// I have no problems with people being religious per se. I think that people have the right to believe in whatever they want. If they happen to believe in something that is demonstrably wrong, well then, they should be prepared to suffer the slings and arrows of reality. The problem tends to come in when some religious people try to impose their religion on others. If you go through my posts on religion, you’ll find that this is where I tend to step in. Want to teach creationism in the classroom? Uh uh. Want to oppress women? Sorry, fella. … Continue reading The United States is not a Christian nation and it needs to neuter its Christian Mullahs

Turkey’s first nudist hotel plan hits hitch By Jonathan Head BBC News, Istanbul Guests can go au naturel around the pool What was billed as the Muslim world’s first nudist hotel has been forced to close, just six days after it opened. It was shut after a local authority inspection which found that one of the balconies did not conform to the architect’s drawings. The first 12 sparsely-clad guests at the 64-room resort in Datca on the Turkish Riviera have had to be moved to more conventional accommodation. The hotel owner said he hoped to modify the balcony and re-open … Continue reading Muslim worlds first nudist hotel

Will you two stop that racket?! Amazing pictures of parenting, lion-style He may be the regal king of the jungle – but to these playful cubs this magnificent creature is just plain old dad. And it seems M’wasi the lion takes a no-nonsense approach to parenting. Sorry dad! The mischievous cubs are brought to heel by M’wasi Because as the playful cubs’ wrestling starts to get on his nerves, he tells them to pipe down and the pair are immediately cowed. The two three-month-old lions, from a litter of three, are yet to be named as the Bronx Zoo in … Continue reading Amazing pictures of parenting, lion-style

It’s no death trap! Former gravedigger makes 100mph sportscar… from a  COFFIN A former gravedigger has built a 100mph single-seater car using a 7ft-long steel coffin for the body. Phil Bissett, 62, bought the unusual handmade coffin for £98 on internet auction site eBay and has dubbed his new creation ‘Holy Smoke’. The tattoo artist from Harold Hill, near Romford in Essex, normally customises hearses in his spare time. Digging in: Phil Bissett has dubbed his crazy new creation ‘Holy Smoke’ Mr Bissett said the head-turning car has almost sent a couple of people to an early grave. ‘The first … Continue reading 100mph sportscar… from a COFFIN

Buried by a Welsh beach for 60 years, the World War II fighter that has emerged from the seas It has been hidden under the the sands and waves since it crashed off the coast of Wales in 1942. But now this wreckage of a rare World War fighter plane may soon be back on dry land. Described as ‘one of the most important WWII finds in recent history’, the location of the Lockheed P38 Lightning has been kept a secret to keep the amazing find safe. Known as the Maid of Harlech the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) … Continue reading World War II fighter has emerged from the seas

Brutal revenge: In a high-security British jail, a Serbian warlord has his throat slashed by three Muslim inmates By David Williams and Stephen Wright Hate figure: Radislav Krstic was guilty of aiding genocide A former Serb general convicted of Europe’s worst massacre since the Second World War had his neck slashed open by three Muslim prisoners in a British jail yesterday. Radislav Krstic, 62, serving a 35-year sentence for war crimes, was in a critical condition in hospital after the attack at top security Wakefield Prison. The Serbs were the deadly enemies of Bosnian Muslims during the Yugoslav civil war … Continue reading Serbian murderer has his throat slashed by British Muslims

The man who says he hasn’t eaten or drunk for 70 years: Why are eminent doctors taking him seriously? By Tom Rawstorne There are few people, however busy their lives, unable to remember the last meal that they consumed. But Prahlad Jani is one of them. And the reason is that the last morsel of food that he says passed his lips did so in the early years of World War II. ‘I can’t recall exactly what it was,’ the 82-year-old Indian admits. ‘It was such a long time ago.’ During the 70-odd years since, Mr Jani says he has … Continue reading Proof: Man hasn’t eaten for 70 years!

Scapegoating Middle Eastern women Measures to further restrict the freedoms of women are being taken by conservatives who see women as temptresses Joseph Mayton guardian.co.uk The other day, my wife related how one of the office “boys” at the NGO where she worked in Cairo had been alone in the building with a female cleaner. In itself, it shouldn’t been an issue, but when the office’s accountant confronted the office boy (who is actually a middle-aged Egyptian), he stated that this was unacceptable. The reason: the woman could have tried to seduce him. In the Saudi city of Asir, women … Continue reading Scapegoating Middle Eastern women by men who have personal issues

Flexible faith Religion needn’t always be a brake on progress. In a recent court case, Hinduism has been used to justify liberal reform Poorna Shetty guardian.co.uk, Years ago when Hinduism and I were estranged, a friend studying theology at Oxford inadvertently reignited my faith. She said: “The reason why I love your religion is that it has always been open to change.” What she meant was that rather being a religion based on a fixed, unifying system of belief, it was organic in that it adapted to the cultural changes of its believers. Effectively, it is a religion capable of … Continue reading Flexible faith – Hinduism?

Harrods sold to Quataris by Mohamed Al Fayed in £1.5bn deal, reports say Qatari royals’ investment arm said to have bought Knightsbridge department store for more than £1.5bn David Batty guardian.co.uk The Harrods store in Knightsbridge. Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images Harrods has reportedly been sold by Mohamed Fayed to the Qatari royal family for more than £1.5bn. Qatar Holding, the Gulf state’s strategic investment arm has bought the famous Knightsbridge store, according to Sky News. Mohamed Al Fayed. Photograph: Press AssociationKen Costa, the chairman of Lazard International, the investment bank advising the family trust on the deal, sent a … Continue reading Harrods sold to Qatar!