OCICBW... is going off air for a while.
It will be back.
In the meantime at CHIN WAG @ OCICBW... it will be business as usual. Details of how to access the Chin Wag site can be found in the right hand sidebar.
And as a special treat, here is something you don't hear played at OCICBW... everyday.
Friday, 10 September 2010
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME ELLIE
Ellie writes:
This one has made the rounds before but I found myself enjoying it as much this time as I did the first time I heard it:
A Florida senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left.
"Amazing," he thought as he flew down I-75, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Florida State Trooper, blue lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this!" and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a new reason for speeding - a reason I've never before heard - I'll let you go."
The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."
"Have a good day, Sir," replied the trooper.
This one has made the rounds before but I found myself enjoying it as much this time as I did the first time I heard it:
A Florida senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left.
"Amazing," he thought as he flew down I-75, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Florida State Trooper, blue lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this!" and pulled over to await the trooper's arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a new reason for speeding - a reason I've never before heard - I'll let you go."
The old gentleman paused then said: "Three years ago, my wife ran off with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back."
"Have a good day, Sir," replied the trooper.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
GOD SAFE
Now wouldn't it be a nice gesture if, in return, they promised not to crash anymore aeroplanes into tall buildings full of people.
STUPID VERSUS STUPID
So let me get this straight. To protest against a possible burning of copies of the Koran they burn an American flag now? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
IT'S MONDAY, IT MUST BE SCOTLAND
That's one of the most annoying things about visiting Scotland. Every time you go to take a photograph of the beautiful scenery some American gets in the way.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A MEXICAN LAUGH?
From Dah·veed:
I start laughing every time that I see this.
Maybe you can use it in a post.
Well, yes, maybe I could, my friend.
I start laughing every time that I see this.
Maybe you can use it in a post.
Well, yes, maybe I could, my friend.
GAY, CATHOLIC AND A TRUE BRIT
"My faith is more important to me
than what the pope may think."
I really cannot see how a Roman Catholic can be allowed to become the monarch of the UK until the day the Vatican State ceases to exist. In fact, I don't think Roman Catholics should be allowed to hold any political office until the pope stops issuing political edicts to the British people through his UK branches. I can just imagine the stink if the French president started telling us how to behave in bed. Why are we spending millions of pounds of taxpayers' money entertaining someone who is dedicated to undermining our society? It makes no sense to me.
than what the pope may think."
I really cannot see how a Roman Catholic can be allowed to become the monarch of the UK until the day the Vatican State ceases to exist. In fact, I don't think Roman Catholics should be allowed to hold any political office until the pope stops issuing political edicts to the British people through his UK branches. I can just imagine the stink if the French president started telling us how to behave in bed. Why are we spending millions of pounds of taxpayers' money entertaining someone who is dedicated to undermining our society? It makes no sense to me.
ARCHBISHOP NICHOLS ADMITS UK ROMAN
CATHOLICS SERVE FOREIGN HEAD OF STATE
So is he the (purely religious) shepherd of his flock or is he the undemocratically elected head of a very small country using countless millions of people throughout the world to influence the domestic politics of other nations in a way no other head of state is ever allowed to get away with? I don't think Western governments would have be so accommodating if, instead of a pope in Rome throwing his weight around on the international stage, it had been the Patriarch of Moscow during the Cold War or even Ayatollah Khomeini when he was issuing fatwas against infidels left, right and centre.
Full details at THE BBC.
OCICBW... LOVES A LOVELY LOVE STORY
Kitt is the brains, and the beauty, behind the truly excellent JESUS IN LOVE blog. She is a longstanding friend of OCICBW... and we wish Audrey and her many, many more happy years together.
And they said it wouldn't last :-)
CHRISTIANS BANNED FROM PUB
IN CASE THEY OFFEND CHRISTIANS
From NATIONAL POST:
An Ottawa pub has refused to host an Anglican church group’s film night, fearing the movie’s debate over the existence of God may offend religious pub-goers.
The Heart & Crown pub says it decided to pull the plug on St. Alban’s Anglican Church’s showing this week of the movie Collision — a documentary featuring well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens and evangelical theologian Douglas Wilson — after seeing a pamphlet advertising the film. Mr. Munroe said he was “shocked” when he read a flyer advertising the film on the day the pub was set to host the church group, and immediately decided to cancel the reservation.
The flyer featured two quotes from the film’s stars. The first quote, from Mr. Hitchens, reads: “[Christianity] is a wicked cult, and it’s high time we left it behind.”
