I don't get a lot of chain letter e-mail anymore, thank goodness, but I recieved one today that came just when I needed a pick me up. It contained a few pearls of wisdom that resonated, so I will share them.
>> The best relationship is one where your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
>> At least once a year go someplace you've never been before.
>> Don't let a little dispute ruin a great relationship.
>> Remember that NOT getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
If that last one is true, I'm one of the luckiest men in the world. Take care all!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
...of vaccines and creationists...
Thanks, Gary Trudeau, for your Sunday comic of Dec. 18, 2005. You got me thinking that if creationists truly despise evolution and truly believe it is a fallacy, they should not choose to be vaccinated. Bacteriological science is based on the concept of evolution... that's why we have a new flu shot each year: because bacteria are perhaps the fastest evolving life form on earth.
Now before you send me hate mail, I'm not advocating that anyone be denied vaccines if they want them. I AM saying that it is quite hypocritical to say one is a dyed-in-the-wool creationist and then go out to get his or her vaccinations. If people's beliefs are stuck in the 15th century, should they really choose the benefits of the 21st century--especially those benefits brought about by something they don't believe actually exists: evolution? Just a thought as we enter the holiday season. ;)
Now before you send me hate mail, I'm not advocating that anyone be denied vaccines if they want them. I AM saying that it is quite hypocritical to say one is a dyed-in-the-wool creationist and then go out to get his or her vaccinations. If people's beliefs are stuck in the 15th century, should they really choose the benefits of the 21st century--especially those benefits brought about by something they don't believe actually exists: evolution? Just a thought as we enter the holiday season. ;)
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
What "war against Christmas"?!?!
For Christ's sake (no blasphemy intended) what that hell is up with Bill O'Reilly and some other Religious Reich people and their insistance that there is some organized "war against Christmas" conspiracy going on here? I don't seen anyone feeding Christians to lions or closing churches. By the way, to be persecuted, doesn't one have to be in the minority in some way? I just don't get this!
First off, a huge deal is being made that Target stores and some other larger chain discount stores are encouraging their staff members to say "Happy Holidays" to their customers instead of "Merry Christmas". Haven't people been saying Happy Holidays for as long as you can remember? What is wrong with that? Yes, Christmas is a major holiday at this time, but there are other holidays like Haunukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, and even the winter solstice. Note: because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the holy month of Ramadan now mainly falls in November. My question: what's wrong with a business (yes, Target is a business not a church, unless you mean a church of capitalism) trying to be inclusive and offer a generic "Happy Holidays" greeting?
Much ado about nothing is also taking place about the use of the term "holiday tree" vs. "Christmas tree". For God's sake, the entire tree thing is based on a pagan concept to begin with! Apparently the yule tradition in many Germanic tribes involved sacrificing animals and slave and suspending them from the branches of trees! (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree) Maybe it should be called a "Pagan Tree" for accuracy!
For that matter, Christmas was purposely chosen to take place right around the pagan celebration of the solstice in order to help Christianize the pagans. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9082431)
Perhaps I would agree with Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich that there truly was a "war on Christmas" if, indeed, the police were boarding up churches and/or arresting people for attending services or something like that. Such is NOT the case in my observations. The latest statistic I saw indicated that roughly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians.
Yes, there is definitely a Christian majority here. But there is a key point that Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich seem to be overlooking: the U.S. is a democracy, NOT A THEOCRACY. We have freedom of religion and a tradition of separation of church and state (although that seems to be eroding a bit because of Mr. O'Reilly and the Religions Reich). So there is absolutely nothing wrong with businesses encouraging "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" simply because it prevents the awkwardness of potentially saying "Merry Christmas" to a Jewish or Islamic patron (not to mention the many other religions Americans subscribe to).
You keep watching, Mr. O'Reilly, and let us know when Christians are truly being persecuted! Until then, please shut up about it and focus your "news reporting" on the war against the poor and middle class, the war on education, the war on drugs, or maybe even the war in Iraq.
First off, a huge deal is being made that Target stores and some other larger chain discount stores are encouraging their staff members to say "Happy Holidays" to their customers instead of "Merry Christmas". Haven't people been saying Happy Holidays for as long as you can remember? What is wrong with that? Yes, Christmas is a major holiday at this time, but there are other holidays like Haunukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, and even the winter solstice. Note: because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the holy month of Ramadan now mainly falls in November. My question: what's wrong with a business (yes, Target is a business not a church, unless you mean a church of capitalism) trying to be inclusive and offer a generic "Happy Holidays" greeting?
Much ado about nothing is also taking place about the use of the term "holiday tree" vs. "Christmas tree". For God's sake, the entire tree thing is based on a pagan concept to begin with! Apparently the yule tradition in many Germanic tribes involved sacrificing animals and slave and suspending them from the branches of trees! (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree) Maybe it should be called a "Pagan Tree" for accuracy!
