Anna came across this show last night. Originally we thought it was on channel 16, our God Channel, but that seems less likely now that I realize that while EWTN may be concerned with the same god, they're talking about different prophets. And, possibly, different processed meats. So it must have been channel 17, CMS-Madison, which is part home shopping, part exercise science, part bowling. And also doesn't have a functioning website. Maybe that's why they programmed a full hour of god-themed baloney grilling.
Rather than dye eggs like we did last Easter I watched Jesus Camp today instead. It's creepy, and not just because of the prominently featured rat-tail. I hope J.C. is down with me saying that on his big day. Some things I learned:
The devil wants your PowerPoint to fail; praying may prevent this from happening.
Also, homeschooling is exactly how I always pictured it, as shown by this fun scene where the kid-preacher/rat-tail grower and his mom learn to explore creation with physical science together.
Homeschool Mom: "If you look at creationism, you'll realize it's the only possible answer to all the questions."
Rat-tail: "That's exactly what dad said."
HM: "It's the only possible answer to all the questions."
RT: "Oh, yeah."
HM: "Oh yeah. Did you get to the part on here where it says that science doesn't prove anything? It's really interesting when you look at it that way."
RT: "It is?"
HM: "It is."
Luckily, I had some eggs-in-a-holes and the Sunday crossword to keep my spirits up. And when Jesus Crazy finished, V For Vendetta was on tv. Which was strange for two reasons: first, because eggs-in-a-holes/eggy-in-a-baskets are featured (vaguely) in the film. And secondly, because I noticed for the first time that the bug-jamming device in V is just a Snuggie booklight fitted with a creepy red light. Others got there before me.
2.09.2009
Jobonga sent us a really powerful linkthis morning last night. It was meant to give us some new T shirtTuesdayideas. I'm thinking the EX-hypocrite one might be for me, but this poem, "dedicated to those struggling with masturbation", also really spoke to me.
Restless.
Frustrated.
Frustrated with Myself.
I did it again.
Like a crack addict addicted to crack,
I am addicted to myself.
Seeking quick fixes.
Temporary highs with devastating lows.
Trying to satisfy the lust of my flesh,
With solo trips,
With solo voyages,
In darkness.
Despite disgust, guilt, shame, condemnation.
Knowing what I'm supposed to do,
Continuing to do what I'm not supposed to
Like Paul in Romans 7.
Justifying my sin because of the lesser consequences than fornication.
"Would you rather be a Mormon or an Amish?" - Schmatie
Did you know Iowa City is deep in the honey pot of both? We weren't that interested in building handcarts and walking to Utah but the Amish had cheese curds, cheap herbs, and butter powder to sell to us.
Just as long as you keep your hands outof their meat jar. The Amish don't play that. Unless of course it's during Rumspringa, the Amish spring break. Then anything goes; hand in the meat jar, meth addiction, bed courtship, even buttons are kosher during Rumspringa. The Devil's Playground left us with a lot of unaswered questions (where does a rebelious Amish teenager get a car from?) and a lot of pride in our post-8th grade educations. Which is exactly what the Amish are worried about in the first place.
After a day full of prideful activities, we had some penace to do.
To atone for my normal day-to-day vainglory (see above) I let two Natural Nnackers -in-training have a go at my hair, which had been fast on its way towards feathered coif status. Now it comes in Pony-Hawk or Yoder Bowl options.
I also realized that I'd been wearing button-fly jeans all day:
Katie finally gave into her deepest desires and pulled the trigger on the Snuggies purchase. Which, as it turns out, is actually Amish approved loungewear.
Then of course there was Joanna and her gaudy triple-dessert birthday Pastry Duel. What better way to piss off those pacifist Amish than to host a duel with 3 entrants? And look how proud she is of that mud filled profiterole too. She might as well have put up a lightning rod.
Meanwhile, I was busy matching my tie and sweater to the cupcakes. My profiteroles might look like shit but I can still make a v-neck look good, even without any "fancy" cardigan buttons.
Then there's Nick's pie; its blueberries all fattened up and juicey. If that's not prideful I don't know what is.
I didn't put much stock into these when Joanna first mentioned them. Then I did some research.
