coComments related to wlinden

I frequently get Facebook frie

2009-11-22T21:25:14.980+01:00

I frequently get Facebook friend invitations from dancers in other countries who I do not know. The only way I can make sense of it is to assume they are systematically looking up all their friends-of-friends. As Manager of New York Bellydance Tribe, the only time I asserted my right to delete something involved an "ad" for "one on one tantric instruction for women" from somebody who offered a link to photographs of his ... equipment. I could only think that this was a WEIRD pickup line!

I frequently get Facebook frie

2009-11-22T21:25:01.482+01:00

The overall impression I get f

2009-11-20T16:50:08.415+01:00

The overall impression I get from dalea is that it is OK to villify Mrs. Palin, provided it is done in politically correct fashion.

If the screenplay does not but

2009-11-20T16:47:01.102+01:00

If the screenplay does not butcher the book (as the first American publisher did to A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, hint, hint..), than I have to say it does have "a hint of redemption". The boy never loses faith that they are "carrying the fire". And he did find the "good guys".

I can only recall what Honest

2009-11-19T22:58:12.231+01:00

I can only recall what Honest Abe said: Q:How many legs does a dog have, if you call a tail a leg? A:Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one. The same for people who reject the social construction of species to "identify as" elves, dragons or vampires. (Search for "otherkin".)

"Beg the question" does not me

2009-11-19T22:54:56.631+01:00

"Beg the question" does not mean "provoke the question" or "call for the question". It is the logical fallacy of PETITIO PRINCIPII. "Rightfully" does not mean "rightly".

At least he did not say "We as

2009-11-17T22:27:30.269+01:00

At least he did not say "We ask you through your child Jesus..."

If they think we are going to

2009-11-15T21:20:24.541+01:00

If they think we are going to take whatever it is lying down, they better think again!

I also remember that almost im

2009-11-15T19:17:30.506+01:00

I also remember that almost immediately after news reports of the arrests in the Oklahoma bombing, the person passing the news on to me identified the suspects as "white supremacists", of which there is also zero evidence. I guess all white terrorists are interchangeable Rightwingnuts. Recall the coverage when Colin Ferguson went on a commuter train and started shooting any white passenger he saw. "The media" assured us that he was just a loony, despite the references in his papers to "racist Caucasians", and race had nothing to do with it. Can anyone doubt that if a white shooter had started killing black passengers, we would be told that race had everything to do with it?

A possibility is that "Holy Sp

2009-11-15T19:13:14.303+01:00

A possibility is that "Holy Spirit" is considered a technical term outside the "normal" vocabulary of readers. Remember, a Times article considered necessary to inform readers that the "Resurrection section" of a Bach mass "follows the Crucifixion section." From my experience, in the everyday conversation of most self-styled-mainline Protestant, "God" means always and only the Father, with "Jesus" considered a separate and subordinate being. (As Sayers notes "Most of these are Arian heretics. Or possibly Adoptionists. They seldom formulate their Christology with any precision.) "Annaholyghost? Wozzat?"

Update: Republican-Libertarian

2009-11-07T22:50:05.377+01:00

Update: Republican-Libertarian-Conservative-Independence candidate Halloran wins! Now, it remains to be seen whether our friends will hail him as the first pagan elected to office in New York, or continue insisting that "Paganism" is a specific religion, and excludes him. Is he is or is he aint their baby? As far as Satanism goes... I have been exasperated by repeatedly reading assertions by neo-pagans that Satanists are "really" Christians... (Those male-principle-worshippers are all the same, y'know..) Sure, and anti-Semites are Jews, and anti-Communists are Communists, and for that matter, atheists are "really" Christians, since they seem quite specific on WHICH god they Don'tbelievein. (As Chesterton says, if you don't think so, try blaspheming Thor.)

"Paganism" is not a specific r

2009-11-04T05:43:45.287+01:00

"Paganism" is not a specific religion. If you disagree, you can start by getting atheists to stop using the label. As a Magicknet poster remarked, "If I wanted to identify myself as what I am NOT, I might as well call myself 'Not Tom Mix'."

Correction: Dan Halloran is th

2009-11-04T05:42:12.833+01:00

Correction: Dan Halloran is the Republican-LIBERTARIAN candidate (and did not discuss his religion with the c/a/b/a/l/ caucus who nominated him.) I note another case which does not fit the MSM wisdom about Republicans being the fanatical bigots and "party of hate"... unless Asa-worshipers are considered part of the Religious Right (TM). And if we are impelled to take up the ways of our ancestors... half of my ancestors would not have spoken to the other half, no matter WHICH way you insist on slicing it up.

As the Curt Jester remarked (<

2009-11-01T20:19:55.907+01:00

As the Curt Jester remarked ("Blogger slams slams"), future historians may conclude that at the turn of the century there was a Pope Slams on the throne. "Pope slams this, Pope slams that."

So why aren't the "liberals" s

2009-10-31T23:44:15.208+01:00

So why aren't the "liberals" sneering at "Obama's secret plan", as they did at Nixon?

