Pearls Before Swine

Saw this in the Washington Post Express this morning and thought it was pretty good. Pearls Before Swine can be found here.

An A+

UUA

This is a Unitarian Frog. I kid you not. It is an example of one of the 7 unitarian principles to be found here. Seriously. Hop to it.

Black Moods - Against Everything

Certain things just set me off. I don't know exactly what to do about it, because even when I can recognize the source, and objectively sit back and say - "This is why you feel this way, don't let it get to you." - my emotion still has near complete control over me. I find I can't get work done, I don't act like myself. Of course, I write more when I'm in a mood like this, so maybe its not all bad. Anyway, I started reading Captain Alatriste, Jack, and, though at first I wasn't too impressed because the writing itself wasn't anything special, I'm starting to get hooked now. To be fair, it could easily be the translation that makes the writing flat occasionally, but actually the more I get into it the more I like the simplicity of it. There are some noble, deep, strong, human sentiments expressed very directly - I've come to appreciate raw writing more than I used to. Its great if one can get both into a novel (see Dostoevsky) but if you have to choose, clarity is better than cleverness. I especially liked this bit:

"'We have no choice but to fight,' the poet added after a few seconds. His tone was pensive, as if for himself only; one eye was swimming in wine, and the other had gone down for the last time. Alatriste, still holding his friend's arm and bending over the table, smiled with affectionate sadness. 'Against whom, don Francisco?' The captain seemed almost not to expect an answer. Quevedo raised a finger. His eyeglasses had slipped from his nose and were dangling from their cord, nearly dipping into his wine. 'Against stupidity, evil, supersition, envy, and ignorance,' he enunciated slowly, and as he spoke, he appeared to regard his reflection on the surface of the liquid. 'Which is to say, against all Spain. Against everything.'"

All any writer can really ask for is a chance for a few good lines like those. They struck a chord with me at least.

mountains

Sorry for my lack of postage lately. I didn't have internet at my new place until thursday, AND for some reason the internet we do have doesn't want to work with my computer. SO thats been making things difficult.
I'm home for the weekend before spending some much needed time at my friend Gavin's cabin on the James. I can't explain how much I missed the mountains. I hadn't been home since school ended and as I came over Afton today and saw the blueridge in all its glory, I just about cried. I really can't explain it. It's like all my stress and worries just disappear when I am here. I feel like I am my better self. Anywho, before I get to in depth, I'm going to go pass out and fall asleep. I would like to apologize for my general lack of communication with both of you, and Lori. The past couple of weeks have just been insane. I love you
BBoo

Yeats

While (not) working today I started reading The Wanderings of Oisin by W.B. Yeats. I like it. It makes me daydream of fogs, and phantoms, and things seen out of the corner of your eyes. It makes me want to write about horizons, and places you can't get to.

And then I mounted and she bound me

With her triumphing arms around me,

And whispering to herself enwound me;

He shook himself and neighed three times:

Caoilte, Conan, and Finn came near,

And wept, and raised their lamenting hands,

And bid me stay, with many a tear;

But we rode out from the human lands.

In what far kingdom do you go'

Ah Fenians, with the shield and bow?

Or are you phantoms white as snow,

Whose lips had life's most prosperous glow?

O you, with whom in sloping valleys,

Or down the dewy forest alleys,

I chased at morn the flying deer,

With whom I hurled the hurrying spear,

And heard the foemen's bucklers rattle,

And broke the heaving ranks of battle!

And Bran, Sceolan, and Lomair,

Where are you with your long rough hair?

You go not where the red deer feeds,

Nor tear the foemen from their steeds.

I'll leave off without nagging about the lack of a bible comment or post from Jack. I mean, I don't want to be annoying.

Love,

Warnie

Criticism

Jesus frickin Christ, I am such a child. I really can't take criticism at all. Today I was biting my tongue so as not to tell my boss to fuck off when he made some (as it turns out valid) remarks about my review. I'm sure he could see it in my eyes.

If I'm going to do this for a living, I've really got to loosen up, but it's so hard for me. I'm so sensitive about what I write, whether its fiction or non, that I can't listen when people are honestly trying to help. All I hear is, you suck you suck you suck. And all I can imagine is me beating in their heads with a window air conditioner ala High Fidelity. Is it arrogance? I mean, I expect a lot from myself, but I don't think I'm the best by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe its just that no one likes other people to validate their private insecurities.

I'd ask for help in this, but I like you guys and I don't want to beat your heads in.

