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Dhivehi Sitee
Life in Times of Radicalisation & Regression: Maldives
Tagged: Maldives authoritarianism
Death by popular demand
by Mushfique Mohamed
The death penalty breeds injustice. It is most often imposed on the persecuted or the underprivileged. As the civilised majority increases its commitments to abolish it, some countries have spiked up executions. This includes states that have resumed the death penalty after discontinuing long-standing moratoriums. Apart from far-reaching authoritarianism, there doesn't seem to be a common thread linking these countries together.
What are the factors propelling a minority of the world's countries to resume capital punishment and proliferate executions? Is the motivation behind implementation of the death penalty really a matter of public safety? Or is it motivated by the religious duty of leaders, as it is zealously claimed by politicians in Islamic countries?
In 2015 half of all death sentences were carried out in Asia. Excluding China, almost all executions were carried out in Muslim-majority countries — Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. On the other side of the death penalty discourse, 145 countries—74% of the world—joined the list of countries that are either abolitionist in practice or law. Despite the repeated fact: 'there is no cogent evidence to show that the death penalty is a more effective detriment to crime than long-term imprisonment', people from various backgrounds casually support it. The only difference is that most people in the developed world would not say it out loud at the risk of not being taken seriously.
Arguments that favour the death penalty wouldn't stand in any informed discussion on the subject. The possibilities of wrongful convictions, botched executions, severe mental illnesses of defendants, or mitigating factors that could disprove guilt after sentencing are plausible enough to fully reject the idea of State sanctioned death as a punishment.
Religious vigilantism has killed yet another open-minded and humorous pioneer of blogging and political satire in the Maldives, Yameen Rasheed was brutally stabbed 34 times in the stairwell of his home. The Government's narrative has not been one of condemning all forms of violence and hate. The official party line is: 'be careful of your words, it could get you killed', while the list of unsolved political violence continues to guarantee impunity for the usual suspects.
Populism on the rise
The Islamist death penalty rhetoric that was at the tip of Maldives' president Abdullah Yameen's tongue at the beginning of his presidency fizzled out late last year. It didn't even take 24 hours for the Government to capitalise on the slain blogger's shocking death. At a time when Rasheed's family and friends were forced to feel a horrific sense of déjà vu over his friend Ahmed Rilwan's forced disappearance in August 2014, President Yameen callously justified the death penalty through the murder of one of its most vocal critics. Stating in no uncertain terms that the President would issue death warrants within "two-to-three months".
At home he's the Trump-esque, triumphantly chauvinistic president who 'has guts'. According to President Yameen, he is ready to start executions, not because he 'wants to', but for the 'betterment of Maldivian society'. We, as Maldivians, are to feel grateful that we have a president who is incongruous with the times. It's his assertion that executions are to resume in the Maldives because he is in touch with what the people want. In terms of public support for capital punishment, he may not be far off the mark.
But, to what extent is this thirst for blood manufactured? Is the call for the death penalty really following judicial precedents, or is it a sign of a justice system that revolves around the whims of political leaders?
In 2013 Pakistan reversed its moratorium on the death penalty for convicted terrorists. The following year the Maldivian government did the same for murder convicts. In many Muslim-majority countries, violent groups are already taking the law into their own hands. Whether it's vigilante groups in Bangladesh hacking secularists to death, or radicalised gangs in the Maldives policing religiosity. In these South Asian countries there is a huge conflation of 'secularism' with not just atheism, but antitheism too. Why are these countries increasingly re-interpreting Islam in a way that promotes medieval practices over positivist Islamic jurisprudence?
In Urdu, Dhivehi, Bengali and other South Asian languages, Islamists explain—online or through religious literature, radio and television—how harsh punishments are endorsed under religious discourse. Most of its members are not your average Muslims but usually tend to be 'born-again Muslims' or the newly converted. There are websites solely dedicated to naming and shaming those that actively counter Salafi-Jihadism. The dirty work is then left to radicalised violent criminals who seek repentance for their delinquent past through violence against those that enervate their 'holy' death-cult ideology.
Although Maldives' moratorium on the death penalty was only lifted for murder, the penal code prescribes death for blasphemy. Fundamentalist 'Islamic scholars' are already calling for the beheading of Maldivian secularists. By resuming public torture as a punishment, South Asian governments like Yameen's are either attempting to get a handle on these religiously extreme violent groups, or doing their very best to boost their Islamist credentials. Given the moderate, culturally synchretic, and state-controlled Maldivian Islam in the past, majority of Maldivians today are convinced that Salafist Islam is the "true" version of Islam. Therefore the religious nationalism in these countries are becoming equally intolerant and insular. What are the global forces that promote regressive punishments over rehabilitation or life imprisonment?
The resumption of the death penalty in the Maldives coincides with increasing cultural, religious, economic and military ties with Saudi Arabia. While Pakistan has Iran to offset over-reliance on Saudi Arabia, it is a different story in the Maldives where the change from democratic transition to authoritarian reversal is in full swing. It might be convenient to point out that money from the oil-rich Arabian Peninsular is circulating all over the world. However, the hegemonic effects it can have on a small developing country differ greatly.
Soaring crime rates have created a public that's willing to accept anything as the 'right' solution. Feeding off a panicked public, the currently embattled Maldivian president is ready to implement the death penalty for the first time since 1953. Ineffective governments use the death penalty to give the public the appearance of justice being served, although our judiciary 'regularly dispenses injustice'.
Increase in violent crime is a result of sudden frenetic development that has interrupted the slow-paced and unpretentious island life but failed to meaningfully mobilise the youth with opportunities. In Maldives, it's also a sign of increasing links between criminal gangs, politicians, and police that protect them. This new reality of life in urbanized islands was effectively used to convince the public that killing to stop killing is the only solution.
The idea that the 'authentic' version of Islam is strict and vengeful has been implanted in young minds through the education system. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and its tacit support to those religious scholars that either call to or incite violence against liberals formalize these ideas. The old non-violent Maldivian way of life has been buried – violence is our culture now, and it's suggested that we need more violence to revive our peaceful way of life.
Old habits
The death penalty exposes historic flaws in our justice systems. Politicised police forces in South Asia rely heavily on forced confessions to prevent public disillusionment of policing. Reports of a confession can also give the impression there's very little debate over guilt of suspects.
There was virtually no violent crime in the Maldives until the 1990s, before urbanisation stunned Malé and facilitated the emergence of criminal gangs. Things couldn't be more different today. We know that even for a small country our judicial system is plagued with a backlog of cases and in completely unfamiliar territory. It is easy to bend rules and eliminate rivals through rushed trials. For instance, Pakistan regularly abuses anti-terror laws and uses kangaroo courts to suspend fundamental rights and convict defendants. Our laws are designed to be open-ended and vague – the bigger the fishing net, the bigger the catch. These flimsy legal definitions and forever-morphing parameters of the law can be further widened through abuse of judicial discretion. Our justice systems refuse to abide by human rights and values of democracy.
Such populist South Asian leaders can count on contrived investigations to secure themselves and their allies. Any lines of inquiry that incriminates politicians or business tycoons go cold. An accomplice, usually a young offender belonging to a gang, is sacrificed to appease the public's call for justice. The big kahunas that fund or plan such atrocities are never implicated during investigations or criminal proceedings. As long as a delinquent takes the fall, politicians or leaders of criminal syndicates evade due course of the law.
Before the Salafi-Jihadist propaganda that followed the Indian Ocean tsunami, religious radicalism and fundamentalism were at the fringes of Maldivian society. Now, it's mainstream to the point where those who don't adopt Salafist views are seen as lesser Muslims co-opted by Western influence. These new threats create new forms of desperation. While stepping up sharia rhetoric, the government is ignoring how this will affect Maldivians in the long-term. And why not, when it's an efficient cover for the executive's incompetence? It diverts the public's attention to narratives of 'lack of faith' equal to 'deteriorating social fabric' while more pressing issues like grand corruption, climate change, and political violence become incoherent background noise.
Not in our name
In reality, Islamic countries implementing the death penalty don't seek justice. Instead they use quick fixes that pull the wool over the public's collective eyes. State sanctioned killing is a dramatic diversion from an ineffective criminal justice system; it provides a spectacle—medieval, yes—but satisfying to Islamist publics of today. It is also a useful tool for regressive regimes seeking to hide deeply embedded incompetency in policing and administering justice. In most South Asian countries, it is a misguided coping mechanism for asphyxiated criminal justice systems.
What about open democracies that execute convicts? The US is the only G7 country that still carries out executions. In 1982, Texas became the first jurisdiction to use lethal injection for its executions. This is supposedly the humane way for a state to kill convicts. Everyone knows that violent crime still takes place in Texas, and the prospect of a lethal injection doesn't deter most violent criminals. Such perpetrators are often mentally ill and seek publicity for their crimes. In recent years many American anti-death penalty campaigners have observed 'an all-time low' in death sentences and executions. Despite this, many in the developing world point to the US in response to accusations of death penalty being anti-democratic by nature. We still glorify capital punishment for our superficial and selfish satisfaction even though judiciaries are ridden with disrepute. We believe that seeing the government essentially kill killers, makes us safer in our homes, in our communities.
The death penalty satisfies some sort of voyeuristic revenge complex we might have as humans, but it has very little to do with the murder victims' family and friends, or the need to establish justice for their lost loved ones. Murder cases can drag on for years, exacerbating the victims' families' trauma. At times, calls for death cloud their calls for reprieve. It is unusual that we as the public seek retaliation for crimes from which we haven't suffered as a consequence.
