Please, J.K. Rowling, More Stories
“The Potter stories give me hope during what I consider to be rather dark times. Please – more stories. The world so desperately needs them.”
A-flurried about the “war on Christmas”? Read this!
This is the single best essay that I’ve read on the subject of Christmas “wars.” Whatever your views on “the reason for the season,” whatever prejudices you harbor, whatever hatemongers have influenced your thinking, whether you call yourself a christian or not (and whether or not you even have any sense for what that could really mean), please don’t send me a single further email or a message on Facebook or a status about being a “real American” until you…
What does it mean to celebrate Independence Day?
I’ve been getting all the regular emails that I expect this time of year. It makes me sad that a form of blind nationalism has seemingly replaced authentic American patriotism. “Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians — which does not…
History of Oil
Robert Newman History of Oil This is wonderful history via comedy. A Brit named Rob Newman elucidates the history of oil. Enjoy this historical comedy/commentary. Robert Newman gets to grips with the wars and politics of the last hundred years – but rather than adhering to the history we were fed at school, the places oil centre stage as the cause of all commotion. This innovative history programme is based around Robert Newman’s stand-up act and supported by resourceful archive…
JW Background History Video
Jehovah’s Witnesses exposed (download available) – Jeremiah films The comic-book style explanation of Jesus/Michael, his resurrection, and his judgment at Armageddon (minutes 26-29 or so) is especially worth watching now. The destruction of New York in back of the Statue of Liberty resonsates very differently after 9/11. I actually had a lump in my throat from minute 33-36 – it brought so much back to me. Some parts may be a little dull to non-Witnesses, who might not grasp the…
Popcorn and Woolworth
Today in history is brought to you via my emails from Centrum. On February 22: 1630: A Native American named Quadequina brings popcorn to the first Thanksgiving celebration, introducing the English colonists to the popping kernels that had been grown for more than 1,000 years on the North American continent. Hey, Centrum, how about letting us know the name of the tribe? Googled it – it’s the Wampanoag tribe. Ok, the leadership of Quadequina and his brother Massasoit was what…