For that matter, Christmas was purposely chosen to take place right around the pagan celebration of the solstice in order to help Christianize the pagans. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9082431)
Perhaps I would agree with Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich that there truly was a "war on Christmas" if, indeed, the police were boarding up churches and/or arresting people for attending services or something like that. Such is NOT the case in my observations. The latest statistic I saw indicated that roughly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians.
Yes, there is definitely a Christian majority here. But there is a key point that Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich seem to be overlooking: the U.S. is a democracy, NOT A THEOCRACY. We have freedom of religion and a tradition of separation of church and state (although that seems to be eroding a bit because of Mr. O'Reilly and the Religions Reich). So there is absolutely nothing wrong with businesses encouraging "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" simply because it prevents the awkwardness of potentially saying "Merry Christmas" to a Jewish or Islamic patron (not to mention the many other religions Americans subscribe to).
You keep watching, Mr. O'Reilly, and let us know when Christians are truly being persecuted! Until then, please shut up about it and focus your "news reporting" on the war against the poor and middle class, the war on education, the war on drugs, or maybe even the war in Iraq.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Favorite music - the 2005 edition
As we approach the end of yet another year, it's time for me to pull together a list of my favorite music. 2005 wasn't a bad year, even for mainstream music. Here are my picks from 2005.
1. "Warnings/Promises" - Idlewild
2. "Birds Make Good Neighbors" - the Rosebuds
3. "The Magic Numbers" - the Magic Numbers
4. "Lovekraft" - Super Furry Animals
5. "Paper Tigers" - Caesars
6. "Employment" - Kaiser Chiefs
7. "Spelled in Bones" - Fruitbats
8. "Illinois" - Sufjan Stevens
9. "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept" - Louis XIV
10. "The Alternative to Love" - Brendan Benson
11. "Urgency" - the Pale Pacific
12. "Psychology" - Discover America
13. "Guero" - Beck
14. "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" - Eels
15. "Why Should the Fire Die" - Nickel Creek
16. "You Could Have It So Much Better" - Franz Ferdinand
17. "Haughty Melodic" - Mike Doughty
18. "Gimme Fiction" - Spoon
19. "Aha Shake Heartbreaker" - Kings of Leon
20. "Get Behind Me, Satan" - the White Stripes
21. "Silent Alarm" - Bloc Party
22. "Oh No" - OK Go
23. "Out of Exile" - Audioslave
24. "Back to Me" - Kathleen Edwards
25. "Gone Ain't Gone" - Tim Fite
26. "The Bravery" - the Bravery
27. "Elevator" - Hot Hot Heat
28. "Stars of CCTV" - Hard Fi
29. "Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff" - Shout Out Louds
30. "Open Season" - British Sea Power
Best reissues: the Eurythmics back catalog with bonus cuts
Absolutely worst "song": "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas
1. "Warnings/Promises" - Idlewild
2. "Birds Make Good Neighbors" - the Rosebuds
3. "The Magic Numbers" - the Magic Numbers
4. "Lovekraft" - Super Furry Animals
5. "Paper Tigers" - Caesars
6. "Employment" - Kaiser Chiefs
7. "Spelled in Bones" - Fruitbats
8. "Illinois" - Sufjan Stevens
9. "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept" - Louis XIV
10. "The Alternative to Love" - Brendan Benson
11. "Urgency" - the Pale Pacific
12. "Psychology" - Discover America
13. "Guero" - Beck
14. "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" - Eels
15. "Why Should the Fire Die" - Nickel Creek
16. "You Could Have It So Much Better" - Franz Ferdinand
17. "Haughty Melodic" - Mike Doughty
18. "Gimme Fiction" - Spoon
19. "Aha Shake Heartbreaker" - Kings of Leon
20. "Get Behind Me, Satan" - the White Stripes
21. "Silent Alarm" - Bloc Party
22. "Oh No" - OK Go
23. "Out of Exile" - Audioslave
24. "Back to Me" - Kathleen Edwards
25. "Gone Ain't Gone" - Tim Fite
26. "The Bravery" - the Bravery
27. "Elevator" - Hot Hot Heat
28. "Stars of CCTV" - Hard Fi
29. "Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff" - Shout Out Louds
30. "Open Season" - British Sea Power
Best reissues: the Eurythmics back catalog with bonus cuts
Absolutely worst "song": "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
100+ Favourite Songs of 2023
Good music is out there. I just need to do some sleuthing to find many of the songs that comprise this list. Here are 100-and-some songs I d...
-
Good music is out there. I just need to do some sleuthing to find many of the songs that comprise this list. Here are 100-and-some songs I d... -
After reviewing my various lists (you know, those half-made lists mostly circling around in my head) I came up with my favorite songs of 200...
-
My friend Alex pointed out this mildly disturbing language trend recently. I'm sure you've heard it: the "yeah, no phenomenon.&...