
• And finally I would love to see the guy who posted this ad and the person who would actually respond to it. And more to the point I hope it's real

I am looking for someone to come over and suck me off while I am eating a bowl of Hamburger Helper (orignial [sic] recipe) and chatting on the phone with my mother. Funny Girl will be playing on DVD with the volume off. I plan to ejaculate at the same time I say, “Okay, mom, gotta go, bye.”

I am 39, 4′10″, 190 lbs., thinning black hair, gray eyes, bushy mustache, hairy back but smooth everywhere else, 5″ cut cock - often told I look like a handsomer version of George Jetson’s boss.

I can host tonight in my apartment on 39th and Bleecker. Please, no freaks, smokers or Muslims.

My therapist would have a lot of fun with him. But seriously " no freaks, smokers or Muslims" that's funny. Well done, well done.

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Google Takes The Pulse of Nations

Google has released a study showing which countries are the world's leading searchers of certain terms in a pretty fun and fascinating view of the zeitgeist. Here are some of the terms and the countries which search for them the most (as long as my totally uninformed reasons for their popularity which are the first things that comes to mind.)

"Hitler"- Germany, Mexico, Austria
(the Anschluss is still full of nazi sympathies. plus everyone loves to be rebellious)
"Nazi"- Chile, Austria, United Kingdom
(same as above but also Harry's costume may be sparking a trend, or maybe historical research because the Nazis did play a part in the British history of last century)
"Gay"- Chile, Mexico, Colombia
(either people in Latin American countries are so macho they don't know what gay is and are doing research or they're all gay and looking to hook up)
"Jihad" - Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan
( muslims are planning a righteous war. obvi)
"Terrorism" - Pakistan, Philippines, Australia
(see above)
"Hangover" - Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
(ah- all these countries like to drink and so suffer the morning after consequences and are looking for a remedy. Notice that the Irish are the number one country in this category, not to perpetuate any stereotypes)
"Burrito" - United States, Argentina, Canada
(burritos are amazing and a perfect slacker stoner food, hence the US and Canada connection.)
"Iraq" - United States, Australia, Canada
(ummmm...Hot Shots!Part Deux?)
"Taliban" - Pakistan, Australia, Canada
(I'm sure there are a few Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan. And Canadians...like beards and are often mistaken for Talibani.)
"Tom Cruise" - Canada, United States, Australia
(we enjoy making fun of his craziness, but that was more of a year ago which is why Canada has searched him more than America; the jumping on the couch fiasco has just made it's way up north)
"Britney Spears" - Mexico, Venezuela, Canada
(crazy needs no translation.)
"Homosexual" - Philippines, Chile, Venezuela
(people in Chile are really interested in the "gay question"-see above- but it could also be a Roman Catholic disapproval like thing with the more clinical "homosexual" being searched instead of "gay")
"Love" - Philippines, Australia, United States
(the Phillipines google this to see if homosexuals are capable of love. The U.S. is finding out what the Beatles Show is about and the Australians are just lovely people)
"Botox" - Australia, United States, United Kingdom
(we're the "western world" and we have disposable income along with an obsession with beauty and youth)
"Viagra" - Italy, United Kingdom, Germany
(can't get it up. I mean have you seen their Heads of State's? Prodi, Brown, Merkel. J/K I actually love Angela)
"David Beckham" - Venezuela, United Kingdom, Mexico
(he's f*cking hot. Oh and those countries love football.)
"Kate Moss" - Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden
(she's f*cking hot and everyone loves train wrecks.)
"Dolly Buster" - Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia
(I have no idea what this term means, but judging from it's popularity in Eastern Europe it's probably weird. And having to do with Russia or communism)[UPDATE: She's a porn star with huge boobs. That explains it.]
"Car bomb" - Australia, United States, Canada
(we all watch too much television and are paranoid. Or we're trying to figure out how to get rid of enemies.)
"Marijuana" - Canada, United States, Australia
(we all love weed)
"IAEA" - Austria, Pakistan, Iran
(Pakistan and Iran have a lot of experience with that agency and are trying to figure out ways to either start or stop impending nuclear war. Or maybe no one knows what that acronym stands for and are trying to figure that out.)
"sex"-Egypt, India, Turkey
(perhaps their countries are so sexually repressed that they search the internet for any kind of titilation or information. I'm not surprised the term searched was just plain "sex" and it was in more repressed countires. Anywhere in the west the search terms would be a lot more specific and crude. God bless freedom.)

