d00d, like, this is proof that we are all under mind control.
Nobody wants to own a TI-99 anymore!
I really want to meet the guy that writes these wacko essays. Of course, I might just believe his idea that the (c) copyright symbol symbolizes Satan's evil and corrupt power.
OK, last post for the evening. I haven't surfed in a lonnnng time, and it's just amazing what kind of crap you can find. Weeeee!
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 30, 2004,
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This world is full of self-righteous, egocentric people who use religion to peddle their personal perspectives. Is it something I can do anything about? Probably not (except perhaps for burning out the part of my brain that notices this behavior). Time and tide have proven that there's no use in trying to shove reality in the face of a bedazzled trooper for christ. People believe what they want to believe. Until they hear the next Big Thing, of course. Or until their 'signs and wonders' kick them in the butt.
"Global Warming is a sign of the end times." "No, wait, Global Warming is a myth; it isn't true." "Wait, Global Warming will be GOOD for everybody; after all, God gave us DOMINION over the Earth."
Tonight, I was trying to find a place to donate for disaster relief via PayPal, as I have a few bucks in my account. But it seems I will have to wait for my paycheck to be wired first, because all I can find are goofy Christian organizations putting PayPal buttons all over their web sites and forums.
Ran into this blog quite by accident. It's a Christian community that is offering a way for Christians to support the Disaster Relief efforts through a Christian service. I suppose this is fine. Whatever it takes for these hung-up people to reach for their wallets. After all, they have christian dating services, christian yoga, christian DVD rentals, christian night clubs, christian death metal, christian action figures for your child's christian playtime, christian toilet paper for your christian sphincter.. (ok, I'm getting a little out of hand here). Kind of reminds me of Amway a bit, but of course all of the profits go to the Lord and you can recruit anybody, really. And nothing beats an Amway rally like a good, old fasioned revival.
If you want your compassion for starving, homeless and lonely people to go with a little "accept you at the door, reject you at the altar," then feel free to look up as many Christian (especially evangelical) organizations as you can. I'm sure they'll put your jesus money to good use.
You may think I don't like Christians much. Well, there are so very few real Christians in the world. I really appreciate those people. They don't preach; they don't reject you at the altar; they don't hire big guys to keep the gays out of their churches. They don't lobby against whole sections of society that have different kinds of relationships. They don't justify beating their wives and children with certain Old Testament bible verses. They realize that compassion is the greatest gift of all, and that Jesus himself taught that 'loving thy neighbor' is perhaps the greatest thing a person can do. They do their best at being non-judgmental, kind, accommodating to everyone. You might have met one or two in your lifetime in the guise of grandparents or friendly old fellows that don't talk much.
It's amazing how many Christians actually volunteer for Unicef, the Red Cross, the larger, more capable organizations who will get your money into action much more quickly than your Pat Robertsons of the world. And the Red Cross isn't going to pinch a penny for Jesus. So get out there like a capable person instead of a bloody Amway pyramid christian taskforce.
(bubble bubble)
Ok. So I'm soapboxing a bit. Well, it's fun sometimes to get crazy and hot-headed. And it's safer here than in some geek forum.
A little theological coaching is what I need.
Open this page in a separate web browser, and follow me down the page.
Evon: No more gifts to the American Red Cross from me and no gifts to the International Red Cross which allows the Red Crescent but not the Star of David.
That's a fairly uneducated perspective. One could assume that the 700 Club is the only news source for this person. It might help to realize that the Star of David is a symbol of the Jewish Faith (it's called Judaism). It's also called a HEXAGRAM, or the Seal of Solomon (you know, that guy that had hundreds of wives but is still an important Christian figurehead), which is used widely in Ceremonial Magick and in Freemasonry. And the Golden Dawn, a secret society from the 19th and early 20th Century, used it fairly consistently as well.
This ridiculous website purports that it the most wicked, and one of the most powerful, of all symbols in witchcraft.
