In other news, all pieces of the True Cross have declared really bad fakes
I remember hearing about this and having doubts.
I also saw that there is another expedition going to Mt. Ararat in search of Noah's ark. Hey, if they find an ark on the top of that mountain I will convert and spend my life spreading the word of the Lord. That is how confident I am that Noah's ark is not preserved on the top of a fucking mountain.
Since we are getting all goddy here I just saw another story about the Shroud of Turin. The shroud is my favorite religious fake. It's even cooler than that blood in, I think Milan, that supposedly came from some martyr. It liquifies once a year. The shroud is interesting to me because it is a very old legitimate medieval hoax. The story of its existence is more interesting than what it is supposed to be. Check out the poll next to this story. Over 40 percent of the responders think the shroud actually was wrapped around the bloody corpse of Jesus and a significant portion "don't know for sure." Fucking morons.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Monday, April 26, 2004
Ug Oomgowa or More than likely you don't give a whit about this
I like stock a car race. Today there was an unpopular end to a race. Today's Nascar Cup race ended under a yellow flag. The race was held at Talladega. Talladega is 2.66 miles around and the banking on the turns resembles a tidal wave. The drunken rednecks in the stands knew that if NASCAR stopped the race after a late caution, that once the race started with a two or one lap shootout, there would be a 85% chance of a wreck. There was also a better than fifty-fifty chance that this wreck would be spectacular. I'm talking about the possibility of ten or twelve cars smashing into each other at 190 mph. I'm talking about the chance of a 3000 pound car geting spun backwards, it's ass end lifting up into the air and then barrell rolling for over a thousand feet. Or both these things could happen at once. Hell, one of those cars could flip into the stands, killing dozens. Ten years ago that might have happened. But now, NASCAR has a national audience and a big wreck at the end of an already overly-risky restrictor-plate race would not play well in the media, especially after their best driver died three years ago at another track where the cars are hampered by a resctrictor plate.
So what did this sensible but, only now after useless injury and death, common occurence bring out in the fans? Anger and the acting out of that anger. Hundreds of fans on the front stretch tossed empty beer cans onto the track...after the race was already determined. How did the network announcers react? With the same outrage as David Poole. What nonsense. These fans who come to Talladega were weaned on carnage. The fwiggin' ads for races at Talladega feature big ole wrecks. NASCAR had a chance to offer these fans a chance at some big-time crashing, burning and flipping that was almost guaranteed by a one-lap shootout. These people were denied what they had been offered. They tossed aluminum cans onto a racetrack after the race had already been decided. Hey, these people were drunk. NASCAR has an official beer for christ's sake (notice the lack of capitalization of the word christ). Such hypocrisy is...presidential.
I like stock a car race. Today there was an unpopular end to a race. Today's Nascar Cup race ended under a yellow flag. The race was held at Talladega. Talladega is 2.66 miles around and the banking on the turns resembles a tidal wave. The drunken rednecks in the stands knew that if NASCAR stopped the race after a late caution, that once the race started with a two or one lap shootout, there would be a 85% chance of a wreck. There was also a better than fifty-fifty chance that this wreck would be spectacular. I'm talking about the possibility of ten or twelve cars smashing into each other at 190 mph. I'm talking about the chance of a 3000 pound car geting spun backwards, it's ass end lifting up into the air and then barrell rolling for over a thousand feet. Or both these things could happen at once. Hell, one of those cars could flip into the stands, killing dozens. Ten years ago that might have happened. But now, NASCAR has a national audience and a big wreck at the end of an already overly-risky restrictor-plate race would not play well in the media, especially after their best driver died three years ago at another track where the cars are hampered by a resctrictor plate.
So what did this sensible but, only now after useless injury and death, common occurence bring out in the fans? Anger and the acting out of that anger. Hundreds of fans on the front stretch tossed empty beer cans onto the track...after the race was already determined. How did the network announcers react? With the same outrage as David Poole. What nonsense. These fans who come to Talladega were weaned on carnage. The fwiggin' ads for races at Talladega feature big ole wrecks. NASCAR had a chance to offer these fans a chance at some big-time crashing, burning and flipping that was almost guaranteed by a one-lap shootout. These people were denied what they had been offered. They tossed aluminum cans onto a racetrack after the race had already been decided. Hey, these people were drunk. NASCAR has an official beer for christ's sake (notice the lack of capitalization of the word christ). Such hypocrisy is...presidential.
