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| I'm not emailing you. |
Somehow a virus-monger has gotten hold of my grrrlmeetsworld.com email address, and is sending out virus-ridden attachments. I'm ditching the becky@grrrlmeetsworld.com and will now be using rebekah@grrrlmeetsworld.com. I've been meaning to change addresses anyway, and now seems like a good time to start.
So, if you get an email with an attachment from me (especially with a re: line of "sexy") -- ignore and banish it to the spam netherworld.
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| The State of the Union |
"He shall from time to time," reads the Constitution, "give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." And so it shall be. George W. Bush will be speaking tonight from the podium in the House of Representatives. Before him will be arrayed Senators, Representatives, generals and judges. The balconies will be filled with observers, luminaries, reporters and a few so-called "special guests" whose presence will be used to reinforce some argument or another.
It shall be quite a thing to see, a show worth watching if only to observe exactly how many lies, distortions, threats, taunts and smirks can be crammed into a single speech. This will be Mr. Bush speaking, after all, and the truth is not in him. It will be in every pertinent sense a mere commercial, a television advertisement from a failing company, a whitewashing of ugly truths by a staggering CEO whose sole desire is to keep the stockholders in line for another quarter.
from the article The State of the Union by William Rivers Pitt
Tonight I'm off to have supper and then watch the State of the Union address with some friends -- I've been told it's far more amusing to watch me watch the address, than it is to listen to Bushie's words himself.
UPDATE: For the email-less commentor Michelle, Check out Think Progress's take on the speech -- it's a fact-checker, comparing what Bush says to what has actually been reported. Lots of discrepancies there, surprise surprise!
Here's one example:
Bush said: “[E]ven tough debates can be conducted in a civil tone, and our differences cannot be allowed to harden into anger. To confront the great issues before us, we must act in a spirit of good will and respect for one another – and I will do my part.” VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: “F*** yourself.” — speaking to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). [Washington Post, 6/24/04] PRESS SECRETARY SCOTT MCCLELLAN: “It is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing…” — speaking about decorated Marine veteran Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA). [11/17/05] KARL ROVE: “Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers.” [6/24/05] Oh, and here's what really happened to Cindy Sheehan last night -- something the "liberal media" didn't report.
UPDATE AGAIN: Oooh, more good stuff from Think Progress: Bush's One Hour Argument with Himself. Must read.
Technorati tags: State+of+the+Union, Bush, politics, miserable+failure |
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| Wow, I'd be in trouble. |
I got this story in email: UCLA Alumni Group is tracking "radical" faculty:
A fledgling alumni group headed by a former campus Republican leader is offering students payments of up to $100 per class to provide information on instructors who are "abusive, one-sided or off-topic" in advocating political ideologies.
The year-old Bruin Alumni Assn. says its "Exposing UCLA's Radical Professors" initiative takes aim at faculty "actively proselytizing their extreme views in the classroom, whether or not the commentary is relevant to the class topic." Although the group says it is concerned about radical professors of any political stripe, it has named an initial "Dirty 30" of teachers it identifies with left-wing or liberal causes. Fortunately, this story was nipped in the bud last week as the nutjob conservative activist withdrew his offer.
I know that many of my illustrations in class revolve around politics -- and I can't help but let my own opinions shine through on the odd occasion. I've even used Hitler and Stephen Harper in the same sentence (but before some of you jump down my case, I wasn't aligning Harper to Hitler -- I was talking about ethics propaganda use in political commercials -- particularly that infamous "soldiers with guns in Canadian streets" commercial. But I still get a kick out of the two names being in the same sentence.)
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| ... and then there were twenty-five. |
Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (D-DE)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Clinton, Hillary Rodham (D-NY)
Dayton, Mark (D-MN)
Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Feingold, Russell D. (D-WI)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
Jeffords, James M. (I-VT)
Kennedy, Edward M. (D-MA)
Kerry, John F. (D-MA)
Lautenberg, Frank R. (D-NJ)
Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT)
Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Menendez, Robert (D-NJ)
Mikulski, Barbara A. (D-MD)
Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Obama, Barack (D-IL)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Reid, Harry (D-NV)
Sarbanes, Paul S. (D-MD)
Schumer, Charles E. (D-NY)
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
Wyden, Ron (D-OR)
'Tis a shame there's only 25 decent senators in the US Congress.
Freedom? Bah, who needs it?
UPDATE: It begins. (and ends?)