and today I'm sure Larry Craig was one of the big things googled because of his interview last night, which I watched of course. But I realized something about how they were advertising the interview with Matt Lauer asking him if he was gay and I knew he wouldn't come out then and say he was because we already would have found out that news. Nothing that big can stay a secret from all of the editors and producers and local affliates; somewhere along the way it would have leaked. But I still watched trying to pick up a clue from his body language, his verbal language offered no clue because he is a life long politician and thus adept at lying. My favorite part was the repeated use of " the bathroom for bathroom sake" or some phrase like that.What I came away from it with was simply that it's really sad that he just can't come out. I kind of felt sorry for him. That he decided he had to live that straight life long ago and now can't escape it. That he came of age at such a time where people couldn't just be, but had to conform and get a wife who you may end up hurting. And I feel kind of bad for his wife who being the partner of a senator especially in a state such as Idaho must have built her life around him and for him to be gay would be devastating; to live with someone and think you know them so well but to find out that it was all a lie is tragic. But it's also sad that Larry is so delusional and so boxed in that he reiterated his disapproval for that lifestyle,which I think he mentioned could be seen in his voting record, there really is no way out. Though it is his grave is his own closet and he can lay in there. And I really hope he keeps fighting, for purely political reasons. If he were to resign then the appointee, if they chose to run for reelection could then point to this year of interim experience as a qualification and asset. But if Larry held onto his seat (and chooses not to seek another term as he may have said once, though his word means very little) then, though it would still be unlikely because it is such a red state, a Democrat could still have a chance to pick up that seat. I'd just repeat "republican," "bathroom," "scandal" over and over again (along with George Bush and Iraq for good measure)

(there. have I offended every country yet?)

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Now, I Hope Everyone's Packed For the Apocalypse...

because contrary to what Eliot said I think Bush wants it all to end with a bang.

Turkey's parliament has approved a measure that allow troops to cross into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels based there.
Yay! Like that won't destablize the situation in Iraq and the middle east even more. (i really just have that image of the Days of Our Lives opening with the sand in the hourglass slipping downward. I never realized that that sand was from the Middle East)
And As much as I enjoy Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if he were to not be so vocal and provacative for just like 14 months it really would be better for the world. I mean just wait till Dick is out of power and GweeB can't do what he's doing now and raising the spectre of World War III if Iran goes nuclear.
Though now that I think about it I think George and Mahmoud are both after the same thing- the apocalpyse which will cause the return of Christ and the Hidden Imam respectively, so it's likely that neither one will back down.
So what would the sides be in World War III?
I have to think it will be the English Speaking world, Israel, Mexico, Europe, Japan, South Korea, India, Poland, a few assorted countries in the Balkans and like one of those secular Arab countries like UAE.
vs.
Islam, Russia (which will use its influence to force the former Soviet States to its side), Latin American Leftist Governments, China, North Korea, Space Aliens.
(though of course these alliances are tenuous and ever changing and of course we Americans still have time to alienate all our allies)


It's kinda of sad to think about but maybe the only question left is whether we should pack warmer clothes for the Nuclear Winter or whether we should just pack bathing suits for the fiery hell this world will become. Does anyone know the forecast for the Day After?


Hmmm I think I need to go shopping...

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Pictures of The Prophet

So I heard about the controversy over Lars Vilk and his cartoon, the one where he depicts the prophet Muhammad's head on a dog but I could find it nowhere on the internet, as I wished to satisfy my morbid infidel curiosity (and then be disappointed by the fact it is really nothing more exciting than a cartoon.) But while google image searching the prophet Muhammad I came upon these (as well as this nifty chart). So enjoy.النبي محمّد ، بركات وسلام على ه
(P.S.The two best college basketball player's names: God Shammgod and Jihad Muhammad. I'm sure the latter has easy times getting on planes.
and on a totally different topic today is the 29 anniversary of my favorite Christian Karol Wojtyla becoming my favorite pope John Paul II, who after he died I played and won many a game of beiruts and dedicated it to him. JP 2!
And I've decided I really enjoy being an infidel. I mean you can kiss boys, drink, smoke, show your face, eat a ham sandwich and go to hell with all the cool kids. What's not to love?)

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There Are No Gay People in The World of Islam

and by no gay people I mean everyone in Islamic Countries seems at least a little gay.
As I'm sure you've heard Mahmoud at Columbia yesterday asserted that he can't oppress homosexuals because there are none in Iran. Interesting.
Radar however has some rather convincing evidence to the contrary including the documentary Out in Iran which is actually incredibly interesting.
Even the layout of the country, in relation to the Strait of Hormuz seems to imply Iran is the "passive partner" in boi-on-boi fun time. And who knew Tehran is the sex change capital of the world? Here I was thinking about moving and working in Brazil, or just going to Thailand or Trinidad, Colorado. Silly Silly me. Oh well; the more you know.
Maybe such effeminate behaviors and appearances are common in Persia This slideshow from Slate V of Thomas Dworzak showing secret Taliban photographs shows that many of these Holy Warriors may be better than I am at make-up

But to be honest maybe they can't help I mean have you seen the Prophet Mohammed? Sooooo gay. In every one of these images he's literally "flaming" even when he's giving away his daughter Fatima to Ali

seriously do you notice where Ali's hand is in this picture?

(but no I'm not necessarily suggesting the prophet Mohammed was gay. Maybe bi.)
In all serious I thought this was very good stuff to learn about Iran and that maybe I could work there- I do love my queer kids.

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