This Nunclub is some type of quasi-religious social club, based in St. Catharines, Ontario that reached its apogee in late-2006. They organize events like these:
We will be meeting every other Sunday night, starting October 21st. One Sunday will be the study - the following nun nite will be a response to the study. The goal of the next few months will betransformation. This is not about learning more information, but about growth - in relationship to God, to each other & to our world.
I still want us all to have fun together - and I think that this will actually be a great experience for all of us to share...
I like that they're still hoping to have fun together, even during their transformation. Also, I found this drawing, which is almost funny, there.
If religious transformation isn't what you're about there's also the United Nun Club. This club is "all about promoting the Nun Pigeon and the hobby." Don't miss the photo section for some of your future club-mates. Is that what you thought pigeon enthusiasts would look like? Does that cute little Yellow Nun make you enthusiastic anyway? If so, this is the club for you. You should know that Nuns are not the showiest of pigeons though, as PigeonFarms.com shows us.
The Jacobin is officially my favorite breed of domesticated pigeon. If you're interested in purchasing one for your own enjoyment there are many opportunities to do so online, for instance jacobins4sale.com.
Instead of going back to Madison yesterday with Tommy and spending time at my job today, I stayed in Milwaukee, played a marathon round of Apples to Apples outside, bought 5 types of cheeses from Metro Market, and took Kermit to Cans. Today I went to Katie's "job" instead of mine and pretended like I was responsible enough to watch a 6 year old and an 8 year old all day long. Within 10 minutes of meeting these little ankle-biters I had been labeled Mr. Green Leprechaun. Five minutes later I had the following conversation:
David: Mr. Green Leprechaun, can Tori come to the pool? Me: You're going to have to ask Katie that. Katie's in charge. David: No, God's in charge. Me: (surprised) You're right. But I don't think he'll respond in time for this. David: No, God's dead. Tori: No he's not. He's in heaven.
If you accept the theory of evolution, you accept that our genetic makeup, physical appearance and brain capacity are all related to our endeavor to survive and reproduce. Plants did not need legs to survive, and fish did not need hands. Humans, on the other hand, have a sophisticated brain that far exceeds what they need to survive and reproduce. I would like to see scientists research the brain capacity that various species need. If humans alone have evolved with capacities that far exceed what they essentially need, then intelligent design needs to be part of the story for us humans. -Allen A. Platt, ROCHESTER, N.Y.
No matter how often I see and hear this shit it still pisses me off. What, is there some perfect evolutionary balance point where an organism can just barely survive, but not thrive, that humans have violated? Umm, its called survival of the fittest, not survival of the mediocre, for a reason assbutt.
My people are from Wales. And England. There's also some German in there from my Mom's side. These are the Dreizigackers. Or at least they used to be since there were only 2 daughters in that family. Now what's not Barnebey is Hall. And the Hall's are Mormon. In general I do not consider Mormon's my people. In fact I don't consider religious people my people. I don't understand them. Republicans aren't my people either, but not because I don't understand them, just because I don't agree with them. Which is very different, but has the same result.
Things that do encourage my camaraderie: playing games, eating cheese, telling smart but not pretentious jokes, telling pretentious jokes but facetiously, trying new things, appreciating good food unaffectedly, drinking Coors Light, and using a Macintosh during the mid-late '90s.
Incidentally, linguistics students are rarely my people. On the other hand linguistics professors typically are. This has both good and bad implications.
I found myself in need of a picture of a Scrabble board this morning. As such I set out on Google Images and soon came across this blog post. It's upsetting that such a nice Scrabble board had to be ruined by such an poorly reasoned faux-argument against evolution. I went on to read another post by this woman claiming that human childbirth is proof of intelligent design. Or at least I assume that's what's she's trying to argue for. The amazing thing about this post is that it somehow managed to be even more nonsensical than her Scrabble/DNA analogy. This is sad, but impressive. Thankfully some guy, Matthew Goggins, seems to have made a habit of commenting on these blogs and presenting an actual evolutionary explanation for blestwithsons' proposed conundrums. I do enjoy how the claims of a 'young earth' die off immediately once someone who actually has some idea of how evolution works says something. I do not enjoy how blestwithsons really thinks that she's making some good points.
