But shouldn’t they just call it the “Annual Hajj Death Stampede” by now?

I know this is legal
and well within regs
but I just cannot
I will not
eat green ham and eggs.

CNN is reporting that at least 345 Muslims have died in the annual Human Stampede at the Stoning Of The Devil stage of the annual Hajj:

At least 345 people have been killed in a stampede during a symbolic stoning ritual at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to the country’s health ministry.
Health Minister Hamad al-Maneh told Saudi TV that 289 others were were injured in the stampede near Mecca and taken to hospital.
Many of those injured were not seriously hurt and have been released from the hospital, al-Maneh said. The number of injured does not include those treated on the scene, he said.

Whew. Thank goodness for the quick actions of the Saudi Red Crescent to head off further carnage.
Now, 345 people dying and hundreds more injured is a horrible human tragedy, to be sure, but things could have been much worse if the Islamic authorities in Saudi Arabia hadn’t have decided to remove other dangerous stages of the pilgrimage meant to represent the Prophet Mohammed’s journey of faith…

Continue reading ‘If you think the hajj is dangerous now, you should have seen the death tolls before…’ »

I hadn’t heard anything about Crash when it was in theaters, and, from its description of being a movie about race relations, it would seem it was some liberal tripe. Still, after word of mouth and Roger Ebert’s glowing review, I put it on the Netflix list. Both the lovely and talented SarahK and I loved the film (which was annoying since we got half way through the movie to find out our disk was hopelessly scratched and then had to send for a new one). The film is hard to describe other than that’s it’s a very thoughtful character piece.
Apparently, Ebert picked this movie as the best movie of 2005, but some people as Slate.com consider it the worst movie of the year (you’ll have to search for it). Ebert responds (note to Ebert: when responding to something on the internet, link to it).
I certainly fall on Ebert’s side here. Anyone else seen the movie and have an opinion?

Having lost the title of America’s Fattest City by falling to number five, apparently my city of Houston is now only ranked seventh when it comes to being mean to homeless, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless:

A coalition of businesses and residents, called the Avondale Association, is petitioning city officials to protect the near-downtown neighborhood from homeless persons by using a so-called “civility ordinance” passed by the Houston City Council in late 2004. The Avondale Association has gathered enough signatures to require a public hearing on whether the ordinance should be expanded beyond the Central Business District. The ordinance, which is currently confined to downtown, prohibits people from sitting or lying on sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., as well as placing items of bedding or personal possessions on the sidewalk.
Paul Luccia, owner of Keystar Events Complex, says the conduct of homeless people at nearby Interfaith Ministries hurts his business, which provides a venue for business meetings and weddings. Luccia also claims many of his customers are intimidated by the daily overflow of sidewalk trash and illegal activity around Interfaith Ministries’ site. Luccia sees the ordinance as the city’s main line of defense against the growing encroachment of homeless people on struggling business. Others contend that if local business paid a living wage people could work to get themselves off the streets.
The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County believes the civility ordinance is ineffective, as well mean-spirited. “This is just more or less shuffling people around [and we] do not support any laws that somewhat outlaw or consider homelessness a crime,” said Anthony Love of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. Love also argues “blaming service providers for an increase in homelessness is like blaming hospitals for an increase of sick people. If service providers weren’t there, the problem would be worse.”
Citing a need to “reflect changes in society,” the Houston City Council also passed new regulations under which patrons with offensive bodily hygiene that constitutes a nuisance to others will not be allowed inside the library. In addition, these laws prohibit people from sleeping or putting their head, feet or legs on tables, using library restrooms to change their clothes, bathe, or shave, as well as outlawing large backpacks and blankets in the building.
In opposition to the new laws, City Councilwoman Addie Wiseman noted, “When we have heat waves, they encourage people, including homeless [people], to go into public buildings, including our libraries. What is the plan now?” She also said, “I understand what they’re trying to do but when you start targeting a community like the homeless [population], I think that’s a poor policy.”

We do all of that, and yet we’re only #7? It breaks my heart.
So I am calling upon the global think-tank that is the loyal IMAO reading audience to help come up with ideas and suggestions that will help make Houston the #1 meanest city to the homeless in 2007.
Just to get things started, my suggestion is to raise the bounty on homeless pelts from ten to fifty bucks. It almost isn’t worth the effort and hassle to trap, kill, and skin them at this point.
What’s your suggestion? The comments are open.

Do you want more Alito?
Of course; we all do. Well, at Pajama’s Media, there’s a big Alito blog post round up.
Yay!