Mr. Douglas is then quoted as saying, “There are two tenets of atheism. One, there is no God. Two, I hate him.”
“We made the decision to cancel the reservation because, bottom line is, we just think that our business isn’t the forum or the environment for that type of movie,” said Heart & Crown Pubs spokesman Alex Munroe, who admitted he hadn’t actually watched the film.
Reverend David Robinson, a minister at St. Alban’s who organized the 50-person event and who hosts a regular book discussion called Theology on Tap at another local pub, said pubs are neutral spaces ideal for such discussions. He said he and his assistant told the pub’s booking manager the premise of the documentary when the room was reserved in August. He says they also directed her to a synopsis on the film’s website and even offered to provide a copy of the DVD to view in advance — an offer that was declined. He said management “seemed fine” with the event at the time.
He says when he asked the manager for an explanation as to why his event was being cancelled at the last minute, he was told several times it was because the pub was an “Irish Catholic institution.”
“I guess we were supposed to interpret that in some way,” he said.
The event was later moved to the church.
COMMENT: Later, in retaliation for the cancellation of the film night, the vestry of St. Albans cancelled both the "Bawdy Pub Song Singalong" and the darts match that were due to take place at their church later this month. Mr Munro, from the Heart and Crown, who had booked both these events stated that "This was typical anti-catholic bigotry," and "That the pope was going to get them good."
It is rumoured that Martin Scorsese has put in an offer for the film rights to the dispute.
The Heart & Crown pub says it decided to pull the plug on St. Alban’s Anglican Church’s showing this week of the movie Collision — a documentary featuring well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens and evangelical theologian Douglas Wilson — after seeing a pamphlet advertising the film. Mr. Munroe said he was “shocked” when he read a flyer advertising the film on the day the pub was set to host the church group, and immediately decided to cancel the reservation.
The flyer featured two quotes from the film’s stars. The first quote, from Mr. Hitchens, reads: “[Christianity] is a wicked cult, and it’s high time we left it behind.”
Mr. Douglas is then quoted as saying, “There are two tenets of atheism. One, there is no God. Two, I hate him.”
“We made the decision to cancel the reservation because, bottom line is, we just think that our business isn’t the forum or the environment for that type of movie,” said Heart & Crown Pubs spokesman Alex Munroe, who admitted he hadn’t actually watched the film.
Reverend David Robinson, a minister at St. Alban’s who organized the 50-person event and who hosts a regular book discussion called Theology on Tap at another local pub, said pubs are neutral spaces ideal for such discussions. He said he and his assistant told the pub’s booking manager the premise of the documentary when the room was reserved in August. He says they also directed her to a synopsis on the film’s website and even offered to provide a copy of the DVD to view in advance — an offer that was declined. He said management “seemed fine” with the event at the time.
He says when he asked the manager for an explanation as to why his event was being cancelled at the last minute, he was told several times it was because the pub was an “Irish Catholic institution.”
“I guess we were supposed to interpret that in some way,” he said.
The event was later moved to the church.
COMMENT: Later, in retaliation for the cancellation of the film night, the vestry of St. Albans cancelled both the "Bawdy Pub Song Singalong" and the darts match that were due to take place at their church later this month. Mr Munro, from the Heart and Crown, who had booked both these events stated that "This was typical anti-catholic bigotry," and "That the pope was going to get them good."
It is rumoured that Martin Scorsese has put in an offer for the film rights to the dispute.
THE SOPPY MARK BRUNSON SELECTION
COMMENT: They were only playing?
Yeh, I believe that (not).
And I expect Sophie will soon be receiving a compensation claim from her neighbour's lawyer for thumping one of the pit bull terriers on the head whilst it was attacking her.
Whatever, the main thing is that for bravery over and beyond the call of the duty of a cat, Sophie's rescuer is our
BRICK OF THE DAY
Go get 'em, Tiger!!!
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
DISCUSSION STARTER
You know, I'm not convinced that God created the universe. I'm attracted far more to the concept of God bringing order out of chaos.
For a start it fits well with other major Christian beliefs. The Christ event appears to me to be about God trying to tidy up the mess. I mean if God is creative in a completely omnipotent way why didn't God do something more interventionist, concrete and less risky. And the orthodox belief in a coming new heaven and earth, which is already in production, which is gradual as well as cataclysmic, is a bringing order thing rather than a single act of creation.
