Cooking Over Burning Qurans Make My Hot Dogs Taste Funny: Pastor Terry Jones Fulfills Deadline Threat for the Release A Pastor in Iran on Deathrow for not Converting to Islam

Update: New York Post has carried the story The Gainesville Sun- By Cindy Swirko Staff writer Pastor burns holy books in protest of imprisoned clergyman Dove World Outreach Center pastor Terry Jones on Saturday burned copies of the Quran and an image depicting Muhammad in front of his church to protest the imprisonment in Iran of a Christian clergyman. Moments later, Gainesville Fire Rescue issued the church a citation for violating the city’s fire ordinances. Saturday’s act of protest took place in spite of published reports that the Pentagon had urged Jones to reconsider, expressing concern that American soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere could be put at greater risk because of the act. A little more than a year ago, on March 20, 2011, Dove World assistant pastor Wayne Sapp burned a copy of the Quran and broadcast it on the Internet. Reports and images of the Quran burning incited violence in northern Afghanistan in which at least 12 people were killed. Days later, a man wearing an Afghan border police uniform shot dead two American military personnel. Dove World denied responsibility then for the deaths. About 20 people gathered Saturday on church property at 5805 NW 37th Street about 5 p.m. for the planned burning. Several Gainesville police officers were stationed across the street from the church or were patrolling the area. A few people watched the scene, but there were no protesters. Jones and another pastor demanded the release of the Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from an Iranian prison. Jones said Nadarkhani faces execution. Jones spoke at a podium that was far enough away that he could not be heard by people along 37th Street. The event was streamed live over the Internet. After the speeches, copies of the Islamic holy book and an image depicting Muhammad were burned at about 5:50 p.m. in a portable fire pit. Shortly afterward, officers in two Gainesville Police Department cars drove onto the property. With them was a GFR official, who issued the citation. Fire Chief Gene Prince, contacted by The Sun afterward, said Jones had approval for a burn but did not have the required authorization to burn books. Prince said Gainesville has restrictive fire ordinances, adding that books cannot be burned without authorization because of environmental concerns over the burning of glue and bindings in books. The fine is $271, which includes court costs, Prince said. Several onlookers watched the event from across 37th Street. Some said they wished Jones and Dove World would stop its activities or relocate, while others noted that Jones has a constitutional right to protest. Jones first drew attention in July 2009, when he placed signs reading “Islam is of the Devil” on church property and when students who belong to the church later wore T-shirts with the words to public schools. In September 2010, he drew international focus with a plan to burn Qurans. The U.S. government warned of reprisals against military in Iraq and Afghanistan if the burning took place. President Barack Obama and the Vatican, among others, condemned the plan, which Jones later called off.

Safe at Second

Thanks ALLAHPUNDIT over at HotAir I really needed this today Click this picture for the video ——————————————————————————————————- When 13-year-old Kyle Smerer ran onto Safeco Field during the Mariners home opener Friday night, he had no idea who was waiting there for him. After the fifth inning, as Kyle was participating in the Steal-A-Base contest, he was suddenly embraced by a man dressed as an umpire. His father, First Sgt. Steve Smerer, had come home from serving in Afghanistan and took this moment to surprise him. PHOTOS BY DEAN RUTZ AND KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES TOP LEFT: Kyle Smerer, 13, runs out onto the field to “steal” a base. TOP RIGHT: Kyle is briefly startled by his father, First Sgt. Steve Smerer, who is disguised as an umpire. MIDDLE LEFT: Steve embraces his son. MIDDLE RIGHT: Kyle looks up and smiles at his father. BOTTOM: Steve’s daughter, Kayla Smerer, 16, and the rest of his family rush out to greet him as he walks off Safeco Field. Smerer had been serving in Afghanistan. -The Seattle Times

Schoolgirls in Afghanistan poisoned in anti-education attack; Taliban laughs at Obama’s charge of GOP War on Women

By Mohammad Hamid KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – About 150 Afghan schoolgirls were poisoned on Tuesday after drinking contaminated water at a high school in the country’s north, officials said, blaming it on conservative radicals opposed to female education. Since the 2001 toppling of the Taliban, which banned education for women and girls, females have returned to schools, especially in Kabul. But periodic attacks still occur against girls, teachers and their school buildings, usually in the more conservative south and east of the country, from where the Taliban insurgency draws most support. “We are 100 percent sure that the water they drunk inside their classes was poisoned. This is either the work of those who are against girls’ education or irresponsible armed individuals,” said Jan Mohammad Nabizada, a spokesman for education department in northern Takhar province. Some of the 150 girls, who suffered from headaches and vomiting, were in critical condition, while others were able to go home after treatment in hospital, the officials said. They said they knew the water had been poisoned because a larger tank used to fill the affected water jugs was not contaminated. “This is not a natural illness. It’s an intentional act to poison schoolgirls,” said Haffizullah Safi, head of Takhar’s public health department. None of the officials blamed any particular group for the attack, fearing retribution from anyone named. The Afghan government said last year that the Taliban, which has been trying to adopt a more moderate face to advance exploratory peace talks, had dropped its opposition to female education. But the insurgency has never stated that explicitly and in the past acid has been thrown in the faces of women and girls by hardline Islamists while walking to school. Education for women was outlawed by the Taliban government from 1996-2001 as un-Islamic.