hippoblog

Axis of Excess

Much has been made recently of the similarities and affections between the houses of Bush and Saud. Some of this may well be a little exaggerated, but FHM Australia has added an interesting insight to this course of study.

A recent infographic entitled "Lardy Gras!" suggests that Texas and Saudi Arabia lead the world in adult obesity. Whereas Houston has been titled the "Fattest City in America" for three of the past four years, 50% of Saudi adults are obese (and half of all deaths are attributable to obesity-related diseases). Meanwhile, Houston has more fast-food restaurants than anywhere else in the United States. I wouldn't stake too much on the accuracy of this research, but I like anything that seems to bring the Bandar-Bushes and the Bush-Bandars into eclipse...

* joshua, 5/18/2004 10:04:14 PM
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I smell ararat

In a world torn asunder by religious fundamentalisms (see below), here's a timely idea for a summer vacation: go to Turkey with an archaeological team and attempt to unearth Noah's Ark from the slopes of Mount Ararat.

The mission has been funded by a group of Christians who scientifically claim that the object buried in the snow is "98 percent sure" to be the boat. The "ark" first became visible to Turkish air force pilots in 1957, and has been visited by multiple teams of explorers since a Soviet ban on the area was lifted in 1982. CNN points out that no one has been able to "substantiate any claims of an ark."

* joshua, 5/18/2004 09:48:13 PM
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jesus h. christ

It was an e-mail we weren't meant to see. Not for our eyes were the notes that showed White House staffers taking two-hour meetings with Christian fundamentalists, where they passed off bogus social science on gay marriage as if it were holy writ and issued fiery warnings that "the Presidents [sic] Administration and current Government is engaged in cultural, economical, and social struggle on every level"—this to a group whose representative in Israel believed herself to have been attacked by witchcraft unleashed by proximity to a volume of Harry Potter. Most of all, apparently, we're not supposed to know the National Security Council's top Middle East aide consults with apocalyptic Christians eager to ensure American policy on Israel conforms with their sectarian doomsday scenarios.

But now we know.

* Rami, 5/18/2004 01:33:02 PM
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ratted out

Meet the Gambian Giant Pouched Rat--a rodent with a penchant for bananas and a talent for detecting landmines. Researchers are hoping that these critters will help to save the thousands of Africans who are killed or maimed each year by unexploded ordinance...

* joshua, 5/18/2004 01:15:09 AM
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singaporean wedding

Shing and I just got back from Jason and Ping's civil wedding at the Singapore Registry of Marriages--which, I suppose, is sort of like the checkout window of the Romancing Singapore campaign. The ROM is crazily efficient, with weddings scheduled in two-minute increments. As you wait in line, there is a video on the plasma TV which tells you everything you need to know about being married--including "how to be intimate" and "managing your inlaws".

If you want to do it properly, like Jason and Ping, you do the ROM and then have the ceremonial wedding somewhere else. Like, em, Bali. This weekend. More photos to follow. And hearty congratulations to Mister and Missus Coates...

the screen says, "know your own body. understand your sexual needs."

* joshua, 5/18/2004 12:15:05 AM
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trannies AOK with IOC

In an interesting move, the International Olympic Committee has cleared transexuals for competition in the Olympic Games, as long as their new gender status is confirmed and they have undergone post-op hormonal therapy. Three questions in this regard:

1. Will this retroactively legalize all of East Germany's victories throughout the Cold War?
2. Does this mean that we'll be seeing a lot of Southeast Asian Gold Medalists in Athens?
3. Is a Thai film about this already in production???

Just wonderin'...

* joshua, 5/17/2004 11:49:32 PM
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