There are a lot of great FAQs out there, all helping us understand a little more about the world. Like how to download music or get a passport. Or whether masturbation is OK in the eyes of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, a leading Iraqi Shiite religious authority.
The Ayatollah's FAQ page on sex and morality covers a lot of topics, including banking (I'm not kidding), and I would like to share some with you today on this great day of independence.
Dear Ayatollah: Can we have oral sex?
Ayatollah Says: "Oral sex act is permissible with the consent of both husband and wife provided that no liquid gets into the mouth."
Dear Ayatollah: When I am unable to do Muta’h (temporary marriage), am I allowed to masturbate?
Ayatollah Says: "Masturbation is not permissible under any circumstances."
Dear Ayatollah: Is anal intercourse permissible?
Ayatollah Says: "Anal intercourse is permissible if wife is consenting but it is strongly undesirable (makrooh)."
Dear Ayatollah: I want to ask about mortgage for buying a house\ flat in UK, could we take mortgage for buying a house? Please, explain this issue?
Ayatollah Says: "Taking mortgage with interest is not permissible but you can take the money of the unbelievers with the intention of securing the money (from their hands). Then, if you did not spend the money throughout a year, khums (1/5) would become obligatory and it would no longer be dealt with as loan."
Wow, that was something. Who knew interest loans could be so complicated? And I guess Sistani ain't much of an ass man either. Iraq seems like a fun place and all, but I think I'll stay here.
Other July 4 Links:
No-Hitter Never Ends for Righetti — July 4 marks the 20th anniversary of the former Yankee lefty making Wade Boggs look like a fool en route to no-hitting the Red Sox in 1983. Boggs later became a Yankee and a world champion. (Also see: Sports Illustrated Flashback.)
Three Missing After Texas Fireworks Blast — Explosions destroyed half of a fireworks company's warehouse. I swear I saw this in Police Academy.
1942's United We Stand Campaign — In observation of the first Fourth of July after the U.S. entered World War II, over 500 American magazines adorned their cover with the American flag. A great online exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute.
Meet Philadelphia's Modern-Day Ben Franklin — Life as a Franklin re-enactor sometimes means going on a date in buckle shoes. And you thought you had problems.
Yet one more reason to be grateful I'm an American..
Have a great holiday, and a safe holiday weekend!
Posted by lucy at July 4, 2003 12:14 PM