Secondly it ties in with our present scientific understanding of the universe. In fact, it is a perfect fit, whilst creationist ideas are not. But I'm not altering the concept of God to fit modern knowledge. The argument as to wether God created the universe from nothing or created it out of a preexisting chaos is very ancient.
For a start it fits well with other major Christian beliefs. The Christ event appears to me to be about God trying to tidy up the mess. I mean if God is creative in a completely omnipotent way why didn't God do something more interventionist, concrete and less risky. And the orthodox belief in a coming new heaven and earth, which is already in production, which is gradual as well as cataclysmic, is a bringing order thing rather than a single act of creation.
Secondly it ties in with our present scientific understanding of the universe. In fact, it is a perfect fit, whilst creationist ideas are not. But I'm not altering the concept of God to fit modern knowledge. The argument as to wether God created the universe from nothing or created it out of a preexisting chaos is very ancient.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Of course the universe makes sense without God. What would be the use of a God-created universe that didn't make any sense?
AT HOME WITH THE HOLY TRINITY
Full story, although I expect you have all read it already, at WALES ONLINE and pretty much everywhere else.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
POLYGAMY RETURNS TO
ANGLICAN CHURCH IN UGANDA
From NEW VISION (Uganda):
COMMENT: It doesn't say in the article which of the holy men of God has the two wives and which just one. Perhaps they just share the three between them.
COMMENT: It doesn't say in the article which of the holy men of God has the two wives and which just one. Perhaps they just share the three between them.
HUGELY RECOMMENDED
For a complete camp overload, check out the photographs of the posers on parade at Dragon*Con 2010!, posted at the truly excellent (all things sci-fi) website, io9.
The costume on the left is typical of the divine creations on view. By the look on her face she's probably my guardian angel.
FOOL IF YOU THINK IT'S OVER
From THE GUARDIAN:
The HIV epidemic in Europe, including the UK, is being fuelled by the risky behaviour of young gay men, according to research published today. Public messages and campaigns about the dangers of unsafe sex do not appear to be getting through to men who have sex with men, the researchers say – particularly the young ones.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which monitors HIV numbers in the UK, warns every year of the rising rate of infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). In its last full report, for 2009, it said that the rate of infection among gay men remained high, even though there had been a slight overall drop.
HIV infection can go unnoticed for years, but the HPA report said one in five of those diagnosed had become infected within the previous six months – suggesting recent risky behaviour was to blame.
The Belgian researchers, Kristen Chalmet and colleagues from the Aids Reference Laboratory at Ghent University, found one "striking and alarming" cluster of cases. Over the nine years of the study, 57 men acquired genetically very similar viruses, they say. Eight of them did so in the last year. "Members of this cluster are significantly younger than the rest of the population and have more chlamydia and syphilis infections," they write today, in the open access journal BioMed Central Infectious Diseases. Even excluding that group from the study, there was still a relationship between HIV infection and contracting syphilis, which suggested risky sexual behaviour.
"We clearly demonstrate that, despite the existence of prevention programmes, easily available testing facilities and a supposedly broad public awareness of the infection and its possible routes of transmission, MSM still account for the majority of local onward transmissions," they write.
The HIV epidemic in Europe, including the UK, is being fuelled by the risky behaviour of young gay men, according to research published today. Public messages and campaigns about the dangers of unsafe sex do not appear to be getting through to men who have sex with men, the researchers say – particularly the young ones.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which monitors HIV numbers in the UK, warns every year of the rising rate of infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). In its last full report, for 2009, it said that the rate of infection among gay men remained high, even though there had been a slight overall drop.
HIV infection can go unnoticed for years, but the HPA report said one in five of those diagnosed had become infected within the previous six months – suggesting recent risky behaviour was to blame.
The Belgian researchers, Kristen Chalmet and colleagues from the Aids Reference Laboratory at Ghent University, found one "striking and alarming" cluster of cases. Over the nine years of the study, 57 men acquired genetically very similar viruses, they say. Eight of them did so in the last year. "Members of this cluster are significantly younger than the rest of the population and have more chlamydia and syphilis infections," they write today, in the open access journal BioMed Central Infectious Diseases. Even excluding that group from the study, there was still a relationship between HIV infection and contracting syphilis, which suggested risky sexual behaviour.
"We clearly demonstrate that, despite the existence of prevention programmes, easily available testing facilities and a supposedly broad public awareness of the infection and its possible routes of transmission, MSM still account for the majority of local onward transmissions," they write.