Technorati tags: Alito+confirmation, Senate, Supreme+Court |
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| Laundry day musings |
 I'm tackling the mountain of laundry tonight. Due to the lack of television stations and my laziness in changing the channel, "Wheel of Fortune" is playing in the background.
Now, if you know me, you know I hate this game show. Here are a few of the reasons why I can't stand "Wheel."
- Why must the contestants yell whatever letter they'd like to pick? "L!" "D!" "S!" They're miked, so there is no need for the excited yell -- EVERY time.
- Peeve #2 -- buying vowels. This really stumps me. The puzzle is almost COMPLETELY solved, and these jerks will keep buying stinkin' vowels! Don't they know that they lose money, with each vowel they buy?! Why must they keep on buying them, especially after they already know what the puzzle is? Solve it already, sheesh.
- As with all game shows, the introductions of each contestant is the most completely useless part of the show. I don't care how many kids you have, where you're from, or what crap you collect.
- not to mention the speel between Pat and Vanna. Now THERE is a passive aggressive relationship if ever I saw one -- and I should know, I grew up in the South, the homeland of passive aggression.
And yes, I should be thesis writing, and not ranting about Wheel of Fortune. I'll get to it after Jeopardy! -- a real game show. ("What is ... another way to put off finishing that thesis chapter?")
Technorati tags: game+shows, Jeopardy!, Wheel+of+Fortune, procrastination |
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| Top 100 best opening lines from novels |
I'm happy to say I've read a quarter of 'em. (I don't know why I always have to count how many I've read/seen whenever I encounter these types of lists)
Isn't it funny how an opening line can be so indicative of what is to come in the rest of the book? They're also some of the hardest parts of a book, essay, or thesis chapter to write.
via
Technorati tags: literature, best+opening+lines, books, reading |
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| International week |
It's that time of the year again -- International Week at the U of S.
It's odd, because I don't really consider myself "international" -- the only times I out myself as not from here is when it comes to voting, going through Customs at the airport, or when I inadvertantly call someone "Ma'am" or "Sir" (showing my Southern manners).
Anyway, the next two weeks are packed with all sorts of talks/panels on International Development issues, FREE documentaries, and starting next week -- an international food fair, every afternoon at lunch. The food fair is THE time to eat on-campus -- good ethnic food, good prices. I'm already hungry at the thought.
A few of the events that look particularly interesting this week: (full schedule is here -- PDF)
- Tonight: “End of Suburbia”
Free film screening
5:00 p.m. Arts 241
- Tomorrow: Operation PLATEAU: Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Lieutenant–Colonel Michael R. Voith, DART Commanding Officer (Disaster Assistance Response Team)
12:00–1:00 pm.
2C02 Engineering
- Thursday: A Long Night’s Journey into Day: South Africa’s Search for Truth and Reconciliation.
A highly–acclaimed film, nominated for an Academy Award – Best Documentary – in 2000.
Introductory remarks and discussion: Simonne Horwitz, History
7:00–9:30 p.m.
Arts 143
- Friday: “Writing on the Holocaust”
Yann Martel, Visiting Scholar, Department of English
12:30–1:30 p.m.
Arts 241
“Scared Sacred”
Free film screening
7:00 p.m.
Arts 241
And that's just a few of the events going on this week. There's more, next week.
These are open to the public -- check 'em out, and learn that we're all part of a global community.
Technorati tags: university+of+saskatchewan, activism, international+week, Saskatoon |
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| Apocalyse, now? |
So today, after a day of "hanging out" with the in-laws, we're sitting around chatting and my father in law starts talking about the Anti-Christ.
[My relational tip to you: if a conversation is ever lagging in material, simply bring up something apocalyptic or in the realm of eschatology -- and voila! Instant talking material.]
Anyway, we're sitting around talking, and he mentions that he's done a web search on "anti-christ" and it came up with some rather interesting results:
 George W. Bush is the AntiChrist:
There you have it - 666 - the number of the Beast, absolutely any way you care to add it up. The number of his name in Hebrew = 666. The number of his name using the Pythagorean system = 6. The Chaldean system = 6. ASCII code = 6. The number of his birthday = 6. His lucky number = 6. The number of the date when he was first elected Governor = 6. When he is first inaugurated Governor = 6. The number when he was inaugurated president of the United States = 6. The number of the man/beast named George Walker Bush = 666.
