Ideation

I'm just full of ideas for spending my time: write novels, create a stirring blog that more than 3 people might want to visit, do stats analysis for nonprofits, collect music-inspired poetry from people I know. But those ideas are so dull. Finally, I've come up with a brilliant idea: month-by-month religious adoption! Over a year, I could spend a month at a time learning and practicing the lifestyle of a particular religious group. Whatever the observant religious person would do, I would do, following gender customs and so on. I would do it from a respectful stand point, not a critical one. I'd need a mentor in each community lined up before I began, I would think. Ideally, it would be organized such that a major holy-day or period would be included in the month. In some cases, more than a month might be necessary. The more I play with this idea, the more it intrigues me. Of course, it's sort of like one episode of Morgan Spurlock's show 30 Days. And of course, it will have to wait at least 12 months. *sigh* So many good ideas, so little time.

Coffee

It's ironic given the following, but I do not like coffee in any form, even mocha or mud pie, and I'm pretty sure I don't inspire impulsive action; nonetheless, apparently...

I Am Mud Pie

I'm the perfect combo of flavor and depth Those who like me give into their impulses

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Wrongs

Okay, so five posts in 24 hours is a bit frenetic, I agree. But I just had to add this fifth one. You know that Next Blog button in top right corner? Well, today's meanderings brought me to this fabulous posting entitled "10 rules for knowing you're wrong". It's about scripture and faith, told with apparently deep conviction plus a desire to throw stones at glass houses. The author and commenters are clearly very serious about their faith. Anyway, it's a thought provoking list, check it out.

Someday I will post on why on earth I spend so much of my blogtime exploring religion. I'll have to figure out the answer to that first.

And while I'm at the Next Blog button, here's another interesting post I found using that button. It's a reprint of an article and then blogger's response to the incident involving Congresswoman McKinney, who claimed racism when she was stopped at House office building a few weeks back. Point of the post: using issue card to highlight one's own idiocy just detracts from efforts to actually address the issue.

Your thoughts on either of the above?

Co-opted

It's that time of year. Yes, some Christians are complaining that Easter has become too secular, coopted by candy and kitsch makers. I totally understand that Easter is a more significant Christian holiday than Christmas, plus I'm not a big fan of consumerism (not to mention that I'm not a Christian, per se). But I do enjoy the odd Cadbury egg (original, not the caramel version-blech) and oversized Reese's pb "egg". And I enjoy coloring eggs and putting out my trio of bunnies (aka The Bunny Brigade). At least the bunny giving out candy thing has some relation to spring and abundance. And I don't claim to be celebrating Easter, really, but Spring, so bunnies and candy in moderation works for me personally.

All this reminds me of abortion arguments. "Against Easter candy and kitsch? Then don't buy it." Okay, that is rather hard line of me. I know it's tough to instill a sense of piety in your child when friends and consumerist relatives inculcate expectations for stuff rather than substance on this, like many other, occasions. It's not just a problem with consumerized holy-days. And wow was that a strange juxtaposition or what? But I seriously digress...

Scandinavia takes the cake on head-scratchingly random Easter activities. Check out the Easter link below for more on that....

The Bunny Brigade and I send pleasant Passover and Easter greetings to our Judeo-Christian friends out there. Don't worry about us missing out though--we will enjoy some secular revelry of our own, fear not, for spring is afoot!

By the way, David, we got you a Yummy chocolate bunny (this is a test to see if he's reading along). The bunny's name is Yummy, thus making the act of eating him a bit easier. I mean, he's made to be eaten.

Oh dear, I just pictured those cows in Coalinga and felt my argument go out the window. They were made to be eaten too. sigh Time to go...

Purview

Since when did management of professional sports become a matter for the voters? An opinion poll of voters found most support sanctions against Barry Bonds. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Major League Baseball did not have a suspension policy for steroid use during the time in question. Sure, Barry Bonds sure seems to be a jerk, arrogant, standoffish, and so on; but asking voters? And before you go all, "But he lied" on me, the issue of his committing perjury is perfectly fair to discuss. However, that was NOT part of the opinion poll and hence my indignation over its uselessness is justified. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Messages

In California recently I saw several quotable bumper stickers. The first was an amusing reminder that irresponsible behavior is in the eye of the beholder, and there are some behaviors that really are reprehensible.

I'd rather hunt with Dick Cheney
Than fish with Ted Kennedy.

The other bumper sticker was pointed in a different way:

When Jesus said "Love thy enemy"
I think he meant to not kill them.

I was checking the wording for the last one and came across this blogger's twisted variation:

When Allah said "Kill the infidels"
he meant you too.

Another instance of something being bad and funny at the same time.

Along with those bumper stickers, I was excited to see this United Church of Christ commercial. I thought it was a California thing (watch the ad and you'll understand why I might think that), but I saw it on Houston tv too. Wow, almost makes me want to join a UCC church.

Meanings, update

More odd dreams. Last week I dreamt that I was drowning. There are certainly books on what such dreams mean, but I don't take these things to be so symbolic. The dream just spooked me because I've never had that sort of a sensation before. I could feel myself not having enough breath in my lungs and wanting to inhale, but sensing that I wouldn't be able to. I was close to the surface but I couldn't get my mouth up to the air. I remember thinking, am I going to die?

Anyway, my last message entitled Meanings started with a strange dream (President Bush and the mooses) and ended with a personality test. I won't let you down...

I recently took the short version Enneagram test and came out to be equal parts Reformer (type 1) and Loyalist (type 6). Upon examination, I think the former is dominant for me. I'm guessing David would be a Peacemaker (type 9). Once upon a time I disliked taking the Meyers Briggs test; after completing it, my profile said people of that type often got frustrated taking such tests. It earned my respect. I've since been through many professional development trainings meant to illuminate various personality and behavior tendencies, and each time I find it useful. From what I recall, I am creatively analytical, introverted, seek order, and willingly face confrontation. Odd combo, eh?

If you complete such assessments, keep track of your type(s). Find out the type of those around you, especially parents, siblings, partners. Use it as a way of reminding yourself that there are many types of people out there. And as a way of understanding why those people do such annoying things. ;)

Check out my type. Or find your own.