White Christmas?

Rockville Homeowner Covers House With Snow

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- If you're looking for snow, a home in Rockville, Md., has a front yard full of it. The homeowner rented a snow-blowing machine and covered the front of the home with snow.
I guess some one was a little miffed at not having a white Christmas. It has been unnaturally warm on the east coast but I guess this guy has figured it out.

Olbermann vs. Riveraat

Ladies and Gentlemen tonight we have a special match up for you: In this corner we have at 5'9" Geraldo "I've been married five times" Rivera and in this corner we have at 6'3" Keith "I'm a funny guy" Olbermann. Ding! Ding! Ding!

So apparently Rivera has called out Keith Olbermann to dual :



On Orlando Sentinel Blog:

Geraldo wants to whoop up on Olbermann

So here's one I missed over the holidays -- Geraldo Rivera coming to town and threatening to beat up on Keith Olbermann.

Apparently Geraldo was visiting with 104.1 FM's Monsters just before Christmas, when they asked him about the time he made international headline for disclosing too much information about troops in Iraq. Geraldo claimed the incident was blown out of proportion, largely by NBC -- and specifically Olbermann. Geraldo then began mumbling semi-audible names, seemingly meant to describe Olbermann: "midget ... punk ... slimeball."

But then, with the Monsters helpful prodding, Geraldo went a step further, leaving no doubt about what he was saying. He called Olbermann a coward -- specifically a "pussy who wouldn't walk across the street against the red light." He then said he was ready to fight him, saying: "I would make a pizza out of him."

Oh, and before leaving the topic, Geraldo offered an example of a TV talker who's a "real man" ... that would apparently be Montel Williams.

No word yet on whether Olbermann even knows Geraldo called him out. (Maybe we'll see.)

UPDATE 1/9: Yes, Olbermann does know now. On his MSNBC show last night, he cited this blog and then recounted the story. He said the "midget" remark confused him, claiming: "I'm about 7 inches taller than he is." And after describing Geraldo's desire to fight him, he said: "Geraldo, you should not give me a hard time. I can still remember when you were a big deal ... back when I was a kid."

Well I couldn't find the clip in the article but I found this and its just as funny.

Middle East borders and Imam Ali

This is an interesting article....


How a better Middle East would look
By Ralph Peters

International borders are never completely just. But the degree of injustice they inflict upon those whom frontiers force together or separate makes an enormous difference — often the difference between freedom and oppression, tolerance and atrocity, the rule of law and terrorism, or even peace and war.

The most arbitrary and distorted borders in the world are in Africa and the Middle East. Drawn by self-interested Europeans (who have had sufficient trouble defining their own frontiers), Africa's borders continue to provoke the deaths of millions of local inhabitants. But the unjust borders in the Middle East — to borrow from Churchill — generate more trouble than can be consumed locally.

While the Middle East has far more problems than dysfunctional borders alone — from cultural stagnation through scandalous inequality to deadly religious extremism — the greatest taboo in striving to understand the region's comprehensive failure isn't Islam but the awful-but-sacrosanct international boundaries worshipped by our own diplomats.

Blood Border

A Poem ...

Ya Ali!

Maulana Rumi in the Mathnawi (Nicholson translation, pg. 509) says:
For this reason the Prophet, who labored with the utmost zeal (in devotion) applied the name “protector” (mawla) to himself and to Ali

He said, “My cousin Ali is the protector and friend of every one who is under my protection.”

Who is the “protector”? He that sets you free and removes the fetters of servitude from your feet

Since prophethood is the guide to freedom, freedom is bestowed on true believers by the prophets.

Rejoice, O community of true believers: show yourselves to be “free” as the cypress and lily.

But, like the garden, at every moment give unspoken thanks to the Water.

The cypresses and green orchard mutely thank the water (that nourishes them) and show (silent) gratitude for the justice of Spring

Just another day

So here is a cool trailer for a new show that is premiering in Canada on Tuesday. Its called The Little Mosque on a Prairie. Check out the preview. To bad it is not going to be shown in the US.