I originally thought this site was a satire or spoof -- but there's just too much work and rantings for this not to be serious. Despite the author's serious aim, it's a pretty hilarious piece of work. He talks about the "beast's brain": "One of the mysteries of Revelation has been the identity and connection of a second beast who rescues the antichrist and serves as his prophet" -- any guesses who qualifies as such? Why yes, Karl Rove.
There's even more "evidence" that points unequivocably that Bush is indeed the Anti-Christ: He's part of the Merovingian blood line (shared with Herod the Great), there's secret alliances of evil (of which I expect she's a part), and Nostradamus, of course, backs it up.
Too funny.
But, in the light of being "fair and balanced" on this blog, I'll also include a site that proclaims Bush is Lord. (thankfully, this really is a spoof and not some evangelical conspiracy theorist)
For those of you that are still skeptical that Bush is indeed the evil one, there's always the remote chance that the AntiChrist is really David Hasselhoff, if only because:
The letters in his name can be rearranged to spell "fad of devil's hash."
What does this mean? Well, Baywatch is David's fad. David is the devil. The Hash is what makes Knight Rider popular in Amsterdam. Amen.
Technorati tags: George+W+Bush, politics, crazy+theories, antichrist, david+hasselhoff |
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| A call from Dorothy Day, 1944 |
From the inaugural issue of Geez:
Love of brother means ... non-participation in those comforts and luxuries which have been manufactured by the exploitation of others.
Poverty means non-participation. It means what Peter [Maurin, co-founder with Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker Movement] calls regional living. This means fasting from tea, coffee, cocoa, grapefruit, pineapple, etc., from things not grown in the region in which one lives. One day last winter we bought broccoli which had the label on it of a corporation farm in Arizona or Texas, where we had seen men, women, and children working at two o'clock in the morning with miner's lamps on their foreheads, in order to avoid the terrible heat of the day. These were homeless migrants, of which there are some million in the United States. For there is "no room at the inn."
Poverty means having a bare minimum in the way of clothes and seeing to it that these are made under decent working conditions, proper wages and hours, etc. The union label tries to guarantee this.
Poverty means not riding on rubber while horrible working conditions prevail in the rubber industry. Poverty means not riding on rails while bad conditions exist in the coal mines and steel mills. Poverty means not accepting that courteous bribe from railroads, the clergy rate.
Of course, we are not all given the grace to do such things. But it is good to call to mind the vision. It is true, indeed, that until we begin to develop a few apostles along these lines, we will have no mass conversions, no social justice, no peace. We need saints. God, give us saints!
Technorati tags: activism, Dorothy+Day, Geez+magazine |
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| Authority vs. Trust |
I know this will sound shocking to those of you who regularly read this blog, but, in the past I have been called an anti-authoritarian. There, there, it's not that big of a shock, is it? Personally, I don't like using any labels with "anti" in them, just because of the negative associations that are instantly inspired by such names. But, for the sake of argument, I'll allow myself this one label in this post.
Today I was thinking about this streak in me -- and the reasons behind my mistrust in established "leaders," particularly when it comes to leadership in the church. I suppose my history of anti-authoritarianism starts (and most likely, ends) there.
I grew up in a church that was led by a very charismatic leader who the church simply adored -- so much so, that I know they had an insurance policy on his life, should anything happen to him. Yet the older I grew, the more disenchanted I became with his particular style of leadership -- which led me to start asking questions about the authenticity of leadership, and how one is endowed with the respect that accompanies position.
Jerry and I were talking about the subject of authority this morning. What came out of the discussion was a comparison between authority and trust.
What gives a person authority? I think that authority is one of those concepts that -- once evoked by someone in a position of power, it is instantly diminished. Let me explain. If I were to walk into the first class of the semester and then give my CV credentials to the classroom of students, in an attempt to evoke my authority for teaching them that term -- my authority would be questioned, rather than upheld.
Yes, the students are looking for my authority -- but they're looking for it to be shown in the way I present the new material to them, in the ways I mark their assignments, and in the way I handle myself when interacting with them. Citing my background in communication isn't going to speak nearly as loudly as showing them my authority in teaching communication theory.
The same works in any leadership position, I think. Gone are the days of claiming divine rule of kingship. Leadership is more than the amount of authority that is attached to a position -- and the most effective leaders know this. Rather than relying on the superficial credibility of a job title, these effective leaders know that trust is more important than authority.
So what is the role of trust in a hierarchal relationship? The reason why I think trust is a vital component is that it requires participation from BOTH sides of the relationship. Trust must be earned, but it also must be given.