Love,
Warnie

The Scariest Terrorists of All

I'll be commenting a little later (either tonight or tomorrow probably) for the Bible Study, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share a little bit of The Funny with you. This was sent to me today.
_______________________________

Jon Carroll
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Carroll
Friday, April 8, 2005

The following is the first communique from a group calling itself Unitarian Jihad. It was sent to me at The Chronicle via an anonymous spam remailer. I have no idea whether other news organizations have received this communique, and, if so, why they have not chosen to print it. Perhaps they fear starting a panic. I feel strongly that the truth, no matter how alarming, trivial or disgusting, must always be told. I am pleased to report that the words below are at least not disgusting:

Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States. We are Unitarian Jihad. There is only God, unless there is more than one God. The vote of our God subcommittee is 10-8 in favor of one God, with two abstentions. Brother Flaming Sword of Moderation noted the possibility of there being no God at all, and his objection was noted with love by the secretary.
Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States! Too long has your attention been waylaid by the bright baubles of extremist thought. Too long have fundamentalist yahoos of all religions (except Buddhism -- 14-5 vote, no abstentions, fundamentalism subcommittee) made your head hurt. Too long have you been buffeted by angry people who think that God talks to them. You have a right to your moderation! You have the power to be calm! We will use the IED of truth to explode the SUV of dogmatic expression!
People of the United States, why is everyone yelling at you??? Whatever happened to ... you know, everything? Why is the news dominated by nutballs saying that the Ten Commandments have to be tattooed inside the eyelids of every American, or that Allah has told them to kill Americans in order to rid the world of Satan, or that Yahweh has instructed them to go live wherever they feel like, or that Shiva thinks bombing mosques is a great idea? Sister Immaculate Dagger of Peace notes for the record that we mean no disrespect to Jews, Muslims, Christians or Hindus. Referred back to the committee of the whole for further discussion.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We are everywhere. We have not been born again, nor have we sworn a blood oath. We do not think that God cares what we read, what we eat or whom we sleep with. Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity notes for the record that he does not have a moral code but is nevertheless a good person, and Unexalted Leader Garrote of Forgiveness stipulates that Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity is a good person, and this is to be reflected in the minutes.
Beware! Unless you people shut up and begin acting like grown-ups with brains enough to understand the difference between political belief and personal faith, the Unitarian Jihad will begin a series of terrorist-like actions. We will take over television studios, kidnap so-called commentators and broadcast calm, well-reasoned discussions of the issues of the day. We will not try for "balance" by hiring fruitcakes; we will try for balance by hiring non-ideologues who have carefully thought through the issues.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We will appear in public places and require people to shake hands with each other. (Sister Hand Grenade of Love suggested that we institute a terror regime of mandatory hugging, but her motion was not formally introduced because of lack of a quorum.) We will require all lobbyists, spokesmen and campaign managers to dress like trout in public. Televangelists will be forced to take jobs as Xerox repair specialists. Demagogues of all stripes will be required to read Proust out loud in prisons.
We are Unitarian Jihad, and our motto is: "Sincerity is not enough." We have heard from enough sincere people to last a lifetime already. Just because you believe it's true doesn't make it true. Just because your motives are pure doesn't mean you are not doing harm. Get a dog, or comfort someone in a nursing home, or just feed the birds in the park. Play basketball. Lighten up. The world is not out to get you, except in the sense that the world is out to get everyone.
Brother Gatling Gun of Patience notes that he's pretty sure the world is out to get him because everyone laughs when he says he is a Unitarian. There were murmurs of assent around the room, and someone suggested that we buy some Congress members and really stick it to the Baptists. But this was deemed against Revolutionary Principles, and Brother Gatling Gun of Patience was remanded to the Sunday Flowers and Banners committee.
People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again! There will be coffee and cookies in the Gandhi Room after the revolution.
_____________

Startling new underground group spreads lack of panic! Citizens declare themselves "relatively unafraid" of threats of undeclared rationality. People can still go to France, terrorist leader says.

Michael row the boat ashore, and then get some of the local kids to pull the boat onto the dock, and come visit with jcarroll@sfchronicle.com.

___________________________

I love "What ever happenned to, you know...everything?"

I'm out kids. God's Peace.

Warnie

A quick Haiku

This came to me yesterday, and I like it. A fare-thee-well to a tough month.

April

The mist has an edge.
The anarchist's knife hides
in a black overcoat.


And before there's any moaning about 5-7-5 nonsense, that's not how it's done in japanese. And it's 17 syllables, and prettier this way.

So, just wanted to share. Anytime I get a poem in the middle of a thunderstorm, I feel it needs to be aired.

Jack