George Aar

Blue light over Norway? Maybe they were having a sale on lutefisk?

Speaking of which, where's "The Heckler" these days? Just another drive-by?

And just why would they put those headings in that order (a little, a lot, even less)? Gee, almost like they're deliberately obfuscating. Ya think? Nah, couldn't be. Sorta like this highly enlightening spot from FauxNewsite Gretchen Carlson: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-8-2009/gretchen-carlson-dumbs-down Yeah, who'd a ever heard of such technical terms as "double-dip" recession? Garsh, it's all so complicated!

Oh Jeezus, another one with the magic decoder ring and all the answers. BTW, I find it more than a little ironic that you cleave to a supposed "Wurd" as some sort of cohesive, all encompassing, all explaining, all truth (IF you have the magic decoder ring), and yet invoke "logic" as your guiding principle. Sure...

Hajimemadange Dozo yoroshiku!

Umm, O.K., and being interpreted this stuff is? (I know, damned ignorant Yanks anyway...)

Nah. I no longer search for lots of stuff: Bigfoot The "other" shooter at the Kennedy assassination E.T. The perfect combination of "natural" foods that will make me healthy The stinky "brand new" Corvette for $75. (with the "dead man" smell in it) The perfect "work from home" MLM to make my fortune with True love Such is the cost of growing up, I guess...

Which I always thought was a really stupid claim. What in the hell did that even mean?

I thought one of 'em was "disciplines the mind by believing"?

Well, I cooked a turkey again, as per usual. But I'm damned if I know why. The kids are all elsewhere, I don't HAVE a S/O, and I can't eat anything anymore (type II B.S.). So I just put the whole turkey, with all the trimmings right from the oven and into the fridge, where it'll stay probably until it turns green. Stupid...

I've got the usual, a wilted stalk of celery and a bottle of ketchup. A couple of the drawers are stuck shut and I haven't been able to open them for a year or so. I don't know what's in them, but I'm in no hurry to find out...

I'm sure Bullinger put a lot of effort into his work. That's pretty much self-evident. What's also pretty obvious is that he worked overtime trying to make sense of stuff that doesn't necessarily make any sense. "Numbers in Scripture" comes to mind...

I like doing little things for people too. Like sending them inappropriate personal gifts, keeping an eye on them when they're out alone, and just sorta hanging around their homes whenever I feel like it. You know, just watching out for 'em and stuff... Restraining orders can be such a downer though...

Indeed. I remember a few years ago, in one of my rare excursions into a cocktail lounge, I ordered a Harvey Wallbanger and the bartender had no clue what I was talking about. It was around that time when I realized that I was no longer part of the "happening" generation...

Further evidence (as if anymore were needed) that they're simply playing the "non-profit corporation" game while they slowly spend down that pile of cash. Everybody keeps talking about how they're losing numbers and there's nothing new to attract new members. Gee, you think that's all accidental? I think not...

I have no problem with trying to inject a little more compassion into the mix. There's certainly no oversupply at present. The issue I had with that particular clip was that it seemed to be trying to counteract the negatives of religious influence by simply promoting another religion. And the whole morality tale of the guy who just doesn't get it (and ultimately he ends up licking the maggots off a sick dog's foot - oh sweet Jeezus, deliver me) I found REALLY over-the-top, farking annoying. But such tripe is common in Eastern Religions. There's a million of 'em. Most of them at least as annoying as that one. I just don't see how invoking more unsupported obeisance to nonsensical blather is going to help in the long run. I'd be far more impressed if we promoted basic rules of logic and taught rudimentary reasoning. I think it's our only real tool...

Just for fun I thought I'd post a link to a skeptic site where several folks have written in defending their pet superstition "Ramtha". I think the parallels to most other religions and faiths is self-evident - the arrogance, the unquestioned adherence to unsupported and really dubious tenets, and the urge to want to "share" the belief with the poor, unwashed heathen: http://www.skepdic.com/comments/ramthacom.html

I dunno, I guess it would be nice if people could get along better. But if drippy, annoying, platitude-laden philosophies are our salvation, I think we're really doomed. Wouldn't it be nice if we'd just use a little more reason when choosing our rules for living? Uh un...

One of the toughest things I had to wrestle with whilst still a Wayfer, was the fact that most everything from the Bible had been used before. Creation stories abound in every culture. Noah's Ark was written about at least as far back as Sumer (and in cuneiform no less). Virgin births were common attributes given to any number of famous men (I think even Aesop was awarded that honor). Human sacrifice, supermen-heros, God-men, evil spirits, devils, blood-rituals, burnt offerings, all sorts of holy sacriments, cannibalism, giants, bickering amongst the gods, and of course - blissful rewards for all eternity to the faithful - it's ALL been done before. Lots of it MANY times. It's just superstition. Yeah, that's harsh to deal with after a lifetime of mindless servile obeisance, but I think that's the only logical conclusion. Sorry...

I think one of the more unsettling realizations one gains after a little experience is that the fairytale notions of "friends forever" or "true love" or any such concept of human interaction where some sort of permanence is invoked are probably not very close to reality. Yes, I'm sure there's friendships that have endured a lot, but to think that they'll stay that way through anything is likely misguided. People are fallible, often weak, and break easily for the most part. And yes, I include myself in that mix. Relationships that endure over decades I think are as much due to chance as anything else. Maybe they just never got a severe enough test to show what they're made of? I'm reminded of the family and friends that were lost at sea after the sinking of their sailboat. Several people stuck on a small boat with little to no supplies for weeks. They survived, but the husband and wife soon after divorced and none of the other folks - siblings and close friends - even see each other anymore. They'd gotten a little too much of a dose of each other's frailties and don't care to be reminded of it anymore, is my guess. Ultimately, I think one has to learn to live with oneself. That's the only one you're sure will never leave you...

I used to think I knew. Anymore, not so much...

The first I learned of the day was when I was a young lad watching "Rocky and Bullwinkle". I guess Guy Fawkes Day is a rather important holiday around Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, and environs. And it's been near and dear to my heart ever since...

Yes, as we all know, Guy Fawkes Day is upon us again. So, what are you all planning? The traditional hanging in effigy and bonfire? That's always my favorite. Remember, remember, The fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason, and plot I can think of no reason, That gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot...

Despite the fact that the LAW OF BELIEVING has been endorsed by such notable sages as Norman Vincent Peale, Pollyanna, and Jiminy Cricket, it is - in fact - utter Bollchit. And if you haven't figured that out by now, you really haven't been paying much attention, have you? I think more noteworthy aphorisms to guide one through life might be: "Life's a bitch and then you die" or possibly "He who dies with the most toys wins" or maybe my Sainted Grandmother's favorite "Life is yust vun coddam ting after anuder". You're welcome...

Ganbatte ne!