This isn't to say that authority is automatically associated with trust. For example, when I get into political debates with my dad, I ask him how he can justify his support for a President who is known for unethical activities, both at home and abroad, in this war on "terror." My dad then asserts the claim that the President and his staff must know more about the situation than we do, and that we should trust in them to make the right decisions on our behalf. (of course, in my head, I'm saying "screw that! I think someone needs to be IMPEACHED" -- but that is another post for another day)
Bush, as a leader, needs to earn the trust of his constituents. Likewise, as an instructor, I need to earn the respect of my students in the classroom. If this is true, why are so many people willing to forgo this process when it comes to leadership within the church? Why are so many people convinced they are obligated to follow a minister's every word, just because of the title of "minister" "pastor" "leader"? And why are these beliefs encouraged (and justified, using the Bible) by the leadership of the church?
Does this show a trust on the part of leadership, when they lead their followers so heavy-handedly? Is trust being defined as blind devotion to a parental leader, who is expected to lead and interpret life for his or her flock? Do these leaders want their flock to trust them or depend on them? Where is that line between trust and codependence?
Which brings me back to the issue of authority. I think that because so many people implicitly trust (one-sidely) their leaders, there is so much abuse of authority in the church today.
This week I read a rather despicable post by a self-proclaimed leader of a large church, where he took his position of leadership and used it as a pulpit to belittle, mock, and diminish any opposition to his perspective on a situation. Of course, he prefaced his petty comments by inserting feeble attempts at humor -- but it didn't take away from the overall boorish tone, nor did it justify the implications he made. (interestingly, the original post has been edited to sound less asshole-ish, and many of the comments that are coming out against this guy are noticeably starting to be deleted -- funny, comments that are supporting his ignorance are remaining)
There's more to be said on this, but essentially, I'm wondering -- what motivates these leaders to act this way?
Technorati tags: church, authority, trust, christianity, rant |
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| This amused me. |
- In the Great Seal of the United States the eagle grasps 13 arrows and Becky.
- Plato believed that the souls of melancholy people would be reincarnated into Becky.
- Becky is the traditional gift for a couple on their third wedding anniversary!
- In the Spanish edition of Cluedo, Becky is the victim!
- Contrary to popular belief, Becky is not successful at sobering up a drunk person, and in many cases she may actually increase the adverse effects of alcohol!
- Scientists believe that Becky began billions of years ago as an enormous ball of dust and gas!
- If you lace Becky from the inside to the outside, the fit will be snugger around your big toe.
- All gondolas in Venice must be painted black unless they belong to Becky!
- The porpoise is second to Becky as the most intelligent animal on the planet.
- Only one person in two billion will live to be Becky!
via Badger
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| Community Service Announcement |
Oxfam Canada is pleased to co-sponsor the following events for International Development Week with the College of Arts and Science and the Arts and Science Students Union:
Monday February 6, 2006
- 2:30 - 4:00 pm Panel on Understanding Conflict in Sudan
University of Saskatchewan, Arts building Room 217
Gatdeet Wakou and Khalid A. Mannan – Sudan ABCs: Background to the Conflict
Robert Fox, Executive Director, Oxfam – Ending the Terror in Darfur
Chuei Deng Mareng, Education student – Prospects for Peace in Southern Sudan
- co-sponsored by the Sudanese Community Association in Saskatoon
- 7:30-9:30 pm Reflections on Gender & Development in Africa
University of Saskatchewan, Arts building Room 241
Robert Fox, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada – Empowering Women – are we Making a Difference?
Cindy Hanson, Sociology, and Gender Consultant – Feminist Reflections on ‘Doing Development’: Stories from South Africa
Amira Wasfy, Artist and art educator, Introduction to film, “Amira.” This is an episode out of Landing, a SCN documentary series profiling the new face of Canada’s multiculturalism. The story is about Amira Wasfy’s immigration - how she was unable to travel back to Egypt because of an antiquated law and decided to fight it through art.
For more information, please contact Oxfam at 242-4097 or michelleb@oxfam.ca.
See ya there.
