I mean really, this crap's pretty funny.
It can make it hard to tell reality from satire.
The funniest part of that transcript is the Harry Potter stuff though:
I think the issue, what I take issue with is that this book very accurately portrays obviously a religion. And it is being read aloud in our classrooms across America, when other religious books have been banned from the classroom.
SCARBOROUGH: OK.
MATRISCIANA: So that's my issue and that is my concern.
SCARBOROUGH: So, you are saying you can't read the Bible, which promotes Christianity, but you can read “Harry Potter,” which you say pushes witchcraft?
MATRISCIANA: Well, it's a very, very accurate portrayal of witchcraft. It also encourages the children to go into Wiccan Web sites in the classroom. The teaching aids that come along with it do encourage children to learn more about witchcraft.
And, certainly, if they are allowed to do that, in all fairness, on all religions, then let's have that in the classroom. But are all religious...
SCARBOROUGH: Well, Steve—what do you say to that, Steve? If this book promotes the occult, if it promotes witchcraft, then why are we letting our kids read it in school?
ZEITCHIK: Well, there's a couple of issues here.
First of all, I am not convinced that it promotes witchcraft. If there's elements of witchcraft in it, you know, there are elements of religions and of—I mean, you read—you read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” you want to talk about something unsavory, “To Kill a Mockingbird” has racism in it.
And “Night” by Elie Wiesel has brutality and anti-Semitism in it. Certainly, there are unsavory things in the world. And we still read them in our classroom. In fact, we encourage our children to read them, because I think it will ultimately help them understand the world better.
If the message—look, if the underlying message of this book is not one that any person or parent or principal agrees with, then they should not assign it, the same way they should not assign other books. But the idea that somehow this “Harry Potter” phenomenon, because of its very success, is indicative of an anti-religious crusade or that it somehow connects to a separation of—or a violation of church and state to me just seems totally absurd.
To even have the "issue" of Harry Potter books being religious texts on your show is just so wingnut.
I said in literary, Fox is Bizarro Daily Show.
SCIENTISTS have been warned that their latest experiments may accidently produce monkeys with brains more human than animal.
Maybe those were the monkeys that got loose in Southeastern Ohio and bit the dude!
A planet... where apes evolved from men?!?!?
"It's the part I was born to play, baby!" - Troy McClure
Oh gawd - an animated .gif that had me laughing outloud: Love your job
OMG I must go and share it with EVERYONE. *wipes tears of laughter*
I read that chimera article-- it bothered me that it didn't name this apparently "eminent" and "high-powered" committee formed only four years ago. I tried googling Ruth Faden to find out, and all I see is that she is indeed a prominent bio-ethicist but no committee. Searched google news for other instances of that article-- apparently, the Australian (paper?) is the
only
source. So what is going on here?
the Australian (paper?) is the only source. So what is going on here?
Australians are up to no good?
t hugs JSw
Exactly. But I'm still gonna dance about the fact that hockey is BACK!
Weddings....I may have a few things to say about this subject. Vortex, the bride is absolutely and unequivocally off her rocker. There is no way on God's green earth that I'd ask a tenth of that from my bridesmaids. And she wants you to solve her space issue. You can't help that she didn't think before she booked a reception site, but now you have to come to the rescue? No gift, and attend one shower. Beg off the bachelorette party. You've got to wash your hair or something.
My bridesmaids paid for their dresses, but I found a place that sold them for half off the salon price. I'm letting them wear any black shoes they'd like, and it's up to them if they want to get their hair and makeup done. One of them wanted to throw me a shower, but I said no. Too much hassle, and schedules never coordinate. I'll probably have 2 bachelorette parties--one in DC, and one the Thursday before the wedding. I want my cousin from Paris there, and there's no way she can make a special trip just for dinner and some dancing. My sister has been informed that there is to be none of the following: strippers, silly veils on ugly tiaras, lifesaver t-shirts, penis straws, kissing of strange men, and general airheaded stupidity. Drinks, dinner, and dancing (if people feel like it) is just fine. I just want to spend time with everyone.
Now I'm wondering if my gifts are stupid. Each bridesmaid will get a personalized, hand-drawn tote that will contain a black shawl to go with their dresses, flip-flops for the reception, and either jewelry (see last week's discussion on "What Goes With This Dress?!?!") or a cute funky handbag to use as they see fit.
The guest list is still hovering around 330, and we expect 250 to show up. The original plan was for 200, but I knew that would change so I found a reception site that would hold more. If necessary, I could fit 350 people in there. No entree choice for dinner--it's either going to be filet mignon and a crabcake or filet mignon and Chilean seabass--but there will be a vegetarian option for the non-meat eaters. This is considered a small wedding by Italian standards.
Personally, I wouldn't think very much of getting money as a wedding gift. It seems a little tacky.
For years, I didn't even know you gave a
gift
gift at weddings. Italians always give money. I've known newlyweds that have been given $20K. The first time I realized china was an acceptable gift was in college, at a non-Italian wedding (I know, it's a shock). On the flip side, the money dance is never done by the Calabrese I know, yet it's popular among Italians from other regions.
I just want to throw a party where people will have a good time. If the table linens don't match the chairs exactly will not constitute a crisis in my book.
We made the bridesmaid dresses, paid for the groomsmen's tux rentals, and I made sterling and garnet necklaces and earrings for the bridesmaides.
I got no bachelorette party. Sadly.