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Not good
You know I've always thought this whole Iraq thing was a bad idea, morally and practically. Yet I always believed that somehow it would work out. I always thought we would either hold it long enough for a new administration to come in and unfuck it or the administration would start dealing with reality and go international with it. Now it looks like it could turn into a long "generational conflict (I wish I could remember the name of the Sentaor who referred to it that way)" that could rip us apart like Vietnam, the civil rights movement, those big wars called one and two, the Civil War and KISS taking off their makeup.
Now I'm just a little scared.
People are actually debating the need for a draft...
By the way if a draft is necessary: fuck any kind of deferment.
You know I've always thought this whole Iraq thing was a bad idea, morally and practically. Yet I always believed that somehow it would work out. I always thought we would either hold it long enough for a new administration to come in and unfuck it or the administration would start dealing with reality and go international with it. Now it looks like it could turn into a long "generational conflict (I wish I could remember the name of the Sentaor who referred to it that way)" that could rip us apart like Vietnam, the civil rights movement, those big wars called one and two, the Civil War and KISS taking off their makeup.
Now I'm just a little scared.
People are actually debating the need for a draft...
By the way if a draft is necessary: fuck any kind of deferment.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Funny stuff
I'd like to remind you that Al Franken's radio show on Air America Radio is damn funny. Disregarding politics, Al is just one of the quickest wits in the world and the writing for his skits is excellent. His show is on from 12-3 EDT and can be heard on the website.
I'd like to remind you that Al Franken's radio show on Air America Radio is damn funny. Disregarding politics, Al is just one of the quickest wits in the world and the writing for his skits is excellent. His show is on from 12-3 EDT and can be heard on the website.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Feelin' mo' professional
Yesterday I did something that is a big deal in any young librarian's life. I gave my first booktalk. That thing I did last month was a book discussion. We had all read the book and sat down and discussed it. Yesterday I went to an old-folks home and gave a gathering of 16 octogenarians a short talk on three books. I'm a big wuss when it comes to public speaking and I was a little disappointed when I got into my car to head out to the retirement community and it started. My stomach was full of butterflies as I headed into the senior citizen ghetto. Once I exited the elevator I took to the third floor and walked into their modest library and was greeted by a couple of early arrivers and the activities cooridinator I calmed down a lot. Heck the coordinator even went and got me a glass of water after I asked where the drinking fountain was. Next time I am taking a bottle of water, I needed that water a couple of times.
The first book I discussed was "A Hero's Daughter" by Andrei Makine. I rushed through that one a little bit but I didn't screw it up. The second book was "Shooting the Sun" by Max Byrd. I was more composed with that book and I think I spoke confidently about it. Although I did get lost at one point. I took a sip of water and gathered my thoughts back up. The last book I nailed. It's called "The Mammoth Cheese" by Sheri Holman and it's one of the best books I've read in the last year. It's full of wonderfully realistic characters that all interact with one another. I really enjoyed describing how the characters all intertwined. I even fielded several questions from the ladies. They were actually paying attention. That felt really good.
My talk lasted about half an hour. I have never talked that long before. The longest presentation I ever gave in my schooling was ten minutes. I guess it's easier to talk about three good novels than any school assignment. When I wrapped up the ladies started grilling me. Wow, it was fortunate that I was prepared. They wanted details that I was able to provide. I think that is why it went so well because I was ready. It's amazing how much easier things are when you don't go about them half-assed. I answered questions for about fifteen minutes.
After I finished the press conference portion of the talk I spent a few minutes visiting with the ladies. I was pleased to see a few come up and write down the titles of the books for future reference. They were all so sweet and gave me really good feedback. Mostly to talk a little slower and louder since most of them are half deaf. I thought I was talking plenty loud. Any louder and I would have been shouting. I'll have to work on that. They have a small sound system there and there is no way in hell I am going to use that. They are very proud of their library. They showed me the new arrivals that the public library's group services department had just dropped off. On the shelf I saw the book "Empress Orchid" by Anchee Min. I was going to discuss that book yesterday but there is a large hold list on it and I couldn't get a copy. There it was right in front of me. I wish I had seen it before I started because I would have recommended it. Next time I'll peruse their library and check for books I am familiar with and wing a short discussion about one.
As I was walking out to my car in my post-presentation glow I remembered that I had forgotten to mention all the strong themes like family, faith, love and country that permeates "The Mammoth Cheese." Ah well, I'll do even better next time.
