Our Honoured Chief Minister

post from Travel in Kelantan on 17 January 2007 10:12:26 PM. © Travel in Kelantan

Tuan Guru Nik Aziz

YAB Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, PAS Mursyidul Am (Spiritual Advisor)

Dato' Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (born 1931 in Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia) is a Malaysian cleric and an opposition politician from Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS). He is currently Kelantan?s PAS commissioner and the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the state.

He pursued his study majoring in Shari'ah (Islamic Law) at Egyptian Al-Azhar University. During the time of his study, he is one of the witnesses and a civilian to lived in the heat of Arab-Israeli Wars.

He survived his administration even under intense pressure politically and economically by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir, who clashed frequently on the role Islam should or should not play in state- and national-level politics in multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia.

He is generally respected as a positive and well-meaning political leader, but has drawn criticism for his expressed views on the necessity of unequivocal application of Islamic shariah law to all facets and levels of society of Muslims.

Despite his position as the head of the Kelantan State, he lives in his small house and leads a very moderate life instead of using an official government residence. Being a prominent figure in the Islamic Party of Malaysia, he receives support from a number of Muslims and non-Muslims in and outside of Kelantan.

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No Pants Subway Ride

post from Going Underground's Blog on 17 January 2007 08:12:58 PM. © Going Underground's Blog

Wish the Tube Fashion Victims would do this

New York's sixth Annual No Pants Subway Ride went off without a hitch on Saturday, where hundreds of people rode the subway with no trousers or skirts.

Look out for a full report of the event which is due to be posted on Improv Everywhere's site. You may be pleased to hear that unlike last year they managed to not get arrested as they had a police escort "as if we were a parade". In 2006 a police officer stopped a train at 59th Street, ordered all the pantless commuters off, and handcuffed eight of them on the platform. A judge later threw out the disorderly conduct charges, noting that it was not illegal to wear underwear in public.

The comdedic commuters, or rather agents, start off slowly with just one or two people getting on the train in boxers or shorts. Then gradually more get on so there's about 30 or 40 people sans kecks. I like Agent Isom's video particularly for the bemused & slightly shifty look of the policeman at the end.

video details and more

The subway fashion victims haven't been let down though, as I was pleased to see one of the agents wearing just a jumper and Uggs.

For more pictures see Chad Nicholson's great Flickr sets and expect to see this on the Tube next year. Although No Pants Tube Ride would have to be translated as something else. Pants doesn't mean trousers or jeans over here and I think it might be illegal to travel without underwear in public. Plus any ride on the Northern Line is generally pants, so that would be too confusing. Any suggestions.......?

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http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-pants-subway-ride.html

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Pic of the Day: What is "I Was on Jeopardy"

post from Gridskipper on 17 January 2007 05:43:29 PM. © Gridskipper

This ol' AK was on Jeopardy, as clearly indicated by the picture his friend is holding over his left shoulder. When I get old, I hope to have a friend who hovers over my shoulder with framed photographic representations of the high points in my life. This photo was taken by Matt O'Sullivan, as was this one.

The Narrative

Previous Pics of the Day: Heartbreak Hotel, Chicago's South Side, Socal Pool Party, C84: Tai Chi, Favela, Photogrammetry, Budget Law Enforcement, Czarist Russia in Full Color, Dust Bowl in Full Color

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9486.php

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Gridskipper Citysong XVI

post from Gridskipper on 17 January 2007 05:42:12 PM. © Gridskipper

Mazel Tov, Elena Vasquez, you guessed correctly (as did the 4 people before you) but you, Vasquez, you won yourself a signed photograph of both Simon and Garfunkel since indeed this photo is of the 59th Street Bridge, the inspiration for the S+G song known as Feelin' Groovy. As always, in this installment of the Gridskipper CItysong Contest please send your guesses for the song/album/artist for whom the above urban monument serves as inspiration to tips@gridskipper.comand you, like young Vasquez, will get a little sumthin sumthin in the mail.