It is used to call forth demons into this dimension, to communicate with the dead, to describe sex acts, and to represent false and pagan gods such as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. [Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated , Dr. Cathy Burns, p. 39]
Educate yourself so that you can recognize their "plan" for the New World Order -- Kingdom of Antichrist -- in the daily news.
Our next lesson might well be to discern propaganda from other useful works of text. But that's for another post.
To make matters worse, if one would just read this article on the website for the IFRC, they clearly state that the symbols they adopted (more than a hundred years ago) have no religious significance at all. But to try and accommodate the Israeli and Eritrea societies, they have proposed a solution to the 'conflict' that religious sensitives have faced in dealing with these symbols. Though the world's energy might be better spent in helping people, not in worrying about whether one's symbol of faith is being used on the arms of an International (non-religious) taskforce, at least they are trying to do the 'right' thing and calm people's asses down. That's a lot more than what can be said of these ultra-sensitive religious types who find themselves particularly offended by insignificant and illigitimate things.
Of course, some people won't be happy until they use a proper Christian cross, or maybe a nascar logo. Wouldn't that be grand?
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 30, 2004,
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I meant to post this as well:
I've been using the APEX cheapo DVD/CD/MP3 hybrid player for about 1.5 years now. It's a great thing, because they usually only cost about 40 bucks, and they play everything (well, except for DVD+R and anything outside of Regions 0 and 1).
It seems that the chairman of Apex Digital was arrested for not paying some money back to a company it was dealing with. Quite a bit of money, too, by the look of it. Hopefully this won't mean the end for my favorite cheapo brand, but if it does, I'm sure someone else will take the reins.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 30, 2004,
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Got my water paid, waiting for the bastards to turn it back on. Called them today, the nice city worker fellow on the other end of the phone said, "You have to call to get your service restored, even after you pay for it." I told him, "Funny, the nice little christmas present of a notice you gave me didn't mention that anywhere. But I happen to be calling at the moment, so let's just get it done."
Anyway, decent chap. Got things done without a bitchfest, unlike so many other city workers I've dealt with. I should have a water meter by the end of the day, which means our 3 dogs, 3 birds, 2 rats and army of guinea pigs will not die of thirst. Merry Fucking Christmas, City of Tulsa. (ah, the technician is here now!).
I know I didn't pay my bill on time; it's been kinda tough, lately. Financially, emotionally, all around just plain tough. But they're still bastards; they shut it off on Christmas Eve, the day my wife's grandmother died. They never work with me on the phone, and their management must be trained by the devil himself to be so unreasonable. I wish I could buy my water from someone else besides the city.
About donating to Disaster Relief:
If everyone reading this donates what they can, I will be so very proud of you all. Go here to learn the best ways to contribute. Payday is tomorrow for me, and you bet I'll be contributing everything I can. I'm absolutely broke right now, and it's been pretty tough for us as well, but nothing like what these people are going through. The survivors deserve the world's attention and utmost compassion.
News on the whole bittorrent/lokitorrent/suprnova/exeem thing:
Apparently, Lokitorrents is raising money to help support legal costs associated with fighting back against the MPAA. Their argument is that the torrent system is valid, like any other information network, and that we wouldn't shut down the US highway system just because the drug smugglers are using the same roads. Pretty good point, I might add.
We need to take these insidious greedy fucks by the balls as a unified people. Most folks don't realize what sort of trouble they are in when they let big corporately-funded organizations like the MPAA and the RIAA lobby for restrictive, culture-devouring bills to be passed. Did you know that the RIAA is trying to get a bill passed to effectively ban all recording devices? Apparently, it will even make answering machines virtually illegal. I doubt it will pass, but they have enough money so that they never have to give up until it does pass. When I find the facts, I will post them, bur at the moment this is heresay (though I don't doubt its accuracy, considering the extremes the bastards have taken in the past).
If you have any money to donate, however, the folks in Southeast Asia need it a lot more right now. I'm sure the MPAA vs. Lokitorrents suit will go on for some time, but these folks suffering after the tsunami really need help now.
On a side note, Michael Jay Rossi (President of InternetMovies.com) is asking the US Supreme Court to review the case "Rossi vs. MPAA" for the wrongful shutdown of his site. Read about it here.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 30, 2004,
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As a little aside, before I retire....
