random . . . randomness

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

There should be a whole separate Grateful Dead and Family (and related ephemera) thread.

And I thought the Ween thread was intolerable. . .

[kosmo vinyl]

9:30 club named dropped in Designate Survivor ... A Elvis impersonator was booked for the evening...

[Space Freely]

While part of me would love to see that little retard Dylan Roof get the death penalty, part of me would like to see him get taken out by some big-dicked brothers.

[hutch]

While part of me would love to see that little retard Dylan Roof get the death penalty, part of me would like to see him get taken out by some big-dicked brothers.

I'm sure you're trying to start something...but

"little retard"?

I don't know.. mental illness is a terrible thing..

[sweetcell]

Imagine if you lived in a city where everyone still believed in Santa Claus. Not just the children, but grown, educated adults.

Imagine that they believed that Santa Claus was real, that he was watching us, making his list, checking it twice, with an army of elves to help him keep track of our actions and deeds. If Santa concluded that we were good, he would reward us. If he believed we were bad, we would be punished.

Imagine that these people believed strongly enough in Santa Claus to write to him regularly and ask him for things -- not just the children, but all the adults too. But no one had ever really seen him, or his elves, or his reindeer pulling his sleigh across the sky. They just had faith that he was there.

Imagine that whenever you asked one of them to prove Santa's existence, they responded with, "Well, you can't disprove it." And you knew they were right -- no one can ever really prove that Santa Claus DOESN'T exist.

Imagine that every time you tried to bring up how juvenile and delusional it is for grown, educated adults to believe in Santa and his elves, you were admonished and told to address their belief in Santa with "respect." You were told not to use words like "delusional" or "ridiculous" to describe this unwavering belief of grown adults -- in Santa Claus.

Imagine if a small group of these people were actually ready to kill you if you mocked or questioned the idea of Santa Claus -- or even Rudolph.

 Imagine that this belief was being taught in science classes. Or was being used to justify violence, harsh corporal punishments, and war against those who dared to question it -- or worse, against those who believed in the Tooth Fairy instead.

Imagine seeing all of this happen in your city every day. Imagine your Harvard-educated mayor asking for Santa's blessing after every public speech.

Imagine wanting to honestly and openly talk about how mind-blowingly ridiculous it is for a majority of grown adults around you (including many whom you love and otherwise respect) to really, genuinely believe in Santa -- but holding your tongue for fear of being accused of "bigotry" against Santa Claus believers.

Imagine, then, being forced to treat their beliefs with "respect" -- and always having to discuss them as if you're taking them seriously -- when deep inside, you despise these beliefs for their sheer, utter wickedness and stupidity.

THAT'S what it's like.

or, you could be less cynical about santa: http://imgur.com/gallery/qHrK6

[Space Freely]

As a family who tries to stress the importance of honesty, we never went down the road of the Santa lie. And I think that fact is appreciated by the one who wasn't lied to.

[Yada]

As a family who tries to stress the importance of honesty, we never went down the road of the Santa lie. And I think that fact is appreciated by the one who wasn't lied to.

lol

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

As a family who tries to stress the importance of honesty, we never went down the road of the Santa lie.

^^ I wish more people did this.

I also am constantly amused by people who are atheist and celebrate Christmas. What the fucking hell is that? I don't believe in "Christmas." As a result, I do not celebrate it. I don't decorate my house or give/recieve gifts and I don't go to someone's Christmas Caroling party. This seems intellectually and morally consistent to me. But the number of people on my Facebook page who are sharing hot "Christians are feeble minded idiot" memes weekly which are interspersed with videos of them decked out in Santa clothes and signing "Come come oh Emmanuel"* is just staggering. Its amazing how progressive Millenials can pull themselves away from their deeply held thoughts on religion as long as there are free cocktails and a potential Apple Watch as part of it.


*NOTE: No, Walkie, this is not a gay porno.

[grateful]

They're just shills for Big Santa.

[challenged]

EDIT: Since no one has looked at the link - spoiler alert - someone shit the stairs at the 930 on Wednesday night...

**************************************************************************************


Not sure if this is appropriate to post here, or anywhere really.