It doesn't make us empathetic to appropriate the feelings of the victim's family and endorse our corrupt governments to kill criminals, when our views are mostly based on incipient media reports; or conjecture arising from it. It makes us a society that is starved for justice to the point where we ignore systematic judicial corruption, and are willing to be satisfied with even the false veneer of justice. A killing spree is a killing spree, whether it's state-sanctioned or the actions of a fanatic.
About the author: Mushfique Mohamed is a human rights lawyer. He has an LLB (Hons) Law and MSc(Econs) in Postcolonial Politics from Aberystwyth University.
Image: Zee News
Written by DhivehiSitee 3 Comments Posted in Guest Contributors, Judiciary	Tagged with death penalty, Maldives authoritarianism, Maldives death penalty, Maldives democracy
First they came for Faafu III
by Azra Naseem
3. Muizzing Maldives
Yesterday, from The Guardian, Dhivehin finally learned what the government has in store for the Maldives. The publication ended weeks of speculation as to what Dear Leader Yameen has been planning for us ever since he got up close and personal with the unscrupulous and filthy rich Saudi royal family.
Oh, he dropped many hints: what is coming will change the very map of Maldives; it will be larger than your [little raffushu] imaginations; it will be development like no one has ever seen; it will make Maldives the envy of the world.
But he stopped just short of telling people what exactly it is. Because people's reaction may endanger the deal. Maldivians cannot be trusted with the great plans he has for the Maldives.
But yesterday, through The Guardian, Yameen's cabal finally chose to reveal details of what is to happen: residents are to be relocated to larger atolls, 'leaving smaller islands ripe for development.'
Thousands of years old island way of life, sustainable development, living with the fragile environment, looking after the astounding natural beauty of the country for future generations—fuck all that. That's airy-fairy arty-farty New Age hippie bullshit. Solar power, carbon neutrality? Pfft. Who has that kind of time to waste?
"We want to bring better living conditions to the whole country over a small period of time," housing minister Mohamed Muizzu tells The Guardian.
This is the same Minister, whose unplanned haste to 'bring development' to Male' has led to so many disastrous undertakings that people now say 'That's Muizzed" to describe projects–often work that don't need doing, to fix something that isn't broken–that become ever messier with each vain attempt to get it right at an ever increasing cost.
So here they are, these members of the kakistocracy ruling Maldives who– knowing so much what the people should want for themselves regardless of what they actually do–are ready to usher in what they call super development: geo-engineered artificial islands built as super-resorts, six-star hotels, high-end housing, high-tech centres, economic free-zones and foreign universities…all for 'the global elite', of course.
Meanwhile, the people of Maldives—the very people who have been excluded from the billions earned from 20 years of high-end tourism—will be relocated from their too-small-to-live-on-islands onto the so-called Greater Male' Area where acres and acres of land is being reclaimed from the sea for this very purpose.
There they will live happily ever after in purpose built high-rises with running water, garbage bins, and plumbed toilets to shit in. Hip-hip-hurrah!
They will, of course, go to the same schools bursting at the seams as now, will be taught by the same barely qualified teachers, will work in the same dead-end jobs in the vast behemoth that is the civil service, or will clean hotel rooms and be bare-chested butlers in sarongs bowing deeply to provide the super-rich with 'the authentic Maldivian experience' as they sip their US$100 cocktails.
But, never mind. There will be plumbing at home.
Dhivehin shouldn't expect much more. Their numbers are just too small for their existence to make any economic sense. What would be really economically viable would be to annihilate them, but then even the super-rich may balk at investing in real estate straight after a genocide. They'd wait at least one or two years; and time is money.
Once the plan is realised, number of visitors to the Maldives will increase from 1.3 million (over three times the population) to more than seven million within ten years (over 18 times the population). The Marine Research Centre—yes, the Marine Research Centre, which you'd think is looking out for the country's natural resources—thinks this is a marvellous idea. In fact, according to Director Shiham Adam, it could be what saves the Maldives.
"People are investing huge amounts of money. They are not idiots," says this very brainy scientist. "You can build an island in four weeks with suction dredgers".
It would be absolute idiocy to think that this causes any damage to the environment; that it will kill the marine life, lead to erosion, destroy beaches, and shrink the entire land mass of the Maldives drastically. According to Shiham, all the existing resorts are just lovely little 'mini marine reserves', and there's no reason (except science, which you don't really need to consider when time is of the essence) to think the reclaimed super resorts would be any different.
What about sea-level rise that could put 75% of the Maldives underwater by 2100?
'That's not going to happen next year,' says the director of marine research.
What does not happen before Yameen's election in 2018, and 2023—or in his lifetime—should not concern us. That's for the future. "We have immediate needs.' And fulfil them these geniuses will. To hell with future generations, it's not like they even exist.
This is what is 'good for the people', says Muizzu. He knows. That should be enough.
Let us all courtesy collectively to King Salman when he arrives, and pray that his rule over us would be as kind as it is over the people of Saudi Arabia, that he will consider our children with as much love as he does the children of Yemen. Let us all raise our hands in supplication to Yameen, our Saviour, for his Great Economic Vision. Let us all say thank you to all the super-rich billionaires and multinationals who are coming to save us from our inconsequential little lives in the shitty little 'Indian ocean backwater' called Maldives that so many people have mistakenly viewed as paradise on earth for so many centuries.
First they came for Faafu I : Of Kings and Pawns
First they came for Faafu II : Of Myths and Monsters
Written by DhivehiSitee No comments Posted in Environment, Executive, People	Tagged with Faafu Atoll, Maldives authoritarianism, Maldives climate change, Maldives environment, Maldives sea level rise, Saudi Maldives relations
An attempted assassination, a Jinni, and the Maldives army
A Jinni led the army's investigations into the alleged explosion on the presidential yacht, Finifenmaa, in September 2015, says a police statement leaked sometime in the morning of 2 March 2016, an extraordinary day in the life of Maldives.
The 'Finifenmaa Blast', as the curious incident on the president's yacht came to be known, is portrayed in official discourse as an assassination attempt on President Yameen—allegedly masterminded by now jailed Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
The leaked statement is made by a 20-year-old Jinni Whisperer (for want of a better term) called Ahmed Mamdhooh. The story astounds at many levels, for a variety of reasons:
At around 15 years of age, Mamdhooh meets a visiting Malaysian by the name of Abubakuru (last name and current abode unknown) who teaches the boy to summon Jinnis. Using skills learned from Abubakuru, and the Qur'an, Mamdhooh now helps people shake off wicked spells cast against them by enemies.
A few days after the Finifenmaa Blast, Chief of Defence Major General Ahmed Shiyam recruits Mamdhooh as a member of what seems to be a Top Secret Investigative Team personally led by the Major General. The first meeting between The Chief and the Jinni Whisperer takes place outside Senahiya, a military hospital in Male'.
The Chief picks Mamdhooh up in his car.
"I want you to find the truth in the Finifenmaa Case", says The Chief.
Mamdhooh does not charge for his services.
They arrange to meet again.
When The Chief meets Mamdhooh the following day he has a list of things he wants: the dirt on persons in military detention; the dirt on Vice President Adeeb; and, he wants to know: is it true there are weapons hidden somewhere in Male'?
The two men meet every day for the next three days. Each time The Chief asks Mamdhooh to summon a Jinni to get the information he wants.
"I don't do that," Mamdhooh wants to avoid summoning a Jinni. But The Chief insists until, on the third day, Mamdhooh relents.
"I will need someone trustworthy from the MNDF", he says.
"That's impossible", replies The Chief.
Mamdhooh needs a Medium, a body into which the Jinni can be summoned. With no one the Chief of Defence can trust at the MNDF, he has to ask his own circle. He finds a friend of a friend, a young man named Zihan Ahmed.
Mamdhooh met Zihan when he helped the mother of his friend, Mohamed Ubaidh Ibrahim, get rid of the evil eye four years ago.
To summon the Jinni, Zihan will need to be laid down somewhere private.
The Chief, along with another top army official, a Shad Sir as he is referred to, provide Mamdhooh with a suitable location. A building under construction near the post office. One night soon after, on a date and time unknown, the three meet to get the hurly burly done.
Zihan Ahmed is worried about allowing the Jinni to enter and reside within him. Mamdhooh comes to a compromise with him—the Jinni will only speak through Zihan, he will not be allowed inside Zihan's body.
The ritual begins: Zihan is on the floor, Mamdhooh is holding his index finger and places a hand on his forehead. "You must give me the first answer that comes into your head", he tells Zihan, and recites several Sura from the Qur'an.
Chief of Defence Major General Shiyam begins interrogating the Jinni.
"The soldiers under arrest for the Finifenmaa Blast, do they have anything to do with it?"
"Does Papa (a senior army officer in custody) have anything to do with it?"
"Yes" to both, says Jinni.
"Does the Vice President have anything to do with it?"
"Does he [the Vice President] have anything to do with weapons?"
The session ends here, whether due to lack of cooperation from the Jinni, or other pressing military matters The Chief has to look after, it is not said.
The next session is held about three nights later, same location.
"Is there any involvement of a former President in this?" The Chief resumes the official interrogation into the alleged assassination attempt.
"I don't have any names", says the Jinni, via Zihan.
The Chief begins naming former presidents.
"President Nasheed?"
"No," says Jinni.
"Someone who was president for a very long time. Was he involved?"
"Yes," says Jinni.
The Chief and the Jinni Whisperer meet at the MNDF headquarters. The national security risk is high — military intelligence reports say there could be weapons stashed away in different parts of the country. The Jinni's services are desperately required to protect The Sovereignty.
The Chief says weapons could be hidden on any of the 1200 islands in the archipelago. It is too big a territory for Mamdhooh's Jinni, which needs a list of suspect locations to choose from. The Chief points to the island of Hibalhidhoo, Bodu Kaashihuraa and another with a name now forgotten. Jinni says Hibalhidhoo is the most likely. Next day, the army finds weapons at Hibalhidhoo.
"There could be more", The Chief wants Mamdhooh to summon the Jinni for verification.
"I can't do that from Male'." Mamdhooh's Jinni does not have as wide a jurisdiction as the MNDF would like.
Mamdhooh is at home one night soon after when The Chief provides him with an MNDF Special Forces uniform which he puts on before departing for Hibalhidhoo. Dressed in the army uniform, the Jinni Whisperer is taken on board a vessel which stops at the prison island of Dhoonidhoo en route.
"We have to pick up someone (name and abode unknown)", says Shad Sir, who is joining in the trip. "He is suspected of colluding to hide weapons on Hibalhidhoo. Make him tell us how, in his own words."
When they arrive on Hibalhidhoo the prisoner is blindfolded and brought to the beach, which Mamdhooh says is the best place for his Supernatural Interrogation Techniques.
"Tell me what you know," Mamdhooh says to the prisoner who has been sat on a chair.
"I know nothing."
Mamdhooh places his hand on the prisoner's knee and starts reciting a Sura from the Qur'an he says is known to make people spill secrets. He recites the Sura 98 times before handing the prisoner over to the police and joining an MNDF team on a tour of the island.
