Today’s Holiday Time-Waster
December 13th, 2006
UPDATE: Try “Mrs. Claus” and “rap” and “Bush”
Categories: Holiday, Humor, I do too have a life | 1 Comment
The Bible Against Itself
December 13th, 2006
This came from the Skeptics Society, and could be quite interesting. Reprinted in its entirety:
NEWLY published by the Skeptics Society…
The Bible Against Itself is a witty and well-informed work of revisionist Bible scholarship, a courageous exercise in the deconstruction of Holy Writ and a healthy corrective to anyone who still thinks of the Bible as the revealed word of God.
Before the Bible was the Bible it was a lot of little books written by many writers with many different viewpoints.
If you open up the Bible and read it straight through, you will notice two things that should not be true if it had been written as a coherent whole and with a single purpose. First, the Bible is quite repetitious; second, the Bible frequently seems to contradict itself. Readers have often ignored these contradictions, and apologists have long tried to reconcile them. Randel Helms chooses a third course — to understand the contradictions by looking at the cultural and historical factors that produced them. (more…)
Categories: Books, Read Your Bible, Religion | 12 Comments
Police Powers
December 13th, 2006
I just read this post about police power, and in large part because of its Andy Griffith theme, I couldn’t help but be reminded of this, even though it’s not entirely related (it discusses what was considered “conservative” 40 years ago versus today).
Getting back to Tam’s post, while I’m not normally inclined to agree with about much of anything, I think that this is one of those areas where left-leaning types like me and libertarian-leaning types like her can find quite a bit of common ground. Xrlq’s protestations to the contrary aside, it has almost exclusively been the modern conservative movement that has moved us toward this sort of authoritarian government and sought to massively expand police powers, while seriously diminishing oversight. I’d expect most Americans — left, right, and center — to be able to agree that this is a Bad Thing. I’d argue that it’s mostly the moralistic, “religious right” Southern conservatives, with a healthy assist from the neo-cons, who are responsible for this authoritarian turn.
As for what to do about it, Tam hits on something here:
I don’t care if Johnny Law has a scary looking assault rifle. Heck, I have one, so why shouldn’t he? What I worry about is writing him a job description that makes it necessary to use the thing so much. We need to seriously re-think what constitutes an acceptable reason to send a policeman crashing through a door, rather than send him crashing through that door armed only with a nightstick and a whistle.
I’d take this one step further. I’d demand harsh punishments for those who overstep their bounds and abuse the powerful and potentially dangerous tools with which we’ve entrusted them. And I’d not limit that responsibility to those who executed the abusive raid; indeed, it’s the person who authorized it who must be held most responsible.
But I’m curious to know how peope from across the political spectrum feel about this, and what they think ought to be done about it.
H/T: SayUncle
Categories: Legal Issues, Politics | 9 Comments
Meme Time!
December 13th, 2006
UPDATED: I knew I had climbed a mountain, but I couldn’t remember which. I hiked to the top of El Yunque in Puerto Rico.
Via SayUncle, the “Shit I’ve Done” meme. Shit I’ve actually done is in bold below:
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
Categories: Bloggin, I do too have a life | 6 Comments
Christmas Lyric of the Day
December 13th, 2006
Another classic. I like the sense of relief, of finally having someone on your side as you face off with life, that God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen conveys. Maddy Prior has my favorite verison.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
Refrain
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.
In Bethlehem, in Israel, this blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger upon this blessèd morn;
The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.
Refrain
From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came;
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
Refrain
“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might.”
Refrain
The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl’em straightaway this blessèd Babe to find.
Refrain
But when to Bethlehem they came where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling unto the Lord did pray.
Refrain
Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.
Refrain
God bless the ruler of this house, and send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas may live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred that live both far and near—
That God send you a happy new year, happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.
Categories: Holiday, Xmas Lyric of the Day | No Comments
