“Git ‘er done!” The cry of the modern masses. It, perhaps, says something about our society that we prize the completion of tasks above all else. Why else, do we reward students for doing their homework, even if that homework teaches them nothing? Why else to we heap kudos upon those who finish a race, even if they run it so slow as to reap no physical benefit? Why else to we have social sites where people can crow their day’s accomplishments to an audience of peers and receive a chorus of congratulations for nothing more earth-shattering than eating breakfast?
Is it any wonder that I find this mentality….lacking? No one who knows me is surprised, I’m sure. I hate everything, I’m told.Continue reading »
Recently in one of my online “discussions” (read “arguments”), I was in a heated debate with another heathen unbeliever about what a Christian is. He was, I think, being rather generous in describing Christian beliefs, and stated that most Christians don’t actually believe the key tenets of their faith. He instead asserted that most had a more liberal deistic belief, and that they called themselves “Christian” mostly out of tradition. Needless to say, I’m intrigued to see if this is the case.
CLICK FOR SURVEY
To that end, I’ve developed a simple survey to measure Christian beliefs. If you consider yourself a Christian, please respond as honestly as possible about what religious statements in the survey you believe to be literally true. Note that when I say “literally,” I mean that a statement like “angels exist” really and truly means that there are ethereal entities called “angels” that work as agents of a supreme being and interact with humanity on his behalf, not that sometimes people do angelic things and they are metaphorical “angels” doing the work of a higher power. You dig?
So have at it, and please answer honestly with the literal interpretation in your mind. Feel free to pass the link on to any of your Christian friends. This is for any denomination that considers itself Christian. So, if you would ever self-identify as a Christian (were someone to ask you if you were one) then this survey is for you. I will share the survey results in a blog entry once I get the preset number of respondents (which may be a long while, at the rate my blog is viewed). Looking forward to your answers!
Nice alliterative title, eh? It took me ages with my nose in a Thesaurus!
So, you’ve heard the craaaazy news, right? It’s all over the place! Yes, friends, Wonder Woman is changing her look, and it is serious business! There are stories in the Washington Post, The Boston Herald, and the L.A. Times to name a few! What? It’s not like there’s anything more important to be talking about. Which is why I’m going to blather on about it here!!
Folks are up in arms about the costume change. Some say, why mess with success. Others say what’s the big deal? Some think it will reinvigorate the series. Others say it’s awfully cold fighting crime in a silk teddy. So what does this new hero look like?
So, there it is. The amazing Amazonian warrior princess is scrapping her old digs for some new threads. She’s ditching the bustiér that barely contains her considerable cleavage, and trading up for some too-tight black pants, and a jacket with the sleeves pushed up. It’s a daring new look! Except for that it isn’t new at all. That’s really my only beef with it. It’s 1982 all over again. Seriously people…costume changes are fine, but do we need to buy the costume at American Apparel?!? I hate the 80s fashion revival!!Continue reading »
Oh advertisers! You rascals, you! Yep, another random commercial caught my eye. This time it was one of those annoying “movin’ picture” ads you see on websites that are (thankfully) muted until you click on them. Man! If those weren’t muted they would be more annoying than regular TV ads that are (for reasons I can’t fathom) at double the decibel level of regular TV programming. But I digress.
Anyhoo, it’s a new and innovative product from our friends at LYSOL®! I couldn’t find the exact ad, but here’s a similar one for the same product:
Cool! You know, I’m as worried about germs as the next guy. I probably wash my hands 8-10 times a day! I’m downright compulsive about it! And, hey howdy, do they ever raise a good point! I never considered how many filthy, disgusting hands might be pressing down on my soap dispenser! Seriously, when do people push on a soap dispenser? Right after…..you know! And also after…EEEW! I mean…you could be getting some NASTY stuff on your hands every time you go to…wash…uh…wash your…
I’ll admit it, I don’t get activism. I don’t get the modern charity ideal. Today is Earth Day, and being one of the world of Twits, I joined countless internet slacktivists in making vague meaningless statements about the earth on Twitter. Actually, that’s not true, I tried pointing my measly group of followers to the EPA website that directs people to green energy providers in their state. No doubt it didn’t get much attention, and whatever…no biggie. What bugged me were the things that do get attention. There was some touting of a climate rally, much re-tweeting of a “how green are you” poll, and some talk of websites like this one where you are encouraged to buy a bracelet and get water to dying children (not that it has anything to do with Earth Day, but whatever).
Saving the world one fad at a time.
Now I have nothing against these causes, let me be clear. It’s all well and good. What I wonder about is the nature of activism in America. It all seems inextricably linked with commerce. If you aren’t being basically guilted into going to a TV or corporate website to be sold their products, you’re basically just buying something for status or fun and being told that a portion goes to something. Why doesn’t a corporation just donate their product to the needy group? Nope, sorry, they have to donate one thingy they plan to donate for every widget you buy!! Look at Lance Armstrong’s yellow bracelet fad….there was a time when it was a must-have fashion accessory, but why couldn’t the money to make those bracelets have just gone to the cause instead of only a portion? Yeah, yeah, human nature…economics, advertising, blah, blah.
What about the rallies? Are they really convincing anyone, or just making people feel like they have control. Sometimes (like with tea party rallies) I hope it’s just the latter. But then make it a big event. Get the celebrities to show up! Get the corporations to donate free widgets for the attendees! Get politicians! Get Sting to sing a song! Make signs and chant chants! But in the end, what’s been changed? You’ve rallied for the environment, and maybe got some media attention. But what if each of those 50,000 attendees just went to the EPA website and told their electric company that they only wanted to buy green energy? What if they each got 2 friends to do the same? What if those corporate sponsors switched their companies to only green energy? Or what if they invested in green tech for their corporate offices and factories? Or what if they encouraged their employees to do the same? Or if they used that cash to pay the difference in price for every employee who switched?
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