They check many locations but find nothing and return empty handed to Male' around sunrise.
The Jinni Whisperer, who has a brother in the army, finds out a day or two later The Chief wants his services again. The prisoner subjected to Supernatural Interrogation on Hibalhidhoo is now talking, and is giving reason for The Chief to suspect there may be explosives and weapons hidden in various parts of Male'.
The Chief needs the Jinni to zero in on exact locations. He says the President of the Maldives himself would like Mamdhooh to look into it. While Mamdhooh is engaged in this new mission, he receives word from The Chief that explosives may have been planted somewhere along the President's usual travel route in Male'.
"Look deeply into this," says The Chief.
"I cannot, until you give me the President's route." Mamdhooh's Jinni, characteristically, needs to get precise information to give precise information.
Around 22:00 hours the same night, the Maldives National Defence Forces' Supernatural Investigation Squad—Mamdhooh The Jinni Whisperer, Chief of Defence Major General Shiyam, Shad Sir, a soldier going by the name of Dunk, and Mamdhooh's army brother—travel around Male' together. The Chief identifies the President's usual route.
Obviously such information is shared only with top military intelligence, like Mamdhooh, the Jinni Whisperer. The National Security is very important.
"If there is anything, it will be on top of street electric boards; between such boards and walls; in vehicles parked in the area; in dustbins of garages in the vicinity; and it is likely they will planted at eye-level", Shad Sir tells Mamdhooh as they drive around near Mulee Aage.
The former presidential palace, Mulee Aage, would have been the official residence of the President had he not chosen to live in his own home at great expense to the taxpayer and much inconvenience to neighbours. As it is, he frequently uses it for party functions and other unknown business.
Mamdhooh has a lot to do. He goes home, performs a prayer, says several prayers, and recites many Sura including one that he repeats 4444 times. He knows the location that comes into his heart following the ritual would be where a suspect device is likely to be hidden.
"Around the burial ground near the Friday Mosque, to the east of the military headquarters," the Jinni Whisperer tells The Chief. This is the location he sees from his third eye.
"Give me the precise location", says The Chief.
"For that you have to take me there."
The next day, 2 November 2015, Mamdhooh is busy most morning looking after a sick mother, and with other family chores. Around 15:30 he goes to the Beauty Shop to buy some Kalhu Bokaru, black frankincense. He needs to hold some in his hand when walking along the President's travel route, making his recitations, looking for an IED.
Unfortunately, the shop is out of its Kalhu Bokaru stock and Mamdhooh continues without.
He bumps into Zihan Ahmed (The Medium) and another friend, Tholhath Mohamed, twice.
"Where to?" they ask, the usual Maldivian greeting for someone you meet on the street.
"I am on a Mission", Mamdhooh tells them.
Not long after, he meets another friend. The Mission is on hold for the next twenty minutes as the friends catch up. Just as he resumes his walk he bumps into The Medium and his friend. They laugh.
Mamdhooh continues on The Mission, reciting and walking beside parked vehicles on Nooraanee Goalhi. There, on the battery of a Pick-Up (or a mini-truck) parked around the corner from Mulee Aage, he notices a black bag. He lifts a corner and peeps in, sees a number of wires inside.
"I see something." Mamdhooh phones his brother in the army, "Come."
When his brother comes, Mamdhooh points him to the bag. A short distance away, he can see Shad Sir and Dunk, watching. [You may remember them from the Supernatural Interrogation Team on Hibalhidhoo.] Mamdhooh points them to the suspect device, too, and hangs about the area.
The 'network jammer vehicle' the MNDF uses in the president's security arrangements arrives, and army personnel are soon active in the area. The army's bomb disposal team say the suspected explosive is connected to the battery.
Mamdhooh watches them attempt, and fail, to 'take X-Rays of the device in situ'. They decide to transport the device to the football stadium in Maafannu, put it inside a container and place it in the MNDF vehicle. Mamdhooh watches as the vehicle pulls away, to travel halfway across the crowded, always busy streets of Male'–with what they are said to believe is a ticking time-bomb.
Mamdhooh is told, and he believes, the container is designed to cause minimum damage in case the bomb explodes en route. He accompanies the army team, and the live bomb, to the stadium.
"It is not an explosive", he learns shortly after.
"It is an explosive", it is decided soon after, and handed over to Police Forensics to check.
Mamdhooh watches as the forensic team works.
Suddenly, storm clouds gather, and weather takes a turn for the bad. Mamdhooh decides to go home but lingers to hear a conversation Shad Sir is having on the phone. He remembers the tail end of it.
"Now we have to play that same scene again. How are we supposed to do that in this rain?" Shad Sir continues, "The order comes from up high, so it has to be done."
Mamdhooh and his army brother, Dhonbe, are home when Dhonbe gets a phone call.
"It is a stick dynamite", Dhonbe is told. He is to go to the stadium area to help defuse it.
Mamdhooh joins Dhonbe. They are en route when they learn of a mind-change: the device is to be taken to Girifushi, an island about 17 kilometres from Male' the army uses for training. They return home then, and Mamdhooh knows nothing of whatever takes place later that night.
The following day Dhonbe shows him some video footage from the stadium area but the picture quality is so bad, Mamdhooh does not notice anything significant.
Later, Shad Sir shows him some footage on his phone. In this one, Mamdhooh sees himself walking and Ahmed Zinan (The Medium) and Tholhath Mohamed [the same two people he encountered twice when he was looking for an explosive the previous day] coming behind him on a motorcycle.
"Did you have anything to do with planting an IED anywhere on the President's route?" Mamdhooh says he asked the pair when he met them near the park.
The army now wants its Jinni Whisperer to identify who planted the explosive. They give him a list of suspects with photos. He points to one. Later, he finds out the person he identified is 'Superman' (of no other known name or abode).
Soon after, for reasons unknown, Mamdhooh becomes a suspect in planting the alleged bomb. As do his friends Zihan, The Medium; Tholhath Mohamed; and Mohamed Ubaidh Ibrahim.
Mamdhooh, who knows how to use the Supernatural to get what he wants, and his three friends remain in prison.
It is not known why Mamdhooh has not summoned the Jinni to help them escape or prove their innocence. It is possible the Maldives National Defence Forces have other, more powerful, Jinnis working for them.
Photo 1: Security for President Yameen when he visited Vashafaru, 1 March 2016 by @ali_shamin
Photo 2: The MNDF Bomb Squad during State of Emergency, 2015 by Unknown
Author's Note: All the information in the above article is taken from a statement made to the Maldives Police Service by Ahmed Mamdhooh during their investigation into his alleged involvement in the incident. A copy of the statement was leaked to the media on 2 March 2016.
Written by DhivehiSitee No comments Posted in Executive, People, Police/Military	Tagged with Authoritarian reversal Maldives, Maldives, Maldives authoritarianism
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Dhivehi Sitee was launched in April 2012 as one among many voices against the 'unique' 7 February 2012 coup d'état which prematurely ended the first democratically elected government of the Maldives. Having brought to you analyses and critiques of the often extraordinary 'Life in times of coup d'état', and after specialised coverage of the elections that ended almost two years of unelected leadership in November 2013, Dhivehi Sitee has returned to play the role of an observer and critic of the rapidly changing Maldivian society and its turbulent politics. It will pay special attention to the religious radicalisation of people and the actors and actions that make possible the ongoing regressions in the Maldivian people's right to a self-governed life of dignity and liberty.
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Today was one of those days that felt like transition after transition, interspersed with brief moments of calm. It was probably that Isaac isn't feeling 100 percent yet after a week-long bout with some sort of respiratory virus. And when he's tired, he's edgy. And when he's edgy, he refuses to go to the potty. And when that happens, everything goes sideways.
Today we decided to escape the city and drive about an hour south for a little fresh air. We had lunch at the Palo Alto Creamery, a venerable institution serving burgers and fries to Silicon Valley residents for, well, a very long time. And, voila, refusal to go after. Loud refusal. Attention-grabbing refusal. "Why-don't-we-leave-and-try-later?" refusal.
So, okay, fine, we're trying not to make a tug-of-war out of this. For one thing, it's no fun. For another, it's way too Freudian. So we gave up and took a walk outside, where we passed Waterworks, an incredibly elegant and expensive store selling, what else--incredibly elegant and expensive bathroom fixtures. Isaac nearly yanked my arm off in his excitement, so in we went. We walked past model after gorgeous model of bathrooms that I could spend a lifetime in: huge, cozy ceramic tubs, sculpted sinks, plush towels, gorgeous tile, and yes--the finest in lavatory design.
Immediately it became evident that Isaac thought these floor models were there for his personal use. Luckily, I thought fast. "Isaac, these potties don't really work. They're just, uh, pretend." (As the absurdity of that remark hit me, I realized that it was now inevitable: I was destined to blog about this. How meta is that?) We dashed to the counter and in my most charming harried mother voice, I asked if we could use their facilities. The woman behind the counter glanced at me, glanced down at Isaac, and suggested we try across the street at the Creamery--the very bathroom Isaac had just loudly rejected out of hand.
Isaac looked a bit more urgent now, and yanked me back to the floor models for another try. On the way, we ran into another saleswoman, who asked if we needed any help. "Um yes," I asked, all harried mommy charm again, "Do you happen to have a public restroom?" (Pleading look at child). "Certainly," she said crisply and led us to the back, where, sure enough, there was a sparkling-clean, quiet-yet-understated restroom. Mission accomplished.
On the way out the door, Isaac glanced back into the store window. "Lots of potties!" he exclaimed, grinning at us.
Several months ago, we began the bizarre and weirdly emotional process of potty training our son. We bought pull-ups, we collected whimsical potty books, we got detailed instructions and excel spreadsheets from our ABA team (for data collection) and a plastic bucket (for...). We loaded up on fun DVDs he can watch during potty sessions. He learned the steps quickly: he loved sitting on the potty, loved flushing, loved the ritual of washing and drying his hands, even loved his potty seat, proudly carrying it around the house, but...no luck.
During his bath that night, he played with a green plastic dolphin, filling it with water and letting the water run out into the tub. Then he looked up at me and said: "The dolphin has to go pee-pee," and emptied it into the tub again, giggling. Yesterday, Jesse came home to a whole potty convention in our house, including one ABA tutor, one case manager, our nanny and, of course, the life of the party himself, who was looking a little grumpy by this point. Then this morning, as soon as he woke up, he demanded to sit on the potty again, where he ate a banana, drank a glass of milk, and happily watched an episode and a half of Harold and the Purple Crayon (delaying my shower and causing a Very Bad Hair Day). And I suddenly realized: the bathroom has become his new office. And I can't help but wonder: how did we do this stuff before there were specialists, and Microsoft Excel, and DVDs and cheese crackers and--honestly--does it really take a village to potty train a child?


