Pajiba

Man...I can't get over how freakishly tiny her teeth are.

"It's like demonizing the idea of education in general because you have a problem with No Child Left Behind."
Spot on. Dead, spot on. Thank you for putting it so succinctly.

It's like demonizing the idea of education in general because you have a problem with No Child Left Behind.

Guh. No, it's not. I'm not going to re-visit the debates of comment threads past -- it's pointless to do so, as no one's mind will be changed -- but please, please, please do not ever analogize religion to education. It is passing rare in history that someone started a war or put someone else to the sword because that other person refused to go to the same school or believe in the same theory of physics.

It's like saying all bloggers are dumb because one missed the point.
No one is comparing education to religion. We're comparing the generalized contempt for a group over the acts of individuals.

Socalled!

You're alive!

HOORAY!

There's nothing wrong with poking a stick in the eye of those who are perverting what for many is an honest, personal way of life -- Jesus Camp is a good example of this.

Actually, I beg to differ. What made Jesus Camp so amazing is that it didn't offer any criticism or opinion. It simply laid out the images and let you judge for yourself. I think that made it much more powerful.

And as for The Soldiers Bible, I think it's strangely wonderful that the site is blocked at my office. Yup. Youtube, college humor, porno and christian websites. I suppose it's only fair.

Um... not that I tried to look at porno at work.

Ahem.

Carry on.

HI SOCALLED!

I was among those who missed you...

Thanks Daniel. Welcome back.

Yeah whoa, socalled (Where ya been BTW?). Daniel's not trying to equate religion and education at all, just referring to not throwing the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to examining religions.

He could have just as easily said, "It's like demonizing hot wings because you have a problem with Hooters," and he would have made the same point.

What kind of sick fuck would have a problem with hot wings? Or Hooters, for that matter.

[*pokes head out*] Thanks, TK, Jerce, 'bama, et al. -- I told you I got the Serenity: Collector's Edition last month! I think my exact words were, "and he was never heard from again."

Actually, there was a vacation/LOA during which the doc and mrs. socalled forbade computer usage (it tends to get my dander up), plus the start of NFL season (that footballoutsiders.com prospectus takes forever to get through), which is socalledonlycousins's Ramadan, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hannukah all rolled into one fantastic spasm of bloody elbows and twisted knees. You want to talk about church? That's my church, baby . . . that and the temple of the Nevada sportsbook.

So, anyway, I understand that Dan was merely making an analogy and not necessarily directly comparing the two things, Courtney and 'bama, but I'm ultra-sensitive to this whole idea that learning and science can be juxtaposed with religion. I'm not against religion (for other people), but the concepts are so different and need to be kept separate. So . . . be prepared for a more thoughtful reaction to the analysis next time. I'm out of practice.

Nothing like some good old Jesus-freakery to start off a day right.

TK, my old job used to block portions of news websites, including Fox news. My personal favorite was the day the filter blocked theweatherchannel.com, possibly the least offensive website in the world. They probably would have blocked the soldier bible thing as well.

I am sure that somewhere there is someone who hates hot wings and Hooters.

Melody, I'll tell you right now: That person is most likely a communist agitator and hates America.

I always thought those people who hated beer, baseball, and apple pie were the commies and hated America.

Them too.

I'm not a big fan of hot wings. The ones that I've had are usually not just spicy but FUCKING HOT. I feel that's overdoing it. It reminds me of being in college and the . . . well,. . . black people would complain that the food was too bland. So, what did the kitchen staff do? Dumped loads of peppers into EVERYTHING making it spicy as hell. Spicy is no substitution for taste.

That being said, I do like a good mild wing with blue cheese dressing.

I also don't really care for Hooters, but I'm also gay, and don't really like, well, hooters.

While you're buying your camo bible - which will in fact stand out like a 'Christ on a Spear' kebab... you should invest in:

"Terminating the Toxic Tonic of Disrespect" - the DVD.

"Something's gone very wrong with the little league team. They're rude to each other and their coaches, leading to a teamwork breakdown. Could it have something to do with the new sports drink from Snortinskoff Industries? Bibleman and Cypher are on the case."

Ugh, that was a depressing Christian/Entertainment roundup. Next time you do this column maybe you could focus on the good stuff. Aren't there scripts being floated around Hollywood that depict wealthy people giving their resources to the poor, cleaning up the environment in meaningful ways, and actively promoting peace in the world? Anyone...anyone...

But I love anything that gives me a reason to think of the Southpark episode where Cartman starts a Christian rock bank by replacing the word baby with Jesus in all of his ripped off songs. That episode was spot on.

A Jesus, etc. column without mentioning the ridiculous censoring of Kathy Griffin's comments that Jesus had nothing to do with her emmy win? It drives me nuts when celebrities constantly thank god and/or jesus for things, as if whatever higher power may or may not exist has nothing better to do that worry who wins some stupid meaningless award.

This was very apropos since I just got back from Cartagena, Colombia where they have an Inquisition Museum complete with original torture instruments from the period. Ah, the good old days!

wandam is right!

I've actually never had wings before, neither the hot nor the mild variety. Wings scare me. Whenever I see them I think, I don't know, seared demon flesh?

I've never been to Hooters before either. First because of the aforementioned fear of wings, and second because they make their waitresses wear nylons under their shorty-shorts. Damn, that's just criminal.

As for Kathy Griffin, I too feel like celebrities thanking God in an award acceptance speech seems a little contrived and reeks of false modesty. But did she have to make her point by saying, "Suck it, Jesus"? I am not an easily offended person, even when it comes to my faith, but honestly, that was a little much.

Daniel, as usual you have done a great job.

"This week in news that makes me disappointed in America, the South, and the church all at once, I present to you the Soldier's Bible."

You are most definitely not alone in THAT sentiment. That is one of those things that just makes me want to hang my head in shame for my church-going in the south... and apologize to everyone not from here.

And TK... I don't mind Hooters, but I hate hot-wings. *Runs and hides from the wrath and judgement of TK*

I never would have guessed that a "Jesus, Etc". post would lead to a hot wings debate.

I am on the side of hot wings, but I would not get mine at Hooters. I have my own pair of hooters and would rather take them to Wings-n-More (if only we had one in NY).

GODDAMNIT! People who don't like Hooters, people who don't like hot wings, and men who don't like hooters (lower case "h")? Talking bad about Jesus?

WHEN DID THIS BECOME A COMMUNIST STATE? MAYBE you people would be happier standing in bread lines. HUH? HUH? Instead of eating delicious hot wings?! Goddamn pinkos. That's it. I'm calling Homeland Security.

I heard that the Emmy Award watching wives who religiously submit to the head of the home really glorified in the "Suck it, Jesus."

"If he can embrace a level of the tolerance he exhorts the faithful to have for their fellow men, Religulous could rise above a standard diatribe against mass religion and wind up being almost worshipful in its desire to unseat the hypocrites who give many Christians a bad name."

If that happens I'll be beyond surprised.

I always thought those people who hated beer, baseball, and apple pie were the commies and hated America.

Um....I strongly dislike all of those things, but I love hot wings. I'm confused.

Well that's a right head scratcher there Daphne. I'm gonna go ahead and say that you're still a commie, but one who's very concerned with the current state of your government and is lately being influenced by a capitalistic minority calling for an overthrow of the current constitution and the ratification of a new system that allows every man the opportunity to privately own their own business; one that would preferably specialize in the making and distribution of hot wings.

LAINIE:

I can only assume that you either:

Attended Texas A&M

OR

Have lived in the smog-filled sprawl that is Houston.

Otherwise, someone is trading on the name of the restaurant that makes the best wings EVER! Viva Wings-N-More!

Daphne = Commie sympathizer. I'm making the call. Please go quietly, it's easier that way.

How can you 'strongly dislike' apple pie? What did it do, slash your car tires?

I also dislike apple pie (mainly because I'd much rather eat the far superior apple crumble), I also don't get baseball (in my head it's a more complicated version of rounders), wouldn't touch American Lager with a ten foot barge pole and have never eaten hotwings in my life.

Commie sympathiser or Brit? You decide.

Also: TK, you're scaring me.

Commie sympathiser or Brit? You decide.

All you Brits are Socialists, and Socialism is nothing but Communism with slightly better-quality merchandise in the shops.

You've never eaten hot wings because that much actual seasoning and flavor would be such a shock to you Pommies' systems that you'd all probably go blind or something.

Buncha commies.

See? Jerce understands.

Alex - what can I say. To quote Jason Priestly, "we got to have some law."

Pah! Bloody upstart colonists.

Amen to the Wings N' More sentiment!!! I love it! And I don't even like wings! I probably love it because I went to A&M. Lainie and Kittie... there's one near Dallas... I'm just sayin...

Pah! Bloody upstart colonists.

Pshh, I think you're forgetting a very important fact Alex, and that's who saved your ass in a little thing called the 100 Year War. Against the German's and Vietnamese, remember? If it weren't for us, you would have been defenseless, and that was after we nuked that Spanish Armada heading for your coasts. That's right, you and your little French best friends would be nowhere without us, so if I were you, I'd go and start reading up on baseball and how to make apple pie. Go get some real culture in you.

I still like apple pie, even though it killed my Dad. Or maybe it was clowns. I forget.

And while I love me some EmmyLou, Maria McKee did an astonishing version of "Stranger" on Letterman a few years ago. From the Songcatcher soundtrack. Kicked me right in the neck.

Aggies invade everywhere apparently. Oh well, go Ags.

You people that hate Apple pie make me fear for the future of the world. How in the hell can you hate the wonderful, cinnamon, sweet, and flaky goodness of an apple pie baked with love?

I am with TK, commies. Buncha commies!

How can you 'strongly dislike' apple pie? What did it do, slash your car tires?

Look, all I can tell you is that I love apples, but never got into apple pie. Now would I turn it down if I were starving and it was my only option? Hell no. But I'm not gonna willingly, consciously spend my hard-earned money on some damn apple pie when I want dessert. Not gonna happen.

So bring it, bitches. Bring it. Feeling froggy?

Kitty X:

Just married to an Aggie who took me to Wings-n-More many times before we moved away from the area. He still laments the loss of those wings.

I like the word 'Jesusian'. I'm going to try to use that one in a sentence today.

But to be fair to the makers of the Soldier's Bible, Gideons have been giving bibles to soldiers for years, and in Australia at least those bibles are indeed camo-covered...I've seen them. Although I don't think they have quotes from the president or anyone else...just the standard psalms and new testament...

"standard diatribe against mass religion" -- oh really? Well, i find it psychologically interesting that the majority of citizens of a so called democracy, who happens to violently export this democracy for a greater good, believe in a "lord" who is a omnipotent, all seeing über daddy, reigning with ultimate wisdom, which does not tolerate any objection etc. etc. sounds like the opposite of democracy and more like a dictatorship to me. And i thought we rose above the medievals times and serfdom.