HERE I STAND . . . AND HERE I STAND, AND HERE I STAND, AND HERE I STAND, AND HERE I STAND, AND HERE I STAND, AND HERE I STAND . . .
From ENI NEWS:
Eight hundred colourful miniature figures of the 16th-century Protestant Reformer Martin Luther on display on the central market square of Wittenberg, where he lived and worked, are causing offence. The installation by German artist Ottmar Hörl is part of the Luther Decade celebrations commemorating the period between Luther's arrival in Wittenberg in 1508 and the beginning of the Reformation in 1517. Visitors have been walking around the market place between the black, green, red and blue figures, picking them up and placing them in other parts of the town.
This art show has, however, been heavily criticised by prominent theologians such as Friedrich Schorlemmer from Wittenberg. In August, he told the Leipziger Volkszeitung, "This is theological and aesthetic rubbish. Martin Luther cannot be mass produced."
COMMENT: On the other hand
- it could have been useful back in the day:
Eight hundred colourful miniature figures of the 16th-century Protestant Reformer Martin Luther on display on the central market square of Wittenberg, where he lived and worked, are causing offence. The installation by German artist Ottmar Hörl is part of the Luther Decade celebrations commemorating the period between Luther's arrival in Wittenberg in 1508 and the beginning of the Reformation in 1517. Visitors have been walking around the market place between the black, green, red and blue figures, picking them up and placing them in other parts of the town.
This art show has, however, been heavily criticised by prominent theologians such as Friedrich Schorlemmer from Wittenberg. In August, he told the Leipziger Volkszeitung, "This is theological and aesthetic rubbish. Martin Luther cannot be mass produced."
COMMENT: On the other hand
- it could have been useful back in the day:
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME MAD DAD
During an excruciatingly dull evening on a blind date, a man was relieved when his mobile phone finally rang. He'd arranged with a friend to call him so he could have an excuse to leave early if the date was a disaster.
He took the call and when he ended it, he lowered his eyes and with a grim expression announced, "I've had bad news. My grandfather has just died."
"Thank heavens!" his date replied. "If yours hadn't, mine would have had to."
"I'M SORRY, WE CAN'T AFFORD
TO FUND YOUR POST ANYMORE"
My fellow (although, very much, from the other camp) pain in the arse, George Austin gives us some interesting facts in a letter he wrote to the press (probably "The Times") recently.
CHRISTIANS RUIN DEBORAH FINLAY'S VIEW
From (THIS IS) TOTAL ESSEX:
More than a hundred travellers' caravans descended on the small village of Bicknacre over the weekend – and more are still arriving. The travellers claim to be a Christian mission, and Mr Richardson (the farmer who has rented out a field to them) went to one of their services on Sunday.
"They hold daily services – it's very different from your traditional Church of England service but I really enjoyed it. They're very nice people and it was a great experience," he said.
But some local residents remain unconvinced about the sincerity of the travellers' spiritual message. Peter Phillips, who lives in the village, said: "One resident who lives alone feels so nervous that she has had to ask a relative to move in until the travellers move on.
"We are living in fear, as there are far more of the travellers than there are local residents. They have a crude sign hung on a lamppost suggesting they are on a mission, but they look and sound like typical travellers to me," said Mr Phillips.
And Deborah Finlay, who lives opposite the field, said: "It's absolutely spoiled my outlook – which is what we bought the house for. It's just ruined the whole atmosphere.
"I do hope they don't stay long."
COMMENT: This is pretty much the same reaction that the first Greenbelt Festival evoked from local residents when it descended upon a pig farm outside the village of Charsfield near Woodbridge, Suffolk over the August 1974 bank holiday weekend. But those NIMBY locals were afraid of smelly hippies rather than smelly gypsies. There were probably more police at the first Greenbelt than festival goers. There was no trouble at all that year, but local residents were right to be apprehensive. The festival turned out to be the work of SATAN INCARNATE and would, in the future, invite Peter Tatchell to speak to young people about AIDS in Africa, thus destroying civilisation as we know it.
So OCICBW... fully backs the local residents in their hate campaign against these travelling ne'erdowells. We say, "Stop those God-bothering gypsies now, before they start doing what Jesus would do all over our beautiful, English countryside."
"They hold daily services – it's very different from your traditional Church of England service but I really enjoyed it. They're very nice people and it was a great experience," he said.
