As javachik goes, so goes my nation.

Apropos of absolutely nothing except I think it's pretty and want to share, here's a link to a local a capella group covering James Taylor's "Copperline." [link]

Somewhat topically, here they are singing "Ave Maria." [link]

eta yes, Anoop Desai (from AI) was in this group.

That's okay. "Fail better", isn't that the line?

see, this is why I love this board.

I remember when I worked at the mall, we were having a staff meeting and someone made some sort of comment about one of our stores "always" being closed for "all of those JEWISH holidays". I didn't say anything until a few other people started jabbing Judaism and how it's not a REAL religion because there's no Head Guy That Isn't God. At which point I said, "These are actual important days in Judaism, you know? Much like 'Virgin Mary in a Muffn Day' for those of you that are Catholic." And hoooboy the shitstorm that befell me after that meeting. When the Big Boss tried to give me a talking to about it after the meeting I said, "I didn't hear you telling them that what they were saying it was inappropriate when they were bashing my religion, so unless you plan on doing so after you talk to me, this conversation is over." He babbled and I went back to my desk.

Totally random, but are there any photo sites that have free accounts without limits on the number of photos? My sister just asked me, because she had more vacation photos than flickr will allow her to upload at once, and I didn't know the answer.

I don't know what someone said here, but I realized that I was assuming that "magical thinking" was a negative term.

I think I started that (and then ran away to do work. bleah). I tried to explain that I didn't mean it dismissively and can see where that might play an important part in people's lives. Though I came back here and saw Plei, Jess and ita made my arguments for me and did it better than I likely would have.

I'd also like to point out that I do live in Texas, and yeah the religiosity can be absolutely stifling.

Yeah, I work at a largely African-American institution, and people of color tend to be more overt about their religiosity, so I get told to "have a blessed day" and get emails with bible verses in the sig line. I'm all for people having their faith (or not!), but it's not appropriate at work.

"Prayer is real" doesn't tweak me, really, not because I do pray, but because I hear it with more of a concrete meaning behind it.

See this makes me twinge a bit. The idea that prayer is magical thinking is concrete. It is thinking that has no root in science. I'm not dismissing the role it has in people's lives.

I think it's completely different from telling someone they'll go to hell or what is or isn't a sin. I am not saying anything bad will happen to you for praying.

The idea that prayer is magical thinking is concrete.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I play a semantics game in my head.

emails with bible verses in the sig line. I'm all for people having their faith (or not!), but it's not appropriate at work.

Oh, that drives me batshit.

I know I've mentioned that one of my direct reports is highly religious in some flavor of evangelical. I'm so grateful that we have the kind of dynamic we have. It's meant that my talking about anything even vaguely political or religous is off limits at work, which sucks sometimes. But at the same time she's not talking about religion, except in a practical sense. (Like, if she's talking about someone from church or something that's happening there she's not pretending it's not.) And I know she goes to church on a couple of weeknights, and Sundays especially are difficult for her to work so I do my best to not need to require it of her. But it's a delicate balance to be sure.

The idea that prayer is magical thinking is concrete. It is thinking that has no root in science.

But that's only if you assume that everybody who prays is thinking the same thing.