What was once a comedy routine will now be a real part of Janet Reno's run for governor. The former attorney general will hold a "Janet Reno Dance Party" at Level nightclub on Miami's South Beach.
This is frightening, unoriginal, and outdated.
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Monday, July 08, 2002
I had no idea that one of my childhood heroes was still alive! Until May of this year, that is. If only I'd known, remembered, or hadn't put such things behind me, I would've written him to let him know how much his drawings and cartoons meant to me growing up.
There's just so little time to thank people, especially those who meant a lot to you growing up.
There's just so little time to thank people, especially those who meant a lot to you growing up.
Ex-WorldCom head blasted for refusing to testify
I watched/listened-to about three or four hours and I have to say that *all* of the politicians representing us came across as hypocritical, patronitizing, grandstanding jerks.
I watched/listened-to about three or four hours and I have to say that *all* of the politicians representing us came across as hypocritical, patronitizing, grandstanding jerks.
Earth 'will expire by 2050'
There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and World Wildlife Fund studies.
There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and World Wildlife Fund studies.
DigiBono - I always feel like, somebody's waaaatching meee...
Seriously, this site has some pretty cool gadgets from across the pacific. I think my fingers are too big for most of them, though.
Seriously, this site has some pretty cool gadgets from across the pacific. I think my fingers are too big for most of them, though.
Sunday, July 07, 2002
Blarrrrgghhh!! Leave it to MSN (every so often I'll click on one of their headlines because I know it'll anger and frustrate the heck outta me ;) ) to totally wreck a pseudo-non-anti-abstinence article:
One mother I know, “Sandy,” said she sat down with her 13-year-old daughter and all her girlfriends at a sleepover and had the “oral sex” lecture. One irate mother phoned her up the next day to complain that she had no right to discuss sex with her daughter. Sandy said the angry mother who called about her innocent progeny is mistaken; the girl is into seriously sexual behavior. Nevertheless, Sandy did not pass on this information to the mother. She said, “If you want to give out info, you can’t also dole out personal lectures or tattletale. You hope they listen — but you can’t be judge and jury.”
If I knew any parents like "Sandy," who had this sort of ambush sex-talk with my children at a sleepover, I would have them arrested and put on Megan's List (imagine if that paragraph had begun with "one father I know, 'Carl,' said he sat down with his 13-year-old daughter and all her girlfriends and dot-dot-dot,"). Seriously, that reeks of the worst kind of perversion: meddling with the moral development of other people's kids. And what the heck does that mean, "you can't be judge and jury?" No, "Sandy," but you can be, oh, I don't know... a mother.
One mother I know, “Sandy,” said she sat down with her 13-year-old daughter and all her girlfriends at a sleepover and had the “oral sex” lecture. One irate mother phoned her up the next day to complain that she had no right to discuss sex with her daughter. Sandy said the angry mother who called about her innocent progeny is mistaken; the girl is into seriously sexual behavior. Nevertheless, Sandy did not pass on this information to the mother. She said, “If you want to give out info, you can’t also dole out personal lectures or tattletale. You hope they listen — but you can’t be judge and jury.”
If I knew any parents like "Sandy," who had this sort of ambush sex-talk with my children at a sleepover, I would have them arrested and put on Megan's List (imagine if that paragraph had begun with "one father I know, 'Carl,' said he sat down with his 13-year-old daughter and all her girlfriends and dot-dot-dot,"). Seriously, that reeks of the worst kind of perversion: meddling with the moral development of other people's kids. And what the heck does that mean, "you can't be judge and jury?" No, "Sandy," but you can be, oh, I don't know... a mother.
MICHAEL JACKSON ORIGINAL DRAWING OF CHAPLIN.
You know the economy is riding out a downturn when no one even bids on something like this. (Of course the BIN price was 25-large).
Of course, it doesn't promise to turn your bath water into luxurious encasing comfort with just one box.
You know the economy is riding out a downturn when no one even bids on something like this. (Of course the BIN price was 25-large).
Of course, it doesn't promise to turn your bath water into luxurious encasing comfort with just one box.
The Best Blog Ever. This is the first blog I've ever seen (aside from my own) where the blogger just gave up. Too bad it's over.
U.S. quietly OKs fetal stem cell work, harvesting the raw parts of aborted children. I could comment that this is ghoulish, but I think we, as a nation, have lost all concept of the ghoulish. "Distasteful," "Unfortunate," "Regrettable, but necessary," don't count.
More than that, it's already made my novel/screenplay irrelevant.
More than that, it's already made my novel/screenplay irrelevant.
Saturday, July 06, 2002
I must've been the only person on the planet who had never heard of Trey Anastasio (proof: he's already played on the Tonight Show). I still don't know who-all he's played with (Phish, as it turns out -- a band I never really got into, so that explains my ignorance) but his debut solo-album literally singed my wig!! (Well, not literally because I don't have a wig, but it insofar as that expression can be applied to the enjoyment of music -- never mind). It's probably the strongest recording I've heard in the last five years -- all the musicianship of Zappa's greatest bands (without the often disturbing innuendo), it's funky, energetic, tender when it needs to be, and (this is a great compliment for a recording) they know when to lay-it-all-out into a 3-minute solo or supercharged horn/rhythm-section frenzy and when the song just needs to be ended...
Anyway, this album will last for a dozen-years easy. Check it out.
Anyway, this album will last for a dozen-years easy. Check it out.
Friday, July 05, 2002
I don't know if it's proper blogring ettiqu... procedure to blog a blog which belongs to a ring to which you also belong but Blergg Blog is the most refreshing blog I've seen in a loooong time. Awesome: a normal, healthy, 17-year-old anime-fan considering a religious vocation: we need 1,000,000 more like her (well, they don't all have to dig anime, of course -- that could get a little weird)!
So there I am, cruising past the park, which is PACKED with people there to listen to the band. Tons of folks (this being Plymouth, most of them with strollers). I'm blasting my funky jams (courtesy of Mix 92.3 FM, baby!), crusing (note the second 'cruising,' for literary effect) in my Big Ford (not a euphamism), its 4.6L purring, I nod and then I realize that I still have the "Baby's First Years," sunshades with the big outward-facing "Ideas Inspired By Parents!" logo suction-cupped to both rear windows.
