One of the professors at my college was asked by the Freedom people to review the bible course in Texas. He's pretty much said it's a bunch of propagandist hooey, and I'm inclined to believe him. His course was a anthropology/history/literature course on the bible, and from what I know very enlightening and engaging.

I've had a loooong week. Wednesday we worked on the siding for the house, in the rain, under the eaves. I still feel mildewy.

Thursday was a very. odd. day. I volunteered for a workshop sponsored by Planned Parenthood. A bunch of agencies get together (like Girls Inc., shelters, and youth homes) and their kids sign up for different classes. I was a monitor for one about body image and self esteem. There were others on the dangers of drugs, safe sex, birth control, career planning, etc. all things that are pretty important particularly to at-risk kids.

(Just to veer off on a tangent for a moment, if I may, I was at happy hour the day before this event, and a close friend's husband had just related to her that a 17 year old at the store he manages came to him upset because she'd taken a pregnancy test that showed positive, and she didn't understand how that could be because she'd peed right after. Even if the whole workshop was sex education, I'm going to say that might be a good thing).

Anyway, we were expecting protesters, and there they were with their signs saying "STOP Planned Promiscuity" and "Planned Parenthood Steals Souls." There was even a guy with a guitar. It was all a bit cheesy and a bit eye-rolly, but y'know, free speech and all.

However, through some miscommunication, the entrance for the kids wasn't open and they had to come in through another side of the building. The protesters moved over there. One woman had a camera and another (or perhaps the same one) had a video camera and started taking pictures of the kids. To my mind, that's crossing a line. Not only because they're minors, but they're also minors with possible history of abuse. One of the girls who came into our class that morning was pretty shooken up. Horrible. I wonder if that woman went home thinking she did a good thing.

On a more uplifting note, Saturday was the dedication for the house we've been working on. So, yay new homeowners!

I hate just bopping in and out of here, but I've been really busy and Thursday put a real damper on my wanting to interact with other people.

I can't help but think that their type is as least as common, if not moreso, than the non-craxy types.

I tend to think this too, but I have to take into account that I am always surprised when I find out that people* are religious. Always. The inside of my head is atheonormative**, no matter what the world is actually like.

* For values of people not wearing tefillin or a habit or otherwise obvious religious indicators.

** Which I hereby claim to be a real word. Someone else use it in a sentence and email it to erinaceous!

Depending on how it's done, I don't really get skeeved if someone tries to proselytize me on the metro or on the street. I mean, they figure they're getting points like on the Serenity board. Religion is the world's oldest fandom. Can't blame them for trying to share the love.

As long as they understand and respect what "not interested" means.

atheonormative**

The word atheonormative R0X0R5!

There are reports that everyone on the plane survived, but they're not confirmed. They are talking to suvivors on the news. From their reports, it seems the plane landed okay, but then couldn't brake.

So lovely it hurts.

Very nice. You want I should pray reallly hard that the price will go down?

ION, I look like half a chipmunk. If I weren't me, I'd be laughing at myself by now.

I mean, they figure they're getting points like on the Serenity board.

Oddly, I have 690 points suddenly, for no apparent reason. I should have 400,396,152,698, but you know, I'm not complaining.

Wait, yeah. I'm complaining.

I should have 400,396,152,698, but you know...

That would get you, what, a key chain?

Religion is the world's oldest fandom. Can't blame them for trying to share the love.

What a neat way to look at it.

As long as they understand and respect what "not interested" means.

I dunno. I think I have a higher "personal" threshold than you do. Asking someone "Have you accepted Jesus into your heart?" is not only a veiled accusation (i.e. they're asking because they bet you haven't), it's about as rude as asking, "Are you wearing clean underpants?"

Now, I will talk plenty about my underpants with people I know. You folks, for example. I will not talk about my underpants with some random dude on the Pike Overpass who is wearing a t-shirt with "Jesus or HELL!!!" written on it. (This guy really exists, and has lots of homemade signs. I see him regularly, enough to distinguish him from the guy who does flowchart-improv about Jesus and the scary scary woman who is anti-fur.)

Even if I am wearing clean underpants (generally, I am), dude got no right to ask me about them. My immaculate underpants are for me to share with the people who matter to me, and not for the inspection of any old freak who asks.