Hindu Goddess Born With 4 Legs and 4 Arms

Lakshmi Tatma, a 2 year-old girl born with four arms and four legs is thought to be the reincarnation of the Hindu Goddess Vishnu.


Lakshmi was born joined to a “parasitic twin” and absorbed the undeveloped fetus’ limbs, kidneys and organs when it failed to fully develop still inside the mothers womb.

Children born with deformities are often viewed as reincarnated gods. Lakshmi is no different. She is named after the four-armed Hindu Goddess of wealth Vishnu, and her parents say she is revered in her village.

“Everybody considers her a goddess at our village,” said her father, Shambhu.


Last Wednesday, however, she underwent a 24 hour surgery to give her a normal body.

The surgery went “wonderfully well,” said Dr. Sharan Patil who led a team of more than 30 surgeons at a hospital in the southern city of Bangalore that performed the marathon procedure to remove the child’s extra limbs, salvage her organs and rebuild her pelvis area.

“This girl can now lead as good a life as anyone else,” Patil said.

Lakshmi’s parents, who were expected to see the girl later Wednesday, said they were very relieved.

“It will be great to see our daughter have a normal body,” her father Shambhu said. “We were worried for her future.”

Doctors at Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore estimated the surgery cost US$625,000, but they did it for free because the girl’s family could not afford it.

“We are very grateful to all the doctors for seeing our plight and deciding to help us,” Shambhu said.

December 24th, 2007 under Offbeat News.


T’was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.

Christmas_soldiers
Photo Luodanli

I had come down the chimney,
With presents to give,
And to see just who,
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sober thought,
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary.
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A Canadian soldier.

Was this the hero,
Of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families,
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder,
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve,
In a land far from home.

The very thought brought
A tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened,
And I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry.
This life is my choice.”

“I fight for freedom,
I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God,
My country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave,
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice, soft and pure,
Whispered, “Carry on Santa,
It’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right,
“Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night.”

This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier
stationed overseas.

Please, Christmas is nigh and some credit is due
To our service men and women
For us being able to celebrate these Festivities.

Let’s try in this small way to pay
A tiny bit of what we owe.
Stop …
Think of our heroes, living and dead,
Who sacrificed themselves
For us.

George W. Bush sings REM

Bushend Endworldclown Buseendndn
Here's George W. Bush's marvelous cover of REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." George's vocal stylings remind me of his father's excellent collaboration with Emergency Broadcast Network, the 1991 cover of "We Will Rock You." Link to "End of the World," Link to "We Will Rock You." (Thanks, Vann Hall and David Fox!)

For Sale: Ancient Chinese Demon Gloves

Initially this was explained to me as something elegant Ancient Chinese women used to wear to protect their nails. Of course this is before my girlfriend saw the pictures and after a quick view, she agreed they are indeed Ancient Chinese Demon Gloves.

Rumored to have been cut off the hands of a fierce Warlord who was the son of an evil “Witch”, these gloves have passed from warrior to warrior until they were discovered hidden in a small house outside of Mongolia. Legend says that when these gloves are worn, the owner will have +2 to armor rating…. Yeah Whatever… they are still pretty cool.

Check em out: