Sharron Angle: More Obtuse All the Time

Image from source, Salon

I'm thinking that newly anointed GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle may supplant Sarah Palin as my favorite politician to point and laugh at.  Of course this sort of behavior by bloggers like me will cause right-wingers to claim that we're "scared" of these strong, conservative women.  Well, yeah! Scared that they could be taken seriously. Scared that--as evidenced by the eight years of George W. Bush--that voters might be stupid enough to elect them. But mostly, we just point and laugh.

[Excerpt]

Sharron Angle's world of paranoia

You have to say this for the Tea Party movement: it's giving some color and flavor to an depressing recession-era election year. Glenn Beck's fantasy world doesn’t seem like a great place to live, but it's certainly making for an interesting vacation -- so long as we get to go home.



The question, though, is what happens when reality punctures the bubble, or if that's even possible. In Nevada, the Republican Party has just nominated a former state legislator named Sharron Angle, one of the Tea Party's favorite daughters, and, it seems, a full-time resident of the paranoid alternate universe. . .

Read more at: Salon

Thanks again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Friday Status Update: Mormons!

One of the many homoerotic Mormon paintings (maybe that's how they hook you?) from MormonMatters.org

I'm off work on Fridays these days, due to the economy. And before you blame President Obama, note that these mandatory three-day weekends began in August 2008. This after a business downturn for at least 8 months, probably more. On the bright side--hey!--three-day weekends! Which makes Thursday my "Friday", and sometimes leads to too much revelry on Thursday night.

Such it was last evening, and so I have little to show on the blog for Friday. Here it is, a little after noon, and I'm writing my first post. In fact, I'm still in my PJs, still drinking coffee, watching The Mormons, part 3 on PBS. Well, on my DVR actually. It's very interesting stuff. I'm an avid fan of history, especially the stuff that is borderline secretive. I'm still flabbergasted that a religion that to my eyes is absolutely false and bizarre could have grown to such a massive institution. How does such a crazy story catch on?

After watching a bunch of this story, I'm still not sure I understand that. I've read a portion of the Book of Mormon, and found it not only inscrutable, but also terrible writing. And why in the world was it written in the style of the King James version of the Holy Bible? Did Joseph Smith not know that the Bible was only written in that style because of the time and place it was translated? All religions are inherently ridiculous to the uninitiated, I know. But Mormonism is probably second only to Scientology in its obvious fraudulence. Just this heathen's opinion, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm fairly certain I won't be getting much of value or interest done today. We will see. Meanwhile, have a good start to your weekend!

Greta Van Susteren's Palin Connection?

So, what's the deal with this whole Scientology-FOX "News"-Greta Van Whatsername-Sarah Palin thingy? I've heard some buzz about it, but just "reared my head" to see what it's all about. Also.

I don't know if there's really anything to it. And I find "the Palin brand" as a concept to be absolutely hilarious. But not as hilarious as Scientology. Or as hilarious as the fundamentalist, right-winger, Sarah-lovin' people's potential reaction to a connection between Scientology and Ms. Palin.

[Excerpt]

The Husband Of Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Is A ‘Protector Of The Palin Brand’

During the presidential campaign, Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren had perhaps the best access to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of any journalist. In September, she hosted a one-hour “documentary” on the GOP vice presidential candidate, titled “Governor Sarah Palin — An American Woman.” She also scored an exclusive interview with Todd Palin, in which she grilled him “on everything from the story behind the name ‘First Dude’ to how he feels about the name ‘First Dude. . .’”

Read more at: Think Progress

And more here: The Protecters of the Palin Brand

Editor's Note: To be fair, all of the Scientology stuff is relegated to the comments of these two links. But the interwebs are rife with the connection, and as an anti-religionist, I simply cannot resist the connection.

The Simpsons Post I Never Wanted To Make

Image from source, TV3

As is evident in many of my previous posts, I'm not a big fan of the religion. I've covered my reasons pretty thoroughly, and if you have any interest, you can type the word "religion" in the search box above.

It's a strange sensation to have one of your idols become swept up in religion. Sure it's a personal choice that has nothing to do with me. It's their business, right? But I can't help but think a little less of them, particularly when it is a religion like Scientology.

Like Mormonism, Scientology is a rather recent arrival in the world of religion. It was brought into being by a science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard. Curiously, the religion closely resembles some of Hubbard's earlier sci-fi stories. And worst of all, in order to "progress" into the higher levels of the religion (!), one must fork over ones hard-earned cash. Lots of it. Ugh.

So, which of my idols has given tons of cash to this religion? Bart Simpson. Or, more accurately, Nancy Cartwright, who voices Bart. I'm a long-time, die hard The Simpsons fan, having watched since the first short clip of it appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show on my 21st birthday. It may be odd to idolize a cartoon, but I truly believe that the writers and voice actors of the show embody an incredible talent, intelligence and wit. Scientology is just the type of thing that The Simpsons would ordinarily mock mercilessly. Why, Nancy, why?

[Excerpt]

Voice of Bart Simpson donates $10m to scientology

Nancy Cartwright, the voice behind cartoon character Bart Simpson, has been awarded Scientology's Patron Laureate Award after donating $US10 million to the organisation in 2007. . .

Read more at: TV3

Holiday Cheer: Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!

It's rare that a commercial advertisement hits so squarely in my humor zone, but this one from Virgin Mobile (from last year, or possibly longer ago) really cracked me up. It takes chutzpah to needle so many religions while simultaneously being "all inclusive." I don't remember any anti-defamation leagues raising a stink, so most people must have gotten a kick out of it. Enjoy!


Chrismahanukwanzakah - Click here for more amazing videos

Scientology a Criminal Enterprise?

(Hat-tip to StupidMonkeyPlanet)

I will concede that I occasionally "salt" my blog with stories that I think might catch people's notice. While every story and post has something to do with my own personal interests, it makes sense to do stories that people want to read, and are likely to search for on "the Google."

So, I've done a story or two on how stupid Freepers are, how weirdly devoted some bloggers are to FOX "News," how some of the same bloggers suffer from "Keith Olbermann Derangement Syndrome." Thus, this story might be seen as a deliberate attempt to get angry Scientologists to check out my site, and start a flame war, thus growing my readership.

Not exactly (but it wouldn't hurt). I'm not going to take sides here, other than to reiterate my antipathy to most religions, even those invented by 50s science fiction authors. . .

[Excerpt]

Scientology Faces Criminal Charges

BRUSSELS — A Belgian prosecutor on Tuesday recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10-year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization.

Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges.
Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office.

"They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization," Pellens said in a telephone interview.

An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists. . .

Read on at: Newsvine.com