Technorati tags: Oxfam+Canada, University+of+Saskatchewan, activism |
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| A different type of evocation |
Dear Mr. Harper: You are going to be our next Prime Minister. You are young, you are ambitious and you pulled off a good campaign with a tough party. It will be good to have children at 24 Sussex Drive. It will be good to have change. I have no problem with grand promises, the tail has to wag the dog. Mr. Harper, please don’t make God bless Canada a slogan. I don’t know if that is a personal signature, a nod to our friends in the south or an acknowledgement of those who built this country. I can’t tell when you say it. I cannot tell, and that gives me pause. I can stand beside a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, an atheist and sing God keep our land. When I hear dominion, I know that is from a bible verse about Him having dominion from sea to sea. Of course He does and we are a blessed country. It’s a given. Keep your faith, and seek Him often. But please, don’t make God your servant or ours. Please don’t use God to pander. This country needs to go forward. We’ve elected a fragile government. Hundreds of Canadians lost their jobs today. Power has shifted to the west. Calgarians listened politely to reconcilitatory words in French. God sets kings on thrones at will and disposes of them at will. His rain falls on the just and the unjust. He knew you when you were being formed. You are created in his image. Many, many people tread the halls in Ottawa of all political ideologies that would pray; God. Bless Canada.
It is a holy thing, not the tag at the end of a speech. Please don’t try to use God, let Him use you. via Bene
Exactly!
I heard (ahem) Prime Minister Harper say "God Bless Canada" last night at the end of his speech, and I just cringed -- and this is coming from an American, who's used to that being the tagline of every politician! I just hate the implications behind such a statement. If God is supposed to bless , there's an implication that the blessing will come at a cost to other countries.
And besides, I'm SO over the mix of church and state. I know it wins votes, but there's no place for theocracies in government -- be it Muslim ayatollahs or wannabe Dominionist presidents.
EDIT: Theocracy, Eh? -- new article over at the Revealer that addresses some concerns about Stephen Harper's neo-con & neo-theo connections.
But while the media shapes Harper up as Bush-lite, and U.S. conservatives frightened of smothering their own pick with too much public support make embarrassing promises that Harper won’t be an "American toady," few seem to realize that Harper is politically and religiously much further right than Bush himself, and his language suggests that he takes the conflict between left and right much more seriously.
Technorati tags: Canadian+election, politics, religion, separation+of+church+and+state |
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| Help a Brownie out |
Hey, does anyone in Saskatoon have some old magazines they're looking to get rid of? We need some for a craft in Girl Guides this week. Email me or give me a call, and I'll take 'em off your hands.
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| Warning: Political precipices ahead |
 Tomorrow marks another federal election day here in the Great White North. Various polls I've read suggest a possible Conservative minority -- while others are predicting a slim majority. It's quite something to be on the verge of a new government -- especially one who I fundamentally disagree with on many key issues.
But, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It's a new experience for me to sit back and have to WATCH democracy happen -- I can't vote, and it's hard not to have a say in what's happening around me. So, I'll just live out my democratic nature through all of my Canadian readers! (well, just those of you who vote in the right way. And I don't mean "Right." I'm kidding. Mostly.)
I'll be glued to the CBC this time tomorrow night, checking out the results. If the results aren't good, expect more gnashing of teeth on this page. (though I doubt it'll be as bad as it was November 3, 2004)
Speaking of political precipices, there's another one looming back home. Samuel Alito will most likely be voted in as another Supreme Court Justice this week -- bringing with him a whole lot of NOT GOOD. One issue on the table -- reproductive rights.
Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade case -- it's ironic that this anniversary of a landmark judicial decision is coinciding with the appointment of a justice that could potentially overturn -- if not diminish the effectiveness of -- the ruling.
The implications of an overturned Roe vs. Wade go beyond the abortion issue -- and will endanger all forms of reproductive choice available for women. BIG issues that could set women's rights back farther than any of us want to go.
Stay tuned.
Technorati tags: Canadian+election, politics, vote, Canada, US+politics, Alito+appointment, Roe+vs.+Wade |
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| How low can ya go? |
From the Daily Show's This Week in God -- re: Catholic Limbo
"Last week theologians from around the world met at the Vatican, and agreed to do away with Limbo -- the place where unbaptized babies go when they die. Pretty harsh sentence, considering All Dogs go to Heaven.
