‘1 Out of 3 People Believe in Fortune Telling’

‘1 Out of 3 People Believe in Fortune Telling’

The telling of fortunes has been an integral part of Chinese superstition and cultural beliefs since time immemorial. It is a highly respected practice, whose practitioners are relegated to the equivalent roles in western society of management consultants and psychotherapists.

Many major business decisions are made with the specific input of a fortune teller, and for the Chinese fortune-telling is a social event, somewhat like going shopping or dining out.

Modern China and its fortunetellers have had their ups and downs, as do all relationships, whether good or bad. The Communist Party for years saw the fading art form as a sign of “backwardness,” and yet traditional fortune-tellers thrive in today’s China although their role is something other than mystical.

One newspaper from a decade ago warned that “Chinese Scientists are Against Fortune-Telling” and the inclusive article cited a survey, which indicated that 1 out of every 3 persons in China believed in fortune-telling.

The commentary concluded with the admonition that “those who make money by telling fortunes should be punished according to the law.”

Fortune-telling is often a family affair; a trade passed down from generation to generation and family member to family member. Fortune-tellers can be found in cities like Beijing where they minister to pedestrians and office workers.

Their true significance of fortune-telling is a moot point. There can be little doubt, however, that it is the power of belief and the ability to ‘tune in” and not the fortune-teller’s divination sticks that support the mystique and “power” of the modern Chinese fortune-teller.

Chinese authorities have targeted fortune-telling as the nation’s next priority in a crackdown on illegal telephone content and phone sex. Still, fortune-telling persists, which is a statement all by itself. Interest in the telling of fortunes always increases sharply around the start of the Lunar New Year.

For a dynamic nation like China, it would seem that the intangible is the most sought after commodity of all; namely, the future.

Who knows what it will bring?

Hundreds Stranded On Runway When Airline Closes

ORLANDO, Fla. --

• Video: Hundreds Stranded On Runway When Airline Closes

More than 260 people were on a runway when the airline they were scheduled to travel to Britain with went out of business -- leaving them stranded in Orlando.British airline XL went out of business Thursday night and immediately grounded its flights, including all planes leaving Sanford-Orlando International Airport."(Airport officials) told us we should go and sleep on the street with our children because we are not their responsibility," an angry passenger said. "I've come here on a packaged holiday and I've paid to go home."
After news of the bankruptcy broke, an aircraft carrying the passengers about to take off turned around and headed back to the airport."We went backwards about 150 feet, stopped and got a message from the captain that there has been a bit of a problem," a passenger said.The passengers said they were then let out on the runway and forgotten."I thought America and Britain were supposed to be (close)," passenger Mark Russell said. "They wanted us off the airport (property)."They are kicking us out on the street," a nearby passenger said.Local 6 showed video of passengers discussing the matter with a police officer and official."I've told all of them who will talk with me that I'm doing everything I can to get answers for them," an official said."You threatened us with armed police if we don't leave," a passenger said. "The armed police will be coming to remove us."The tourists were still trying to find a way home Friday

Wannabe cop in Camden County picked wrong driver to stop

By JASON NARK
Philadelphia Daily News

narkj@phillynews.com 856-779-3231

When Gene Angelino pulled a motorist over for a parking violation Wednesday night, he broke the first rule of impersonating a police officer:

Don't pull over a real officer.

Police in Winslow Township, Camden County, say that Angelino, 40, of Wildcat Branch Drive, in Winslow, was driving a white, unmarked Ford Crown Victoria, complete with tinted windows, sirens and a light bar, when he tried to pull a driver over for a parking violation at 6:32 p.m.

Angelino's alleged traffic violator was really an undercover Winslow officer working a narcotics detail, police said.

"He told the officer he was a federal law-enforcement agent," said Lt. David Deaner, of Winslow.

The undercover officer didn't buy it and radioed for backup, at which point Angelino's charade was up.

Deaner said that police searched Angelino's car and found badges and false police identification.

Back at Angelino's house, police found more pieces of Angelino's costume, including a 9mm handgun, handcuffs, more badges and posters of the FBI's most-wanted list.

"We believe he stole them from a post office, but we're not sure which one," Deaner said.

Angelino's run-in with police made them realize they'd seen him before.

Deaner said that Winslow cops had been involved in a foot chase in Angelino's neighborhood July 22, when he emerged from his home with a police radio attached to his hip.

"He said he was an off-duty officer from Burlington County," Deaner said. "He came out of his house to see if everything was under control. The officers were too involved with the incident at the time, though."

Angelino was charged with impersonating an officer in both incidents.

Police said that they didn't want to provide the location of the arrest because an undercover cop had been involved.

Angelino was being held in the Camden County Jail on $20,000 cash bail, Deaner said.

Police aren't ruling out the possibility that Angelino has used his elaborate props to impersonate an officer at other times. The department is asking anyone who may have been a victim to call 609-561-3300.

Park attendants ordered to interrogate adults spotted without children

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:42 AM on 10th September 2008

Telford Town Park in Shropshire, where council workers have been told to confront lone adults in the park to check if they are paedophiles

Park wardens have been ordered to stop and interrogate anyone who is not accompanied by children.

