So, what's with India? First monkeys, now elephants.

[markw]

Is this Mother Nature's revenge?

http://www6.comcast.net/news/article...dia.Elephants/

[JohnMichael]

When in India make sure you do not upset the Hijra.

[markw]

When in India make sure you do not upset the Hijra.

"Becoming a hijra is a process of socialization into a "hijra family" through a relationship characterised as chela "student" to guru "teacher", leading to a gradual assumption of femininity. Stereotypically each guru lives with at least five chelas; her chelas assume her surname and are considered part of his lineage. Chelas are expected to give their income to their guru, who manages the household. Hijra families are close knit communities, which often have their own houses.

This process may culminate in a religious ritual that includes emasculation (total removal of the penis, testes and scrotum in men). Not all hijras undergo emasculation, and the percentage of hijras that are eunuchs is unknown. The operation—referred to by hijras as a nirvan ("rebirth") and carried out by a dai (traditional midwife)—involves removing the penis and scrotum with a knife without anesthesia."

That's not, by any stretch of the imagination, my interpertation of nirvana.

snipped from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_(South_Asia), the "becoming a hijra" section

[JohnMichael]

I think we are learning what will happen if we continue to abuse the earth and it's creatures.

[markw]

I think we are learning what will happen if we continue to abuse the earth and it's creatures.

But when I had my cats fixed I'm sure they used anesthesia.

And, I'll forgo any drunken elephant jokes even though thoughts of my first wife fill my mind and make it difficult.

[GMichael]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!


I am so, so, very sorry that I clicked on this thread.

[audio amateur]

Holy crap that sounds horrible