2. Why is the IBLI innovation competition important?
Pastoralists struggle to comprehend the IBLI product and make informed purchase decisions. This has limited the uptake of IBLI. This competition will source innovative and practical ideas on the design and deployment of an effective IBLI awareness and extension campaign.
3. Who can enter this competition?
Individuals, groups and organizations are free to enter this competition. They must demonstrate a good understanding of the pastoral context in their concept notes. Staff and agents of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), APA Insurance, Takaful Insurance Africa, World Vision, Mercy Corps and their families cannot participate in this competition.
4. Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes. An individual or organization may submit more than one entry. However, an individual or organization can only win one prize.
5. Where can I get information on Index Based Livestock Insurance, IBLI?
6. What approaches have been used to educate pastoral communities on IBLI so far?
Yes. The application form can be downloaded and filled up offline. However, you will have to copy past the contents on the online form. Uploading of the filled up form is not possible.
8. What prizes can one win in this competition?
9. Will the winning ideas be implemented?
The winning ideas stand a good chance of being implemented. There is, however, no guarantee for this. The implementation will depend on the cost of the idea and the availability of funds. Originators of the winning ideas may be involved in implementation, but there is no guarantee of this happening.
10. Who should I talk to if I have questions?


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During the pandemic Channing events are all online. Check our Upcoming Events page under Happenings on the menu. Covid related information is under Community.
Channing Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist
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Our Settled Minister, Rev. Jane Smith
Channing Memorial Church, UU, welcomed Rev. Jane Smith to settled ministry with our congregation in August, 2019. Rev. Jane received her bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and religious studies from Rutgers University and her Masters Degree in Divinity from Meadville-Lombard Theological School. Rev. Jane brings to us extensive volunteer and professional experience in the field of mental health.
Rev. Jane was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry on June 2, 2019 at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis where she completed a two-year internship.
Greetings from Pastor Jane
Below is some information quoted directly from Jane's website which will help you get to know her. We encourage you to find much more at her personal site at: : http://www.uuministry.com/janesmith/ . Take the time to get to know her.
"I am drawn to your commitment to spirituality and your welcoming and inclusive spirit. From the beginning of this church in 1992 – those first 30 people who gathered in folks' homes to discuss spirituality and religion – to all of the members and friends here today, Channing's dedication to community and spiritual self-reflection is apparent.
Just like the welcoming spirit you possess, my ministry is based on inclusivity. I am dedicated to providing an open and welcoming place for all. I have done extensive work on bringing awareness to mental health and also to what is means to be gender non-binary, and I have done work in young adult ministry. I work hard to cultivate a sense of self-worth in all of those around me.
My background includes a Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology and Religious Studies from Rutgers University and a Masters Degree in Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. I have done volunteer work in the mental health field and served as an intern at the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. I served as a student chaplain at both Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey and at Omegon Residential Treatment Center in Minnesota, where I worked with teenagers struggling with mental illness and addiction. I learned about the power of presence and of deep listening, and about living with compassion and love.
My husband Eric in on the journey with me. He brings with him a love of art and cooking and a deep sense of compassion. In his free time, Eric enjoys reading theology books. He is currently studying Data Science at Northwestern University and received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Cornell University. Eric and I are so excited for the opportunity to start this next chapter of our lives in Ellicott City with all of you at Channing Memorial Church.
Services and Theology
Services I help create are steeped in my theology. My theology of overcoming is heard when I speak to the hurting, the suffering, and those who are recovering. When appropriate, I include myself, my stories and my lessons. I work to keep sermons personal, while not divulging too much. I work to keep sermons vulnerable, in hopes that this openness inspires others to be vulnerable as well.
I personally connect with a higher power through prayer and meditation. These ritual acts center me and calm my heart and mind. To me, this spirit of life and love is urging us all towards good, is joyful when we are joyful, and in pain when we are in pain.
This is the mission of our faith:
To teach the fragile art of hospitality;
To revere both the critical mind and the generous heart;
To prove that diversity need not mean divisiveness;
And to witness to all that we must hold the whole world in our hands.
-William F. Schulz
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Last week was crossover week for the 2017 general session. Any bills that were not out of committee in their house of origin by last Thursday died. Likewise any bills that were not out of Committee of the Whole (First Reading) by the end of the day last Friday died as well.
Monday, February 6 is the last day for Second Reading in house of origin.