Also, check the official website: http://www.littlemosque.ca

Also in the news ...

Keith Ellison did it. He took his ceremonial oath on the Quran. In fact he took it on the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

The Jesus Tree

It seems that some residents in Jacksonville, Fl see the image of Jesus in a tree trunk.
Ok, so I see the face. Here is the thing I have thought about every time some one claims to see the face of Jesus or Mary is how do they know. I mean no one knows what either looks like. That face could be an image of any guy. Its not like there was a photographer during Jesus' time to compare pictures. I am not even sure if there is a written description of him. Anyways, its something that has gnawed at me for a while.

Villians and Gentlemen

In the news...

There was a very interesting poll posted online today conducted by AP-AOL news:

Top Villains of 2006

President Bush……………...25%
Osama Bin Laden………..….8%
Saddam Hussein……….…...6%
Pres. Ahmadinejad, Iran.......5%
Kim Jong ll, No. Korea….…..2%
Satan……………………….....1%

I can't say I was not amused. I mean Bush ran away with this contest. Anyway the number 3 guy has been in the news quite a bit.

I am amazed but at the same time not that shocked. The reaction of Arab Sunni's to the execution of Saddam is unbelievable. They are groaning about the timing of his execution, the fact that he was taunted, and even the motive behind his execution. Lets set one thing straight there did not need to be one second of trial for his execution to be justified. Yet unlike his innocent victims he was given one. The fact that he was given the chance to die with dignity and the name of Allah and Prophet Muhammad on his lips was more than he permitted those he oppressed. Where was this level of disgust by Arab Sunnis when there fellow Arabs where massacred and dumped into mass graves. Where was this repugnance when Saddam used chemical weapons on his fellow Sunni Iraqis. Did they protest his continued aggression against another Muslim nation through 8 Holy months of Ramadan? Of course not. Did they complain that the Shia majority amongst them had no representation? No, but now they cry about not having enough representation in the new government (not to mention that they were begged to participate). They are aghast at the idea of his execution having been taped and shown publicly. Did they stand up when their fellow Sunni's in Afghanistan (Taliban) publicly beat women and executed "apostates"? Of course not the Taliban, the Sunni justified, where acting in accordance with "Shariah Law". So I am not shocked that such hypocrites would have no empathy for the guards who finally saw the moment that they would avenge the oppression they saw at the hands of the tyrant. These men who had brothers, fathers, and uncles tortured and murdered in prison (while it is said Saddam was allowed to tend to a garden while in captivity) and lived with mothers, aunts, and sisters raped and beaten are expected to hold their tongues. I will stand against that level of unprofessional ism but I can empathize with their outburst. I think this is a clear showing that Arabs have not yet let go of their arrogant nationalism. They hold their national identity above their religious associations. In fact their only reason for caring for Islam is that it is the religion born in Arab lands. To that I say shame on you Arab people for not standing strong and un-ambivalently against zulm (oppression) and tyranny. And the day will come when the tyrants of all the Arab states will taste the same fate as Saddam.

If you thought all of the people of the world had gone mad there was this ray of hope:

Congressman to be sworn in using Quran

"Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minn., decided to use the centuries-old Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in on Thursday after he learned that it is kept at the The Library of Congress. Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minn., decided to use the centuries-old Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in on Thursday after he learned that it is kept at the Library of Congress. Jefferson, the nation's third president and a collector of books in all topics and languages, sold the book to Congress in 1815 as part of a collection." Jefferson, the nation's third president and a collector of books in all topics and languages, sold the book to Congress in 1815 as part of a collection.'It demonstrates that from the very beginning of our country, we had people who were visionary, who were religiously tolerant, who believed that knowledge and wisdom could be gleaned from any number of sources, including the Quran,' Ellison said in a telephone interview Wednesday."

Hajj Part 4

Hajj continued...