Yeah, I'm cool.
Too funny.
Yeah, I'm cool.
Too funny.
Thursday, July 04, 2002
So I've been reading a bunch of these Catholic blogs lately (well today and yesterday) and I think I know what their problem is (not that they have any problem, but if they did indeed have a problem it would be this): I don't know that these folks have enough non-Catholic, non-Christian, anti-Catholic, anti-Christian friends. Heck, I don't have any Catholic friends unless you count Dr. Whalen (whom I haven't seen in... four years?) and my dad. I have exactly one Christian friend who attends that Northridge Monolithic Pluralistic Christian Compound outside of town (I'd *love* to review their financial records sometime). The rest of my friends are either ambigious on the subject of religion (any religion) or violently (well, not so much violently because that implies passion which so many of the anti-religious crowd lack... they've mastered eroticism and angst and a mixture of the two can sometimes pass for passion) anti-religion. So... I'm not really sure where I was going with this... my head still hurts (see below).
Maybe this is a 4th of July thing. Checking my archives I see that I had a bad headache last year on this date (and I also made that same co-dependence day remark last 4th, too).
Maybe this is a 4th of July thing. Checking my archives I see that I had a bad headache last year on this date (and I also made that same co-dependence day remark last 4th, too).
Ugh. The worst possible time to have a bad sinus-induced migraine is on the Fourth of July in Plymouth, MI, where otherwise seemingly-college-educated people turn into explosive-crazed yahoos. This I don't mind so much. What I do mind is that 364 days of the year these people lose that yahoo spirit and just become so many easily-led don't-rock-the-boaters. Oh well.
Inconsiderate motorcycle guy (who is an explosive-crazed yahoo the other 364 days of the year), the one who idles and revs his impossibly loud Harley right outside my baby son's window from 11:30-12:00 at night tried blasting down our residential (read speed limit 25 miles-per-hour) street again tonight and I was outside so I tried my little theory of dashing out into the street in front of him. He slowed down and drove a very respectful speed the rest of the time he was on our block. Take back your streets and your neighborhoods, America!!! People need to be considerate and yet at the same time not completely passive.
Ow ow ow. My head hurts. You know it's bad when the only thing you can think about is Van Morrison's "Moondance," but with different words:
What a lov-e-ly night for a Migraine
My head hurts so much I think it might pop
I've become extremely photo-sen-si-tive
My head hurts so much, Dear Lord make it stop.
Ow ow owwwwww-ow-ow-ow. Ow ow owwwwww-ow-ow-ow.... etc.
Maybe it's a tumor?
Inconsiderate motorcycle guy (who is an explosive-crazed yahoo the other 364 days of the year), the one who idles and revs his impossibly loud Harley right outside my baby son's window from 11:30-12:00 at night tried blasting down our residential (read speed limit 25 miles-per-hour) street again tonight and I was outside so I tried my little theory of dashing out into the street in front of him. He slowed down and drove a very respectful speed the rest of the time he was on our block. Take back your streets and your neighborhoods, America!!! People need to be considerate and yet at the same time not completely passive.
Ow ow ow. My head hurts. You know it's bad when the only thing you can think about is Van Morrison's "Moondance," but with different words:
What a lov-e-ly night for a Migraine
My head hurts so much I think it might pop
I've become extremely photo-sen-si-tive
My head hurts so much, Dear Lord make it stop.
Ow ow owwwwww-ow-ow-ow. Ow ow owwwwww-ow-ow-ow.... etc.
Maybe it's a tumor?
Happy Co-Dependence Day, everyone!!! Think you've got rights? Buy one of these and find out!
(I've got mine! It's really nice -- Amendment IV is highlighted (that's the whole point)! It bends a bit to conform to the shape of one's cheek when put into one's wallet, however. But it does cut one mean tomato!).
(I've got mine! It's really nice -- Amendment IV is highlighted (that's the whole point)! It bends a bit to conform to the shape of one's cheek when put into one's wallet, however. But it does cut one mean tomato!).
Wednesday, July 03, 2002
I've just stumbled through (down into, across?) the rabbit hole and have come across Mark Shea's Weblog. Long a fan of Catholic Exchange I knew it existed, just never bothered to check it out. Shame on me. This is just one tiny arc of the Catholic weblog circuit, of course, which just may instill in me the belief that weblogs are more than just for narcissistic weenies who can't spell (don't judge me!).
It may even engender a newfound interest in doing a weblog and doing it right (might have to activate The Censer or even -- gasp! -- System193.NET!!! More on that to follow).
Well, here's something I was going to post on Voice of theRabble Faithful but they are (perhaps wisely) not accepting new lusers on their message boards.
(I was going to be a lot more vulgar and less-prophetic but they, also wisely, censor their posts).
Change the Church, Lose the Faith
Check this out.
What is the Church? Is the Church a plum, a prize, or a power to be purchased (eg. generally any municipality and its subjects), plundered (eg. Hamburgler and McDonald's Hamburgers), or co-opted (eg. VOTF and the Church) -- the font of Truth which bestows upon those who control it some sort of supernatural authority, Holy underwrit? Or is the Church instead an organism, the most perfect of all organisms: the Body of Christ? Think about this for a moment.
Then consider: the one thing upon which intelligent design theorists and natural selection theorists seem to agree (to this layperson) whether or not as much is stated by them is that when discussing an organism (whether it be an animal, an organ, or an automobile) is that the form or shape of an organism follows or is dependent upon its function.
Now: whether you hold to natural selection theory or intelligent design theory (it is indeed a shame that no evidence could ever be admitted to support either) consider the ogranism which is the Body of Christ. Her present hierarchy, Her form, can then be explained one of two ways: She is either the result of some sort of socio/political natural selection or else She is the the product, the creation of some intelligent designer. Third explanation: She is like unto Jazz and Her form is Art.