I was posting in another blog, and I started thinking about my own craving for spicy foods (not extreme, mind you. I don't eat whole Wasabi balls in one go).
Apparently, eating hot stuff may clear your sinuses for a bit, but in the end they actually irritate and inflate sinuses even further, resulting in a longer bout of phlegmatic problems.
Spicy foods actually prolong allergic reactions. As well as iced beverages, apparently. http://www.ent-consult.com/faq.html. I've heard this from doctors before, but didn't believe them (probably because I'm a curry addict).
Here's another article you might want to read; it's also documented:
http://www.askmen.com/sports/foodcourt_60/74_eating_well.html
Just something to chew on next time you're sitting over a steaming plate of Vindaloo or (one of my faves) Blazing Noodle at Pei Wei.
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, December 29, 2004,
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What a fantastic memorial service. Everything was simply perfect. While I never really knew my wife's grandmother very well (she lost most of her abilities to communicate normally after a bad fall about 10 years ago), she was the anchor that pulled me feetfirst into this wonderful family. I was her daytime professional caregiver for sometime (inbetween jobs), and the experience changed my life in many ways. I will always be grateful for such loving, caring, and accomodating people.
That said, I really missed my own parents this Christmas holiday. My mother and I got in a little tiff during our vacation trip. It wasn't worth being an isolationist, though, so I hope everybody snaps out of their awkwardness and moves on to better things.
Back to work tomorrow, and I'm really not looking forward to it. I just don't feel like dealing with people after such a long, exhausting day. I've never been a pallbearer before, and it really felt good to be involved in that intimate way. I also spoke during the service a little; it was somewhat awkward, but I did ok. My wife opted to write her thoughts down instead, because she didn't want to cry so openly in front of so many people. That's fine, too.
The whole thing has really got me thinking about my own life, how I've affected people along the way, how ingrained my spiritual quest has become (to the point where I simply don't notice it as being something other than breathing and sleeping, really). I've also been focusing more energy into making softer music, taking it easy and walking a bit more to keep my body feeling good. I've been taking meal replacements twice a day, mainly to save money but ultimately the complete vitamins, protein and minerals have increased my sense of 'living,' as opposed to just getting by on what little energy reserves fast food and peanuts will provide.
Alas, I still have no working DVD burner, and I'm already feeling the withdrawals. I have so much data to archive it isn't funny. And video to transfer. Heck, I might as well just take a break from heavy computing for a few weeks, try to get back into reading (I've got lots more Patchen to cover before I'm through), writing poetry again, that sort of thing. If I've only got a finite time to catch these thoughts on paper and in my journal, I'd better get to it, eh? Think I'll try to post less political soap-box bullshit and focus more on my real life. That's always infinitely more interesting, though our current batch of world leaders is more than enough to growl about.
yadda yadda yadda. I think it's about time for bed. No need to pad this out any further today.
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, December 29, 2004,
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I love The Nation. Sure, some of their columnists are stark raving lefty lunatics (like me), but no apologetics here. It's basically an open forum, and it's amazing how sensible this 'left-wing' magazine can be. It's a shame that all of the big bookstores around Tulsa stopped carrying them earlier this year. Those store managers probably saw too many offensive slogans on the covers, too much criticism of the President, too much anti-war sentiment. Isn't censorship just fucking grand? (hint, Borders and Barnes & Noble)
Yesterday's article by Robert Scheer (contributing editor and columnist for the LA Times) pretty much sums up my view on the kind of leadership we now have in this country, and how sedaded we have become in the face of all this violence.
from A Devil's Island for Our Times
"The President who apparently authorized a global reign of prisoner torture in the "war on terror" is our own elected leader, not a convenient caricature of a foreign dictator. The military and legal systems that have looked the other way are our own.
"Unfortunately, we look more and more like our enemies every day. On an island invaded, sabotaged and barred from US trade and even tourism in the name of spreading our version of democracy, we have erected a massive torture chamber any deranged dictator would envy."
