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

Hi Pierce the Pirate

How come you are awake at this early hour? It is good to find a friend awake as well. Mind you I am reverting to the way my sleep pattern was when I was much younger,

I have always been an early to bed, early to rise person. and most of my studying has always been done between 1 a..m. amd five a.m. O generally go back to bed and have an extra little lie-in.

I have just written a dreary account of my psoroatic arhtritis which seemed to be necesary in view f the latest developments.

I notice that you are going to come to London now, and every month next year. Lucky you. If you come by steamer, then you can disembark at my port and come and have lunch. !! That would be great.

I have really missed you all since my computer has been indisposed. !!

Go well,

Christiane
AR80

thursday 9th september, 2o1o 5.15 BST

Hi Christiane

I have to get up every day at 5am in order to be at w*rk at 6am

I *may* come to London this fall, but nothing has been decided yet as it depends on so many things

I *may* also come to London in april - and that is more likely - but even that depends (on me getting holiday at that time, being able to rent 'my' flat and so on)

I *will* make it to London at some point, though. That's for sure!

As to the Pastor burning the Moslim Holy Book
how would he like it if some Mosque burned Bibles?
You would have thought Christianity would have gotten to the place by now that this kind of thing wouldn't happen; but there are always a few radicals out there. Next I suppose he will bring out the poison kool-aid
ala Jim Jones.

Koran Post: 3 Posted Just Now by ITIWBS It is highly distressing, (same theme covered in thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F2606954?thread=7746614&post=100528036#p100528036 However unscrupulous and unethical, there are always demagogues to exploit mindless bigots. The book burning this relates to is after all a publicity gimmick to draw people of the type to the congregation indicated. Despite every effort by the administration to discourage exercise of religious prejudice that prejudice still has a strong following and a potential for sectarian violence attached to it. An appeal on the point that there are after all considerable numbers of people in the Islamic community who've made substantial and heroic contributions to the anti-terrorism cause is almost irrelevant. People for whom this kind of demonstration has appeal are not creatures of reason and will not be swayed by it. (See also thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F2130683?thread=7693317 .) The anti-terrorism campaign is only a weak pretext. The issue is prejudice for its own sake. It strikes me, Florida probably has laws prohibiting desecration of of religious monuments and artifacts.

Those laws probably only apply to the original (or rare) artifacts.
I would imagine it would be illegal to burn an original Gutenburg bible
or an original Quoran or an original Dead sea scroll
but not one of the millions of copies found in book stores.

I don't know the laws in Florida but in some states this could be prosecuted as a hate crime.

I'm reasonably sure it can be In Florida as well.

I hope someone will organize a flash mob that shows up and throws a stack of Bibles into the fire as well. Nothing against the Bible, but this is just paper, isn't it? Add a few American flags for good measure (oh no, now THAT is high treason!)... or rather, flags from around the world... some well-read Douglas Adams books (sorry, Doug!) and other works of literature... toast some marshmallows... sing the Internationale and other work songs... and make the whole thing look as pointless and ridiculous as it really is.

The real question is: why does this idiot get international media coverage in the first place? They are providing him with a platform to create a global incident while the whole thing should have gotten no more attention than a redneck garage sale.

"The real question is: why does this idiot get international media coverage in the first place? They are providing him with a platform to create a global incident while the whole thing should have gotten no more attention than a redneck garage sale" [Yarrow]

If the legitimate media hadn't picked up on it, somebody on Twitter would have spread the news around, or the tabloids would have gone to town with it. Oh, wait, the line between tabloids and legitimate media has become so blurred that the distinction can't really be made any more. Sorry! Never mnind...

Well, he appears to have given it up now anyway...

Redneck garage sale; where where As for burning stuff, has he got a public display license and health and safety insurance, public liabilty and all the rest.

...and a Tammany Hall certified political obstructionist to bring the actions...

...from the Beau James school of political obstructionism...

He seems to be changing his mind back and forth right now...

I certainly can understand the fear underlying the hesitancy.

las i heard he said he hasn't made his mind up yet

By now even their website is down.

We just talked about this thing over coffee at work.
It was mentioned that to Christians, the content of the Bible is holy, but usually not the book, the paper, itself. But for Muslims, the Qu'ran (spelling?) is a holy artefact itself. So to them it's really offensive.

We may be wrong, though, some Christians probably consider a Bible a holy artefact too.

I believe that a Torah is a holy artefact, but I'm not sure.

...the "Bhagavad Gita", my copy of the "I Ching"...

I was always taught when I was a kid to exercise a properly respectful and reverential demeanor on other people's religious beliefs.

As a devout Pastafarian, I take great exception to spaghetti and meatballs being served in restaurant all over the world!