Friday, November 14, 2008
This Is Why Organized Religion is Defunct
I swear my grandparents had this print in their apartment
Primarily, Catholicism is an absurd anachronism, a bloated, dying whale, flailing on the beach, an organization that promises the way to God but is, in fact, deterrent in its nature by the inherent structure of hoops and hypocrisy.
Let's look at South Carolina today:
A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."What a fucking douche.
The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.
"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.
This priest is saying that if you support a guy who has an idea that is against the human-fabricated doctrine of the church, then you're just as bad as him.
Lest we forget that Jesus congregated with liars and thieves. His mission was one of love and compassion, not of structure and pomp, circumstance and silk robes. The Catholic church is running a show where very few take seriously their stance on birth control, many support the pro-choice movement, and just about everyone wonders why the phallocentric mastery doesn't whither a little and allow women to be priests. The last pope invoked infallibility, basically saying that God doesn't want women to be priests.
The Catholic church has lost Jesus, and God only lives in the churches because God lives everywhere. If God could put a sign on the Vatican, it would read: "Under Old Management - Salvation now found elsewhere."
Fielding Oral Sex
Today (names have been changed to protect the absurdly under age):
Synopsis: My daughter is in 7th grade and today was the first time I've ever heard her say "blow job."
**shivers**
Little Shambles: There's a rumor going around about Bob and Sally, but I don't think it's true.
Me: Yeah?
LS: Yeah, everyone's talking about it.
Me (throwing out the inevitable): Is it that they're having sex?
LS: No, people are saying Sally gave Bob a blow job and I totally don't think it's true.
Me: Wow. Well remember that if you ever have any questions....
LS: I know, Dad.
Synopsis: My daughter is in 7th grade and today was the first time I've ever heard her say "blow job."
**shivers**
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
My Favorite Painting in Cincinnati
Earlier this year, I visited the Cincinnati Art Museum for the first time in my life. And I fell in love. With this:
The Midnight Mass by Edward Timothy Hurley
Much more impressive in person, this painting struck me. Done all in deep blues with white highlights, a town in silence, covered in snow. That night quiet, every echo and word and scream muffled by the coating of Winter, I felt peace. And quiet. And sadness. Sadness because the only color aside from the blue/white wash was that church window. The only warmth was the parish.
And I didn't want to be there.
I identified myself with the observer, because - obviously - someone had to paint it. Late, alone, in the cold, and outside. I am that guy. Not because I don't like gatherings or don't like church (not that I do), but because I know inherently that I am not one of those people, in the cold, gathered in the church, at midnight. There is much more important work to do.
I just hope Hurley had a friend or two to drink a late glass of wine with while painting this.
No.
A friend to see it afterwords. The painting was created alone. Quietly. With aid of a heavy coat and the padding of snow.
This is not the Grinch hearing the song of the Whos, but reality: no malice, no anger, but a somber realization that sometimes, just sometimes, it's okay to be alone, to be quiet, and to enjoy it.
Love it.
The Midnight Mass by Edward Timothy Hurley
Much more impressive in person, this painting struck me. Done all in deep blues with white highlights, a town in silence, covered in snow. That night quiet, every echo and word and scream muffled by the coating of Winter, I felt peace. And quiet. And sadness. Sadness because the only color aside from the blue/white wash was that church window. The only warmth was the parish.
And I didn't want to be there.
I identified myself with the observer, because - obviously - someone had to paint it. Late, alone, in the cold, and outside. I am that guy. Not because I don't like gatherings or don't like church (not that I do), but because I know inherently that I am not one of those people, in the cold, gathered in the church, at midnight. There is much more important work to do.
I just hope Hurley had a friend or two to drink a late glass of wine with while painting this.
No.
A friend to see it afterwords. The painting was created alone. Quietly. With aid of a heavy coat and the padding of snow.
This is not the Grinch hearing the song of the Whos, but reality: no malice, no anger, but a somber realization that sometimes, just sometimes, it's okay to be alone, to be quiet, and to enjoy it.
Love it.
Disagreeing with Dems - Fairness Takeover
Lest anyone - gods forbid - think I am a left wing mouthpiece, allow me to hit on two things that have been mentioned in the media in the past couple days.