Sometimes TheVatican "endorses

2009-10-31T22:16:56.510+01:00

Sometimes TheVatican "endorses". If some monsignor ordered spaghetti carbonara for his lunch with a journalist, the "reporter" would write "Vatican endorses carbonara". Now, if an assistant to an assistant makes some remark, we don't read "White House slams Harry Potter"... or do we?

If these "angry, reactionary,

2009-10-27T17:16:55.038+01:00

If these "angry, reactionary, misogynistic, homophobic people are so worthless, why are the Bishop Provenzanos so anxious to hold on to them? They sound like the chorus in IOLANTHE... You break our laws, you are our foe. We cry because we hate you so. You very wicked trads. You homophobes... Don't go!

Speaking as an Anglican, while

2009-10-25T18:01:15.854+01:00

Speaking as an Anglican, while many including maybe the Pope himself, think that the only real difference between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches is gender and sexuality issues, The Bishop of Long Island is making no attempt to dispel that impression. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/liberal-episcopalians-unimpressed-by-vaticans-bid/

Hey, Abbott, how come they cal

2009-10-21T01:19:24.401+02:00

Hey, Abbott, how come they call them Sharpies when they ain't sharp?

This first husband of hers see

2009-10-21T00:22:00.726+02:00

This first husband of hers seems to have been in total control: he didn’t want kids, so she couldn’t have them. End of story. He was much older than her, in a position of authority (her college professor) and she had no family support, to put it mildly; he was all she had, emotionally and financially. So what he wanted, he got - or else. So where is the "pro-choice" concern with THIS woman's "right to choose"? Nowhere to be heard. "Pro-choice" is camouflage for pro-abortion. Period.

My goodness! Those nefarious P

2009-10-18T21:48:47.008+02:00

My goodness! Those nefarious Papists are not only conducting "secret rites" and "blood rituals", they have kept it a secret from me, at any rate, that they are secret!

Another persistent things-that

2009-10-12T00:07:47.456+02:00

Another persistent things-that-make-you-go-eeeh! is the use of "paranoia" for the state of being "paranoid" --leaving nothing for real paranoiacs.

Pope Benedict should have gott

2009-10-11T23:37:01.972+02:00

Pope Benedict should have gotten it. St. Malachy clearly indicated his forthcoming achievements as a peacemaker by foretelling that he would be GLORIA OLIVAE. None of the other possibilities fit: he is not an Olivetan (or a monk of any other kind), he is not from an olive country, andthere are no olive branches in his arms.

The unsourced claim that it is

2009-10-11T23:32:41.131+02:00

The unsourced claim that it is "practiced by 500,000" is almost as bad as using the passive voice. I suspect that what they really mean is "Jones claims that his religion is practiced...." And what happens when the United Orthodox Jedi proclaim that Jones is a heretic, and hire the Dorsai to eradicate him? Of course, we are wondering why he did not just intone "I am not the shopper you are looking for... nothing to see here."

I guess that calling people fa

2009-09-24T19:52:34.542+02:00

I guess that calling people fascists, racists, war-lovers, murderers, "evildoers", etc., etc., is indicative of nonpartisanship.

Pain Technicians? You mean, th

2009-09-24T19:51:22.808+02:00

Pain Technicians? You mean, they're unionized?

Strike "of color". The mooov

2009-09-24T01:45:41.501+02:00

Strike "of color". The mooovement goon squads -- i.e., the loonies now running the asymlum -- accused me of "racism". Funny, the goons all looked white to me.

"I wonder if anyone had asked

2009-09-08T21:35:36.326+02:00

"I wonder if anyone had asked say in 1960 if the country would make abortion legal across the country and over the next 40 years or so kill 50 million infants. If they had said this, they would have been branded as some kind of nut." And they would probably have been told "Don't be silly, there's no slippery slope, there's no slippery slope..."

And remember the "leaked White

2009-09-08T21:27:57.170+02:00

And remember the "leaked White House memo" revealing that Nixon was going to cancel the election and repeal the Bill of Rights?

But that's DIFFERENT!

2009-09-08T20:30:45.004+02:00

But that's DIFFERENT!

I am reminded of a poster from

2009-09-08T19:24:41.130+02:00

I am reminded of a poster from the Catholic League: "I want to smoke." "NO! ABSTAIN!" "I want to drink." "NO! ABSTAIN!" "I want to take drugs." "NO! ABSTAIN!" "I want to have sex." "Here's a condom."

Following which, all we "weird

2009-09-04T18:23:17.258+02:00

Following which, all we "weirdo sci-fi freaks" will annoy the Dark Lord (and the late Heinlein) by singing "The Green Hills of Earth" to the same tune.

Remember, the Gospel according

2009-09-03T03:09:24.759+02:00

Remember, the Gospel according to 24 tells us that people always tell the truth under torture.