The move is an attempt to make the faith more appealing in Africa and Asia, where infant mortality rates are high. Of course, they could have just endorsed birth control ... but, sure, it's WAY easier to just reorganize the entire netherworld." via
Technorati tags: The+Daily+Show, Catholic, religion, humor, activism |
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| Reason #6721 of why I don't listen to Saskatoon radio stations |
What, besides the fact that they exclusively play music from 20+ years ago, in constant rotation?! (I can only handle SO much Bryan Adams, "Smoke on the Water" and AC/DC, thankyouverymuch)
Today, while driving around town, I heard a radio forecaster enthusiastically announce that on Monday, the temperature would get "up" to about -6 ... he then followed up this statement by announcing that while it will be -6, the windchill will still make it feel like -25!
Why bother announcing a theoretical "temperature" that's 20 degrees above what it actually FEELS like outside?! Oy, Saskatchewan winters.
Technorati tags: Saskatchewan, winter, cold, freezing, when+is+spring? |
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| Jesus was a Playa |
 If you're getting wary of the religious/biblezine-ish posts, you're outta luck. Now that I'm working on my thesis every day (!!), I'm destined to have this garbage in my head at all times.
Yesterday I discovered there's yet ANOTHER biblezine to add to the Revolve family -- I give you the hip-hop version of the New Testament, Real.
Here is Real's take Jesus calming the stormy waters:
Jesus awoke and asked them,
'Are y'all doubters out there pouting for real
What's the deal?
Where's all that faith you always talking about when I'm not around?
How you gone' doubt right now?
Check this out
... I'm talking to the waters and clouds
Rain and wind, y'all both calm down.
via "Glossy Scripture"
Eeeek. Any guesses on what the next niche a biblezine will target?
Technorati tags: biblezines, real, eeek, religion, christianity, pop+culture |
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| Latest literary victims |
Today was a nice day to check my mailbox, because I got not one -- but two -- great reads to distract me from the brain drain that is thesis writing.
 First of all I received an advance copy of Brian McLaren's latest, The Secret Message of Jesus. I'm just a little excited at the privilege of getting to read this bad boy a full 3 months before it's officially released.
We've already read the first four chapters of the book -- and it hasn't disappointed. In the introduction, McLaren specifically addresses readers like me:
I'm especially hopeful that this book will be helpful to people who consider themselves spiritual but not religious, or interested in Jesus but not Christianity. Even though I've been a pastor for twenty-some years, I sympathize, as there is much in the religous establishment that repels me. That's one of the reasons why I have looked forward to writing this book: I believe the secret message of Jesus provides a clear alternative and a different direction than our religious establishments generally take. There's already controversy surrounding this book -- particularly surrounding its choice of title, and it hasn't even been released yet (nothing like having an informed opinion!).
Regarding the title of the book, McLaren writes that he originally wanted it to read The Secret Message of Jesus: His Surprising and Largely Untried Plan for a Political, Social, Religious, Artistic, Economic, Intellectual, and Spiritual Revolution -- but he opted instead for the shortened version. I think his original choice just outs the former English-major side of himself, and his affinities for colonized, longish titles (of which I'm also a self-proclaimed offender).
I'm sure there'll be more quotes and thoughts that I'll be adding, as I read about the "secret" message. I'll be sure to post 'em up for all to see, and I know that Jordon will be doing a book review of it, soon.
The other book received today is Ralph C. Wood's Flannery O'Connor and the Christ-Haunted South, from my favorite abbess. This one is bound to make me feel divided -- I know that part of me is going to ache for home, while the other half will be busy dissecting how "home" has shaped me (good and bad) into the person I am today.
I was talking to Jerry today about the great books we've read together lately. Who needs a social life, when you can cuddle and read a book together? Last night we finished Kurt Vonnegut's A Man Without a Country, and we're also reading Susan Jacoby's Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism -- alongside with McLaren's latest.
Technorati tags: book, reading, Brian+McLaren, Flannery+O'Connor, The+Secret+Message+of+Jesus, Flannery+O'Connor+and+the+Christ-Haunted+South |
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| Sideway'd |
 So we finally got around to watching Sideways tonight --
I roughly knew what it was about beforehand, so I insisted we pick up a bottle of wine to drink as we watched it.
I picked out a Merlot.
Oops.
(if you've seen the movie, you'll get the allusion.)
Not a bad show, it had a few laugh-out-loudly moments (and I now have a slightly bigger girl-crush on Sandra Oh), but I suppose the moralist in me is a little disturbed by a few of the subtle messages of the film -- particularly the whole condone-the-acts-of-a-misogynist- sexually-obsessed-male parts.
But, I suppose I'll ponder it some more -- perhaps after this Merlot dies off a bit.
Technorati tags: Sideways, film+review, wine
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