The day after Eid Al-Adha the pilgrims return to Jamarat (generally after noon prayers) and stone the pillars again. First Jamarat al-Ula seven times, then Jamarat al-Wasat seven times, and finally Jamarat al-Aqabah seven times. After this the pilgrims make their way back to Mecca by foot. Many head back to their hotel/boarding-rooms for a shower and rest. At some point during that day the pilgrim heads to Masjid al-Haram to perform their Tawaf (circling the Kabaa) and their Say (walking back and forth between Safa and Marwa). Kaaba was thought to have been built by Ibrahim and Prophet Ishmael by order of God on the site of the first house of worship of built by Prophet Adam. The Tawaf is begins from the eastern corner of the structure where Hajar al-Aswat is placed in the wall. Hajae al-Aswat is a black stone thought to be a meteorite sent by Allah during the time of Prophet Adam and Eve. The stone is encased in silver because of the damage it had sustained during an attempted robbery. So the pilgrim begins his Tawaf by saying Allahu Akbar and walking around the Kaaba without allowing his circle extending outside the circle of Maqam Ibrahim. Maqam Ibrahim is a site where it is believed that Prophet Ibrahim was building the Kaaba and put pressure on a stone to stabilize his footing and his feet left an imprint in the stone. The pilgrim makes the Tawaf seven times each time reaching Hajar al-Aswat saying Allahu Akbar. Once complete the pilgrim finds a place anywhere behind Maqam Ibrahim and makes two rakats salat (prayer). Then the pilgrims makes his way to Safa to make say. The pilgrim walks the distance of Safa to Marwa seven times ending at Marwa. This is in reverence to Hajar Prophet Ishmaels mother who between the mountains of Safa and Marwa over and over looking to find water for her infant son. Many follow this with taking a drink some water from the well of zamzam. This is the spring that caming bubbling out at the feet of the baby Ishmael after Hajar had looked and prayed to Allah for help. These steps are repeated the next day and the hajj is completed.

Hajj part 3 (EID MUBARAK)

EID Mubarak

On the third day after having traveled from Muzdalifa to Mina the pilgrims make there way to Jamarat at the most western end of Mina. At Jamarat there are the three stone pillars that represent the Devil (Shaytan) who would tempt Prophet Abraham to disobey God and not sacrafice his son. The three pillars represent at each point where the devil tempted him and he was instructed by the Arch-angel Gabriel to stone him seven times. In reverence to this action the pilgrims also stone the pillars. The pillars stand several meters apart approximately a hundred to 200 hundred. The extend high into the sky a bridge was built that extends the distance of the three pillars and allows for pilgrims to stone the devil from atop the bridge or from below the bridge. Before 2004 the pillars were relatively narrow by 2005 the pillars where expanded to large walls for safety reasons. At reaching Jamarat the pilgrims stone Jamarat al-Aqabah (the one closest to Mecca) seven times. Once this is done the pilgrims go the there tents and wait for word that their animal has been sacrificed. The sacrifice is done by all Muslims around the world on this day the Day of Eid Al-Adha to remember the sacrifice Prophet Abraham was willing to make of his son (Ishmael) to God. Only to have Ishmael spared at the last minute and a ram sacrificed in his place. Following the sacrifice the pilgrim shaves his head and he is allowed to come out of ihram. That is most people that take off their two piece of cloth and take a shower and put on there regular clothes. Later that day the pilgrims return to Jamarat. This time starting with Jamarat al-ula (the one furthest from Mecca) they stone it seven times, them Jamarat al-wast is stoned seven times and finally Jamarat al-Aqabah is stoned seven times. After this the pilgrims again head back to the tents and spend the night in Mina.

(click for higher resolution)

It is also worth noting that this is generally the ritual where so many incidents have occured during the hajj. One of the reasons is that almost 3 million people want to perform the same ritual at the same time. One thing that the clergy have done is that they have made fatwas allowing the rituals to be done somewhat staggered so as to reduce the numbers at Jamarat at any one time. Further because of the limited space there is a lot of pushing which causes people to fall and get trampled by the crowds. What the Saudi authorities have done to alleviate this is build the bridge and expanding the size of the pillars. This seems to have greatly reduced the numbers of people hurt during the rituals.

So tomorrow will be the next phase of the Hajj. Eid Mubarak to all.