But this is a link to a few tweets by the guy who designed the concert poster for the Jimmy Eat World show, and was at the show Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/charliewagers/status/809230822029086723]]https://twitter.com/charliewagers/status/809230822029086723

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

OSHA fines hospital over failure to help nurses lift heavy patients

Finally good to see an agency standing up for oppressed skinny people who have to suffer for Irma's addiction to mashed potatoes.

[Space Freely]

As a family who tries to stress the importance of honesty, we never went down the road of the Santa lie.

^^ I wish more people did this.

I also am constantly amused by people who are atheist and celebrate Christmas. What the fucking hell is that? I don't believe in "Christmas." As a result, I do not celebrate it. I don't decorate my house or give/recieve gifts and I don't go to someone's Christmas Caroling party. This seems intellectually and morally consistent to me. But the number of people on my Facebook page who are sharing hot "Christians are feeble minded idiot" memes weekly which are interspersed with videos of them decked out in Santa clothes and signing "Come come oh Emmanuel"* is just staggering. Its amazing how progressive Millenials can pull themselves away from their deeply held thoughts on religion as long as there are free cocktails and a potential Apple Watch as part of it.


*NOTE: No, Walkie, this is not a gay porno.

This is a discussion that has occurred somewhat informally in our household. (the atheist celebrating Christmas thing...and ftr, I would call myself an agnostic). I think there are enough non-Christian elements and history involved that it's easy for a non-Christian to pick and choose and ultimately still celebrate Xmas in some way, without compromising their belief system.


Many popular customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus' birth, with certain elements having origins in pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated around the winter solstice by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity. These elements, including the Yule log from Yule and gift giving from Saturnalia, became syncretized into Christmas over the centuries. The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a sometimes raucous, drunken, carnival-like state in the Middle Ages, to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme introduced in a 19th-century transformation. Additionally, the celebration of Christmas was banned on more than one occasion within certain Protestant groups, such as the Puritans, due to concerns that it was too pagan or unbiblical. Jehovah's Witnesses also reject the celebration of Christmas.

[walkie,talkie]

what is worse . . . stereotyping black people, by calling them brothers, or that all of them have big cocks, or that if you go to jail, you will only be raped or fucked, by said big dick brothers, or some kid being retarded, or the fact that having gay sex at all, be it in prison, is in itself a bad thing.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

I think there are enough non-Christian elements and history involved that it's easy for a non-Christian to pick and choose and ultimately still celebrate Xmas in some way, without compromising their belief system.


Many popular customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus' birth, with certain elements having origins in pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated around the winter solstice by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity. These elements, including the Yule log from Yule and gift giving from Saturnalia, became syncretized into Christmas over the centuries. The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a sometimes raucous, drunken, carnival-like state in the Middle Ages, to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme introduced in a 19th-century transformation. Additionally, the celebration of Christmas was banned on more than one occasion within certain Protestant groups, such as the Puritans, due to concerns that it was too pagan or unbiblical. Jehovah's Witnesses also reject the celebration of Christmas.

So, wait, you're celebrating Christmas because you're down with the worship of Saturnalia?

Its all just very silly.

[Space Freely]

I think there are enough non-Christian elements and history involved that it's easy for a non-Christian to pick and choose and ultimately still celebrate Xmas in some way, without compromising their belief system.


Many popular customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus' birth, with certain elements having origins in pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated around the winter solstice by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity. These elements, including the Yule log from Yule and gift giving from Saturnalia, became syncretized into Christmas over the centuries. The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a sometimes raucous, drunken, carnival-like state in the Middle Ages, to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme introduced in a 19th-century transformation. Additionally, the celebration of Christmas was banned on more than one occasion within certain Protestant groups, such as the Puritans, due to concerns that it was too pagan or unbiblical. Jehovah's Witnesses also reject the celebration of Christmas.

So, wait, you're celebrating Christmas because you're down with the worship of Saturnalia?

Its all just very silly.

I honestly don't know what that is. My wife is more into pagan stuff than I am.

Me, I'm cool with a tree, a few lights on the house, exchanging a small gift or two the morning of 12/25, and having good food and a glass of Hardywood's Christmas Morning. I don't think that makes me a Christian.