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The Lie (2011)
Your sins will find you out.
(2011) Drama (Screen Media) Joshua Leonard, Jess Wexler, Mark Webber, Alia Shawkat, Kelli Garner, James Ransone, Jane Adams, Kirk Baltz, Gerry Bednob, Matthew Newton, Holly Woodlawn, Tipper Newton, Kandice Melonakos, Germaine Mozel Sims, Michael McColl, Gwyn Fawcett. Directed by Joshua Leonard
I was once told as a young man by a mentor that being young was easy; everything is simple – black or white, right or wrong, bad or good. There is no middle ground in youth, he told me, no grey areas. Accountability and responsibility are notions that don't apply to the young. Sooner or later however, we all have to grow up whether we want to or not.
Lonnie (Leonard) is reaching a crossroads in his life. He and his wife Clover (Wexler) have just had a baby and their life of activism and living by their own rules has been turned on its ear as their idealism collides with the realities of raising a baby – particularly in regards to the expense. Clover is considering a job at a pharmaceutical company that as far as Lonnie is concerned is the anti-Christ but whose benefits will make the job of raising their new addition feasible.
But Lonnie, stuck in a job he hates, isn't on board with this. He's a hippie in an age of consumerism and in a different age would have found a commune to hang out in with his family. Lonnie is in a crisis and he needs a day off to clear his head, so he just tells his overbearing boss (Bednob) that his baby is sick. Lonnie, now free of any responsibility, gets hammered with his best friend Tank (Webber), smokes a lot of weed and records some really bad rock and roll in Tank's trailer.
It turns out so well that Lonnie takes another day and another day and another – until he can't use that fib anymore so in a fit of panic he blurts out that the baby died. Suddenly the little white lie isn't so white and isn't so little anymore. This is one he can't walk away from and one that sooner or later he'll have to face the consequences for.
Based on a short story by T.C. Boyle, the movie ostensibly debates the question of whether it is okay to compromise one's principles in order to survive, although that really isn't it at all. It's a question of whether one's responsibility to family outweighs a lifestyle choice.
Leonard, whom most will remember from The Blair Witch Project, is generally a fairly charming onscreen personality and there are elements of that here too, but one wonders about the underlying story going on with the character. Lonnie talks a good game about discovering who he is, but from his actions he appears to be a stoner and a slacker who just wants to get wasted and do whatever makes him feel good. In other words, a selfish prick.
Wexler, who was so delightful in Free Samples, is the polar opposite. She has a baby to consider and the realities of life in Southern California staring her in the face. She realizes that it is time to grow up and make sacrifices, which is why she considers a job at the Big Pharma company. Her moments to shine come towards the end of the movie when the truth inevitably comes out, but sadly, her character (who may go down in cinematic history as the most understanding woman ever) reacts in a way that is counterintuitive to who she seems to be all along.
Webber, as the stoner best friend, provides a lot of the comic relief but also a lot of the film's center strangely enough. "Dude," he tells Lonnie in a kind of ironic coda, "You've got to stop running away from shit." Which is, of course, precisely what Lonnie does and the filmmakers seem to embrace that as a viable alternative to, you know, life.
I was once the age that Lonnie is and I will grant him that things are different now than they were then but FFS you're a dad, you've got to man up and grow a pair. One of the things that disturbs me about what I see in the current generation is that there seems to be an unwillingness to sacrifice for the greater good – that self-gratification is the be all and end all of existence. Now I am willing to concede that much of that is simply the flaw of youth and that it's possible that experience and wisdom will counteract it but I don't recall ever seeing this self-centeredness to this degree in any generation before. Wow, I sound like my own Dad, don't I?
The point is that the movie seems to take the point of view that it is more important to be true to one's own needs whether they are selfish or not than to be responsible for the life that one brings into this world and I simply can't agree with that point of view – which is why I hate the ending so much because it hints that is precisely what the filmmakers think. Perhaps it is old-fashioned of me but I can't recommend a movie that condones self-interest over responsibility. If you're comfortable with that, you are more than welcome to seek this movie out and draw your own conclusions.
WHY RENT THIS: Examines the age old question of freedom vs. responsibility. Wexler and Webber are magnificent.
WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: Can't get behind a film that preaches accountability and celebrates that its lead character has none. The ending is absolutely mind-numbing.
FAMILY VALUES: A fair amount of foul language and some drug use.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: The film's official website gives visitors an opportunity to confess about a lie they've told which has been taken up by a number of people including at least one cast member.
NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: None listed.
BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE: $3,000 on an unreported production budget.
COMPARISON SHOPPING: Be Good
NEXT: The Good Heart
This entry was posted in DVD Review and tagged accountability, activism, Alia Shawkat, bars, beach, camping, cinema, Drama, DVD Reviews, fibs, Films, home recordings, idealism, Jane Adams, Jess Wexler, Joshua Leonard, Kelli Garner, marijuana, movies, organic, pharmaceutical company, responsibility, road trip, Screen Media, slacker, Southern California, stoner, The Lie, The Lie (2011), trailer by carlosdev. Bookmark the permalink.


