The inventor of the standard, Francis Vern, says the adoption of the standard is probably the most exciting thing to happen to the automotive world since airbags. “This will finally end the ‘shit, it doesn’t fit, how god damn hard is it to make a cup holder that fits my drink?’ rants in cars that no one really cares to listen to but always agrees with.” Francis has appeared on many national news broadcasts explaining the finer details of his standard, a 3.5″ deep hole by a 3.5″ diameter, and pushing for the automotive makers to include “not just one, but two of them in the front of every car in America,”. President Obama met with Francis yesterday afternoon and shook his hand, calling him “a true American hero”. Many Americans feel Mr. Vern should be a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, something that Mr. Vern calls himself too humble for. “It’s a really nice thought, but I feel as if inventors of fast food standards deserve that prize, not me.”

However, not everyone thinks of Francis as a hero. This includes Angela Mahree, a CEO of a company that makes plastic and styrofoam cups. “This standard will kill innovation and kill diversity in our field,” Angela said, “You are limiting our production now. Three and a half inches deep, three and a half inches across, that is a serious limit.” When asked why her company felt the standard was a threat and not a good thing because of the standard of production now, Angela replied, “Americans love variety, they love having different cup sizes. Some cars had very big cup holders, so a Big Gulp was no problem, now, they would have to look for aftermarket alternatives, and do you really think people will do that often? No. And now the Big Gulp as we know it will die, it will become skinny. Americans aren’t fans of skinny.”  Currently, Angela’s company, along with a few others, have formed a lobbying group in Congress to ban the standard, calling it “anti-competitive”, but little interest is being taken by Congress, who was shaken by the death of Senator Hughes, when his Big Gulp spilled out of his cup holder and onto his lap, causing him to swurve off the road and die.

I’ve had this vision before in a nightmare. Now sure, I doubt there is wire strong enough to cut someone’s head off (especially at the speeds you go on a bike), but to possibly kill them by cutting them on the neck? Sure. The setting at this hill could either be a good condition to kill or to at least hurt very badly. The path is in the middle of two trees. At night in the cover of darkness, tie a wire between these two trees. Put it at neck length of a rider. If someone bikes through it fast enough, they could fall off and die by hitting their head, bleeding from the cut on their neck, or hurt themselves horribly. Cloud cover would be preferred so it would hide the sheen of the wire but most likely, the wire would not be noticed until it’s too late anyways, even if it’s dead moonlight. A thin wire can go unnoticed as well.

Seems like a way to die in those “everyone dies” movies.. uhh, Final Destiny. I liked the one where the log flew through the windshield. Awesome.

So my first idea is this:

Select a random car from a store parking lot with no cameras, preferrably one you saw the people just get out of. Have a note ready to put under wipers that reads, “We have unfinished business to take care of. I’ll be in contact.”

Worth it just to creep some people out every now and then.

Ironic, isn’t it?

A big reason why I didn’t post on my blog at all after the Fitna analysis was also my host. The host provided great bandwidth, but their MySQL databases had horrible response times. The site would become unresponsive when working in the administration area and the user interface (or… control panel would be an easier way to put it). Today, I became not lazy for a moment (this is a rare occurrence, it took me a year to get to this point, mind you) and moved my blog settings over to a new host and new MySQL database. I regret not doing this much sooner now. The control panel of WordPress is so much more responsive now, it’s like I was working with turtle and now I have Speedy Gonzales working with me.

So there’s an update, I might make an odd monthly blog post now.

You can download the FMVs from his website, here. If you wish to discuss the FMVs or if you run into any problems, you can post in this thread.

Now, here is my analysis of the verses in Fitna by my Qur’an and my opinion of them in comparison to the movie. The verses I’ve wrote come from my Qur’an that I received from a Muslim friend (I am agnostic, not Muslim, Christian, etc.) and I feel that they should be addressed to get a better understanding of Islam. While the movie Fitna might take somethings out of context, radical Islam needs to be stopped and the West needs to realize and assert that it will not conform to Islamic laws. I could have made some typos in the verses as I copied them, so post if you feel something is not correct, reply with a comment!

Click Fitna the Movie (English) to see it in English and Fitna the Movie (Dutch) to see in Dutch.

The Surahs with the “Comparison:” in front of them signifies that the verse is one that I am comparing from film with my Koran. Any verses that don’t have “Comparison:” are there to offer more context or to clarify a point, they are not verses from Fitna. I will also include a video link to when the verse appears in Fitna video.

Comparison: Surah 8 – Verse 60 – “The Spoils of War” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link] The summary before the Surah states that this was written shortly after The Battle of Badr so keep that in mind when it’s dealing with war.