WHY is it dishonest? WHY is it

2009-09-02T02:15:11.089+02:00

WHY is it dishonest? WHY is it "hate" and "bigotry" to say "marriage consists of a man and a woman", but not to say "marriage consists of two and only two adults". Sorry, Davis, I know living breathing polyandrists (and if I do, how many more are there I don't know?), and I doubt they would agree that they are figments of my paranoid imagination. Or that it is "dishonest" to discuss their stake in this. Or that it is adequately dealt with by chanting "La la la, there's no slippery slope!" They might even suggest that exerting emotional blackmail by calling the version you happen to want "marriage equality" makes some people more equal than others.

It is possible to answer quest

2009-08-26T22:59:32.150+02:00

It is possible to answer questions like "Does Church X ordain homosexuals?" But "gay-friendly" brings in all sorts of finagle factors. Is the church that sponsors Courage "gay-hostile"? Is the priest listed on the site for "private spiritual direction?"

The question nobody seems to b

2009-08-26T22:54:53.025+02:00

The question nobody seems to be asking, as usual, is-- who gets to decide whose relationships are "committed"? The synods? Some ordination committee? For that matter, how will applicants feel about inviting whoever-it-is into their bedrooms? This sort of fuzzy concept becomes an increasing problem. For instance, some years ago, there was a particularly lurid scandal in the (Anglican) Diocese of Long Island, which was just about ignored by the MSM. (Some of us might think that this was because there was no way to blame "celibacy" or "refusal" to ordain women, and therefore it did not fit their narrative; but that would be a paranoid conspiracy theory.) The editorial [expletive deleted]s at EPISCOPAL CHURCH LIFE, face with the need to admit something was wrong without risking their PC credentials, wrote that the allegations were of "indiscriminate sex". Now, it is usually possible to tell whether one is committing adultery or fornication (unless, perhaps, one is Bill Clinton). But how the Belgium do I know if I am being "discriminate" enough?

And Eliza Dushku (whose name c

2009-08-26T22:45:45.240+02:00

And Eliza Dushku (whose name came up when someone asked if it was true that "there are a lot of famous Mormon vampires." Ok, why is it that lds needs a blog? Why do lds need to try so hard to present a positive view of themselves? Why is it that the White House needs a blog? Why does the Obama administration need to try so hard to present a positive view of itself?

Great to have this back. BUT,

2009-08-23T19:17:26.592+02:00

Great to have this back. BUT, the wishlists still keep returning numerous blank items as "Related Editions", something which has been happening for over a year.

For many of us, "wafer" is lik

2009-08-14T00:41:55.581+02:00

For many of us, "wafer" is likely to recall Tom Lehrer's "Vatican Rag", and I will not incur the wrath by quoting it here.

"There are one or two out ther

2009-08-09T19:38:32.218+02:00

"There are one or two out there who used to be Protestants.... they communicate like professionals. They write books, they record tapes, they go on speaking tours. They are doing an immense amount of damage, Bracket." Dear Gloffgloom: It was a deft stroke slipping this into the "leaked" files. It should make that sob Shea's head swell more than ever, softening him up for our next attack. With luck, he might even start taking that nonsense about "followers" seriously!" Trofflick

"I prefer to seperate Christia

2009-08-09T19:25:59.388+02:00

"I prefer to seperate Christians into two categories: Trinitarian Christians and Godhead Christians. " So we New Churchmen are once again relegated to Noneoftheabove. Thanks, Your Holiness Troy.

"I prefer to seperate Christia

2009-08-09T19:25:07.070+02:00

"I prefer to seperate Christians into two categories: Trinitarian Christians and Godhead Christians. " So we New Churchmen are once more relegated to Noneoftheabove, Your Holiness

I was interested to find that

2009-07-29T04:28:42.623+02:00

I was interested to find that Tertullian is "the founder of Latin Christianity." I also watched Terry Jones' "Medieval Lives", where he includes "Saint Tertullian" in a parade of misogynistic horribles. If he can't get something that simple right, why should we believe him on big things?

These splinter groups are as m

2009-07-26T19:28:26.305+02:00

These splinter groups are as much Mormon as Muslims are Christian, they give as much heed to the totality of Smith’s teachings and to the book of Mormon as Muslims give heed to the New Testament. And they will tell you the same thing about the Temple church. I do not find we-are-right-they-are-wrong assertions helpful in covering (or understanding) stories. The Ervilistas broke away from the Church of the First Born when it was headed by Ervil's brother Joel.

I find "evangelist" preferable

2009-07-26T19:26:03.283+02:00

I find "evangelist" preferable to "cult leader", which is a judgement masquerading as a description. Dalea, you are going to be vehemently disputed by the many who insist that Alamo and his followers are not "really" Christian due to their heresies.

I remember reading in a book o

2009-07-22T00:49:35.986+02:00

I remember reading in a book on the LeBaron case(s) the statement that "Fundamentalist" often marry sisters, on the not unreasonable assumption that they will be more open to "sharing".