Unfortunately, Gandalf escaped....

Here are a couple of links detailing an especially ridiculous situation in our present day world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8598134.stm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121715788&ps=cprs


A TV personality in Saudi Arabia, daring to "predict the future", is accused of sorcery and sentenced to death.

It's almost as if Saudi Arabian authorities are doing The Onion's job for them.

When I read something like this, the cynical part of me is left wondering what sort of awful place Saudi Arabia (where God forbid you open a woman's fitness club) will devolve into once the world could care less about its oil, its main source of income dries up, and the its leaders become poor while its masses stay uneducated and become angry. Oh right, it will probably turn into most of the other parts of the middle east.

On the other hand, the slightly giddy part of me focuses on the concept that a country, in our world, today, in 2010, on earth, actually has a section in its law articles referring to "sorcery", and details it as a crime. In some ways, I must admit, this is actually kinda awesome. (As long as you don't actually live there I mean.)

Here is a picture of Ali Hussain Sibat, a Lebanese man, host of a radio show where he "sometimes predicted the future", who currently stands accused of first degree sorcery:




According to the prosecution this is a photo of Sibat in the studio during a recording session:






It turns out the Saudi Arabians are very good at this sort of thing. According to the CSI Saudi Arabia show (Theme Song: Pinball Wizard) pilot, the crack team struck a deal with the finally captured Merlin - now he works FOR them. (The chemistry between Merlin and the cool-as-ice, besunglassed, one-line maestro team leader is reportedly AWESOME.) With Merlin's help, turns out CSI Saudi Arabia almost always get their man:





Captured at Orthanc








Caught but sacrificed himself rather than be taken alive





Crazy old man thought dead, but reportedly now more powerful than Arabian David Caruso can possibly imagine





Captured, let off on brilliantly played "Enchanter Technicality" defense, now at large





Evaded capture, last seen heading to Gray Havens. (Gwendolyn Brophy found nearby, crying.)