Thursday, May 21, 2009
Jesus Camp: Scariest. Film. Ever.
I'm not exaggerating. My Mom and I watched this 2006 dcumentary last night on the Biography Channel and we had to turn more lights on. We were riveted to our seats in abject terror. I had to take a mixture of Benadryl, melatonin and chocolate chip cookies in order to settle my heart down enough to get to sleep.
Horror films are scary when you are a kid, but they become really funny when you get older, because you know it's just a movie. In order to get really scared, you need to skip the slasher flicks and go right to the hard-core independent documentaries. You can't wrap yourself in that fuzzy blanket of fiction then.
So, What's It About?
Think summer camp for really young kids -- which teaches them Evangelical right wing Republican Christianity. The whole gory shmear of speaking in tongues, anti-abortion rallies for little kids, Creationism, global warming denial, gay-bashing, and an unabashed worship of then-President George W. Bush.
Churches with high-tech sound mixing boards and theatrical lighting. Think how many homeless people that crap would feed. I wonder if they would let a homeless person in their precious house of God when it's pouring rain outside and a gang of youths has set fire to your campground.
But no -- they're to busy making pagents about holy wars and shaking hands with Pastor Ted Haggard -- before kicking him out the door.
Jesus Camp: Watch it with the lights on.
Hopefully, there will never be a sequel.
Friday, May 15, 2009
It's a Blog, Blog, Blog, Blog World
I was raised a Born-Again Protestant Christian, which includes a notion that you're supposed to tithe ten percent of what you earn to the church (not that anyone does, but that's what we were told, anyway). Now I'm a witch, and giving to charity is even more emphasized. What Does This Have To Do With Blogs?
Last month, I had to quit the three blogs I maintained at 451 Press due to pay issues. (Little tip for anyone wanting to start a blog network -- the one thing you should never screw a blogger around on is THE PAY. That should be obvious, but apparently this is a brand, spanking new concept.)
My rationale is that I can't afford to blog for free.
Or can I? I used most of the 451 Press money as contributions to animal-related charities. Due to some strange tax law, I cannot claim these contributions on my taxes, so when I give money to charity, I'm actually giving money to charity.
So, I'm Going To Start a New Blog
Instead of writing about topics I'm not particularly interested in, I'm going to start an animal related blog over at Best Friends Network. I haven't figured out what to call it yet, but I'm thinking of calling it I Hate Everyone, but I think that title has already been taken.
In that way, I can concentrate on The Perfect Blog Title's original point -- about spirituality and Internet links.
Let's see how long it takes for me to get the new blog up and running.
Edit: It took about an hour or so, although it's still kinda humble. Check out Yet Another Animal Blog: The Blog for People Who Give a Darn About Animals.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Soap Bubbles in Heaven
As I was walking my dog Pony today (Easter), I passed by a young boy and his mother/older sister/babysitter. They were making soap bubbles with a huge wand. As the bubbles climbed into the sky, the boy pointed, smiled and yelled, "Look! The bubbles are going to heaven!"
Which got me to thinking -- are there soap bubbles in heaven?
Clean And Dirty
If heaven is supposed to be a place of perfection, then there wouldn't be any dirt to wash off. If you don't have any dirt to wash off, then there's no need for soap. If there's no soap, how can you make soap bubbles? And if those soap bubbles the little boy claimed were going to heaven and reached heaven, would they be denied entrance?
This is one reason why I strongly suspect that the idea of heaven has no soap.
In Other News
Anyway, speaking of how the universe moves in mysterious ways, my beloved Peter Gabriel went on a tour in March -- to South America only. (So close, yet so far.) Bits and pieces of this mini tour are leaking out all over the web. One of the most interesting is a blog post from writer Aaron Smith living in Peru -- who just happened to be on a busman's holiday in the Amazon rainforest (where there's quite a lot of dirt) when guess who walks up -- tht's right, Peter Gabriel.
Also, I received word that one of my short stories, "Volunteering At Fred's House", will be published at the UK mag Polluto. I have no idea when it comes out -- probably when I next get to see Peter or when soap bubbles are allowed in heaven.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
New Story Up On Dog Oil Press
Because I've been so busy doing web content and blogs, I haven't had time to send out any short story or poetry submissions since last May. So, I finally got my act together last week and sent out 10 stories. One has been accepted (so far, knock on wood) and it went up yesterday at Dog Oil Press, home of flash fiction that is wickedly humourous (either that or deeply bent, depending on your point of view).
I hope you enjoy "After Ida Set Her Face On Fire".
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Should the Dalai Lama Retire?
The 14th Dalai Lama is now in his 70's. He's given indications that he's pretty much given up on Tibetan cause, but is still helping to give support to Tibetans in exile. Keep in mind that China invaded Tibet in 1959. That's a long time to be pounding your head against a brick wall.So, in some interviews, His Holiness has recently mentioned that he'd like to retire and do some gardening. He's even suggested that there be no more Dalai Lamas after him and that Tibetans should be able to vote him out of the Dalai Lama position whenever they are unhappy with him. That hasn't gone down too well with the Tibetans. They still need him, I guess.
There are very few people I really admire, but the Dalai Lama is one of them. I like that he keeps telling people that he's not a god and that if you don't like Buddhism, it's no big deal. I also find it amazing that he can keep smiling after the life he's had. He still seems to have that Anne Frank optimism about humans being genuinely good at heart that in one way I'd like to have.
But he's worked very hard and I think he deserves to have some time to himself. Although his astrologers have predicted that he will die when he is 92, we can't rely on that. Part of Buddhism is about appreciating the moment and retirement can be just as personally rewarding as work.
Smehow, though, I can't picture him going bowling.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
It's Time To Tax Organized Religion
(Note: My views are not the views of any political party that I'm aware of.)
Let's face it -- organized religion is a business. Also, we are in an unprecedented economical crisis which requires gobs and gobs of money. Who has gobs and gobs of money and hoarding it for themselves? Organized religion -- no matter what you call it -- Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Scientology -- all of them are out to make money and all of them make money and all have property and so all need to pay taxes. I'm Pagan and I'd make the Pagans and Wiccans pay, too.
Besides, what good do they do? Nothing! They're just country clubs with pews.
Organized religion claims to be humanity's greatest hope. Prove it -- shell out the money and pay your fair share of taxes. They have such faith in God -- let Him pay the bill.
Let's end with a laugh with a conversation between Bill Mahar and Christopher Hitchens about how religion poisons everything:
Let's face it -- organized religion is a business. Also, we are in an unprecedented economical crisis which requires gobs and gobs of money. Who has gobs and gobs of money and hoarding it for themselves? Organized religion -- no matter what you call it -- Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Scientology -- all of them are out to make money and all of them make money and all have property and so all need to pay taxes. I'm Pagan and I'd make the Pagans and Wiccans pay, too.
Besides, what good do they do? Nothing! They're just country clubs with pews.
Organized religion claims to be humanity's greatest hope. Prove it -- shell out the money and pay your fair share of taxes. They have such faith in God -- let Him pay the bill.
Let's end with a laugh with a conversation between Bill Mahar and Christopher Hitchens about how religion poisons everything:
Friday, February 13, 2009
It's Peter Gabriel's Birthday
Ever since I started this blog, I put this picture up on Peter's birthday. This year is no exception. There has been misinformation that started in the 80's that Peter was born on May 13. I think he put that out so he'd get twice the prezzies.
Short post this time around. Off to celebrate.