Dems Target Private Retirement Accounts
Holy box of fuck, NO! Stop! I'm the furthest thing from right wing, jizz-clappy, Reagan-idol-worship, but this is not right. Ever. Even if all the money drains from every 401(k): wrong.
You see, when you take the initiative to invest in a retirement plan, you are given all the tools you need to make your choices. If you choose to NOT study up or take more risk than you should, then you're at a loss. If you invest in a low-yield, low risk funds that will weather this storm, you're in luck (honestly, if you're not retiring in the next 10 years, leave everything alone - you'll be back on your feet before you know it, or lose everything when the world ends in 2012).
But the Government does not have the right to take private funds and control them. Does anyone else have any other information on this? I'd like to hear it because the story scares the hell out of me.
The Fairness Doctrine
The right's chattering, the left has mentioned bringing it back. Stop. For the love of the hairy balls of Jesus H. Christ, stop this madness.
The fairness doctrine, for those who do not know, was abolished in 1987 as a way to present controversial issues in a "balanced" manner for anyone who has a broadcast license. After it was gone? Hundreds - nay, thousands - of political talk radio shows have been spawned, most of them polarized.
Right now, the right wingnutters hold the scepter of broadcast talk radio. And that's fine. Why? Two reasons:
So note to democrats: Stop. During this election cycle, the Nazi right pulled a lot of shit to make us sound like government-takeover nutjobs.
Don't prove them right.
Dems Target Private Retirement Accounts
Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts — including 401(k)s and IRAs — and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Administration.
Triggered by the financial crisis the past two months, the hearings reportedly were meant to stem losses incurred by many workers and retirees whose 401(k) and IRA balances have been shrinking rapidly.
Holy box of fuck, NO! Stop! I'm the furthest thing from right wing, jizz-clappy, Reagan-idol-worship, but this is not right. Ever. Even if all the money drains from every 401(k): wrong.
You see, when you take the initiative to invest in a retirement plan, you are given all the tools you need to make your choices. If you choose to NOT study up or take more risk than you should, then you're at a loss. If you invest in a low-yield, low risk funds that will weather this storm, you're in luck (honestly, if you're not retiring in the next 10 years, leave everything alone - you'll be back on your feet before you know it, or lose everything when the world ends in 2012).
But the Government does not have the right to take private funds and control them. Does anyone else have any other information on this? I'd like to hear it because the story scares the hell out of me.
The Fairness Doctrine
The right's chattering, the left has mentioned bringing it back. Stop. For the love of the hairy balls of Jesus H. Christ, stop this madness.
The fairness doctrine, for those who do not know, was abolished in 1987 as a way to present controversial issues in a "balanced" manner for anyone who has a broadcast license. After it was gone? Hundreds - nay, thousands - of political talk radio shows have been spawned, most of them polarized.
Right now, the right wingnutters hold the scepter of broadcast talk radio. And that's fine. Why? Two reasons:
- Would you prefer that political douchebags like Limbaugh and Hannity mask their abject disgust towards democrats and gays and, occasionally, colored folk or allow them to dump their bigotry for all to see?
- Liberals, for the most part, already own the internet. Why? I'm not sure, but it appears that the ingenuity and learning required to become tech-savvy beyond logging onto your AOL email or typing "www.google.com" into MSN's search box eludes these folks. TV is going to go digital and lose millions of viewers to confusion in about 2 months. If that ever happened to radio, goodbye Rush.
So note to democrats: Stop. During this election cycle, the Nazi right pulled a lot of shit to make us sound like government-takeover nutjobs.
Don't prove them right.
Blogging Pause Unpaused - Fam Painting
Looks like I've been out for a couple days here. Time just melts away.
Spent the weekend with my folks who were in town with one of my sisters and my niece. We went across the river to Newport, did some window shopping at the levee, spent way too much at GameWorks - for the kids, of course. Shooting zombies had nothing to do with it. It's like a Dave & Busters, if you're familiar with that franchise, although not as big. But you can still pay $50, convert your credits to tokens, receive tickets as a prize, and purchase $8 of crap for those tickets.