So this is very interesting: if She be the result of a process of natural selection, She can only be changed through some sort of overcoming, a Foucaultian power struggle, an existentially violent cage match (if you will). If VOTF is successful in changing the Church, changing Her form through such means, the function of the Church -- rightly called the Faith -- will no longer remain intact. One cannot switch about the structure of all of those incomprehensible doodads underneath the hood of one's automobile or recklessly rearrange or the structure of one's heart or liver and expect any of the above to work. So too: in changing the form of the Church through co-opting Her teachings or Her earthly power one will instead distort, malform, and otherwise render inoperable the Faith. Your mission will have failed, the Faith will have been lost.
But now, consider the alternative : that Her form, The Church, Christ's Body, is the product of some intelligent design. Now: consider the Deisgner.
Now think: could anyone who attempts to violate and warp the form set forth by the Designer Himself ever really hope to succeed?
ps. IMHO -- It seems a bit presumtive for ANY organization to refer to themselves as the Voice Of The Faithful (implying that apart from their agenda the faithful have no voice). Perhaps VOTMR (Voice Of The Misguided Rabble) would be a monniker more apt?
Update: Maybe VOTF is too easy of a target? Maybe so if they didn't appear to be so heavily funded and have so many members.
It may even engender a newfound interest in doing a weblog and doing it right (might have to activate The Censer or even -- gasp! -- System193.NET!!! More on that to follow).
Well, here's something I was going to post on Voice of the
(I was going to be a lot more vulgar and less-prophetic but they, also wisely, censor their posts).
Change the Church, Lose the Faith
Check this out.
What is the Church? Is the Church a plum, a prize, or a power to be purchased (eg. generally any municipality and its subjects), plundered (eg. Hamburgler and McDonald's Hamburgers), or co-opted (eg. VOTF and the Church) -- the font of Truth which bestows upon those who control it some sort of supernatural authority, Holy underwrit? Or is the Church instead an organism, the most perfect of all organisms: the Body of Christ? Think about this for a moment.
Then consider: the one thing upon which intelligent design theorists and natural selection theorists seem to agree (to this layperson) whether or not as much is stated by them is that when discussing an organism (whether it be an animal, an organ, or an automobile) is that the form or shape of an organism follows or is dependent upon its function.
Now: whether you hold to natural selection theory or intelligent design theory (it is indeed a shame that no evidence could ever be admitted to support either) consider the ogranism which is the Body of Christ. Her present hierarchy, Her form, can then be explained one of two ways: She is either the result of some sort of socio/political natural selection or else She is the the product, the creation of some intelligent designer. Third explanation: She is like unto Jazz and Her form is Art.
So this is very interesting: if She be the result of a process of natural selection, She can only be changed through some sort of overcoming, a Foucaultian power struggle, an existentially violent cage match (if you will). If VOTF is successful in changing the Church, changing Her form through such means, the function of the Church -- rightly called the Faith -- will no longer remain intact. One cannot switch about the structure of all of those incomprehensible doodads underneath the hood of one's automobile or recklessly rearrange or the structure of one's heart or liver and expect any of the above to work. So too: in changing the form of the Church through co-opting Her teachings or Her earthly power one will instead distort, malform, and otherwise render inoperable the Faith. Your mission will have failed, the Faith will have been lost.
But now, consider the alternative : that Her form, The Church, Christ's Body, is the product of some intelligent design. Now: consider the Deisgner.
Now think: could anyone who attempts to violate and warp the form set forth by the Designer Himself ever really hope to succeed?
ps. IMHO -- It seems a bit presumtive for ANY organization to refer to themselves as the Voice Of The Faithful (implying that apart from their agenda the faithful have no voice). Perhaps VOTMR (Voice Of The Misguided Rabble) would be a monniker more apt?
Update: Maybe VOTF is too easy of a target? Maybe so if they didn't appear to be so heavily funded and have so many members.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
No blog updates in 20 days!!!
And I realize that there are some people checking this page from time to time -- to all of you I apologize for not updating this thing on a more regular basis.
I just haven't had much to say, lately... not much which would interest anyone (this is in itself, I realize, not very interesting).
But stick around... the ol' creative bean will start to churn and tick once again.
And I realize that there are some people checking this page from time to time -- to all of you I apologize for not updating this thing on a more regular basis.
I just haven't had much to say, lately... not much which would interest anyone (this is in itself, I realize, not very interesting).
But stick around... the ol' creative bean will start to churn and tick once again.
Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Friday, May 24, 2002
The Best Movie Review I've Ever Read... and you don't have to even read the second part. This is high-larious.. because it's so darn true.
Sunday, May 12, 2002
Families of 11 dead illegals to sue U.S.
"The families of 11 immigrants who died illegally crossing into Arizona from Mexico have filed a $41 million claim against two federal agencies, saying the government's refusal to put water out in the desert contributed to the migrants' deaths.
....
"Attorneys for survivors of the deceased said that U.S. Border Patrol policies had shut down more populous portions of the Arizona border and forced illegal aliens to enter through more remote areas."
"The families of 11 immigrants who died illegally crossing into Arizona from Mexico have filed a $41 million claim against two federal agencies, saying the government's refusal to put water out in the desert contributed to the migrants' deaths.
....
"Attorneys for survivors of the deceased said that U.S. Border Patrol policies had shut down more populous portions of the Arizona border and forced illegal aliens to enter through more remote areas."
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
Full Text of Note Left With Mail Bombs
I'm here to help you realize/ understand that you will live
no matter what! It is up to you people to open your hearts
and minds. There is no such thing as death. The people I've
dismissed from this reality are not at all dead.
This is crap.
I'm here to help you realize/ understand that you will live
no matter what! It is up to you people to open your hearts
and minds. There is no such thing as death. The people I've
dismissed from this reality are not at all dead.
This is crap.
Sunday, May 05, 2002
Well, well, well... by my watch it's been quite some time since I've posted here. For those of you keeping score, I'm working on a screenplay adaptation of my novel, reworking large portions of it to make it a much more worthy screen story. I wholeheartedly recommend the book "Story," by McKee (forgot his first name, sorry) to anyone even considering writing a screenplay -- even if you're just doing it as an intellectual exercise, as I am.
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
HMFC Calculator
Probably one of the best Auto-financing slide rules (actual slide-rule!) I've seen yet.
Probably one of the best Auto-financing slide rules (actual slide-rule!) I've seen yet.
