The Kalasha is a pagan civilisation that has lived in the area for at least 2,000 years but is coming under threat from an increasingly militant version of Islam and modernisation.
The women wear long black dresses with vividly coloured embroidery and have hair in long plaits and magnificent headdresses decorated with shells. Garish belts and layers of brightly coloured necklaces add to their exotic appearance.

On their cheeks are painted dots and tattoos. With improbable pale skin and piercing light eyes, any one of a dozen girls could be on the cover of National Geographic.

These are a people who love drinking wine and can freely choose their husband or wife. The women make no attempt to hide their faces and dance with gaiety in public, a sight now so rare in increasingly conservative Pakistan that it is shocking for most of their countrymen.

The Kalasha women greet familiar men and women with three kisses on the cheek (left, right, left), and then they kiss each other’s hands, sometimes both hands.

Muslim tourists from other parts of Pakistan, typically groups of men, are bewildered by the Kalasha festivities, seemingly unable to fathom that this too is a religion. It seems that it is tales of the Kalasha women that have brought them here, confusing the women’s free will for free love.'

In Pakistan, ancient pagan culture struggles to survive encroaching Islam

"Turns out, many of the "disputed" minors are adults after all, a point CPS hasn’t conceded until now. One of the "girls" is actually 27 years old.

Only a handful of the 168 mothers involved in the case have had their individual hearings so far – they will all be complete by June 4. Many of the "disputed" mothers are still due court hearings. One has to wonder how many more "child brides" will turn out to be adults before this is all over.

It’s an important point, because CPS investigators justified escalating the April 3 raid, and ultimately the removal of every child, based on their observations once they entered the ranch for the first time in response to a call for help. "

Is anyone still following this case? The govt. seems to have really screwed up to me.

Polygamists "GIRLS" suprise CPS (They weren't girls!)

"Turns out, many of the "disputed" minors are adults after all, a point CPS hasn’t conceded until now. One of the "girls" is actually 27 years old.

Only a handful of the 168 mothers involved in the case have had their individual hearings so far – they will all be complete by June 4. Many of the "disputed" mothers are still due court hearings. One has to wonder how many more "child brides" will turn out to be adults before this is all over.

It’s an important point, because CPS investigators justified escalating the April 3 raid, and ultimately the removal of every child, based on their observations once they entered the ranch for the first time in response to a call for help. "

Is anyone still following this case? The govt. seems to have really screwed up to me.

Polygamists "GIRLS" suprise CPS (They weren't girls!)

"An Omaha toddler was removed from her home after her parents reported an injury to the state, and Child Protective Services kept the girl for four days.

No charges will be filed against Crystal and Jay Mitchell, who got their daughter, Brianna, back on Tuesday night. Omaha police officers removed the girl from her parents' home on Friday. The parents said they were trying to do what was right by reporting, but instead found themselves the target of suspicion."

CPS steps all over the rights of parents and children, and until the American public wakes up and sees their own creeping statism, this unchecked, out of control beast will continue to harm innocent families, and children will continue to be placed needlessly in foster care, where they are at INCREASED risk of abuse, neglect, death, and being overly medicated on pyschotropic medications.

Child suffers fracture at Daycare, CPS takes child from parents

Even the dog gets tasered....

Taser you to death

Another story reports that the girl weighs 90 pounds and has a learning disability and possible mental disorder.
-------------------------------
The incident began when teachers at the Moss Elemenary School in Orange County confronted an 11-year-old girl for allegedly attempting to push another student into ongoing traffic outside the campus, MyFOXOrlando.com reported.

Authorities say the young female ignored the teacher and walked inside the homeroom, where she was again approached by teachers over her behavior. The student responded by thowing a desk and chair and attempting to spit on the instructor, according to MyFOXOrlando.com.

Donna Hudepohl, a school resource officer called to remove the troubled girl from the classroom, was allegedly pushed and punched in the face during a struggle to restrain her.

Hudepohl responded by tasering the girl.

The student was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, disrupting a school function as well as resisting with violence and is being held at the juvenile detention center.

Hudepohl was treated for a possible broken nose.

Florida School Security Officer Tasers 11-Year-Old Girl

All it takes is a junk peice of paper to literally fall over laughing. :)

All it takes is a junk peice of paper

This is Ellen at her funniest. Exercise while you sit down!

Oh my goodness - this is FUNNY - the Hawaii chair

I happened upon an ad today for a free calendar, and, since I didn't know the date, thought I better get one. lol

If you go to Spice Islands Main Site Link and go to "REGISTER YOUR SPICES" you can get the free calendar that I went for. Just pick a spice and say you don't have the production code if you don't have one. That is what I did- and it pulled up the form to get the free calendar.

But, while I was THERE, I found THIS page - with lots of videos that are short and sweet but highly informative on the history, geography, and uses of common spices. If you are interested in cooking atall, I think you might like this link. :)

I'm not in any way affiliated with them, just really liked the site freebie and the information and wanted to pass it to friends that are probably too busy combing the web for new tech threats to go searching after this sort of thing. ;)

Freeby and Some Good Cooking Education!

Thanks very much for posting this. :)

2005 Use of Gas by Blackwater Leaves Questions - New York Times