Tag Archives: politics

Rockin’ it With One String, Some Jesus Jokes, Minons With Pets, Awesome Con, and Useful Dark Emotions

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This entry is part 10 of 100 in the series Today's Tidbits

The second annual Awesome Con kicked off today. I couldn’t make it to the “preview” day, but I apparently had a bunch of friends who were there and it looks decent enough. I’ll be there all weekend… since I was in on the Kickstarter and got a good deal on the passes. I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking forward to–I still don’t think I’m a big enough fan of anything–but I have little doubt I’ll see some interesting stuff.

Easter may be one of the more serious liturgical holidays for Christians (at least leading up to the whole Resurrection thing), but that’s exactly the sort of setup that makes for some funny takes on things. There were a couple of those in the feed today. The X-Men flavored one was a particular favorite, though texting at Gethsemane (instead of dozing off) is an appropriate modernization, I think.

Oh, and in case you missed it, according to Princeton, the U.S. isn’t even close to a democracy any more. Nope, we’re an oligarchy now. So, pay up in order to have a voice.

Old Shows Kind of Back Again, NSA Doing Questionable Things, Ghosts (Maybe), Batman, and Jesus’ Wife (Also Maybe)

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This entry is part 5 of 100 in the series Today's Tidbits

One of my absolute favorite iterations of Batman was the 90s cartoon version produced by Bruce Timm and voiced by Kevin Conroy. It managed to capture both the dark and light sides of Batman in stories that were well written, entertaining, and drawn with such an amazing, unique style that nothing has really ever come close since. Batman turns 75 this year and Timm and company put out one short (hopefully one of many) to celebrate. The fact that it’s done in the style of an old movie serial episode is just brilliant.

Speaking of blasts from the past, the other really neat news bit today was about a tiny bit of papyrus with some Coptic writing on it. It refers, in the fragment that’s readable, to the wide of Jesus Christ and has, apparently, been certified to at least be really old. What kind of weight the announcement carries kind of depends on how you feel about such things. A lot of scholars out there have no problem with the idea of Jesus having a wife. Some other people, though, get a bit… bent out of shape… at the suggestion. Personally, I just find it interesting.

Finally, there was mention in one story in my feed of one of my absolute favorite classic parapsychological experiments: The Phillip Experiment. Wherein a group of experimenters wondered if they could conjure a completely made up spirit. In short, they kind of did. What did it prove? Well, that’s a bit up for grabs. They weren’t even sure exactly how it worked… just that it did. It’s that bit of ambiguity that really makes me want to try to repeat their experiment. Someday…

The Last Code Talker, Some Classic Confessional Humor, a Catchy Video Tune, and the Culture of Shut Up

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This entry is part 2 of 100 in the series Today's Tidbits

There were also cool amphibious ATVs and not so cool allegations that USAID created a social network in Cuba to spy on people.

Yeah, I run the gamut on things. I kind of pride myself on the variety of stuff I share out and the diversity that becomes apparent in some of the discussions that go on. It’s good to know that I can always count on my friends to always keep me on my toes and leaning new stuff.

And that’s why that “Culture of Shut Up” situation bothers me a bit. In no small part because, try as I might to avoid it, I know I’m guilty of fueling it sometimes.

I’m still not sure how I feel about the Mozilla CEO being forced to resign by public opinion. I did feel that the Duck Dynasty guy got a raw deal when the Internet went apeshit over his comments (though it seems that turned out a net positive for the DD crew… tons of publicity at a low, low cost). I don’t feel bad about taking geocentrists to task for their utter refusal to accept just how nonsensical their view is… just like I don’t feel bad about taking those who put science and religion into a mutually exclusive equation. (They’re not, plenty of scientists with faith and plenty of faithful who don’t scoff at science.)

I do try to stay aware of where I stand in all of that. Of when I encourage others to speak, discourage them to do so, remain silent and just let things play out. Without question, I do try to facilitate more than shut down lines of discussion. But it’s a tough line to walk sometimes… and it leads to a lot of uncomfortable internal dialogues.

Which side of things are you on? Do you pay attention to how your words and action impact others?

Year Seven

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DC Capitol Police[This was originally posted in 2008 on my LiveJournal]

For all the posturing and pontificating of the politicians in charge of things, you’d think the world was an infinitely safer place (thought not quite yet safe enough for us to actually feel safe, mind you–still have to keep spending all that money and adding new measures for our own safety, y’know).

The simple fact is: it isn’t.

If anything, we’re in more actual danger now than we were before. As economic times get tough–as that belt tightens and the challenge of putting food on the table spreads to more and more citizens who were used to being pretty OK gets added to all the other stresses of modern life–friction among the classes heats up. Add to that the still increasing rhetoric about unseen enemies and how our own political parties (whichever one the speaker isn’t part of) are just out for themselves and looking to screw you over and we’re potentially in a powder keg playing with matches.

Yes, I’m negative and cynical on this point. And days like today–especially during weeks like this week (where not only am I stressed out by work but also had to walk through a swarm of cops, some with automatic weapons, on my way to work yesterday)–bring that out in spades.

September 11, 2001… I was a reporter when it happened… it and what followed most certainly didn’t change most things for the better.

It’s an ongoing thing. (Read what I’ve written in years past with that link… I’ll come up with something more coherent when I’m done with work.)

Six Years

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War [Without End] on Terror[This was originally posted in 2007 on my LiveJournal]

I’ve said it all before.

In summation, we have been destroying ourselves.

No one needs to attack us again. We have done and continue to do more damage to what I consider the heart and soul of the American Ideal, the grand dream this country represented for a very long time.

Our leaders continue to disrespect the memories and destroyed lives of the more than 6,000 people who have passed on our side of the conflict (those in the initial attacks and those who have died on the actual battlefield).

Our blindly “patriotic” and scared countrymen are blind to the forces that influence them.

Our “bold and outspoken” representatives on the other side of the argument continue to be ineffective and dull.

Our “enemy” continues to be poorly defined and, in my opinion, exaggerated to nonsensical levels.

We have been destroying ourselves.

Infinitely more effective for our real enemies. They need do nothing but sit, watch and then come in to sweep up the shattered, withering pieces.