So put that in your christmas stocking and give it to your kids.
On a more personal note, today is my wife's grandmother's funeral, and I'm one of the pallbearers. We get to dress up in itchy little suits and walk through the gravestones. I truly believe that it will be a joyous occasion in the end, because 94 years is a wonderfully long life and something to be celebrated! Of course, it's really tough when someone moves on, no matter how old, but I have a feeling this experience will enrich people's lives and become a spiritual awakening for some. For all philosophy is founded on the idea of death; what we must do to truly live and the nature of our being. Without death, there would be no philosopy, spirutuality, not like we have it today. It's a celebration of life AND death, because it's all the same thing in the end. A complete circle.
Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life.
John Muir
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, December 29, 2004,
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Ipod you pod we all want an ipod.
12/28/2004
I know, this is lame. But I want an iPod.
If you want to help, sign up here (you have to use this link for me to get credit), follow the instructions and maybe I'll get one.
I am probably the world's biggest loser now, but right now I'm too dazzled by materiality to have any sort of guilt. Damn my eerie soul to the flaming pits o' hell!
Cheers.
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, December 28, 2004,
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RIAA Radar
We stumble today across an interesting and useful tool, the RIAA Radar. It's a database of albums that are released by labesl who support the infamous RIAA (or music police).
The RIAA stands for Recording Industry Association of America. What's so big about the RIAA, you might ask? Well, if you were one of the 7,000+ individuals sued for downloading MP3s, then you'll know why. If you are Negativland, then you know them intimately.
They are a lobbying group composed of hundreds of labels, the main five being Sony, Time-Warner, Universal/Polygram, BMG, and EMI. They exist supposedly to protect music from piracy (among other shady greedy purposes). This includes the use of sampling, something they are particularly evil about. They sue artists, labels, and CD pressing plants for releasing music with 'uncleared' samples on them (bits of other peoples' work put together in a new way, such as a collage or a simply shout-out to pop culture).
Labels that support the RIAA are supporting a twisted empire of corporate interest. Found-sound artists, hip hop artists, top-40 artists all use samples in their music, just as a collage artist will use bits of old magazines to make new things. The RIAA want to preserve our culture only for the wealthy industries who wish to own everything and continue to make more money on the very CULTURE we are creating.
The RIAA Radar helps you find music that isn't being released by labels who support the RIAA. In their own words:
"Just the highlights of the RIAA's practices involve price-fixing, blaming its poor financial state on unfounded digital piracy claims (and in turn, blaming and suing its own consumers), lobbying for changes that hinder technological innovation and change copyright laws, underpaying the artists it represents, invading personal privacy to enforce copyrights, and dismantling entire computer networks just because of their ability (of their users) to share copyrighted files."
I love this kind of stuff. Really, why aren't more people involved in this? Check it out.
Someday soon, I'll post my "RIAA: Music Police" Tee-Shirts and see how well they sell.
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, December 28, 2004,
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Some novachild-ish riffs of the latest genre programming:
From SciFi:
"Johansson Takes To The Island"
OK, problem. It's already been done in a rather horrible, cheap '70s movie called "Parts: The Clonus Horror." It was stupid, low-budget, and I just adored it. It was subsequently hacked and heckled by our favorite riffers on Mystery Science Theater 3000. So hopefully the copyright owners are aware of this and have taken measures to silence the original creators of this idea (please?).
Of course, I'll take Tim Donnelly, Dick Sargent and Keenan Wynn over Sean Bean and Steve Buscemi any day, if only because they're funnier to watch! A perfect beer night movie if I've ever seen one.
Whedon To Helm Wonder?
I like Buffy. I love Angel. And Firefly was spectacular (what we saw of it, of course). But I don't like this idea. Wonder Woman is simply lame. Of course, it was the grrrl power answer to Superman, but still. I'd rather see Whedon do some bigger, more important things.
I know, I'm posting pointless drivel today. But it's just a journal, after all, and I've spent so much time on political bullshit lately that I've forgotten that I can have a little bit of fun every now and then.