We also spent some time visiting some local restaurants because - seriously - Cincinnati has some damn good eats. We hit the Dilly Cafe (formerly Dilly Deli) and Bella Luna, which will show up on that other blog I manage if I can get my ass in gear to actually write something on it. I've also got to put Seny out there because - damn - that's some maxed-out quality on all levels.
Then the 'rents left and we were left with the big plan: paint. So after a Sunday of prep and Monday and Tuesday of painting, we're done. Painting at least. The saddest part was turning the OMG-My-Parents-Are-Coming pristine cleanliness into a dismantling so we can put it all back together again.
Before/After pictures updated here later today.
[UPDATE: See here for pictures.]
So that's my story. I know. I know. I missed you too.
Spent the weekend with my folks who were in town with one of my sisters and my niece. We went across the river to Newport, did some window shopping at the levee, spent way too much at GameWorks - for the kids, of course. Shooting zombies had nothing to do with it. It's like a Dave & Busters, if you're familiar with that franchise, although not as big. But you can still pay $50, convert your credits to tokens, receive tickets as a prize, and purchase $8 of crap for those tickets.
We also spent some time visiting some local restaurants because - seriously - Cincinnati has some damn good eats. We hit the Dilly Cafe (formerly Dilly Deli) and Bella Luna, which will show up on that other blog I manage if I can get my ass in gear to actually write something on it. I've also got to put Seny out there because - damn - that's some maxed-out quality on all levels.
Then the 'rents left and we were left with the big plan: paint. So after a Sunday of prep and Monday and Tuesday of painting, we're done. Painting at least. The saddest part was turning the OMG-My-Parents-Are-Coming pristine cleanliness into a dismantling so we can put it all back together again.
Before/After pictures updated here later today.
[UPDATE: See here for pictures.]
So that's my story. I know. I know. I missed you too.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The Mountain Goats
You ever find out about something - a show or a band - and wonder how it was that you missed this and begin to question your level of competence when it comes to your understanding of popular culture? (Yes, that would include my post on Little Britain.)
I counter that feeling of complete despair and shame by - instead of burying it deep inside and hiding in the corner of my room in the dark - tearing it wide open for the whole internet to see.
The Mountain Goats - This Year
I would like to thank Dino Stamatopoulos and 44 days of Moral Orel for bringing me to the light.
I counter that feeling of complete despair and shame by - instead of burying it deep inside and hiding in the corner of my room in the dark - tearing it wide open for the whole internet to see.
The Mountain Goats - This Year
I would like to thank Dino Stamatopoulos and 44 days of Moral Orel for bringing me to the light.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
We Did It!
Our 44th President of the United States
I'm elated. Excited. Floating. Tired. Still on the tail end of a mild hangover. After the thrill of yesterday, after an emotional draining, today is a little low, held up by the "pinch me" reality that we got out the word we got involved and for some, they simply got out and voted. America has spoken. And I am proud.
And the rest of the world breathes a sigh of relief that in January, the USA will stop being such a dick.
Speaking of which, Bush had some interesting words of congratulations for Obama:
What an awesome night for you, your family and your supporters.
You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations and go enjoy yourself.
Yes, one of those great journeys of life that we all --wait. I guess it's one of those great journeys of life that only 43 people in the history of the world have gone on? Really; what the hell is he talking about? I will miss that big lug, if only for the comic relief.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Day: Spot the Dirty Tricks
From the Obama Campaign:
Keep your eyes open. Ask questions. Don't accept fleecing. And look out for everyone. Just because it's someone else getting harassed by questionable people doesn't mean you don't need to speak up. Hell, even though I'm not expecting a lot of shenanigans in my polling place, I'm taking a camera and anything odd will get flash-photography. Protect your right and the rights of others.
Ignore the polls and make your voice heard. Vote. If it takes four hours, vote. If you have to get up at 5:30am, vote. If you have to argue or question then get in there, do your battle, and vote!
And, no, I don't care who you are voting for, though I'd hope you'd vote for Obama. But everyone has that right. Every citizen over 18 who is not a felon: VOTE!
Keep your eyes open. Ask questions. Don't accept fleecing. And look out for everyone. Just because it's someone else getting harassed by questionable people doesn't mean you don't need to speak up. Hell, even though I'm not expecting a lot of shenanigans in my polling place, I'm taking a camera and anything odd will get flash-photography. Protect your right and the rights of others.