Twitter has officially become a publicly traded company.
The seven-year-old social network started offering shares on the New York Stock Exchange at 10:50 a.m. on Thursday, in the most anticipated tech IPO since Facebook's in May 2012. The company, which set its initial IPO pricing at $26, saw the share price open at $45.10 due to strong investor demand. The initial surge in price gave the company a valuation above $24 billion when it began trading shares. Twitter seems confident about investor appetite for its stock; it boosted the initial share price by 30 percent in the days leading up to the IPO.
Stay tuned to TIME.com throughout the day for live updates on Twitter's IPO.
12:54 p.m. – Already Time to Sell?
Twitter's surprisingly successful IPO has already convinced some analysts that the company is overvalued. Brian Wieser, an analyst for Pivotal Research Group, has already downgraded Twitter to a sell, according to the New York Times, with a price target of $30. "With a price that pushes into the high 30s and beyond, Twitter is simply too expensive," he told the Times. The company's shares are trading at the very top end of analysts' publicly disclosed predictions.
Twitter's stock got a 73 percent boost from its IPO pricing of $26 when it opened for trading around 10:50 a.m. The stock shot up another 11 percent in its first ten minutes of trading to about $50 but has since settled back down near its initial price of $45.10. It's trading at $45.85 as of 12.08 p.m.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (whose shares of Twitter are worth more than $1 billion based on the stock's $45.10 opening price today) offers an homage to the first message ever on the social network.
Users: Twitter has 230 million monthly active users as of September—53 million in the United States and 179 million in international markets. That's a 39 percent increase from September 2012, but growth of the social network is slowing from its breakneck pace in early years. It has less than a fifth of the userbase of Facebook, which now has 1.19 billion monthly active users.
Revenue: Twitter generates almost all its revenue from advertising, through products like promoted tweets and promoted trending topics. The company has generated $422 million in revenue so far in 2013, and is expected to generate almost $1 billion in revenue next year.
Profits: Twitter has none. The company posted a net loss of $134 million in the first nine months of 2013. Analysts don't anticipate profits from Twitter until 2015, according to Bloomberg. This makes the company's IPO markedly different from those of Google and Facebook, two companies that were already profitable when they went public.
Mobile: Twitter has already become adept at monetizing mobile users, with 70 percent of their advertising revenue in the last quarter coming from mobile usage. This is a key metric that investors obsess over as more and more users surf the Web with mobile devices. Continued strength in mobile could help keep Twitter's stock afloat. It was Facebook's successful adoption of a mobile-first strategy and big revenue in the mobile space that allowed its stock to recover this summer after a disappointing IPO.
10:55 a.m. – It's Up!
Twitter is now trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
A variety of sources on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange are reporting that investors anticipate that Twitter shares will open somewhere in the range of $42 to $47, up to an 80 percent increase from the initial IPO price. The opening price will differ from the IPO price due to a process called "price discovery," in which the stock's underwriters and a designated market maker determine an appropriate initial price for public trading based on the amount of demand for the stock the night before the IPO and in early hours before open trading begins.


