Reverse discrimination, and more

Good week for:

Reverse discrimination, after a group of dwarves in China set up a village where nobody taller than 4-foot-3 is allowed. “As small people we are used to being pushed around and exploited by big people,” said resident Fu Tien. “But here there aren’t any big people.”

Praying for your enemies, after the Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian group, started encouraging its supporters to pray for liberal politicians like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi so they are “restored to right thinking.”

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Knowing how to surf, after Chris Nel, a New Zealand surfer enjoying a trip to Samoa, survived the tsunami that washed over the Pacific island by riding out the surge of water on his surfboard.

Bad week for:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, after the London Daily Telegraph found documents indicating that the Iranian president and notorious Holocaust denier has Jewish roots. Ahmadinejad’s family changed its name from Sabourjian, a Jewish name meaning “cloth weaver,” when it converted to Islam after his birth.

Woody Allen, who was frustrated by several uncharacteristically sunny days in London while shooting a scene for his new film. “I hate sunshine,” he said. “It should be raining.”

Ralph Needs, 80, of Groveport, Ohio, whose home was invaded by two men who pistol-whipped him, ransacked his house, and stole his truck. A few days later, Needs was accidentally shot through the hand as his son Steve was teaching him to use a 9 mm handgun to defend himself from future attacks. “Hell,” said Police Chief Gary York, “that would be a bad week.”