h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here's a happy piece of news: Apparently someone from the East Indian town of Bihar has really won the million! I don't think he was a genuine "slumdog" though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15459374

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15492607

Succession rules to change so that it's the firstborn, regardless of gender.

I'm amazing myself by actually crying at this.

Becoming head of state by virtue of lineage? Is this not an outdated system anyway?

Ask George and George Bush. Bill and Hilary Clinton.

"Becoming head of state by virtue of lineage? Is this not an outdated system anyway?"

No worse than any other way in terms of the quality of leaders we get, seems to me.

Quarter of a million Irish voted for a terrorist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15499852

A likely story

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/879785-man-claims-prostitute-turned-into-donkey-overnight

He should move to Sweden, it's legal there

Like a pack of crazy Indians:

>> Indian Fans Riot After No-Show At F1 Concert:
Indian race-goers showed an ugly side late on Friday after American heavy-metal band Metallica cancelled its appearance at the 'F1 Rocks' music concert. The band, in New Delhi for the inaugural F1 event — as is Lady Gaga — called off the concert due to safety concerns relating to audience barriers. "Our first and foremost concern is always for the safety of you, the fans," Metallica said in a statement. But the audience did not take the news well, smashing through barriers to mount the stage while ripping off their shirts, hurling chairs at security guards and the LED screens and damaging technical equipment. "The crowd went berserk," an audience member confirmed. <<

~ ~
HtH

Saudi authorities reportedly charge Canadian Imam on Hajj with assault after he used his face, throat and kidneys to beat the fists, feet and clubs of a group of burly men.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/30/edmonton-imam-arrested.html

Florence Arthaud escapes drowning

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/30102011/58/cellphone-saves-stricken-sailor.html

And the moral of the story is - always take your phone into the loo.

MERKEL WARNS OF WAR IN EUROPE

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/279985

Oh well, can we be on the German side this time (so long as they promise to leave Russia alone)?

Germany tried to take over Europe nearly 100years ago by force and failed.

Germany tried to take over Europe nearly 70years ago by force and failed.

Germany has tried to take over Europe by political means recently and it seems failed...maybe...Merkel...just stop...really...just stop...it's not going to be third time lucky if war is called.

Although war against who? I have a feeling if any country tries it on their citizens might have a few things to say to the politicians...storming of government buildings etc...one can hope...

"THERE MIGHT BE A WAR" is the one response that you can rely on my German governments to offer anytime things get a bit complicated. Not as a threat as in "We will make war on you", but as in "this and that measure is the only thing to do. If we can't agree on that, things will go down hill for everyone and who knows, what with this and that, it all might lead to violent conflicts between states, i.e. to war!"

Merkel is not threatening anyone to make war on them, but is saying that the consequenses of not pushing through this deal might be very severe for all sides.

Y.

The only way war will happen in Europe is if the leader of a governemnt and that government tell their army to invade another country...so the simple thing is all of our grown up intelligent MPs should simply 'NOT ORDER ANY ARMY TO GO TO WAR.'

Job done.

And if any governemnt even hints at it their 'citizens should be over them like a rash.'

Hope . .. ... ......

>> 'citizens should be over them like a rash.' <<

I think that`s what she meant by `war`, a civil uprising,
revolt, chaos in the streets, murderous mindless violence,
an escalation of the rocks and firebombs in Greece that
brings out more sever military responses which in turn get
out of hand and lead to greater chaos and conflict. Borders
will be closed to refugees from areas of unrest and these
will be invaded by the desperate and their desperadoes.

-jwf-

What ~jwf~ said. I wanted to write something like this all day yesterday but quit about five times.

So... news:
>> Greece Prime Minister George Papandreou announced Monday a national referendum to approve the bail-out deal reached at last week's EU summit.<<
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/01/world/europe/greece-debt-referendum/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Now, would a Greek "no" take us closer to civil unrest and riots all over Europe?

Y.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/01/bishop-london-st-pauls-legal-action

Re: occupy protest outside St. Paul's in London and the Bishop of London's handling of it.
So that's 3 clergy gone, including the dean. And now ArchBish of Canterbury has had to put in his and the Bish of London, after alienating many of the public both religious and not, tries to distance himself from the actions he's helped put in place. So he's compromised himself by annoying his church, and now potentially annoying the City of London. All in all, a massive PR balls-up. And that's just how they handled it, never mind what they actually said. CofE, lumbering on like some sort of lost and half forgotten dinosaur, still playing by rules everyone else junked decades ago. Poor thing.

Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is burned out by 1am petrol bomb attack on the day 'sharia' edition was to hit news stands

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/02/french-magazine-bomb-muhammad-cartoon

http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2011/11/02/le-siege-parisien-de-charlie-hebdo-a-ete-incendie_1597146_3236.html [fr]