Friday, December 22, 2006
Playing Nicely
Well, I've noticed that the annual war on christmas rhetoric has resurfaced but have been so busy I haven't paid all that much attention to it. But it did remind me of this piece I wrote for our local paper a year or so ago that was never published. So I thought I'd reproduce part of it here.
...in the spirit of playing nicely I would like to wish everyone a Happy Solstice;Happy Mithras-tide; Bona Sol Invicta; Bona Saturnalia; Happy Hanukah; Merry Yule; Merry Christmas; Happy Koleda; Happy Kwanzaa; May the Flying Spaghetti Monster Touch you with his noodly appendage.; May Dread Cthulhu slay you quicky during this time of ice and snow; Happy New Year; Happy Isaac Newton's Birth Day; Season's greetings; Joyous escaping to warmer climates for weeks or months; Happy holidays; Joyous escaping to mountains to go skiing for weeks or months; or Happy winterfest. If I missed any you have my sincerest apologies but I wish you well during whatever mid-winter festival or activity you prefer to celebrate.
See you around January 2nd...or sooner if I find something to blog about.
~Aa
Well, I've noticed that the annual war on christmas rhetoric has resurfaced but have been so busy I haven't paid all that much attention to it. But it did remind me of this piece I wrote for our local paper a year or so ago that was never published. So I thought I'd reproduce part of it here.
...in the spirit of playing nicely I would like to wish everyone a Happy Solstice;Happy Mithras-tide; Bona Sol Invicta; Bona Saturnalia; Happy Hanukah; Merry Yule; Merry Christmas; Happy Koleda; Happy Kwanzaa; May the Flying Spaghetti Monster Touch you with his noodly appendage.; May Dread Cthulhu slay you quicky during this time of ice and snow; Happy New Year; Happy Isaac Newton's Birth Day; Season's greetings; Joyous escaping to warmer climates for weeks or months; Happy holidays; Joyous escaping to mountains to go skiing for weeks or months; or Happy winterfest. If I missed any you have my sincerest apologies but I wish you well during whatever mid-winter festival or activity you prefer to celebrate.
See you around January 2nd...or sooner if I find something to blog about.
~Aa
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Another quote
"My atheism, like that of Spinoza, is true piety toward the universe and denies only gods fashioned by men in their own image, to be servants of their human interests."
-George Santayana
(been far too busy lately to play with the blog, hopefully sometime in the near future; near = not any time soon)
"My atheism, like that of Spinoza, is true piety toward the universe and denies only gods fashioned by men in their own image, to be servants of their human interests."
-George Santayana
(been far too busy lately to play with the blog, hopefully sometime in the near future; near = not any time soon)
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Sunday Sermonette
"Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible. How do I know this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse.” Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation.
"Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible. How do I know this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse.” Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Blinded by the Light
Reflecting off of the snow that is.
Yesterday morning we awoke to about five inches or so of snow and ice, the snow covering a layer of ice. I looked outside and shivered and decided to just stay inside, even as my S.O. and youngest went outside to enjoy the weather.
I don't know how many times I had to yell "Shut the door" at them. Yeesh, it was below freezing with a nice stiff breeze. Then I'd go find a blanket to wrap up in to get warm again. I'll admit it, I'm not a big fan of very cold weather, or very hot weather either...I enjoy fall, come to think of it.
Anyway, today I actually ventured outside and as I was clearing off the walk to the door (even I had to admit it was treacherous) and chopping through the ice my youngest came out.
And then she pelted me with a snowball. Thus ensued a snowball fight.
Then we went for a "snow" walk, as she called it, and there under the sun with those blinding rays bouncing off of the melting snow and ice it was all revealed to me.
I was over dressed - yeesh! (bet you thought it was going to be something profound, didn't ya?)
I even had to take off my hat and open the coat a bit and my youngest had her coat nearly off. The temperature was probably 3 degrees or so above freezing but the sun, that oh so maginificent orb, was adding shining down brightly heating things up.
And when I closed my eyes I could see the brightness still reflected there, making me wish I both had shades and liked to wear them. I don't because I don't.
Anyway, the snow walk was fun and relaxing and I highly recommend it. So when it snows here again, in a few years, I'll be sure to take another one.
~Aa
Reflecting off of the snow that is.
Yesterday morning we awoke to about five inches or so of snow and ice, the snow covering a layer of ice. I looked outside and shivered and decided to just stay inside, even as my S.O. and youngest went outside to enjoy the weather.
I don't know how many times I had to yell "Shut the door" at them. Yeesh, it was below freezing with a nice stiff breeze. Then I'd go find a blanket to wrap up in to get warm again. I'll admit it, I'm not a big fan of very cold weather, or very hot weather either...I enjoy fall, come to think of it.
Anyway, today I actually ventured outside and as I was clearing off the walk to the door (even I had to admit it was treacherous) and chopping through the ice my youngest came out.
And then she pelted me with a snowball. Thus ensued a snowball fight.
Then we went for a "snow" walk, as she called it, and there under the sun with those blinding rays bouncing off of the melting snow and ice it was all revealed to me.
I was over dressed - yeesh! (bet you thought it was going to be something profound, didn't ya?)
I even had to take off my hat and open the coat a bit and my youngest had her coat nearly off. The temperature was probably 3 degrees or so above freezing but the sun, that oh so maginificent orb, was adding shining down brightly heating things up.
And when I closed my eyes I could see the brightness still reflected there, making me wish I both had shades and liked to wear them. I don't because I don't.
Anyway, the snow walk was fun and relaxing and I highly recommend it. So when it snows here again, in a few years, I'll be sure to take another one.
~Aa