Monday, April 15, 2002
Districts cracking down Drug look-alikes will be treated as real drugs, officials say
"Several area school districts want to make it perfectly clear: Substances
that look like drugs will be treated the same as the real stuff.
"That practice recently came into sharp focus when 19 fifth-graders and
one third-grader from Northwest Elementary School in Howell were
suspended for either manufacturing, using, selling or distributing a mixture
of grape Kool-Aid, strawberry Jell-O and sugar packaged in plastic bags."
Manufacturing, using, selling, or distributing KOOL-AID?!?! And for this they ruin some poor kid's academic career at age 8?!
This drug paranoia thing has gone too far.
"Several area school districts want to make it perfectly clear: Substances
that look like drugs will be treated the same as the real stuff.
"That practice recently came into sharp focus when 19 fifth-graders and
one third-grader from Northwest Elementary School in Howell were
suspended for either manufacturing, using, selling or distributing a mixture
of grape Kool-Aid, strawberry Jell-O and sugar packaged in plastic bags."
Manufacturing, using, selling, or distributing KOOL-AID?!?! And for this they ruin some poor kid's academic career at age 8?!
This drug paranoia thing has gone too far.
Sunday, April 14, 2002
EWTN News Story
The plot/theme of my second novel or first or second screenplay is starting to gel...
The plot/theme of my second novel or first or second screenplay is starting to gel...
Croatian Glagolitic Script
Interesting: in the 13th c. the Croats were the only people (in the Roman Church, I assume) given dispensation by Pope Innocent IV to use a language other than Latin in their sacred liturgies: that language was Glagolitic.
I'm listening to Janacek's Glagolitic Mass and was wondering what Glagolitic was. It is very cool script.
Interesting: in the 13th c. the Croats were the only people (in the Roman Church, I assume) given dispensation by Pope Innocent IV to use a language other than Latin in their sacred liturgies: that language was Glagolitic.
I'm listening to Janacek's Glagolitic Mass and was wondering what Glagolitic was. It is very cool script.
Monday, April 08, 2002
Lesbians: We made our baby deaf on purpose
How to make your children hate you: make them deaf on purpose.
How to make your children hate you: make them deaf on purpose.
Thursday, April 04, 2002
One thing I find a little off-putting is when parents teach their small children "tricks," to look cute at parties or whatever. I was at a party a few years ago and this 2-year-old had been trained to do the dance from Rose Royce's "Car Wash." I found it very disturbing. If you want to teach something cute tricks, get a monkey.
I don't think my parents ever taught me any tricks. I think they respected that I was a separate and distinct human individual with all of the dignity associated with that. They did help me buy magic tricks from the Ann Arbor Magic Shoppe (run by Ann Arbor Magician Daryl Hurst, and located only about 2 miles from my house at the Fox Village Shopping Center -- this was back before such things were called "strip malls,").
Anyway, there's no gaurantee that I would never do such a thing to my own children ("'Xander, recite the first 11 lines of the Aeneid in latin, placing proper emphasis on each of the dactyls!") but at least I'm off to a good start: even little kids, you have to let them be.
I don't think my parents ever taught me any tricks. I think they respected that I was a separate and distinct human individual with all of the dignity associated with that. They did help me buy magic tricks from the Ann Arbor Magic Shoppe (run by Ann Arbor Magician Daryl Hurst, and located only about 2 miles from my house at the Fox Village Shopping Center -- this was back before such things were called "strip malls,").
Anyway, there's no gaurantee that I would never do such a thing to my own children ("'Xander, recite the first 11 lines of the Aeneid in latin, placing proper emphasis on each of the dactyls!") but at least I'm off to a good start: even little kids, you have to let them be.
Wednesday, April 03, 2002
In exactly 30 days (one month, 'cause it's April), I will have been blogging for exactly one year. Perhaps that would be an opportune time to hang it up for good? My commmittment to blogging (as much as it ever was a committment) really has fallen off in the past three months.
Not to worry, though... Perhaps The Censer will bow within the next month or two.
Not to worry, though... Perhaps The Censer will bow within the next month or two.
CATHOLIC LEAGUE for Religious and Civil Rights
The best evidence suggests that the rate of priest pedophilia is about the same as found among the clergy of other religions. It runs
between 2 and 5 percent. The rate in the general adult population is 8 percent. Given this data it is not easy to demonstrate that
celibacy is the problem. Indeed, the Anglican dioceses in British Columbia are going bankrupt because so many ministers can?t keep
their hands to themselves. And these men are married.
The best evidence suggests that the rate of priest pedophilia is about the same as found among the clergy of other religions. It runs
between 2 and 5 percent. The rate in the general adult population is 8 percent. Given this data it is not easy to demonstrate that
celibacy is the problem. Indeed, the Anglican dioceses in British Columbia are going bankrupt because so many ministers can?t keep
their hands to themselves. And these men are married.
Sunday, March 31, 2002
A married priesthood won't end the priest shortage
A very nice article by the wife of a former protestant minister.
A very nice article by the wife of a former protestant minister.
Thursday, March 28, 2002
Welcome to Leeps.Com
Despite its grand size, the Bemis Paramont is designed to fit snugly on standard or elongated toilet bowls--and accommodate all sizes of users, from little lads to dainty ladies to large linebackers. That's because the seat opening is the same as a conventional toilet seat; just the outside diameter is bigger.The Bemis Paramont offers a sleek, contemporary ergonomic design for maximum comfort.
Despite its grand size, the Bemis Paramont is designed to fit snugly on standard or elongated toilet bowls--and accommodate all sizes of users, from little lads to dainty ladies to large linebackers. That's because the seat opening is the same as a conventional toilet seat; just the outside diameter is bigger.The Bemis Paramont offers a sleek, contemporary ergonomic design for maximum comfort.
Monday, March 25, 2002
Sunday, March 24, 2002
The Battle Of The Golden Spurs
July 11 will be the 700th anniversary of the war for Flemish independence from the French. Must find a suitable way to celebrate... maybe a party?
July 11 will be the 700th anniversary of the war for Flemish independence from the French. Must find a suitable way to celebrate... maybe a party?