But some local residents remain unconvinced about the sincerity of the travellers' spiritual message. Peter Phillips, who lives in the village, said: "One resident who lives alone feels so nervous that she has had to ask a relative to move in until the travellers move on.
"We are living in fear, as there are far more of the travellers than there are local residents. They have a crude sign hung on a lamppost suggesting they are on a mission, but they look and sound like typical travellers to me," said Mr Phillips.
And Deborah Finlay, who lives opposite the field, said: "It's absolutely spoiled my outlook – which is what we bought the house for. It's just ruined the whole atmosphere.
"I do hope they don't stay long."
COMMENT: This is pretty much the same reaction that the first Greenbelt Festival evoked from local residents when it descended upon a pig farm outside the village of Charsfield near Woodbridge, Suffolk over the August 1974 bank holiday weekend. But those NIMBY locals were afraid of smelly hippies rather than smelly gypsies. There were probably more police at the first Greenbelt than festival goers. There was no trouble at all that year, but local residents were right to be apprehensive. The festival turned out to be the work of SATAN INCARNATE and would, in the future, invite Peter Tatchell to speak to young people about AIDS in Africa, thus destroying civilisation as we know it.
So OCICBW... fully backs the local residents in their hate campaign against these travelling ne'erdowells. We say, "Stop those God-bothering gypsies now, before they start doing what Jesus would do all over our beautiful, English countryside."
CAPTION COMPETITION
The above was sent in by longstanding friend of OCICBW..., Scott (A for "Animal") Gunn. It is one of many excellent photographs taken at the first performance of the ballet, THE CONSECRATION OF BISHOP GRINNING SOUL (choreography by the Reverend Ann Fontaine). Off you go then, do your worst!
THE SOPPY SHEILA SELECTION
Today's overload of cuteness has been sent in by the original "soppy Sheila," Cathy. She writes:
This is Bruno the big old dawg who lives at Peinmore House, the B&B Mimi and I stayed at on Skye. He made great friends with both me and Mimi. He seemed to like hanging out under the desk in the hall a lot. At one point I was playing on the hall floor with Toby the cat and Bruno suddenly burst out towards us, giving Toby a wee fright so he ran off down the hall a short way. Bruno then lumbered over and sat on me heavily, so that I had to pay attention to him instead.
Toby looks like a terrible bruiser in the pic but he was a real sweetie. He helped me do some of my packing by hiding under the chest of drawers in my room and knocking about scrumpled up bits of packaging.
There was also an elderly boxer of uncertain temper and bladder who we only saw the once, rolling her eye at us with a skeptical air as she was ushered hastily into the back garden.
This is Bruno the big old dawg who lives at Peinmore House, the B&B Mimi and I stayed at on Skye. He made great friends with both me and Mimi. He seemed to like hanging out under the desk in the hall a lot. At one point I was playing on the hall floor with Toby the cat and Bruno suddenly burst out towards us, giving Toby a wee fright so he ran off down the hall a short way. Bruno then lumbered over and sat on me heavily, so that I had to pay attention to him instead.
Toby looks like a terrible bruiser in the pic but he was a real sweetie. He helped me do some of my packing by hiding under the chest of drawers in my room and knocking about scrumpled up bits of packaging.
There was also an elderly boxer of uncertain temper and bladder who we only saw the once, rolling her eye at us with a skeptical air as she was ushered hastily into the back garden.
Monday, 6 September 2010
"Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words."
Only the USA would celebrate their Labour Day on the 6th. September so that it doesn't get confused with the real thing (true - I checked it out on Wiki).
From Tracie:
This is for all those workers who, over the decades upon decades, have worked and struggled and in some cases fought and died for workers' rights (yay unions). Today we tip our hats to the working man.
CHICAGO by Carl Sandburg
Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:
They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse. and under his ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
And this one is from me, for all the reds under those American beds. Your day will come because you have God on your side.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
From THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK website:
Two questions:
1) On what?
2) Who the heck does Bishop Atkinson think he is to lecture the Blessed Saint Francis on anything?!!!
Really. Such arrogance!
Two questions:
1) On what?
2) Who the heck does Bishop Atkinson think he is to lecture the Blessed Saint Francis on anything?!!!
Really. Such arrogance!
Sunday, 5 September 2010
THEY'LL STONE YOU JUST LIKE THEY SAID THEY WOULD
From THE JERUSALEM POST:
The Vatican on Sunday raised the possibility of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to spare the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery. In its first public statement on the case the Vatican also decried stoning as a particularly "brutal" form of capital punishment.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of adultery. In July, Iranian authorities said they would not carry out the stoning sentence for the time being, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging for adultery and other offenses.
