that other guy’s thoughts

Despite their glorious leader being called “the devil,” die-hard Republicans will not take to the streets in protest. Venezuelan coffee shops will not be fire-bombed or looted. Venezuelan-American’s will not be gunned down on street corners. Effigies will not be burned and chants for the destruction of South America will not be shouted. Rioting will not erupt across the American heartland. Claims of insult and violent demands of apologizes will not ring out across the nation.

A bit of advice for the Venezuelan President. If you want any semblance of respect from anybody but the “I hate-America regardless” crowd. Please remember that the UN general assembly is not the Oprah book club. And even if recommending reading material for the ambassadors of the world was normal, don’t pick Chomsky, the guy is an idiot. I understand you share his bizarre faith in human nature and rabid distrust of the power. But if you’re really trying to make a point, there are plenty of anti-US foreign policy authors to quote and recommend, and none of them share the epistemologically backward-ass logic of Noam Chomsky.

In case you hadn’t known…

The Studio 60 series premier is tonight at 10/9c. It’s a close to a sure thing as you’re going to get in television.

ahhhh…the classic non-apology apology. Don’t apologize for the action that got you into trouble, merely express regret for the consequences of that action…and then hope nobody notices.

Normally the generally apathetic masses would let you off with that, but we’re not treading the normal ground here. Maybe typical, unfortunately so, but this isn’t normal by any rational definition.

The thing about it this time is that the purpose of the non-apology apology is misdirection. “Hey look I’m expressing regret, now lets get over it.” But what Benedict actually apologized for was exactly what the reaction he wanted in the first place.

With the ever flowing wisdom of the Friday prayers and speeches from mosques around the world courses through their veins, we learn that the Islamic street has two beefs with the holy pontificated one.

The first is that “The Pope called Islam evil.” which he didn’t. As has been stated in 800,000 news stories, he quoted a 14th century text while leading a scholarly discussion on the nature of religion, reason, and reformation. Which is exactly the kind of thing you’d like your religious leaders to do. As opposed to say, inciting a mob to violence. At to the bigger point, through the eyes of Catholicism, isn’t Islam evil? Muslims don’t recognize and worship Jesus Christ as the son of God, so aren’t they therefore going to hell, where the evil & wicked spend eternity. To deny Jesus is to deny God, and to deny God is evil. It’s not like 3 big religions wrapped up in this conflict don’t all have the same dim outlook on the eternal destiny of members of the other two. It’s theology, not intolerance or warfare.

The second beef it seems, is that the Pope should have been more diplomatic and should try with his worldly might to speak only of peace, love, and understanding. The answer to this criticism is to simply mind your own damn business. I’ll mind my own damn business too, it seems to me that questions of tactics, philosophy, and disposition should be left among the Catholics. If they don’t want their leader to be merely a ambassador of good will, then how do we honestly step in between a people and their chosen leader. If you’re catholic and you’ve got an issue with the popes execution of his holy charge, then complain all you want. I’ll be over in the corner with the rest of the sane people of the world staying the hell out of your business.

I don’t know why we frequently find ourselves in these situations, or why they always seem to involve an offended over-the-top religious sect or frothing minority, but damned if it doesn’t make us all look foolish.

…and now for something right in the wheelhouse of the sunshine crew over at Delightful Delirium.

Everybody’s pissed at the Pope

Salih Kapusuz, deputy leader of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted party, said Benedict’s remarks were either “the result of pitiful ignorance” about Islam and its prophet or, worse, a deliberate distortion.

“Benedict, the author of such unfortunate and insolent remarks, is going down in history for his words,” Kapusuz added. “He is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini.”

The absolute absurdity Kapusuz’s comments aside, if you’re the Pope and you’re a pretty smart fellow, you have got to know this is coming right? After millions of Muslims go ape-shit after some poorly drawn cartoons appear in a foreign newspaper a quarter of the way around the world, you’ve got to see this is coming from 47 miles away. He more than suggested, he came right out and said that there are some evil and aspects of Islam. The backlash is coming, and he had to known.