I was 7 when ET came out the first time. I don't remember if I cried or not, but I do remember that the younger kid in our daycare group peed all over our daycare mom while watching the movie. I guess that might've summed up my thoughts on the movie, too.
I was happy to have the opportunity, though, and very happy that our daycare mom took us!
I was happy to have the opportunity, though, and very happy that our daycare mom took us!
The Doctor Is In
Listen to Dr. Ray's 03/20/02 broadcast, the first 15 minutes, to hear a nice take on celibacy (pro), in light of the recent priestly scandals.
Listen to Dr. Ray's 03/20/02 broadcast, the first 15 minutes, to hear a nice take on celibacy (pro), in light of the recent priestly scandals.
Friday, March 22, 2002
The truth about Granholm
The real priestly scandal is that she's a parishoner at a Church here in town, and the clergy has yet to my knowledge to publicly admonish her for holding such anti-Catholic views and at the same time conisdering herself to be a Catholic.
The real priestly scandal is that she's a parishoner at a Church here in town, and the clergy has yet to my knowledge to publicly admonish her for holding such anti-Catholic views and at the same time conisdering herself to be a Catholic.
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
GameSpot: Video Games News: Controversial Shadow Man: 2econd Coming advertising campaign
Only in the UK... if I were a dead person and my relatives did something like this to my headstone I'd be pretty upset.
Only in the UK... if I were a dead person and my relatives did something like this to my headstone I'd be pretty upset.
Monday, March 18, 2002
Sunday, March 17, 2002
Seriously, there doesn't seem to be any reason now why childless couples shouldn't be able to sue the makers of the abortificant, artificial estrogen pills. I don't suppose there's any reason, either, why they shouldn't be able to sue those who use the pills, either, for contaminating the water supply and pissing us into extinction.
Anyway, here's something I wrote up last month:
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
PRO-LIFE ZEALOTS SMEAR, BUT PP ACCEPTS TRANSGENDERED FISH
As pro-life zealots aggressively and maliciously attacked the weakest and
most ostracized members of the aquatic community this Thursday with yet
another anti-woman, Taliban-esque rally ("CAVIAR EMPTOR -- Why do our male
fish have eggs?") members of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America,
rallied to defend the rights of those fish who have elected to exercise
their rights in exploring their true and unhindered sexuality.
"Merely by urinating into their toilets," states Gloria Feldt, President
of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, "American women are providing
an unprecidented opportunity for our nation's fish: an opportunity to be
free to be the fish they feel they were meant to be. Be they one fish, two
fish, red fish, or blue fish, our acquatic friends are now able to explore
their sexuality in ways unimaginable just a generation ago."
"Walter Cod, or 'Wendy,' as we call her now," says Feldt holding up a jar
containing one of PP's success stories, "is now free to choose her mates
from any of the other fish in her pond -- the way nature intended -- not
just from a select few based on some arbitrary 'gender.'"
Feldt indicates with a pointer the eggs growing on what had previously
been Wendy Cod's testes. "Manhood coming into womanhood. Look at that.
Isn't that beautiful?"
In order to increase the rate at which Walter/Wendy's lifestyle choice may
be available to other members of the lake-and-river-dwelling community,
Coca-Cola and drug-maker Organon have generously agreed to provide
pre-teen and teenage girls at the nation's public schools with
complimentary two-liter bottles of Surge and a course of
estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives.
"We're asking our sisters to think globally and act locally," Feldt
concludes. "Sure, a lot of people may feel that the idea of their urine
actually causing fish to mutate is something, well, icky, but we're asking
everyone to go beyond themselves and think of those exploited and
ostracized members of our community without voices -- or lungs for that
matter."
***
Anyway, here's something I wrote up last month:
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
PRO-LIFE ZEALOTS SMEAR, BUT PP ACCEPTS TRANSGENDERED FISH
As pro-life zealots aggressively and maliciously attacked the weakest and
most ostracized members of the aquatic community this Thursday with yet
another anti-woman, Taliban-esque rally ("CAVIAR EMPTOR -- Why do our male
fish have eggs?") members of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America,
rallied to defend the rights of those fish who have elected to exercise
their rights in exploring their true and unhindered sexuality.
"Merely by urinating into their toilets," states Gloria Feldt, President
of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, "American women are providing
an unprecidented opportunity for our nation's fish: an opportunity to be
free to be the fish they feel they were meant to be. Be they one fish, two
fish, red fish, or blue fish, our acquatic friends are now able to explore
their sexuality in ways unimaginable just a generation ago."
"Walter Cod, or 'Wendy,' as we call her now," says Feldt holding up a jar
containing one of PP's success stories, "is now free to choose her mates
from any of the other fish in her pond -- the way nature intended -- not
just from a select few based on some arbitrary 'gender.'"
Feldt indicates with a pointer the eggs growing on what had previously
been Wendy Cod's testes. "Manhood coming into womanhood. Look at that.
Isn't that beautiful?"
In order to increase the rate at which Walter/Wendy's lifestyle choice may
be available to other members of the lake-and-river-dwelling community,
Coca-Cola and drug-maker Organon have generously agreed to provide
pre-teen and teenage girls at the nation's public schools with
complimentary two-liter bottles of Surge and a course of
estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives.
"We're asking our sisters to think globally and act locally," Feldt
concludes. "Sure, a lot of people may feel that the idea of their urine
actually causing fish to mutate is something, well, icky, but we're asking
everyone to go beyond themselves and think of those exploited and
ostracized members of our community without voices -- or lungs for that
matter."
***
Independent News
Okay, everyone doubted me when I blogged something similar to this a month or more ago. Well, here's a "real," news report for you which says pretty much the same thing:
"Furthermore, an investigation by the BBC's Countryfile and The Independent on Sunday has revealed research, to be published this month, that shows that artificial oestrogens, used in contraceptive pills and emitted through sewage works, appear to be changing the sex of half the fish in Britain's lowland rivers.
"Scientists and environmentalists fear that the powerful chemicals are getting into drinking water and affecting human fertility. One third of Britain's drinking water comes from rivers; most of it is taken from below sewage works."