A friend (who has a 38th Birthday today - Happy Birthday!) posted this on a discussion list I'm subscribed to, and what follows is my response. Hint: might help to know that the sf series "Doctor Who" features a main character that can regenerate into a new actor every few years.
> What do you think, troops? Who should the BBC, or Fox, or whoever,
> hire to play your next regeneration?
> Who could get the part right?
Good question.
If Anthony Perkins were alive and well, he might just be able to pull off a slightly nuttier, less restrained Bruce.
But celebrities are celebrities, and I'd rather regenerate into someone important, to be honest. Perhaps all of my shortcomings could be eradicated in the process, and I can regenerate into someone like the Dalai Lama. Or Ralph Waldo Emerson. Or Walt Whitman. Somebody with a real grasp on what is important in life. While it would be great to have financial independence and a starving public audience to devour my every phrase, I would rather spend my first regeneration pursuing all of the things I fell short of the first time round.
posted by novachild @ Monday, December 27, 2004,
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Iraq: Has Rumsfeld Gone Mad? Says 'Iraqi's must defeat insurgency'
I would say probably yes. But he didn't have to go very far - The medicine cabinet or the beer cooler.
posted by novachild @ Monday, December 27, 2004,
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More pain for your evening:
"We have to protect people"
'President Bush wants 'pro-homosexual' drama banned. Gary Taylor meets the politician in charge of making it happen.'
And this is for all those people who say it's ok to support sweatshop labor, often citing the opinion that the pay at a sweatshop goes a long way in some 3rd world countries. Maybe it does go a long way, but it's still exploitation, friends. Reserve your opinions for a time when you have to work every day, 100 hours a week with no benefits, no maternity leave, and no overtime pay. When you're ready to do that, then feel free to whine.
For more information, facts, campaign alerts, go see the National Labor Committee web site.
I'm broke, but if anybody wants to donate money to help those suffering from the big earthquake, go here:
Indian Red Cross
Sri Lanka Red Cross
Thai Red Cross
Indonesian Red Cross
When I can scrape some cash together, I'll be giving as much as I can.
posted by novachild @ Sunday, December 26, 2004,
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Cd burner died. Haven't had it for a year, and it just stops working. Shit.
Water got shut off because we forgot to pay the bill before we went on vacation. And thanks to vacation and xmas, I'm broke. So no baths (at home) until next payday. Shit shit shit.
Most devastating is the death of my wife's grandmother, who was 94 when she passed gently in the night on Christmas Eve. It was her time, for sure, and she lived a long and experience-filled life, but it's always hard to let go of people you love. I was her daytime caregiver for awhile; it was my job, but really more than that. It was my introduction to this family that I have now surrounded myself with, married into, become a part of. And there is a lot of pain going on at the moment. And I don't want to do anything but sit here and stare.
And listen to old records on my Technics SL-D202. I've got Vangelis spinning right now, "Opera Sauvage," a nice, moody, simple thing to get my mind out and away from the normal complexities. Just 3 seconds of Autechre and I was about to put my head through the monitor.
My prayers and thoughs go out to the victims of the great earthquake in Southeast Asia. It's a season for tragedy, and I honestly don't know how much more pain and anguish this planet earth is going to be able to bear. I guess it will all work itself out in the end, but in the meantime we just trudge through the swamps of pain, hoping for a glimpse of beauty.
Now, it's off to get the latest details on the funeral, catch a bite to eat, and probably a reinstall of XP.
posted by novachild @ Sunday, December 26, 2004,
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Moody Xmas eve for me; wife's grandmother passed away just before 7:00 PM. We were all close to her in different ways, and now we all say our farewells.
Also, finished a draft of a new song:
http://www.novachild.com/audio/novachild/mp3/122404_TheQuietEarth.mp3
Enjoy. It's a mellow tune.
Happy Holidays.
posted by novachild @ Saturday, December 25, 2004,
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Christmas during Wartime
12/23/2004
Something is happening. It's almost Christmas.
