A video tape smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates shows a member of the country’s royal family mercilessly torturing a man with whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails.
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Nabulsi says the video tapes were recorded by his brother, on orders from the Sheikh who liked to watch the torture sessions later in his royal palace.
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Sheikh Issa’s lawyer, Bristow, has moved to have the case, which also involves allegations surrounding their business dealings, transferred to courts in the UAE.
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The “’story that we think ABC is being told is grossly misleading; it is in large measure demonstrably untrue; and it is defamatory to Sheikh Issa.” Bristow represented George W. Bush in the Florida recount case in 2000. Among the firm’s partners is former Secretary of State James Baker.
UPDATE: and then i see the world already knows cause of Boing Boing.
It is true. We take for granted the miracles we get from technology, and complain when the miracles aren’t perfect. This comedian’s routine on the Conan O’Brien show is funny, mocking our ingratitude. I post it here because the rant is a cartoon version of a more serious argument that we become blind to progress.
I have these reoccurring(of course!) dreams. It’s early evening and people are walking outside looking at hundreds of huge space ships that have just appeared floating in the sky. the ships have lots of small lights. Everyone is mesmerized. The ships are humongous because there is some atmosphere in the way. Some of them are moving around.
This isn’t the most original dream considering all the tons of movies where shit like this happens. But in the dream it’s waaay scarier and titillating. I never get to the part where they show themselves. just the shock and awe of their arrival and everybody marveling at the ships. There is an impending feeling of shit hitting the fan in the air. I guess that’s logical considering the disregard for our understanding of what is happening. Aliens who fly giant ominous space ships that blow our minds should be intelligent enough to work on their intro. On the other hand, letting us be temporarily stunned could be fun and momentous, as long as everything turns out ok later.
Pardon the cameraphone pic. Saw the English Beat and Bad Manners in Philly last night. Great show. The venue was almost flawless. Perfect Sound. This makes either the 4th or 5th time I’ve seen English Beat. It’s always a really good time. I’ve got some videos I’ll upload soon as I figure out how to get them off my phone.
Maybe people are just really psyched for the Super Bowl. Whatever the cause, Friday night was a wild one in Pinellas County, as the jail bookings this morning attest. Here’s an account of the mischief.
With these greatest hits:
Deputy Tasers hospital patient
Prank caller to police: F— you.
“When deputies strip-searched him at the jail, they found Xanax pills in a cellophane wrapper in the “defendant’s buttocks,” as they say in police jargon.”