Against them make ready
Your strength to the utmost
Of your power, including
Seeds of war, to strike terror
Into (the hearts of) the enemies,
Of Allah and your enemies,
And others besides, whom
Ye may not know, but whom
Allah doth know. Whatever
Ye shall spend in the Cause
Of Allah, shall be repaid
Unto you, and ye shall not
Be treated unjustly

My comment: At first sight, this verse does seem to match the context Fitna uses to appear violent. But remember, the Bible and other religious text have violent verses in them aswell. Also, this particular verse is in regards to warfare… And the next verse after the above states:

Surah 8 – Verse 61

But if the enemy
Incline towards peace,
Do thou (also) incline
Towards peace, and trust
In Allah: for He is the One
The heareth and knoweth
(All things).

My comment: Pretty obvious meaning. If your enemy wants peace, you should give them peace. Not so violent, really…

Comparison: Surah 4 – Verse 56 – “The Women” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

Those who reject
Our Signs, We shall soon
Cast into the Fire;
As often as their skins
Are roasted through,
We shall change them
For fresh skins,
That they may taste
The Penalty: for Allah
Is Exalted in Power, Wise

My comment: This verse does seem bad, and it is in my opinion. But here’s what it is in regards to: The Muslim community and how to deal with unbelievers. It is talking how to deal with them within the Muslim community. Still violent, yes, but just means if you are a non-believer, don’t go to live in Muslim states. But it is a bad verse and there is no redeeming one after it.

Comparison: Surah 47 – Verse 4 – “Muhammad” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

Therefore, when ye meet
The Unbelievers (in fight),
Smite at their necks;
At length, when ye have
Thoroughly subdued them,
Bind a bond
Firmly (on them): thereafter
(Is the time for) either
Generosity or ransom:
Until the war lays down
Its burdens. Thus (are ye
Commanded): but if it
Had been Allah’s Will
He could certainly have exacted
Retribution from them (Himself);
But (He lets you fight)
In order to test you,
Some with others.
But those who are slain
In the way of Allah–
He will never let
Their deeds be lost.

My comment: Again, there is no redeeming verse. But if you want to look at it… lightly… this is in regards to warfare. When he is talking about the fight being entered, I don’t know if they mean if the enemy fights you or you declared on them… So I cannot say if it’s talking about in defense, but from the context, no it is not it looks like. “Thoroughly subdued them,” means kill a lot of them, then the “Bind a bond” means you can now take prisoners because their numbers are dwindled. The generosity or ransom part is context of charging money/land/etc for prisoners or generously just letting them go. Still, not a very heart warming verse.

Comparison: Surah 4 – Verse 89 – “The Women” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

They but wish that ye
Should reject Faith,
As they do, and thus be
On the same footing (as they):
So take not allies
From their ranks
Until they flee
In the way of Allah
(From what is forbidden).
But if they turn renegades,
Seize them and slay them
Wherever ye find them;
And (in any case) take
No allies or supporters
From their ranks —

My comment: This verse is in context of people from the enemy army and deserters of the army of Islam. Really, slaying deserters was not uncommon. Not that bad and it is not talking about unbelievers in general. And there is a better verse afterwards…

Surah 4 -Verse 90

Except those who join
A group between whom
And you there is a treaty
(Of peace), or those who approach
You wish hearts restraining
Them from fighting you
As well as fighting their own
People. If Allah had pleased,
He could have given them
Power over you, and they
Would have fought you:
Therefore if they withdraw
From you but fight you not,
And (instead) send you
(Guarantees of) peace, then Allah
Hath opened no way
For you (to war against them)

My comment: It is saying if they give up, agree, for Allah does not approve if you keep warring.

Comparison: Surah 8 – Verse 39 – “The Spoils of War” [EN Video Link] [NL Video Link]

And fight them on
Until there is no more
Tumult or oppression,
And there prevails
Justice and faith in Allah
Altogether and everywhere;
But if they cease, verily Allah
Doth see all that they do.

My comment: Again, remember Surah 8 refers to the The Battle of Badr a lot. I think it is talking about the battle and how to continue fighting. If you’re already at war, why wouldn’t you fight until there is no more opposition? It says in the last two lines as well, if they give up, respect that. The verse after that talk about if they don’t what to do, which isn’t that interesting.

Overall, the movie brings up the problem of radical Islam and how the West is caving into it. At least we have a film to campaign against it, but maybe we will have a more scholarly film out later now that we have people waking up to the threat of radical Islam.