A bloody war is wiping out thousands of human lives. Limbs are severed by shrapnel. Lives are put out like candle flame. Children scream in the darkness as their parents die in the streets. A building, far away, is on fire, and there are people inside clawing at the walls to get out. Bombs erupt. Flames consume them, tanks roll over them. Soldiers kill and torture. Death everywhere. Shit.
We are lining up at the shopping malls to spend hard-earned money on relatives and friends. What gift will cost the least but mean the most? Such hard decisions as the cost of living rises and pay and benefits dwindle. We bend over for Uncle Sam while the Bushites carry our bound-and-gagged, half-dead whimpering body into the bowels of hell to serve penance.
My car only gets 23 miles to the gallon in the city, just under 30 on the highway going 65. It's a little too cramped for extended journeys in the back seat, we've discovered, but Disney is more than worth the trip. I love music, so I keep a plentiful supply of CDs within arm's reach.
The vision of Walt Disney provides hope to the lost and the lonely. Stick to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, folks, and avoid Toontown unless you have 3-year-olds. Everything that's happened since Walt's demise has been subpar, except for bits here and there. You have to sit through a 10-minute Kodak commercial to enjoy the spectacular 3D movie "Honey I Shrunk the Audience." What kind of crap is that? I want my money back, nearly.
The tree isn't perfect this year. We haven't hung the ornaments yet, and I'm too tired after a day's work to get involved. My CD isn't selling very well. Probably because I haven't tried to promote it much. Because I haven't had time, and because I'm a little depressed. I can't just run out in front of the murderering warmongers and tell them to stop. They wouldn't listen.
And the mailman keeps skipping my house for some reason, even though I have mail to go out. I only received four christmas cards this year, but they were great cards and I appreciate them.
A city is on fire, and there is nothing I can do but accept it.
I hop off the ride and onto the moving platform, carefully stepping up to the exit ramp. Outside, the light of day. Outside, food and drink and sustenance and hot coffee and beauty. Inside, burning cinders, death and destruction. I've been on this ride far too long. It's time to get off, cool down, try something new. Something positive.
Too many soap suds around this soapbox, anyhow. Hard to see what's going on.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 23, 2004,
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Too Much Disney, Too Little Time
12/18/2004
Our Xmas vacation to Disney World has ended, and I couldn't be more happy (only because me feet are killing me). EPCOT truly does stand for Every Person Comes Out Tired. Imagine four straight days from 8:00 am to about 11:00 PM just walking around non-stop. I think I probably lost 10 lbs this week!
Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable trip and I couldn't ask for a better Xmas present to ourselves. Unfortunately, we must forego xmas for everyone else, as we are nearly completely broke until next payday. One meal away from a revolution.
Will post more later, when I actually get to my PC. Must rest, and drive a bit down the road. I probably have months of extensive monologues about this trip, but I don't really want to think about them right now! Just sleep, and hope that tomorrow's journey will be as smooth as this high-speed internet connection is.
Cheers!
posted by novachild @ Saturday, December 18, 2004,
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My View on Religion in General
12/09/2004
I suppose my opinion can be summed up this way:
People who take responsibility for their own actions and show compassion are the true saints. Nobody is perfect, and 'God' does not favor one over another.
Religions are designed to alleviate the effects of negative thinking without dealing directly with the mind. It's like taking a pill to get rid of a headache, then banging your head against a rock over and over and wondering why your head still hurts.
Religionserves its purpose for those that are truly suffering. Alanon for the soul, if you will. A half-way house, a resting spot, a learning place, but ultimately it's only one footstep in the journey of life and can never be the end of the journey.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 09, 2004,
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Hallelujah. Boys, Girls, it's time for our Bible lesson for today. Get out your b-i-b-l-e and turn to Ezekiel 9:5-6.
"And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and woman: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house."
This means, boys and girls, that we must all be good little Christians and kill everybody that doesn't believe in the Lord. The Bible sets the moral standard, and we must abide. Surely!
Now, please turn with me to Second Samuel 12:11 for a very important lesson.
"This said the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun."