Ignore the polls and make your voice heard. Vote. If it takes four hours, vote. If you have to get up at 5:30am, vote. If you have to argue or question then get in there, do your battle, and vote!
And, no, I don't care who you are voting for, though I'd hope you'd vote for Obama. But everyone has that right. Every citizen over 18 who is not a felon: VOTE!
Republicans and Blocking the Vote - a Couple Days Early
From this weekend:
To the Republicans: this election is not about partisanship but about facilitating the largest voter turnout in a generation, allowing people to have a voice in unprecedented numbers. Putting up the wall now and on Election Day is exactly the behavior that will knock your ass out of the political arena. This time, there are a lot more people to piss off. And we will notice.
Another day, another Republican attempt at suppressing the vote.Listen to the right wing on the radio, on the television, and they're constantly dismissing any idea that Republicans have any desire to suppress the vote. And then you look at their fucking deplorable actions. They laugh when we say they can be racist and wonder why all the African Americans aren't flocking to the right, yet the voting changes and restrictions and caging and scare tactics overwhelmingly disenfranchise minorities.
Because of the incredible interest and enthusiasm for early voting we're experiencing here in Ohio, Democrats called an official meeting yesterday to extend the hours for early voting in Franklin County [Columbus Area]. But two Republican members of the board -- Doug Preisse and Michael Colley -- refused to show up for the meeting, blocking the effort to help people vote.
To the Republicans: this election is not about partisanship but about facilitating the largest voter turnout in a generation, allowing people to have a voice in unprecedented numbers. Putting up the wall now and on Election Day is exactly the behavior that will knock your ass out of the political arena. This time, there are a lot more people to piss off. And we will notice.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Real Life Parenting - Trannies
Little Shambles: You know X's mom is a lesbian?
Me: Yeah, you kind of told me that twenty times ago.
LS: Her mom's got a boyfriend.
Me: Hu-huh?
LS: He's one of those trans-genders, so he's really a lady.
Me: Uh-huh.
It only hit me later: is he really a male transing to female or a female transing to male?
Either way, it doesn't matter, and I'm kind of proud; my daughter didn't freak the hell out and raise an alarm. She just mentioned it casually. And I guess that makes me proud not just of her but of myself and Mrs. Shambles; we've fostered a open comfort level that allows our daughter to talk about trans-sex individuals without freakout "they're the devil" or other hate language.
Whew! I need a beer. Oh, there you are!
Me: Yeah, you kind of told me that twenty times ago.
LS: Her mom's got a boyfriend.
Me: Hu-huh?
LS: He's one of those trans-genders, so he's really a lady.
Me: Uh-huh.
It only hit me later: is he really a male transing to female or a female transing to male?
Either way, it doesn't matter, and I'm kind of proud; my daughter didn't freak the hell out and raise an alarm. She just mentioned it casually. And I guess that makes me proud not just of her but of myself and Mrs. Shambles; we've fostered a open comfort level that allows our daughter to talk about trans-sex individuals without freakout "they're the devil" or other hate language.
Whew! I need a beer. Oh, there you are!
To: Obama and Democrat Fools
From Flickr via Brent-who-still-refuses-to-start-a-blog:
Joe the Plumber Envy
Click for whole 4x4 experience
Even some of the pickup truck crew for McCain are already conceding the election - but not without unfounded fear and a little pout!
Joe the Plumber Envy
Click for whole 4x4 experience
Even some of the pickup truck crew for McCain are already conceding the election - but not without unfounded fear and a little pout!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Libby Dole: Hatin' n Lyin' on Kay Hagan
Having spent a few years in North Carolina, I almost puked when I saw this video:
Even if I had not spent any time in North Carolina, I would have almost puked.
The implication, obviously, is that Kay Hagan is an atheist and that is her voice at the end of the commercial.
So Hagan asked Dole to pull the offensive ad and Libby said "go pound salt." And now Kay Hagan is filing suit to have the ad forcibly removed: defamation of character, et. al. And good for her. Perhaps she could ad "socking Libby Dole in the kisser" to the resolution of the suit.