Okay, everyone doubted me when I blogged something similar to this a month or more ago. Well, here's a "real," news report for you which says pretty much the same thing:
"Furthermore, an investigation by the BBC's Countryfile and The Independent on Sunday has revealed research, to be published this month, that shows that artificial oestrogens, used in contraceptive pills and emitted through sewage works, appear to be changing the sex of half the fish in Britain's lowland rivers.
"Scientists and environmentalists fear that the powerful chemicals are getting into drinking water and affecting human fertility. One third of Britain's drinking water comes from rivers; most of it is taken from below sewage works."
Saturday, March 16, 2002
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
So now that Rachel's read my novel, that's one vote in favor of not letting it collect dust. Apprently the characterizations are quite good. This is terrible. If it just outright sucked, I could let it die, but since there might be something to it, well, I feel obligated to do something with it. So we'll start this week with Regnery and go from there, I guess.
Sunday, March 10, 2002
UN Issues Report on Declining Fertility, Populations
So the UN has finally woken up to this. However it may already be too late to counteract the lie-oft-repeated of the anti-Human ZPG crowd. Human beings must be the only animal so deluded that they are capable of making themselves extinct.
Have more babies!!!
So the UN has finally woken up to this. However it may already be too late to counteract the lie-oft-repeated of the anti-Human ZPG crowd. Human beings must be the only animal so deluded that they are capable of making themselves extinct.
Have more babies!!!
Saturday, March 09, 2002
We just watched A.I. And while it's an easy movie to hate (for any number of reasons) it has to be admitted that it's an outstanding piece of filmanship. It's very well-crafted, well-executed (except for the last 20 minutes, which was crap: "Now that your dad and older brother aren't here, you can be happy all day with Mommy!" Hel-lo! Paging Dr. Freud!), and well... I don't know yet if I hate it or not. I probably won't be watching it over and over again. Not, that is, unless they release a director's cut with more Teddy! And why do I feel Dr. Know will be given his own trivia game on CD-ROM? It just has to happen....
Anyway, it's encouraging (well, more amusing or entertaining) to see Mr. Speilburg try to wrestle with questions of eternity, questions (it seems) with which he's realising more and more frequently (judging from his films) he's been ill-equipped to cope.
Anyway, it's encouraging (well, more amusing or entertaining) to see Mr. Speilburg try to wrestle with questions of eternity, questions (it seems) with which he's realising more and more frequently (judging from his films) he's been ill-equipped to cope.
Friday, March 08, 2002
Friday Five
These are from that Smattering.org blog thing.
1. What makes you homesick?
I haven't left home for any reason in about two-and-a-half years. If I had to leave home now (meaning my wife and son) I would miss kissing both of them very very much.
2. Where is "home" for you? Is it where you are living now, or somewhere else (ie: Mom & Dad's house, particular state/city)?
Our house in Plymouth, MI. Up until about a year ago, it would still be considered to be my parents' house, but now Plymouth is my home. Yay, Plymouth!
3. What makes it home for you? People? Things?
cf. #1 above: my wife and son. Also, my Nintendo GameCube lives there.
4. Where is the furthest you've been from home, miles-wise?
4653 miles (7488 km) (4043 nautical miles). That's the distance from Ann Arbor, MI, to Rome, Italy.
5. What are your plans for this weekend?
So, what? Do we just assume everyone's weekend begins on Friday and ends on Sunday? Well, we're seeing my friend Rachel, from College, tomorrow. And we haven't seen her in years. I guess that counts :)
These are from that Smattering.org blog thing.
1. What makes you homesick?
I haven't left home for any reason in about two-and-a-half years. If I had to leave home now (meaning my wife and son) I would miss kissing both of them very very much.
2. Where is "home" for you? Is it where you are living now, or somewhere else (ie: Mom & Dad's house, particular state/city)?
Our house in Plymouth, MI. Up until about a year ago, it would still be considered to be my parents' house, but now Plymouth is my home. Yay, Plymouth!
3. What makes it home for you? People? Things?
cf. #1 above: my wife and son. Also, my Nintendo GameCube lives there.
4. Where is the furthest you've been from home, miles-wise?
4653 miles (7488 km) (4043 nautical miles). That's the distance from Ann Arbor, MI, to Rome, Italy.
5. What are your plans for this weekend?
So, what? Do we just assume everyone's weekend begins on Friday and ends on Sunday? Well, we're seeing my friend Rachel, from College, tomorrow. And we haven't seen her in years. I guess that counts :)
So last night, for the first time, I went to the Catholic Men's Group over at Domino's Farms. Now, I'm not a very big "group," person (and my own personal ideal Catholic Men's Group would undoubtedly have as its model the old order of the Knights Templar), but it was actually quite an enjoyable time. There were about 80-100 men there ranging in age from just a little younger than myself to folks in their mid-50s or 60s. The discussion after Mass was "Holy Sex," a talk by Gregory Popcak, whom I'd seen on TV and heard on the radio (despite the fact that his show comes on the air at the inconveniently early hour of 9am). Anyway, his comments on "Holy Sex," aka. Real Sex, which is to say the sexual act un-robbed of its unitive and procreative qualities weren't anything I hadn't already figured out over the past few years (chiefly by reading, folks!!!), and I did appreciate his comments on what passes for sex to most people these days, eroticism. Afterwards I asked him if, since the hot, new topic for Catholics these days, Theology of the Body, seems to borrow its language heavily from the 20th-century continental phenomenlogist existentialists (cf. Merleau-Ponty and our current pope -- Carol Wojtyla was and is no slouch as an existentialist philosopher and playwright!) and eroticism seems to be heavily rooted in a sort of Anglo-Saxon puritanism, if this new wave of body-oriented theology can't be seen as sort of a reclamation -- at least in this country -- of Catholicisms more continental flavoring from the largely puritan culture. He seemed interested in that, but since he is a licensed psychotherapist, I suppose he's gotten pretty good at seeming interested in a number of things ;)
Anyway, I don't expect anyone to be convinced of anything from my brief post here. I'll be expanding on this topic, hopefully, once I get some time. But then, there's the new album I want to do, and the screen adaptation of the novel -- and all of this has to wait until I clean up the basement and the computer room here, which I suppose I can do, now that the baby's asleep -- so it may be a while coming.