And here's a nice lovely heartwarming little verse to recite to your parents after today's valuable Sunday School lesson:
"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." (Hosea 13:16)
One final thought before prayer time. Really chew on this one, now. It'll change your life.
"Behold with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day." (II Chronicles 21:14-15)
Praise Jesus. Now let's bow our heads for some prayer, and after that we'll have some delicious milk and cookies! Dear Heavenly Father...
Really, seriously, are these the words of wisdom that we can expect from a kind, compassionate and uplifting religion? Is the human race ever going to wake up from its self-imposed tyranny of the mind and get with the frikkin program?
I'm not anti-christian, so let's get that straight. I'm just disgusted by people who use ancient ideals as justification for violence, torture, mass slaughter, oppression, snobbery and bigotry. What good is religion if one only uses it to mask their true, monstrous intent? It's time for the world to wake up, accept the consequences of centuries of sheer stupidity and unworthiness, and learn how to catch up with the evolutionary process that passed us by so long ago.
(for more valuable bible lessons, turn to Dark Bible today. Then send an offering of your firstborn and we'll send you a free video tape of this Sunday's lesson (not really).
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, December 08, 2004,
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Just a quick note to say that my first batch of "Traveller" CDs arrived today, so I'm all ready to get rid of them. So come and get it!
On a side note, I just returned home from a school production of A Christmas Carol; my wife and I were invited by one of her clients, and it was a great success. It's truly amazing how much warm-heartening talent can be generated from something so simple. I must make a note to get out more. Watch more plays. Get away from this damned machine for a bit.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 02, 2004,
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The United Church of Christ...
Welcomes all people, and CBS and NBC don't like that too much. Here's a press release from the horse's mouth. If you are gay, you are of course welcome here.
If you are gay, wiccan, buddhist, taoist, bisexual, asexual, christian, muslim, jew, satanist, atheist, catholic, agnostic, whatever, you are welcome at one of many New Thought churches and study groups around the country, as well (you can spend literally days browsing the links on Alan Anderson's New Thought page). New Thought 'religions' are primarily pantheistic with a focus on metaphysics and philosophy. Phineas Quimby and Ralph Waldo Emerson are a couple of possibly familiar names; the former is known as the prime influencer of New Thought, and Emerson is perhaps the most inspirational writer that ever lived, save Walt Whitman of course :)
While I tend to avoid Sunday Services, I am a big fan of Ernest Holmes and the Science of Mind. He's more accessible than Emerson and more sensible than many of his contemporaries. His goal in life was to find the 'golden thread of Truth that weaves through all the world's religions, philosophies, and sciences,' and present his discoveries and theories in a format that was easy to digest in his time (the 40's and 50's, primarily), via small books, a popular radio broadcast, and some of the most successful lecture hall sessions in the past century. The result is a lifetime's work of inspiring and crystal-clear thought. You may have heard the phrase "Change your mind, change your life." Well, that was Ernest Holmes.
You can read the first printing of "The Science of Mind" here, though I would urge you to read the revised and expanded edition to really understand what his life's work was about. Better yet, ring up your local Religious Science organization and talk to them about it. If you don't have one of those, try Unity. Or the public library. Or Amazon.
And if that isn't enough reading for one day, check out Thomas Troward's Edinburgh Lectures. This is some great stuff, the beginning of much spiritual upheaval in this world. While I don't necessarily agree with him on all points, I think it's a shame that Troward isn't more widely known, or Holmes for that matter. But when a person finally does stumble across their writings, it changes things a little. Kind of like when you first heard about Herman Hesse, or Alan Watts, or the Beat Generation or Rumi or Ghandi or Jesus. That ripple spreads out and comes back to you, over and over throughout your life.
One of my favorite quotations from Holmes, before I slip away for the evening:
"We have to have the same faith in what we teach and practice that the scientist has, or the gardener has, and when that great simplicity shall have plumbed and penetrated this density of ours, this human stolidness and stupidity, this debauchery of the intellect and the soul, something new and wonderful will happen. It is the only thing that will keep the world from destroying itself..."
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 02, 2004,
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