When it comes to religion, Atheists and Christians* agree on almost everything. They only disagree about one god.
Christians may be offended when you reject their source of holy writ, but they are themselves rejecting the Torah, the Quran and the Bhagavad Gita.
I've been told by Christians - on many occasions - that morality comes directly from their god, and thus our laws and politics should reflect that. There's also a pretty noisy group of Muslims that say the same thing, except with entirely different laws.
I've had several Christians tell me that they believe in god - and that I should as well - because they've felt his presence. Of course, I've had a Hindu and a Jew tell me the same thing.
Ad infinitum.
Remember kids: we're all heretics, some just a little more than others.
* I don't want to pick on Christianity. Feel free to apply this post to the religion of your choice.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Misplaced Focus
I've been feeling crappy today. It's a long story involving a really bad reaction to inhaled dust. Regardless, it means that I spent my precious day off watching a lot of Hulu.
Hulu has a new (well, not that new...) option of watching a one or two minute commercial before a show rather than a few shorter commercials throughout. It's usually a pretty good bet, but some of the commercials - often billed as "short films" - wind up kinda confusing.
To me. the reigning champ is the ad for depression drug Cymbalta. The first twenty-five seconds is your normal "doesn't depression suck?" diatribe. The next minute or so consists entirely of side effects and warnings, ranging from worsened depression to "liver problems, potentially fatal."
They say corporate America doesn't care about the consumer, and here's a company willing to spend so much money to tell us how dangerous their product can be.
Hulu has a new (well, not that new...) option of watching a one or two minute commercial before a show rather than a few shorter commercials throughout. It's usually a pretty good bet, but some of the commercials - often billed as "short films" - wind up kinda confusing.
To me. the reigning champ is the ad for depression drug Cymbalta. The first twenty-five seconds is your normal "doesn't depression suck?" diatribe. The next minute or so consists entirely of side effects and warnings, ranging from worsened depression to "liver problems, potentially fatal."
They say corporate America doesn't care about the consumer, and here's a company willing to spend so much money to tell us how dangerous their product can be.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Civil Rights Museum
So I just got back from Memphis where I've had plenty of inspiration to write and absolutely no Internet connection. I'll try to get as much of this out as I can this week. I say "try" because I will be heading to America's Second Great Internet Black Hole: Kansas City, since my grandfather passed away.
Anywho...
For those less informed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, and the hotel at which he was shot has been turned into a museum.
That's pretty much the beginning and the end of the problem.
The Museum focuses hugely on Dr. King's death, and yet oh so little on his life. There is a huge exhibit - conveniently placed in the boarding house across the street from which the shot was allegedly fired - about the assassination. You can even look from the bathroom from which the shot was fired across the street to the balcony on which Dr. King was standing. Very morbid.
There was a timeline of King's work in 1968 - juxtaposed right next to a timeline of the alleged assassin. There is an evidence exhibit holding everything from the rifle to the assassin's undershorts. Wall after wall is filled with explanations of the plot and musings about possible conspiracies.
That's right - the dipshit who killed Dr. King gets equal billing.
As for other exhibits...they focused on the wrongs perpetuated against the black community. They highlighted violence. They highlighted strife. There was even a mock prison to show where protesters would be locked up, where visitors can sit and see how terrible it was.
I expected to see a celebration of change, a window into how visionaries can bring new light into dark times. I expected to read about life and hope, not death and violence.
And yet I can't get over this idea that these people studied Dr. King's life - and death - and somehow completely missed his message.
Anywho...
For those less informed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, and the hotel at which he was shot has been turned into a museum.
That's pretty much the beginning and the end of the problem.
The Museum focuses hugely on Dr. King's death, and yet oh so little on his life. There is a huge exhibit - conveniently placed in the boarding house across the street from which the shot was allegedly fired - about the assassination. You can even look from the bathroom from which the shot was fired across the street to the balcony on which Dr. King was standing. Very morbid.
There was a timeline of King's work in 1968 - juxtaposed right next to a timeline of the alleged assassin. There is an evidence exhibit holding everything from the rifle to the assassin's undershorts. Wall after wall is filled with explanations of the plot and musings about possible conspiracies.
That's right - the dipshit who killed Dr. King gets equal billing.
As for other exhibits...they focused on the wrongs perpetuated against the black community. They highlighted violence. They highlighted strife. There was even a mock prison to show where protesters would be locked up, where visitors can sit and see how terrible it was.
I expected to see a celebration of change, a window into how visionaries can bring new light into dark times. I expected to read about life and hope, not death and violence.
And yet I can't get over this idea that these people studied Dr. King's life - and death - and somehow completely missed his message.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I Got Your Space Rocks Right Here...
I just came across this article, care of Slashdot. I really don't know what to say.
Universal recently won a bid for the movie rights to Asteroids. This isn't some fancy Asteroids here, this is the 1979 Atari video game whose gameplay pretty much boils down to "turn, fire, repeat." I thought that it had to be a joke, until I found this article in nothing less than the New York Times. How does one even make fun of this?
Do you ask if they plan to shoot it in black and white to be true to the original?
Do you start suggesting casting? I'm thinking they should get Schwarzenegger to play a giant space rock!
Do you debate whether or not they should keep the score in the upper right hand corner?
Or do you simply lament that Universal won a "four-studio bidding war?" That's right: this isn't just one crazy guy at one studio - there were at least four crazy guys with millions of dollars behind them.
Good lord...
Go ahead - post your best one-liners in the comments section. At least we can get a good laugh out of this.
Universal recently won a bid for the movie rights to Asteroids. This isn't some fancy Asteroids here, this is the 1979 Atari video game whose gameplay pretty much boils down to "turn, fire, repeat." I thought that it had to be a joke, until I found this article in nothing less than the New York Times. How does one even make fun of this?
Do you ask if they plan to shoot it in black and white to be true to the original?
Do you start suggesting casting? I'm thinking they should get Schwarzenegger to play a giant space rock!
Do you debate whether or not they should keep the score in the upper right hand corner?
Or do you simply lament that Universal won a "four-studio bidding war?" That's right: this isn't just one crazy guy at one studio - there were at least four crazy guys with millions of dollars behind them.
Good lord...
Go ahead - post your best one-liners in the comments section. At least we can get a good laugh out of this.
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