Anyway, I don't expect anyone to be convinced of anything from my brief post here. I'll be expanding on this topic, hopefully, once I get some time. But then, there's the new album I want to do, and the screen adaptation of the novel -- and all of this has to wait until I clean up the basement and the computer room here, which I suppose I can do, now that the baby's asleep -- so it may be a while coming.
Got a very helpful and considerate reply to my post immediately previous to this one. Thank you, Jocelyn!!!
I'll look into putting up some sort of comments section straight away. Okay, that was actually quite easy! But now Blogger has gone all wonky and won't let me update my template. Soon. There. Fixed.
I'll look into putting up some sort of comments section straight away. Okay, that was actually quite easy! But now Blogger has gone all wonky and won't let me update my template. Soon. There. Fixed.
Thursday, March 07, 2002
Suddenly the whole idea of a weblog is offensive to me. Perhaps it is its unilogical format, there's no opportunity for dialgoue. If you don't like something I've written here (or if I don't like what I read someplace else) there's nothing to do but to fume -- there's no discussion. I think weblogging has become so popular in certain circles by and large because all of those people share the same ideological (or should that be idiotic?) outlook. They read and agree and are smug and satisfied that they've found another independent-thinker who agrees with them.
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
Tuesday, March 05, 2002
Last night's Angel episode was, I think, the darkest single hour ever for either that show or Buffy, The Vampire (s)Layer. It was quite good. Just the first three minutes were enough to give me nightmares, what with the woman with the posessed, freaky face. Bleah! It's too bad we probably need to wait three months now to see what happens: does Wes live (obviously)? What becomes of Holtz and Connor? We shall have to wait and see.
Friday, March 01, 2002
Well, unlike some people, I personally don't hate music. And I think more public servants should break out into song, more often. For example, during the Clinton years we could've heard:
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all those flames,
The burning children that you hear,
Are really nothing, dear,
And please, ignore all those flames.
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all that blood,
That dead mother and her child,
Our actions here were mild,
And please, ignore all that blood.
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all the guns,
We're just here for Elian,
Just hand him over, we'll be gone!
And please, ignore all that blood."
(Sung by Janet Reno, a contrabasse, if ever there was one).
Or how about:
"Is.
Two little letters,
One big meaning to hide behind.
What's your definition?
Excuse my prediliction,
For the truth just now excapes my mind.
"Is.
Two delicious little letters,
Sex is just something that you define,
Two consenting grown-ups,
Can't believe how this got blown-up,
Now excuse me while I lie my ass off and perjure myself, costing the taxpayers of this country millions, and oh, I'm threatened with impeachement (see aformentioned perjury under oath), so let me bomb the hell out of of Bosnia to draw attention away from my crimes. Boop-boop-de-doop."
(That was Bill Clinton, in case you couldn't tell, and he would probably have a better song, but it's not like I have all the time in the world to work on my weblog).
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all those flames,
The burning children that you hear,
Are really nothing, dear,
And please, ignore all those flames.
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all that blood,
That dead mother and her child,
Our actions here were mild,
And please, ignore all that blood.
"Don't call it a raid,
Please ignore all the guns,
We're just here for Elian,
Just hand him over, we'll be gone!
And please, ignore all that blood."
(Sung by Janet Reno, a contrabasse, if ever there was one).
Or how about:
"Is.
Two little letters,
One big meaning to hide behind.
What's your definition?
Excuse my prediliction,
For the truth just now excapes my mind.
"Is.
Two delicious little letters,
Sex is just something that you define,
Two consenting grown-ups,
Can't believe how this got blown-up,
Now excuse me while I lie my ass off and perjure myself, costing the taxpayers of this country millions, and oh, I'm threatened with impeachement (see aformentioned perjury under oath), so let me bomb the hell out of of Bosnia to draw attention away from my crimes. Boop-boop-de-doop."
(That was Bill Clinton, in case you couldn't tell, and he would probably have a better song, but it's not like I have all the time in the world to work on my weblog).
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Ashcroft Sings!
He actually has a pretty good voice, and he wrote the song himself, so I have to respect it.
He actually has a pretty good voice, and he wrote the song himself, so I have to respect it.
Monday, February 25, 2002
Operation on Fetus's Heart Valve Called a 'Science Fiction' Success
Seems like an awful lot of trouble and expense to go through to save an "unfeeling, unviable blob of tissue."
Or maybe it's that your own fetus can be either a child or a blob of tissue depending on whatever you happen to believe, which entails that the reality is somehow dependent upon your personal belief, which is pretty much the same thing as being delusional.
And what's the theory in economics called which states that what a person says they believe is not as important as what they demonstrate that they believe by how they spend their limited resources?
Seems like an awful lot of trouble and expense to go through to save an "unfeeling, unviable blob of tissue."
Or maybe it's that your own fetus can be either a child or a blob of tissue depending on whatever you happen to believe, which entails that the reality is somehow dependent upon your personal belief, which is pretty much the same thing as being delusional.
And what's the theory in economics called which states that what a person says they believe is not as important as what they demonstrate that they believe by how they spend their limited resources?
Sunday, February 24, 2002
George W. Bush, Movie Star
I really have to see this documentary when it comes out. It sounds hilarious!
I really have to see this documentary when it comes out. It sounds hilarious!
Sunday, February 17, 2002
As a long-time muppet fan, the creature archives here is just amazing! Be sure to click on the archives button. Does anyone actually remember Angus McGonagle, the Gargling Argyle Gargoyle? And they even have special behind-the-scenes facts for each one!
(Oh, and I KNEW that Dr. Teeth was based on Dr. John, so there!)
(Oh, and I KNEW that Dr. Teeth was based on Dr. John, so there!)
Trio Mocoto - These guys rock and I found their new album, oddly enough, on the Barnes and Noble listening station (they've pretty much turned the entire record section into a huge listening station). Anyway, they rock.
Am very sad to hear about Kevin Smith, though.
Am very sad to hear about Kevin Smith, though.
"Did I just walk into The Twilight Zone, or did Hollywood just release a post-9/11 film featuring an immaculately uniformed and decorated police chief as a bad guy, and a gun-wielding, hostage-taking terrorist as the hero?"
DecentFilms.com review of "John Q."