Maurice Cheeks spent part of one season in San Antonio and was chosen by ESPN.com as No. 91 on the all-time list.
Former Spurs center Artis Gilmore was ranked 70th by ESPN on its list of the top 100 players in NBA history.
Manu Ginobili was ranked No. 61 on ESPN's poll of the top 100 players in NBA history.
Spurs guard Tony Parker, shown here in a picture from the 2002 playoffs, was ranked by ESPN.com as the No. 58 player in NBA history.
Dominique Wilkins, who spent the 1996-97 season in San Antonio, was ranked as ESPN.com's No. 44 player in NBA history.
Hall of Famer David Robinson was ranked No. 20 by ESPN.com and No. 28 by SI.com on their list of top players in NBA history.
Moses Malone, who spent the final season of his 21-year NBA career with the Spurs in 1994-95, was ranked No. 15 by ESPN.com and No. 14 by SI.com on their list of top NBA players in history.


It takes a special kind of person to serve children with special needs. If you have a passion for service, and a desire to help children reach their potential, Franciscan Children's may be for you. We offer a high standard of excellence that's well known in the Boston healthcare community at a convenient, accessible location in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston.


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Puppet Therapy: A Uncharacteristic Remedy for the Starsuckers Phenomena
3rd Article in our series on the Starsucker documentary.
What many should appreciate about the Chris Atkins', Starsuckers documentary is the way the film details our culture's obsession with celebrity status. These obsessions motivate the Paris Hiltons, Kim Kardashians, Brody Jenners and others who have sought fame from the world of reality TV. Consequently it also describes why many legitimate Hollywood actors have also sought a kind of reality celebrity. Dedicated to the film industry, LIH has discussed how the medium of television supports a reality craze that many of our writers collectively view as negative. You can witness this documentary by selecting this link.
In her article for the Daily Beast, "The 10 Highest-Earning Reality Stars" Lauren Streib documents the accomplishments of some notable reality stars [1]. Let me let you in on the joke, this article is really an ad for reality stardom. Placed at the end of this article, see the web-based video story that compliments this article. Expressing the worst wide-eyed faux horror, seductive promotions for reality stardom are just that insidious!
Streib's article mentions many of the reality stars that are mentioned in this article. I added Elizabeth Hasselbeck because it's easy for most people to forget about her now that she has a day job. Promoted by cynicism queen and former news hound Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hasselbeck is one of the blue chip illustrations of this phenomenon. Here are some illustrations of toxic opportunism at its worst:
ELIZABETH HASSELBECK:
Who needs a degree or a career in journalism or political science? Elizabeth Hasselbeck moved from one season of "Survivor" to being one of TV's biggest conservative pundits and one of the Republican Party's constant cheerleaders. Elizabeth Hasselbeck during one of her rants on "The View":
DJ PAULY D:
Who needs a degree or a career in nutrition? DJ Pauly D spends a few seasons on TV's Jersey Shore and now he's qualified to earn millions for his dietary advice. Here's the DJ in one of his recent promotional performances:
MIKE "THE SITUATION" SORRENTINO:
Who needs a degree or a career in kinesiology or exercise science? Mike Sorrentino spends a few seasons on TV's Jersey Shore and now he's qualified to earn millions in the physical fitness industry. Here's Sorrentino in one of his recent promotional performances:
KIM KARDASHIAN:
Who needs training, a degree or a career in acting? After a sex tape, a few high profile relationships with professional athletes, and a baby by a rap celebrity and boom she's a legitimate actress. The order of events wasn't correct because she got the job before the baby. This is Kim executing one of her acting performances for cynicism baron Tyler Perry.
If you are like me you are probably sick or bored with this industrial fake trend and all of the people who participate in it. Amid so many great evaluations, the Starsuckers documentary makes one faulty attribution. It assumes puppetry is an illustration of the most superficial servitude. In fact it uses puppetry at least three times as a metaphor for this destructively implicit media slight-of-hand. This is the only Starsuckers argument I did not agree with. One of the reasons children and adults love it, Puppetry can be an extremely sophisticated art form that can use psychological transference [2], in cases with animal characters, anthropomorphism [3]. Here are some incredible examples of contemporary puppetry I think we should all be familiar with.
"RUFFLESS" BOMB DIFUSING SLOTH: An example of the ways contemporary puppetry is frequently used in live action situations with living actors includes ALF of the 1980's TV show, R2-D2 of Star Wars fame, and this popular commercial.
ELMO'S KEVIN NASH: Prior to some controversy, many were captivated by the self-actualization story. Or people might know him better as ELMO's puppeteer; a sesame street and toy store favorite.
JIM HENSON'S MUPPETS: After moving off on to their own TV show and later movies the characters have sustained a special place in the hearts of world audiences. Originally associated with their creator's innovative shop, this merry band of puppets have thrilled world audiences. This is a clip from a recent movie outlining a contradiction many of us consciously or unconsciously laugh at.
THE "SPITTING" IMAGE TROUPE OF PUPPETEERS: If you thought Puppets veer toward the cute and are incapable of communicating true political satire; think again. From 1984 to 1996[4] this English TV program roasted the politics that supported English speaking countries and culture of that time.
JEFF DUNHAM: Speaking of political satire, this ventriloquist happened to emerge at just the time western audiences needed some relief from the horrors the daily news brought them. More than his imaginative characters and puppets, you may recognize this affable puppeteer.
JULIE TAYMOR: This innovative theatrical super star has won awards for costuming, directing, puppetry and producing. The only thing she seems to have not visibly accomplished is the same status in feature film. I hope I am not wrong.
Though easily misunderstood, it's no wonder that there is a form of psychology dedicated to celebrating puppetries many attributes. In her article, focused of the therapy, Farryl Hadari points out why this art form is a phenomena all its own [5].
"The language of puppetry is rich in visual symbols and verbal metaphors. In order for the person engaging in therapeutic work to use this language, he must know how to create it, speak it, understand it, respect its boundaries and use it to create a dialogue.…"
If we intend to define tasteless opportunism as puppetry as one could assume from the video, which I absolutely don't encourage, then this television show is the worst.
Essential references:
[1] http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/12/06/the-10-highest-earning-reality-television-stars.html
[2] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/transference
[3] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anthropomorphism
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spitting_Image
[5] http://www.speakingpuppetry.com/therapy.php (add)
Tags: Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, reality TV, Starsucker documentary
← Screen Writing for Receipts and Other Hot Messes
LIH Editorial: WHEN WILL THE TWILIGHT SERIES END??? →
90 Responses to "Puppet Therapy: A Uncharacteristic Remedy for the Starsuckers Phenomena"
Open Book June 20, 2013 at 4:29 PM #
Great! Great! Topic and research CR!
ComicRelief June 20, 2013 at 5:48 PM #
Thank you, with two articles this was a very busy week. I hope this article's frustration with the inappropriate over use of one popular metaphor isn't obvious. 🙂
Yeah! You've been pretty busy this week. I have a few questions for u so I hope u are prepared. Hahaha!
Hi!!!!!
Fortunately I'm prepared, shoot when ready!
Okie doke!
parisienne June 20, 2013 at 7:05 PM #
Hi Paris!
Ahh! What a treat! How are u?
I'm great! how are you?
Hi CR!
I'm good! We must catch up soon. Yes?
Com1c Relief June 20, 2013 at 7:06 PM #
Hi Paris.
Nice to see u too!
We spoke at the top of the "board" but it's nice to see you too.
CR- I love Puppets. What other example (besides Puppets) could the authors of the documentary could have used?
Also, are u most offended by them using Puppets to promote Reality TV stars which put the artform in bad company?
Am I that transparent?
Hmm! Yeah!
Well sorta kinda and I totally want to support your argument because I know how much work is involved in making Puppets.
I meant to say because I know how much work and artistry is involved in crafting Puppets having it be used to promote Reality TV stars was unfortunate given how opportunistic they are. Is this apart of your complaint CR?
A lot of things happened in the Starsuckers documentary. Sometimes the perpetrators look like victims. Oftentimes the opportunism is almost obscene.
Much of the video evidence for these activity is missing from the current version of the article. Non-assault wise this might be more pleasing for our audience.
ozzie20 June 20, 2013 at 8:45 PM #
CR: Sometimes the perpetrators look like victims. Oftentimes the opportunism is almost obscene.
I agree with this. I can't remember if this was stated in Starsuckers so I maybe repeating myself! My memory of the event is a little hazy too, lol.
At the end of the documentary it talked about Live Aid or Live 8, or whatever it was called, being on the same day as the G8 meeting. I remember this happening. The press in the run up to the date was all about how these protestors would interupt this important meeting and how that is bad etc, while also pushing the charity concert hard as well. So that is an example of that actually happening.
I remember that day well. All the news was praising the concert and how well the G8 meeting went. There was very little news about the protest happening and what was shown was that there wasn't a massive turn out and the protest had failed. It always struck me as odd, that something wasn't quite right. The press had gone on and on about this protest and when it happened it was so small, like all the supporters had decided to go to the concert instead! That day has always stayed with me, so when I saw the documentary, I was so shocked! Everything just fell into place as to why this day was so odd. I'm glad I picked up on it and even more glad I remembered it, lol! The documentary would still of left me shaken but not to the extent it did when remembering it all.
I know this was for CR but if I may say? I do remember that event and thought it was very suspect at the time. Great memory and observation Oz!
Moonlight Cyber Chocolate is on its way.
Yay! *nom nom nom* 🙂
Since we're discussing puppets and psychology:
Kevin Clash (the voice of Elmo) has had many claims about inapproriate sexual behavior with young men made against him. From a child's psychological standpoint, how do you think/feel a parent should explain to their child that the voice of Elmo is different and why?
Given that homosexuality and laws/for against equal rights are an issue in the country what do you feel is the approriate age to allow a child (even though i'm sure they already do at some point) to have a better understanding of these issues? Children are more tolerant than adults because they aren't colored by predjudice. They are taught that by society and their families.
I haven't watched Sesame Street in years but do you think that the show should teach equality for the LGBT community by having two characters that are gay? I know Bert and Ernie have long been rumored to be "bed buddies" but I'm talking about making two new characters in order to teach about tolerance from a child's perspective.
If I'm not mistaken, there's are a set of placards waiting behind the digital curtain. Please, please don't leave for the sit-in before the discussion is over.
I think for kids more focus should be placed on internal development and acceptance, loving and respecting people for their differences, rather than on if a person is gay or straight. I think kids are already overexposed to sex in the media and looking outside of themselves for comfort. So I guess that would be a NO for me.
Have they replaced Elmo's voice already? I know the original man has "gone on leave" but I assumed they would wait until he had cleared his name before replacing him and that Elmo wouldn't be featured untill that decision was made.
I read those stories about Kevin Nash but couldn't discern whether he was being persecuted for being gay or not. I don't know why Americans get so upset when ever it comes out that their puppeteers have sexual identities. It seemed that this sort of witch hunt almost eliminated Paul Rubens (Pee Wee Herman) career as well. He's another actor entertainer who works with puppets.
Excellent Q's!
"how do you think/feel a parent should explain to their child that the voice of Elmo is different and why?"
How old were these young men?
IIRC, the first one was in his 20's when he finally said something about it but the whole deal was the relationship started when he was in his teens.
These teen males we're older than Jerry Lee Lewis' teen bride. I don't think their is anything about Elmo that sealed the deal for any of these relationships. I don't think I have anything else to say about it, because the controversy about him being gay detracts from his artistry.
i understand what you're saying but I was just asking not about kevin clash but how does a parent explain to their child why elmo's voice is different? Kevin quit the show. So my question is how does one explain homosexuality to a child?
In all honesty, the parents will have to explain what homosexuality is anyway and how it is viewed and they will teach their child their own views. That's what creates a belief system.
I think that his actions may have thrown the parents into that conversation a little earlier than they wanted it.
Its just like when children see two animals humping and they ask their parents "Why are they doing that?" The parent than has to have some version of the "Talk" with their kid.
True! IDK! That's a tough question. I think children should not be rushed into the Talk because the world thinks its time. I think kids already are rushed into being adults without having fully developed their identities. Does that make sense?
I don't know how to teach them either but to lighten the mood here's some comedy about it. I'll try to post the BBC video but I doubt it'll work anywhere outside of the UK.
By the way these are NSFW!
Hahahahaha! That is HILARIOUS!
If you can't see that one, hopefully you can play this. The video quality is bad but all you really need to do is to listen to it anyway.
Hahahaha! He's funny. Dogging??? That's a nice way of putting it. Hahaha!
I gotcha! So let me take a stab it. IMO parents need to insert values of self respect and how to be more accepting of differences by exposing them to diverse people. Far too often people develop prejudices out of ignorance and fear. So internal development and exposure to diversity and accepting differences is key.
you have the brain. LOL
U are too kind.
Paris and OB,
If you don't mind I'm going to retrieve most of videos that were in the former version of this article. Please talk amongst yourselves, I'll be right back.
I know little about this Elisabeth woman yet the very little I do know still annoys me, lol!
Why is he rocking back and forth? Does this man need to pee really badly?
Please tell me he doesn't say "baby" in nearly every sentense in his real life? It's annoying!
Urgh… Just urgh.
"RUFFLESS" BOMB DIFUSING SLOTH:
ELMO'S KEVIN NASH:
I would never buy anything from any of these persons. Their ridiculous and make whatever their selling look just as ridiculous.
I assume you meant to post earlier, but I agree. Yet reality has a lot more Madison avenue fans than I used to think.
Please tell me is the last video a news show or an ad?
Please tell me is the last video IS a news show or an ad?
Its a news show and half those people they mentioned I haven't heard of in forever.
Take for example, Kate Gosselin, she got fired from being a blogger for a company. Jon can't afford his child support payments.
I agree yet shows about;
– Flavor Flav
– Kim Kardashian's sisters
-Honey Boo Boo
They can't all be idiots, I assume advertisers have to buy airtime to pay for these shows.
JIM HENSON'S MUPPETS:
THE "SPITTING" IMAGE TROUPE OF PUPPETEERS:
JEFF DUNHAM:
JULIE TAYMOR:
"The 10 Highest-Earning Reality Stars"
I'm sure this is an ad. A highly ironic one, but these personalities are clearly being sold, promoted and endorsed.
I understand it really difficult for people to become media stars, and I understand that other media types would likely be impressed with them….
But COME ON there's are messages being sold in these that are frequently obscene.
I agree. Its also a waste of intellectual talent.
I would have a harder time saying this without the Starsuckers documentary.
APPLAUSE!!! I could not agree more. This is what's bringing down our cultural standards, too much emphasis on external instead of internal values.
Another great article CR! I'm thrilled you used Spitting Image! I loved that show when it aired. I may have to have repeat viewings of the video you posted! 🙂
OZZIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've missed you!
AHHHH, IT'S PARIS!!!! I've missed you too! Big Squishy hugs to you as well!
Hi Ozzie,
I did not intend but I may have sent Paris and OB On a video watching bender.
I love that show to death!!!! I'm hoping to find a DVD compilation of the show in the future.
LOL! It was a great show. I wish it come back periodically, like around important events.
Yes! I've been watching videos for the last 5 min. Sorry! I will have to watch them later.
Thanks OB.
Hi Ozzie!
See its almost a full house tonight. AWESOME! We are just missing LB?
I really, really hope you can see this video. I'm not sure if it fits in with the article because it's not actually puppets but people making the puppet shadows (with very little props used). I'm proud to say this act won this year's Britain's Got Talent! Anyway, get your tissues ready, I was in tears at the end.
Of course it applies, thanks Ozzie!
I love that vid! i've seen it before.
How sad!!! I was really impressed by the creativity though.
But that what's so terrible. This show and it's American counterpart do so much work to celebrate people for their;
IMO just the opposite of what the reality shows celebrate.
TRUE! All these things you've just mentioned are skills one develop internally which pushes our society/culture forward. Everything about reality television stars/shows exploit and promotes dysfunction, which is not advancing us culturally.
I don't know if it happens on the American show but here even the bad rejects can become like reality stars. That's on of the reasons why I don't watch the show. I just watch the finalist's videos. It cuts alot of crap out, lol!
Thanks everyone for coming. Unfortunately I need to go.
Goodnight CR! Great topic.
parisienne June 21, 2013 at 10:26 AM #
I meant good night
I'm going to leave for tonight. Great article and discussion. Paris nice to have u back. I will come back tomorrow and comment.
Goodnight!
Night everyone from me too. 🙂