Previous CItysong Contests: Feeling Groovy, San Francisco, Guns Of Brixton, Night Falls on Hoboken, Avenue D, Fujiyama Mama, Barcelona, All I Wanna Do

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Le Papillon (Video)

post from Japan Probe on 17 January 2007 05:40:00 PM. © Japan Probe

Here’s a cool French-produced animated short set in Japan:[From Laboratory 101 via Mari]

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http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=946

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Just Because You're On the Cover of TravelGirl
Doesn't Make You A Covergirl

post from Gridskipper on 17 January 2007 05:20:57 PM. © Gridskipper

We were going to make a ton of jokes and pretend we read this but in fact we haven't. We just saw it on Gadling then went to the Travelgirl website, scrolled down and became appropriately bemused and aghast. The main appeal of the magazine seems to be to be able to pinpoint the travel preferences of such luminaries as Liza Minelli, Paula Zahn and Joan and Melissa Rivers and never ever ever go near them. Sadly that cuts NY and LA off the grid but you gotta do what you gotta do. We'll understand.

Travelgirl

Previously: Thrillist Moves West, How Civilized Are You?, Guardian Gets New Travel Website, BA Hipsters Just Like Us

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girl-doesnt-make-you-a-covergirl-229475.php

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Japan News for January 18, 2007

post from Japan Probe on 17 January 2007 05:00:00 PM. © Japan Probe

Quick links for this morning:The government has decided not to submit proposed legislation aimed at exempting white-collar workers from overtime pay when the new Diet session convenes. “At this juncture, it has not won the public’s understanding,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Tuesday night, alluding to the administration’s fears of a backlash.It has [...]

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http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=945

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Best Use of Double Entendre in Slurpee Bar: This
One

post from Gridskipper on 17 January 2007 04:51:38 PM. © Gridskipper

video details and more

Though Richard is back in town from his Vegas Vacation, he posted this amazing video of the slurpee bar at the craptastic Imperial Palace home of the "Dealatainers," celebrity look-alikes who deal Blackjack. Eh, we'll go for the Chopin and blue balls.

Previously: Porn Star Guides: Andrea, Porn Star Vegas Guide: Stacy, Porn Star Vegas Guides: WHitney

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this-one-229461.php

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Eat'n'Park: Pittsburgh Chain Arouses Smiles,
Bafflement

Though it's true Zagat has as yet to bestow its guidage on Pittsburgh, among the demos general consensus has been that Eat'n'Park is the place to go for reasonably-priced unreasonably-delicious food. And though all's clear on the cuisine front, the name does cause confusion. Eat'n'Park. Eat and Park, like, Eat then Park? Though remaining stationary does aid in digestion, the real story is, slightly, more interesting. Turns out, the group of Pittsburghers behind the drive-in restaurant (originally with carhops!) realized "Park'n' Eat" could not be copyrighted: the ubiquity of such a phrase is comparable to that of "the uncopyrightable drive-thru" today. But, if you just reverse that Eat'n'Park, now that don't make no sense. Now, the restaurants continue to serve customers their unlimited coffee refills and cheap eats, with over 75 locations among three states. Many of them are 24-hour joints, so if you're craving chicken noodle soup, blueberry pancakes, or a rib-eye steak at 3a.m., to Eat'n'Park you go. One of their most popular items is the "Smiley Cookie," a simple iced, round sugar cookie that was recently mocked by a rival diner chain's "frownie." Colors change depending on the current holiday, and since a Steelers football game is akin to Christmas or Independence Day in Pittsburgh, there are often black and gold Smiley cookies available. My favorite, however, is something called "Grilled Stickies," two pieces of cinnamon bread grilled in butter and topped with warm honey sauce, or as my waiter called it, "honey schmear."

Eat 'N' Park

[Alicia Kachmar Photo: Tom Harpel]

Previously: Primanti Bros: The Definition of a Pittsburgh Sandwich, Warhol at the Corcoran, The Church Brew Works: All Restaurant, All Microbrewery, All Pittsburgh, Pegasus Lounge: The Most Fabulous Club In All Of Pittsburgh, The Dirty O, Pitt Tours

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http://gridskipper.com/travel/pittsburgh/eatnpark-pittsburgh-chain-arouses-smiles
-bafflement-229449.php

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What Is A 60's New York Bar Doing in Sao Paulo,
Exactly

Opening, apparently. According to Sampaist Astroenete is a new bar opening up in Sao Paulo with the atmosphere of a "60's New York pub." At first we saw thought lame. Then we took a look at the flier above and our thoughts took on a more cheery expectant note. The Velvet Underground? Bob Dylan? Cool, cool. Sonic Youth? Awesome! Let's see, in the 1960's Thurston Moore would be 2 years old. I bet that kid rocked! Go to Astronete for super cheap beers [R$1.59] to find out. The bar opens this Friday, with free beer for all who enter before midnight, and cheap beer forever more.