Hoo! This one is so good. Mr. Greydanus is in rare form!
'But not to Shawn Hatosy (Down to You), a racist jerk who’s there to make John look more heroic, and to give him someone to beat up. Accompanying Racist Jerk is a skimpily dressed young woman who’s broken her arm, supposedly in a car crash, though it seems apparent to everyone that Racist Jerk is a batterer. Sooner or later Jerk tries to take John out, but the fight ends with Jerk on the floor and his suddenly liberated girlfriend kicking Jerk in the groin — a move that prompts Funny Black Man to whistle admiringly, “All that a-- and muscles, too!”'
DecentFilms.com review of "John Q."
Hoo! This one is so good. Mr. Greydanus is in rare form!
'But not to Shawn Hatosy (Down to You), a racist jerk who’s there to make John look more heroic, and to give him someone to beat up. Accompanying Racist Jerk is a skimpily dressed young woman who’s broken her arm, supposedly in a car crash, though it seems apparent to everyone that Racist Jerk is a batterer. Sooner or later Jerk tries to take John out, but the fight ends with Jerk on the floor and his suddenly liberated girlfriend kicking Jerk in the groin — a move that prompts Funny Black Man to whistle admiringly, “All that a-- and muscles, too!”'
Friday, February 15, 2002
Hey! Slant Review (good job, Jane!!!) has been published (online) and my article's in it! Read about how I found and lost the Funk. I usually don't do that sort of whole self-revelatory essay genre thing, but in this case it was kind of fun!
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
Monday, February 11, 2002
Alan Keyes may sound like a muppet, but I really like the guy and his opinions.
"At every stage the divorce of sex from marriage, and of marriage from children the initial preoccupation with self paves the way for an unpleasant surprise when the inescapable needs of the other finally present themselves. And the most dangerous moment comes when the young spouse or parent first realizes that these relationships do not provide immediate pleasure, but rather the prospect of years of dutiful labor for another."
Hear, Hear!
"At every stage the divorce of sex from marriage, and of marriage from children the initial preoccupation with self paves the way for an unpleasant surprise when the inescapable needs of the other finally present themselves. And the most dangerous moment comes when the young spouse or parent first realizes that these relationships do not provide immediate pleasure, but rather the prospect of years of dutiful labor for another."
Hear, Hear!
Sunday, February 10, 2002
They found that the most frequent diagnoses were
cerebral palsy, developmental delay, congenital
malformation, mental retardation, chromosomal
aberration, and behavioral disorders.
cerebral palsy, developmental delay, congenital
malformation, mental retardation, chromosomal
aberration, and behavioral disorders.
Thursday, February 07, 2002
Wednesday, February 06, 2002
This rocked. An interview between Terry Gross and Gene Simmons goes horribly well. Of course the pansies at NPR won't put it on their website... and here we thought they liked being cutting-edge and extreme. But Gene Simmons wouldn't roll over for them like Alfred Molina did, that's for sure.
Pinhead protest prevails / Their man Zippy returns to comic page
This protest alone would've been reason enough to visit San Francisco... and I don't say that sort of thing that often ;)
This protest alone would've been reason enough to visit San Francisco... and I don't say that sort of thing that often ;)
Sunday, February 03, 2002
They've been running a marathon of the Abbot and Costello meet the monsters movies on AMC this past month, and the one thing that strikes me most is that even though both Abbot and Costello's characters in each movie had different names (like Mike Weatherstone and Charles Featherweight, or whatever) they still called each other Lou and Bud and Costello and Abbot in every movie.
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
Guardian Unlimited Observer | International | Is human evolution finally over?
The fact that such a controversy exists, and neither side is provable, only reinforces the opinoin that the theory of evolution is just that: a theory.
The fact that such a controversy exists, and neither side is provable, only reinforces the opinoin that the theory of evolution is just that: a theory.
University of Manitoba's Estrogen Study
So it appears that the environmentalists have created a bit of a predicament for themselves: they want to limit the human population to protect the environment, but the very birth-control pills they push on us may be wiping out entire fish populations.
And this may seem a little harsh, but it's for our own good: I suppose we need to ask ourselves two questions:
[Edited for content]
So it appears that the environmentalists have created a bit of a predicament for themselves: they want to limit the human population to protect the environment, but the very birth-control pills they push on us may be wiping out entire fish populations.
And this may seem a little harsh, but it's for our own good: I suppose we need to ask ourselves two questions:
[Edited for content]
Excreted Drugs: Something Looks Fishy: Science News Online, June 17, 2000
So basically, hormones excreted from birth-control users have turned male fish in our streams into female fish (cuasing eggs to grow in their testes).
Since these hormones also find their way into our drinking water, just think about what effect this is having on human males and our fertility.
So basically, hormones excreted from birth-control users have turned male fish in our streams into female fish (cuasing eggs to grow in their testes).
Since these hormones also find their way into our drinking water, just think about what effect this is having on human males and our fertility.
Our Stolen Future: Fish feminization is widespread
A story about how the birth-control pills you take are wiping out entire fish populations.
There was also an official report issued by the Canadian Fish and Wildlife Deptartment. I'll try to dig that one up.
A story about how the birth-control pills you take are wiping out entire fish populations.
There was also an official report issued by the Canadian Fish and Wildlife Deptartment. I'll try to dig that one up.
Communities Against Toxics - ToxCat Index
A very interesting site with reports by a UK toxics watchdog group.
A very interesting site with reports by a UK toxics watchdog group.
Friday, February 01, 2002
Our power and heat left us at 10am Thursday morning (when the neighbors' tree fell over on the power line) and we've had no heat or power since then. Anyway, we lost most of our fish. I just spent an hour draining out 50-degree water and pouring in 80-degree water in an attempt to keep the remaining two tetra and angel fish alive. We lost the clown loach, the three cardinal tetra, and Spock, our Plecostimus we'd had for nearly three years. I buried him in the yard and flushed the rest.
Poor Spock. He didn't deserve to go like this, freezing to death because someone couldn't be bothered to chop down a tree that'd been dead for two years.
Poor Spock. He didn't deserve to go like this, freezing to death because someone couldn't be bothered to chop down a tree that'd been dead for two years.
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