Her son, Sajad, told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that he was appealing to Pope Benedict XVI and to Italy to work to stop the execution.
Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told The Associated Press that no formal appeal had reached the Vatican, but hinted that Vatican's diplomacy might be employed to try to save Ashtiani. He said in a statement that the Holy See "is following the case with attention and interest."
"When the Holy See is asked, in an appropriate way, to intervene in humanitarian issues with the authorities of other countries, as it has happened many times in the past, it does so not in a public way, but through its own diplomatic channels," Lombardi said in a statement.
The Vatican on Sunday raised the possibility of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to spare the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery. In its first public statement on the case the Vatican also decried stoning as a particularly "brutal" form of capital punishment.
Her son, Sajad, told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that he was appealing to Pope Benedict XVI and to Italy to work to stop the execution.
Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told The Associated Press that no formal appeal had reached the Vatican, but hinted that Vatican's diplomacy might be employed to try to save Ashtiani. He said in a statement that the Holy See "is following the case with attention and interest."
"When the Holy See is asked, in an appropriate way, to intervene in humanitarian issues with the authorities of other countries, as it has happened many times in the past, it does so not in a public way, but through its own diplomatic channels," Lombardi said in a statement.
OUR BEAUTIFUL ANGLO SAXON/VIKING HERITAGE
From CHRISTIAN TODAY:
Beer-swigging, rudeness and terrible dress sense have all helped British women come out on top of a poll of the world’s ugliest women. British women won 22.4 per cent in the survey conducted by the Real Holiday Reports website, followed by American women with 16.7 per cent. The results suggest that while many British women are attracted to the ladette image, the rest of the world does not share their opinion.
Respondents to the survey complained that British women were unladylike, not shy about belching or passing wind in public. They are also unashamed to let their fat hang out of their clothing and often wear bikinis that are “too tight”. Specifically, respondents said British women were “rude”, “drink pints of beer like men” and “end up drunk in the gutter”.
Germany came in third place with 15.7% - which is probably entirely due to Our Erika's behaviour down her local on a Friday night.
Beer-swigging, rudeness and terrible dress sense have all helped British women come out on top of a poll of the world’s ugliest women. British women won 22.4 per cent in the survey conducted by the Real Holiday Reports website, followed by American women with 16.7 per cent. The results suggest that while many British women are attracted to the ladette image, the rest of the world does not share their opinion.
Respondents to the survey complained that British women were unladylike, not shy about belching or passing wind in public. They are also unashamed to let their fat hang out of their clothing and often wear bikinis that are “too tight”. Specifically, respondents said British women were “rude”, “drink pints of beer like men” and “end up drunk in the gutter”.
Germany came in third place with 15.7% - which is probably entirely due to Our Erika's behaviour down her local on a Friday night.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
According to people who know about such things, there is not enough observable matter in the universe to account for the gravitational behaviour of the universe. In fact, we can't account for 80% of the matter that should be out there. They call this "dark matter."
Some theorists propose that this dark matter exists in dimensions that we cannot see.
If that which we call "spiritual" exists it will consist of something, otherwise it won't exist. WHAT IF the dark matter of the universe exists in that dimension the religions call "heaven."
Some theorists propose that this dark matter exists in dimensions that we cannot see.
If that which we call "spiritual" exists it will consist of something, otherwise it won't exist. WHAT IF the dark matter of the universe exists in that dimension the religions call "heaven."
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Quantum theory seems to indicate that everything is undecided until it is observed. But we have a problem here. We know that the universe existed in a decided state at a time when there was no intelligent life in the universe to observe it and, if we are the only intelligent life in the universe, it is very likely that the parts of the universe that we cannot observe also exist in a decided state. Quantum theory, as far as I know, doesn't propose that we can observe backwards through time and the decided state of the universe as we see it is very obviously dependent on it having undergone a definite (decided) development in the past that allows it to be as we observe it now. Therefore, there must be something within, or apart from, the universe that is observing the whole universe, and has been doing so from very early on in the life of the universe. This observer is continually creating the universe by intervening in it as the observer's observance is the catalyst through which everything is decided. This observer must be all seeing or there would be regions of undecidedness in the universe.
Perhaps we could call this observer, "God."
Perhaps we could call this observer, "God."
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