Yesterday I did something that is a big deal in any young librarian's life. I gave my first booktalk. That thing I did last month was a book discussion. We had all read the book and sat down and discussed it. Yesterday I went to an old-folks home and gave a gathering of 16 octogenarians a short talk on three books. I'm a big wuss when it comes to public speaking and I was a little disappointed when I got into my car to head out to the retirement community and it started. My stomach was full of butterflies as I headed into the senior citizen ghetto. Once I exited the elevator I took to the third floor and walked into their modest library and was greeted by a couple of early arrivers and the activities cooridinator I calmed down a lot. Heck the coordinator even went and got me a glass of water after I asked where the drinking fountain was. Next time I am taking a bottle of water, I needed that water a couple of times.
The first book I discussed was "A Hero's Daughter" by Andrei Makine. I rushed through that one a little bit but I didn't screw it up. The second book was "Shooting the Sun" by Max Byrd. I was more composed with that book and I think I spoke confidently about it. Although I did get lost at one point. I took a sip of water and gathered my thoughts back up. The last book I nailed. It's called "The Mammoth Cheese" by Sheri Holman and it's one of the best books I've read in the last year. It's full of wonderfully realistic characters that all interact with one another. I really enjoyed describing how the characters all intertwined. I even fielded several questions from the ladies. They were actually paying attention. That felt really good.
My talk lasted about half an hour. I have never talked that long before. The longest presentation I ever gave in my schooling was ten minutes. I guess it's easier to talk about three good novels than any school assignment. When I wrapped up the ladies started grilling me. Wow, it was fortunate that I was prepared. They wanted details that I was able to provide. I think that is why it went so well because I was ready. It's amazing how much easier things are when you don't go about them half-assed. I answered questions for about fifteen minutes.
After I finished the press conference portion of the talk I spent a few minutes visiting with the ladies. I was pleased to see a few come up and write down the titles of the books for future reference. They were all so sweet and gave me really good feedback. Mostly to talk a little slower and louder since most of them are half deaf. I thought I was talking plenty loud. Any louder and I would have been shouting. I'll have to work on that. They have a small sound system there and there is no way in hell I am going to use that. They are very proud of their library. They showed me the new arrivals that the public library's group services department had just dropped off. On the shelf I saw the book "Empress Orchid" by Anchee Min. I was going to discuss that book yesterday but there is a large hold list on it and I couldn't get a copy. There it was right in front of me. I wish I had seen it before I started because I would have recommended it. Next time I'll peruse their library and check for books I am familiar with and wing a short discussion about one.
As I was walking out to my car in my post-presentation glow I remembered that I had forgotten to mention all the strong themes like family, faith, love and country that permeates "The Mammoth Cheese." Ah well, I'll do even better next time.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Saturday Night
This last Saturday I went and saw a friend's band play at a place called The Room. If I can ever get their name straight in my head I will tell you what they are called. Here's a shot of Robin playing his geetar.
After his band played a local punk band called Minority Party played. They brought along some sidekick who was dressed in a like Mel Blanc's Mexican character from the Jack Benny show. Apparently his job was to get the crap kicked out of him by the crowd. I believe he was dressed as a Mexican caricature in order to make some kind of point about...um...minorities.
This last Saturday I went and saw a friend's band play at a place called The Room. If I can ever get their name straight in my head I will tell you what they are called. Here's a shot of Robin playing his geetar.
After his band played a local punk band called Minority Party played. They brought along some sidekick who was dressed in a like Mel Blanc's Mexican character from the Jack Benny show. Apparently his job was to get the crap kicked out of him by the crowd. I believe he was dressed as a Mexican caricature in order to make some kind of point about...um...minorities.
Fun little blog game I heard about. Ok, I'll play
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
"After a quick prayer of Thanksgiving, he gathered as many of the scattered tidbits as he could, and, after loosely replacing the lid, began climbing the hill of debris toward the stairwell and the thin patch of sky, with the box hugged tightly under one arm."
'A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller, Jr. 1988 Bantam paper back version, yo.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
"After a quick prayer of Thanksgiving, he gathered as many of the scattered tidbits as he could, and, after loosely replacing the lid, began climbing the hill of debris toward the stairwell and the thin patch of sky, with the box hugged tightly under one arm."
'A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller, Jr. 1988 Bantam paper back version, yo.
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