Screening the mind Saudi Arabia requires certain health screening tests before couples can obtain marriage licenses, though many appear to avoid them. Now, a Saudi princess is suggesting that mental screening tests might also be usefully required. I don't doubt that they would, but I'm not sure that they are totally appropriate if imposed by government. Usually – though imperfectly – in the West and other places, the screening for mental problems is done by the spouse-to-be and his/her own family. With arranged marriages, one of those screeners is excluded to a large extent, but I'd think a family would want to ensure that its child didn't end up in a marriage destined to ruin. – xrdarabia.org Image of Islam Ever since Osama Bin Laden and those who planned and participated in 9/11, Saudis, Islam and Muslims have had to face repercussions which include discrimination, persecution, suspicion, in some cases false charges or allegations and biases. It is pitiful to look at the state of the world and the direction actions seem to be taking. Thanks to the actions of Al-Qaeda operatives and supporters, whether in Yemen, Iraq, or Afghanistan, the image of Muslims and Islam has become grossly distorted, feared and associated with global acts of terrorism which affect Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Instead of prior thoughts and reputation that Islam is a peaceful religion, these so-called Muslims have done a very good job in persuading too many in the world that Islam is the religion of extremes (though these so-called Muslims are thankfully a minority of those who practice Islam as their religion). – americanbedu.com Sarah Palin is back No, she still isn't going away. The New York Times reports that Sarah Palin has finally signed a deal with Fox News, to be a “contributor” and present an “occasional series.” And while this move has been long expected, reporter Jim Rutenberg suggests that it doesn't necessarily mean that Palin has wholly traded politics for show business: “Many suspected that when Ms. Palin retired as the governor of Alaska last summer she was doing so to pursue some sort of career in television. The Fox News deal, however, would not seem to be all-encompassing, and would appear to give her room for other pursuits, as well.” If Palin's platform at Fox News is to launch a future run for political office, it will just be the latest move in a symbiotic relationship between Fox News and conservative politicians. As the Times also reported over the weekend, Fox News chief Roger Ailes has been given a long leash at News Corp while he continues to be an unprecedented money-maker, even as his partisanship antagonizes Rupert Murdoch's heirs. – jezebel.com Business model The first stand is run by two kids. They use Countrytime lemonade, paper cups and a bridge table. It's a decent lemonade stand, one in the long tradition of standard lemonade stands. It costs a dollar to buy a cup, which is a pretty good price, considering you get both the lemonade and the satisfaction of knowing you supported two kids. The other stand is different. The lemonade is free, but there's a big tip jar. When you pull up, the owner of the stand beams as only a proud 11-year-old girl can beam. She takes her time and reaches into a pail filled with ice and lemons. She pulls out a lemon. Slices it. Then she squeezes it with a clever little hand juicer. The whole time that's she's squeezing, she's also talking to you, sharing her insights (and yes, her joy) about the power of lemonade to change your day. It's a beautiful day and she's in no real hurry. Lemonade doesn't hurry, she says. It gets made the right way or not at all. Then she urges you to take a bit less sugar, because it tastes better that way. While you're talking, a dozen people who might have become customers drive on by because it appears to take too long. You don't mind, though, because you're engaged, almost entranced. A few people pull over and wait in line behind you. Finally, once she's done, you put $5 in the jar, because your free lemonade was worth at least twice that. Well, maybe the lemonade itself was worth $3, but you'd happily pay again for the transaction. It touched you. In fact, it changed you. Which entrepreneur do you think has a brighter future? – sethgodin.typepad.com Leno slams NBC In his first show since NBC announced they were pulling the plug on the 10:00 P.M. “Jay Leno Show,” and moving him back to his former 11:35 P.M. slot, Leno didn't hold back. “Welcome to ‘The Jay Leno Show.' As you know, we're not just a show anymore, we are now a collector's item,” he began. Leno went on to slam NBC's decision-making process. “NBC said the show performed exactly as they expected it would and then canceled us. Don't confuse this when we were on at late night and performed better than expected and they canceled us. That was totally different,” “Supposedly we're moving to 11:30. Even this is not for sure. My people are upset. Conan's people are upset. Hey, NBC said it wanted drama at 10:00 -- now they've got it! Everyone's mad,” He ended his monologue with one last insult. “I take pride in one thing. I leave NBC prime time the same way I found it – a complete disaster.”