The visitors who are quizzed have to explain their presence and risk being thrown out or reported to police if their answers are not satisfactory.

The policy has been introduced at Telford Town Park in Shropshire. The council which manages the 420-acre area says it is a 'commonsense approach' aimed at safeguarding children.

But park users accused it of 'authoritarian madness' and said the ruling risked panicking parents about the dangers faced from potential paedophiles.

The policy came to light after two environmental campaigners dressed as penguins were thrown out of the park last month when caught handing out leaflets on climate change.

Telford and Wrekin Council said Rachel Whittaker and Neil Donaldson were ejected because they had not undergone Criminal Records Bureau checks or risk assessments before entering the park - a requirement under the Child Protection Act.

David Ottley, recreation manager at the Tory-run council, said in a letter to a member of the public over that issue: 'Our town park staff approach adults that are not associated with any children in the park and request the reason for them being there.

'In particular, this applies to those areas where children or more vulnerable groups gather.'

Miss Whittaker, 34, from Wellington, near Telford, said the policy carried a 'dangerous implication that if you have a child with you than everything is OK and you won't be questioned'.

Former childcare social worker John Evans said: 'It is authoritarian madness which can only be based on ignorance. It is absurd, it is insulting and it is dangerous as it panics people about the dangers their children face.'

A council spokesman insisted that only those 'acting suspiciously' would be stopped and questioned

We're the Government. We'd Rather Pay for It

Radley Balko | September 10, 2008, 8:52am

Your government at work.

Retired Glenwood Springs car dealer John Haines' hope of donating a giant chunk of snow -white marble to the federal government to replace the cracked Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery is stalled again.

Haines' hoped-for donation, which has sat outside the Yule Quarry near Marble since it was cut for the tomb in 2003, didn't even rate a mention in a 34-page Department of the Army report to Congress this week on replacement and repair options for the deteriorating tomb.

Haines' donation creates problems for the federal government because it is free and has not gone through a pricey bidding and specification process.

[...]

This week's report — the latest in a string of tomb reports done since Arlington officials decided the marble needed replacing 18 years ago — estimates the cost of replacing the tomb's marble at $2.2 million — $80,000 of that for seeking bids, $90,000 for buying and transporting the marble and the remainder for sculpting.

Haines made the final payment for his $31,000 piece of marble last week. He also has lined up donated transport for the rock on a flag-decorated flatbed truck. He did all that after receiving a letter from an Army major general five years ago thanking him for his "most kind and generous donation."

Better that the government spend $170,000 merely to solicit a bid, then another $2.2 million on the actual marble, because who knows what kind of bargain marble Haines is donating?

Except...

...Haines' marble isn't just any marble. It was cut from the same Yule Quarry where the original gold-veined marble for the Tomb of the Unknowns was mined nearly 80 years ago. The marble on the outside of the Lincoln Memorial also came from that quarry. The tomb replacement piece was cut after a nearly five-year search for an unflawed piece that would look like the original.

The only problem with Haines' marble really does seem to be the fact that he wants to donate it.

"It's not doable. A citizen can't just give us any piece of marble and say, 'This is what we'll use to replace the tomb,' " said Thurman Higginbotham, deputy superintendent of Arlington.

[...]

Meanwhile, the free, room-sized block of marble gracing a hillside near Marble draws some curious tourists who snap pictures in front of it. Haines said if it can't be used for the tomb, he has the option to sell it back to the quarry, where it would be cut up and sold for other projects.

"I understand how the government works," Haines said. "But there comes a point when you just say 'to hell with it.' "

Haines should use the marble to construct a monument to government waste.

Ark. State rout leaves store offering 73% off

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP)—At least one Arkansas State fan would prefer to see his favorite team win a close game this weekend.

Hoppy Hoffman, who owns a store that sells Arkansas State apparel, came up with a new promotion this season: 1 percent off after each home football game for every point the Red Wolves win by.

Then Arkansas State won its home opener 83-10 on Saturday.

“We had a ball with it,” said Hoffman, who owns The Design Shoppe. “It was so much fun yesterday.”

The discount is offered the Monday after each home game, and shoppers might never find cheaper prices than they did after Arkansas State scored more points in a game than any major college football team this decade against Texas Southern.

Combine 73 percent off with the fact that Arkansas State is 2-0 for the first time in 22 years, and business was booming Monday.

“It got crazy. We opened at 9:30. The people who probably got in line by 10 checked out about 1:30,” he said. “When the door opened at 9:30, I know at least 200 people filed in. It was hilarious. … It looked like they were waiting to buy rock concert tickets.”

Arkansas State has four more home games this season, including Saturday against Southern Mississippi. Hoffman is hoping for another win, although perhaps a one-point victory will suffice.

“I think I’m going to go to practice one day and have a chat with my team,” Hoffman said. “Beat ‘em, but don’t run it up on me that bad any more.”

Want amazing powers?

Gotta Love Little Boys

Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter. The man at the counter asked the older boy, Son, how old are you? ' Eight,' the boy replied. The man continued, 'Do you know what these are used for?' The boy replied, 'Not exactly, but they aren't for me. They're for him. He's my brother. He's four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can't do either one.'