text:
Word from Wormingford
Glorious tombs and an old pub draw Ronald Blythe to a small town
MURKY warm December days. Strangely pleasant. We drive to Framlingham on the spur of the moment. The little town, with its great history, is still and wet. I remember once coming home from baking Sydney, and loving the raindrops sliding down the plane windows at Heathrow.
Advent is in the air: an almost tangible time when we "put on the armour of light" - an enchanting activity - and when "love is the fulfilling of the law". The car splashes past endless empty fields, which are faintly ruled with sugar beet. Framlingham Castle, with its 13 towers, has an ephemeral look, as though it might blow away, and Framlingham School comes and goes on the horizon, as though telling us "Don't take me for granted."
It was built to educate the sons of Suffolk farmers with money left over from building the Crystal Palace. This sensible idea came from the Prince Consort, whose statue presides in the distance.
We make for the Crown, and have lunch by the fire. Inertia reigns. The old room is full of ghosts: neighbours from long ago; schoolmasters taking a break; my friend the poet James Turner, who vanished to Cornwall; the Falstaffian rector in his cassock, tweeds, and tennis clothes; and my bike in the courtyard.
It was at Framlingham Castle that Mary Tudor learned of the death of her half-brother, Edward VI, and the accession of poor Lady Jane Grey to the throne. Vast events in a quiet countryside. And now a handful of folk in a bar, and the Christmas decorations.
My favourite reason for coming to Framlingham, however, is to marvel yet again at the glorious tombs of the Dukes of Norfolk, especially the one with its Genesis frieze - a favourite of Benjamin Britten, and from which he took his church parable Noye's Fludde. He was fascinated, as I was, by the extraordinary things that filled our local churches, and, should one be a composer or a writer, were there for the taking. He would drive off in his big old car on the spur of the moment, as I had done this week, to look once again at what he regarded as his by right of birth: some view, some object in a vast or tiny village church.
But Advent. The liturgy trembles with expectation and dread, with joy and fear. The Creator enters his creation as a child. Advent for Adventus, coming. The liturgical year begins. Long ago, it was as severely kept as Lent. But, now, shopping shouts it down. Some scenes on television of bargain hunters were little less than disgusting.
For me, music expresses it far more than words. Music in which Jesus is given such beautiful names: Emmanuel, Desire of Nations, Wisdom from on High, Dayspring, Lord of David's Key, names filled with urgency and longing. George Herbert added to the list: "Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life. . . Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength. . . Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart."
I rake the main paths, and push barrow-loads of sodden leaves out of sight. Robins fly ahead. Keith arrives. May he take some holly? It is berry-less, but shining, an immense wall of it glittering and clattering when the wind gets into it. Geoffrey Grigson said that working holly into Christian belief was easy. It was thorny and blood-coloured. People once believed that the Cross was made from it. In old ballads, Holly is the man, and Ivy the woman.
But I prefer to see it as it is: evergreen, ever present in the farmhouse garden, and stuck behind the pictures on Christmas Eve.
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text:
Verticordia albida is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with one main stem with many branches and spike-like groups of scented, white feathery flowers with a pink centre.

Description
Verticordia albida is a shrub which grows to a height of  and a width of  and has a single, highly branched stem. The leaves are elliptic in shape, dished,  long,  wide and lack a stalk.

The flowers are scented, arranged in dense spikes, each flower white with a pink centre and a stalk about  long. The sepals are about  long and have 10 to 13 feathery lobes. The petals are  long and have a fringe about  long. The style is about , curved near the top with a few hairs less than  long. Flowering time is from November to January.

Taxonomy and naming
Verticordia albida was first formally described by Alex George in 1991 from specimens collected near Three Springs and the description was published in Nuytsia. The specific epithet (albida) is from the Latin albidus (whitish), in reference to the sepals and petals".

George placed this species in subgenus Eperephes, section Pennuligera along with V. comosa, V. lepidophylla, V. chrysostachys, V. dichroma, V. x eurardyensis, V. muelleriana, V. argentea, V. aereiflora, V. fragrans, V. venusta, V. forrestii, V. serotina, V. oculata, V. etheliana and V. grandis.

Distribution and habitat
This verticordia grows in sand near or over gravel, often with other verticordias in woodland or shrubland in a small area near Three Springs in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions.

Conservation
Verticordia albida is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife and an Interim Recovery Plan has been prepared. It has also been listed as "Endangered" (EN) under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Use in horticulture
It is difficult to propagate this verticordia from cuttings but it has been successfully grafted onto Chamelaucium uncinatum rootstock. Tissue culture has also been used successfully at Kings Park, Western Australia.

References

albida
Rosids of Western Australia
Eudicots of Western Australia
Plants described in 1991

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia