Happiness Beyond Words

A few of you may not even be able to relate to this, but I feel like a burden of 1000 pounds has just been lifted off my back and I simply must record it. Since last quarter I've been struggling with my research project, being certain that previous assumptions about the article in question were incorrect but having no way to prove it. I first started feeling this way while I was writing my research proposal (the last three weeks or so), and I've been in a slump ever since. But tonight I found an article in which the writer agrees with me and has proof to back it up. This changes everything. So many ideas... In fact, I almost felt like bolting out of my door and running down the street in pure excitement (it's 5 degrees outside, windchill of -4), but I held back. So instead I paced around my room for 10 minutes saying "Wow" over and over again with a big, silly grin on my face. At one moment I went in my kitchen and took the magnetic darts off the board and just starting throwing hard, wanting to get my excitement out in a way that wouldn't wake up my neighbors. Yet in a way I'm crushed since this means I must start from scratch, but the project has suddenly become much more exciting (for an incurable nerd like me). I was starting to slump into my usual zombie state after too much studying, but suddenly I'm wide awake and I wish I could start tearing books off the shelves at the Reg for my projects. This may sound inappropriate, but I just have to let it out since no other word seems to convey such utter joy: Hallelujah!

Allah Is In The House: Offensive Teddy Bears

Allah at Allah is in the House has found that his CafePress products have been removed evidently due to the fear that they might be "offensive". However, I think everybody will be more than a bit surprised by what he found. I fear this may be another case of everyone trying to ignore Islam's problems and refusing to allow anything said that might be even remotely critical of it (although it is possible that the attention Allah's giving to the site may be enough to make them remove the KKK item). So much for the freedom of speech. Allah's woes are only a part of a trend that can be seen everywhere, however: recently, actor John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in the Lord of the Rings) was criticized--to put it lightly--by Muslim groups concerning some thoughts he offered on the current immigration crisis in Europe. I sincerely hope that he doesn't give in to this. Speaking of which, earlier, right here in Chicago, the Muslim lobby group CAIR demanded an apology from radio giant Paul Harvey (hat tip to Little Green Footballs for both links). I myself was one of the people who wrote him an e-mail urging him not to retract his statement, but of course he did.