I’ve never really had a soft spot in my heart for religious “leaders”, but this new guy’s growing on me. He knew what was coming so he either wanted it, or didn’t care. Either way, it takes some gusto. There’s no point in an international community of faith if all you do stand for is pictures and glowing reviews of each other’s characters.

Benedict is bringing attention to a mentality that actually does belong from the middle ages. You have faith; I have faith, are we wonderful? But this nonsense about evangelism through warfare has got to stop. How? I don’t know, but I think discussing the less than savory parts of our cultures is a good start.

It isn’t clear to me what’s going on, but I’m making it a point not to oppose the head of a 1 billion-strong religion when he’s right.

There’s a new flavor of Pope-ness in town, and I’m pretty sure I like it.

I met my southern neighbor yesterday, yes I’ve lived year for a month and a half without knowing my neighbors, and it turns out she’s actually the cousin of former KU basketball standout and current Portland Trailblazer’s Director of Player Personnel, Kevin Pritchard.

awesome.

“I’m sorry but I just can’t respect your viewpoint on fastfood venues if you don’t have a strong opinion about the Vanilla Frosty.”

Yes, I actually uttered this words to a co-worker today.

I just finished watching Love Actually, one of the pleasures I feel guilty about but can’t help but love. I watched it, in my entertainment room on my otherwise empty sectional, and had a genuine bout of loneliness.

My existence is far from perfect, and the next time I ramble about how great I am, someone needs to kindly remind me of that fact.

I started thinking about this post about a week ago. I was prepared to rain fire and vengeance, to claim the moral high ground, and to exist with steadfast resolve against all forces opposed. The dark places of the world and the grayness of our twisted morality were going to be brought out into the cruel day.

Then I was prepared to write a “the world didn’t change, only our perception did” post. I almost wrote poetically about the clarity of thought that we only find in moments of absolute despair or absolute joy. Coming down the mountain, insight in stone, with wisdom beyond my years I would put finger to key and reveal secret of life.

But I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s not that any of these things aren’t true, and it’s not that the nature of our days is truly different that before. I simply don’t have the righteous indignation or blessed understanding in me right now, not in the face of so much death.

People are dead, and they shouldn’t be. There are birthdays and anniversaries missed; bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, christenings, and weddings that will never happen; less Ramadan is observed and more tears are shed. Lives have been taken which no one will replace. Quoting my favorite writer, with his implied permission:

“The Streets of Heaven are Too Crowded with Angels Tonight.”

Though the dogs of war rarely bring out the best in men, so I imagine the valleys of hell aren’t desolate either. War affects society like death affects each person. Try as you might, the emptiness doesn’t care how loud you scream. There is a sadness that pervades our experience, too deep to understand, to tall to comprehend. There is a sadness that sits like a hole in the heart, sitting, waiting, and touching us when we can’t expect it.

And yet…

I am still here and you are still here, and as long as we draw breath hope is not lost. Death is inevitable and its manner of vanity doesn’t diminish the way the life was lived. War and death share more commonality than a single simile. They are both a terrible thing…but not the worst of things.

Neener neener, neener. Suck it Eclipse. Cessna Citation Mustang is Type Certified.

Get outs the way while I do my cabbage patch victory dance over the grave of your “transportation revolution”. Despite starting 2 years later, we’ve destroyed your “First VLJ” claim, and you can suck it. How about a slice of humble pie?

We started later, set a more ambitious development schedule, and beat it by more than a month. You started earlier, planned conservatively, and still ran over budget and over schedule, by years & millions of dollars…and still got beat to the finish line. You suck, you suck hard. Who do you suppose customers will trust more?

Life -> Still boring
House -> Still Standing
3 AM -> Not nearly as cool as it used to be.

In a random turn of events, I wrote a check for $303.20 a few weeks ago and I can’t remember what it was for. Ironically, I wrote it down on the back of the
check pad so that I wouldn’t have this problem but proceeded to throw the pad away because the mystery check was the last in the pad.

That’s what qualifies as a interesting event in my life. This sucks, I need to go back to college.