matching tracksuits

Sometimes, it’s absolutely shocking how literally people take things. For example, the makers of They Sold Their Soul for Rock and Roll take the legend of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads literally. They quote stories from Johnson’s contemporaries who say that he couldn’t play worth a flip, disappeared for some time, then returned able to play quite well. How else can you explain that except by selling one’s soul for talent. Indeed, something as boring as practice couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it.

As bad as that is, the section on U2 is even worse. U2, of course, almost broke up after their debut album because they (excluding Adam Clayton, the bass player) didn’t know if being in a rock band was something a Christian could do in good conscience.

Unfortunately for U2, they’re also the band that sings honestly in “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”,

I have held the hand of the devil.
It was warm in the night.
I was cold as a stone.

Clearly, anyone who takes comfort from the devil can’t be anything but a closeted Satan worshiper. Don’t give me that bull about it being a metaphor for all things evil; don’t tell me Bono could be talking about seeking comfort in the fleshly things that are normally associated with evil — drugs, promiscuity, etc. No — this is a clear cut case of devil worship.

What’s worse, later in the song Bono even admits that though he has found comfort in Christ, he still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. Again, don’t give me that crap about metaphors and doubts: when you have Jesus, you don’t have doubts! There is no room for Jesus and doubt!

There’s more: U2 sang “Helter Skelter” and so did Charles Manson! Need I say more? And then there’s the fact that they occasionally sang the chorus regularly performed a cover of the Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”. Pure Satan there, ladies and gentlemen.

The clincher, of course, is when Bono emerges as Mephisto. That’s as bad as INXS singing “Every single one of us is the devil inside”! Some will try to say that it’s just a metaphor for a quite Christian idea: original sin. But if they really meant original sin, these singers would say “original sin” and not leave vulnerable babes in Christ guessing at these metaphors.

Thank God there are no metaphors in the Bible!

1/60, f/4.5, 70 mm, flash off ceiling

She can ride it if she likes. It’s got a basket, a bell that rings, and things to make it look good. (Who can name the source?)

1/60, f/5.6, 65 mm, flash off ceiling

Yet she was vastly more interested in putting things in said basket (though I suppose it’s techically not a basket…).

I haven’t viewed the film except for a few isolated clips, but generally, I don’t care for Bill Maher’s mocking tone in Religulous. I do, however, think he’s summed up well how religion, in many ways, constitutes the fundamental threat to humanity in the 21st century.

Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings, who don’t have all the answers, to think that they do. Most people think it’s wonderful when someone says, “I’m willing Lord; I’ll do whatever you want me to do,” except that, since there are no gods actually talking to us, that void is filled in with people, with their own corruptions, and limitations, and agendas.

This is problematic, Maher continues, because “human history is a litany of getting shit dead wrong.” That might not have been a problem a thousand, a hundred, or even sixty years ago. Someone might get it wrong and it would result in the deaths of hundreds or thousands, but the species would continue. With nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, though, we now have the possibility of getting it wrong and wiping out all of humanity.

Our species is not mature enough for the kind of technology we have. “We learned how to precipitate mass death before we got past the neurological disorder of wishing for it.”

Busy and calm — a typical Christmas for us, I suppose. Days of preparation and cleaning, and finally, the table is set, the barszcz is ready, and the guests are all making themselves comfortable.

1/15, f/5, 31 mm, flash off ceiling

Barszcz, mushroom soup, cabbage and mushroom pierogis — the courses tumble onto the table, one after the other, and I’m thinking the same thing I always do: so much time spent preparing this food, and yet it’s just disappearing. No matter how slowly we serve, it never seems to be slow enough truly to savor the food and the conversation. It’s like eating one’s favorite cookies as a kid, with the conflicting urges: devour them yet save them.

1/60, f/5.6, 18 mm, flash off ceiling

After dinner, we head to the living room for gifts and a Belgian ale sampling. First up, the king of Belgian ales: Chimay.

Gifts for everyone, but K and I are waiting for a couple.

1/60, f/5.6, 70 mm, flash off ceiling

L, having had a birthday less than weeks ago, has few surprises in an effort to keep from “spoiling” her. The truth is, she already has so many toys that we can hide many and she doesn’t notice. But she was thrilled with her DVD: Horton Hears a Who. We’ve been reading it before bed for weeks now, and she adores the story. Any time the Wickersham brothers appear, she starts yelling, “No! Not nice!” She might attack the TV when we show her the film.

1/60, f/5.6, 18 mm, flash off ceiling

Nana and Papa get our new obsession: hardcover photo books from Blurb. One was a book of pictures of the Girl throughout the last year; the second was a photo book about Nana and Papa’s trip to Central Europe for our 2004 wedding.

1/250, f/8, 18 mm

Christmas Day begins with some swinging and time with our guests’ dogs, who have been relaxing in the basement. Throughout the week, whenever we would ask L who’s coming, she would squeal, “Doggies!” Four friendly dogs and she was absolutely in heaven.

1/60, f/5, 24 mm, flash off ceiling

Christmas Day brought new guests and new adventures. L had a couple of playmates, one of whom having L’s temperament and energy level. There was lots of climbing, chasing, and screams of laughter. It gave us a chance to see what it would be like to have more children. Someday. Right now, L is enough to keep four adults busy.

1/60, f/5.6, 70 mm, flash off ceiling