When conservatives conflate stories and imply false charges, it's "everything is factual," but if liberals skew the smallest detail: "Absurdist fabulist socialist Marxist Communist Nazi tofu-eating propaganda!"
I cannot wait to see the egg on the face of every Fox News troll next Wednesday.
[Side note: maybe it's the visual or a consistency issue, but the phrase "egg on the face" always reminded me of blowjob aftermath in a cheap porno. Anyone else?]
[Side note 2: did I just only now add hypocrisy as a label? Think it would come up more often...]
Even if I had not spent any time in North Carolina, I would have almost puked.
The implication, obviously, is that Kay Hagan is an atheist and that is her voice at the end of the commercial.
So Hagan asked Dole to pull the offensive ad and Libby said "go pound salt." And now Kay Hagan is filing suit to have the ad forcibly removed: defamation of character, et. al. And good for her. Perhaps she could ad "socking Libby Dole in the kisser" to the resolution of the suit.
When conservatives conflate stories and imply false charges, it's "everything is factual," but if liberals skew the smallest detail: "Absurdist fabulist socialist Marxist Communist Nazi tofu-eating propaganda!"
I cannot wait to see the egg on the face of every Fox News troll next Wednesday.
[Side note: maybe it's the visual or a consistency issue, but the phrase "egg on the face" always reminded me of blowjob aftermath in a cheap porno. Anyone else?]
[Side note 2: did I just only now add hypocrisy as a label? Think it would come up more often...]
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Obamercial = Obama-tastic!
If you missed it or chose not to watch it, do yourself a favor and hit that embedded video below.
It was well-produced, well-balanced, and well-spoken. I'm guessing it brought some folks down off the fence last night. I cannot imagine even the staunchest McCain supporter being at least temporarily aback by the video. Unless they were only half-watching while plotting to kill black people. Then maybe not so much.
It was well-produced, well-balanced, and well-spoken. I'm guessing it brought some folks down off the fence last night. I cannot imagine even the staunchest McCain supporter being at least temporarily aback by the video. Unless they were only half-watching while plotting to kill black people. Then maybe not so much.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Ricky's Wisdom Today, 10/29/08
If humanism were right in declaring that man is born to be happy, he would not be born to die.
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Harvard Address
Palin Horror Pumpkin Show
Holy shit!
Political Pumpkins via C&L.
Did anyone ever see Pumpkin with Christian Ricci? Good damn movie.
Political Pumpkins via C&L.
Did anyone ever see Pumpkin with Christian Ricci? Good damn movie.
6 Days to GO
I think that during the next six days, everyone better hold onto their colostomy bags.
Every bit of filth and fear and fakery will be flowing down the McCain pike as the desperation and desertion set in. McCain/Palin infighting, polls flying in Obama's favor, and this morning: McCain struggling in his home state of Arizona.
Election night will probably require a bottle of Jameson.
I'm already succumbing to a giddy nervousness, an excitement of anticipatory success mixed with a fear that the excitement of anticipatory success will turn to assumption and keep people home next Tuesday.
"I got that 'excited/scared' feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense, it's so - confused. I can't really figure it out."
I saw a clip yesterday with a large bus pulling into an arena with McCain waving, the "Straight Talk Express" sign taped to the front, lest you forget. The bus was moving more slowly than the Popemobile, slower than a man using a walker.
Is this interpretation of the word "express" helping him?
Every bit of filth and fear and fakery will be flowing down the McCain pike as the desperation and desertion set in. McCain/Palin infighting, polls flying in Obama's favor, and this morning: McCain struggling in his home state of Arizona.
Election night will probably require a bottle of Jameson.
I'm already succumbing to a giddy nervousness, an excitement of anticipatory success mixed with a fear that the excitement of anticipatory success will turn to assumption and keep people home next Tuesday.
"I got that 'excited/scared' feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense, it's so - confused. I can't really figure it out."
I saw a clip yesterday with a large bus pulling into an arena with McCain waving, the "Straight Talk Express" sign taped to the front, lest you forget. The bus was moving more slowly than the Popemobile, slower than a man using a walker.
Is this interpretation of the word "express" helping him?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
