You couldn't make it up dept no.26: the first recorded 1000-year-old bishop

1 - from the national Malay news agency Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb. 13 -- Muslims in the country, especially lovers, have been advised not to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow.
State Islam Hadhari Development Committee Deputy Chairman, Muhammad Ramli Nuh said celebrating the Day could be regarded as recognising the enemies of Islam because Valentine or Valentinus took part in planning and attacking Cordoba, once a well-known centre of Islam in Spain, causing its downfall....

Muhammad Ramli said although not many couples celebrate Valentine's Day in the state, the state government wished to remind that the celebration should not be held including in hotels.

2 - St.Valentinus of Interamna (modern Terni, Italy) was, according to his legend, executed by the Emperor Claudius II for insisting in marrying young soldiers against a direct Imperial order. That is why this martyr, commonly confused with the priest St.Valentinus of Rome, is regarded as the patron saint of engaged couples.

3 - Claudius II ruled from 268 to 270AD. Cordoba fell to the Christian king Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236. I have not been able to find any Valentine around him, and I do not believe that the name was in use in Castile at the time. Draw your own conclusions.

You couldn't make it up dept. no.27: no type-casting here!

Well known Malayalam director T. Rajeevnath, scouting for a suitable actress to play the title role in his film on Nobel Peace laureate Mother Teresa, has sent feelers to American actress Paris Hilton.
"My agents in California have contacted Paris Hilton," Rajeevnath told IANS.

The director said he was impressed when he read a report sometime ago in which the hotel heiress said she had refused to pose nude in Playboy magazine and decided then to shortlist her.

The English film will be mostly shot in West Bengal and in several foreign countries.

"The preliminary script has been readied with help from scriptwriter John Paul," the director said.

Rajeevnath, 54, has won a national award for direction, besides quite a few international awards. His popular films include "Moksham", "Janani" and "Thannal".

"Mother Teresa" will be his 11th commercial film and he has already sold this idea to a few international production houses including the US-based First Serve International.

"I am leaving for the US early next month to finalise the producer. A few production houses have evinced interest in producing this film. The budget is expected to be in the range of Rs.500 million ($11.3 million) to Rs.600 million," he said.

"Although there are several actresses willing to play the role of Mother Teresa, the most widely respected and loved person, the history of the actress who is finally chosen for the role would have to be analysed thoroughly before she is chosen," said Rajeevnath.

"All those whom I have contacted have agreed to do their bit to help me in this film. The cast includes Mithun Chakravarthy, Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal and several others. Veteran cameraman Santosh Sivan has also been roped in. The Ramoji Rao Film city has pledged full support for the venture," added the veteran director.

Among the specialties of the film would be the character of former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, whose association with Mother Teresa is well known.

"The proceeds of the film would go to the Missionaries of Charity. By June this year, the groundwork for the film would be complete and I propose to begin shooting in early 2007," said the director.

Rajeevnath expects to get the blessings of the Pope for the film and also hopes to sign in sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar as music director.