Day: August 2, 2006

When NYC landmarks are voluntarily cutting back on lights because of the latest heatwave, well, it’s a pretty big sign that this is pretty bad. Hmm. I’m really feeling like I ought to heed Al Gore and other environmentalists…

Probably related to my having read C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” (see my previous blog entry), I just finished reading Elaine Pagels’ “The Origins of Satan.” Very readable, fascinating book on the social history of the idea of Satan, a.k.a. the Prince of Darkness, a.k.a. Lucifer, a.k.a. the fallen angel, a.k.a. the one who opposes or makes obstacles. Judeo-Christian history keeps repeating, but with variations, in how how one group demonizes the other group, whether it’s trashtalking the subgroup (such as when early Christians broke away from Judaism, or when later early Christians opposed easrly so-called heretics and established as canon the accepted Gospels as we know them today; language of debate and opposition that became the vocabulary for further division during the Reformation and so forth), or making scapegoats or total enemies of the outsiders (Christians vs. Jews; Christians vs. the polytheistic pagans; etc.).  It makes wonder if society will finally learn its lessons, or again, repeat habits in variations.
There’s this informercial out there that I get a real kick out of watching – no, not the Greg Brady “Get the 70’s Music Collection!” (which is also quite campy, I must say, just for having Greg Brady); it the informercial for the 80’s Gold music collection, with Rick Springfield (once also of “General Hospital,” I believe!) of the hit “Jessie’s Girl” in place of Greg Brady.  Rick doesn’t have Greg Brady’s campy pizzazz (Rick seems way too serious in saying “And I know music…”), but the music – good stuff.  Made me almost want to pick up the phone and call… (no, not going that way; but they actually have a webpage – good grief!).
Have I ever said that I love the air conditioned subways? Really, I do. Forgive me for all my criticism, MTA, I’m at least grateful for the AC. (just not grateful for the oven conditions of the subway platforms).

Blog postings have been a little sparse, mostly because my laptop is on the fritz. There’s something up with the trackpad – I have to keep my hand near the pad or the computer freezes until I put it back.

Finished the book “What Would the Founders Do?”, which offers insights into what would the founders of the United States really do if faced with the issues of today. Does Scalia’s vision of “original intent” jive with what the written record reveals? Turns out that they had actually thought about things like weapons of mass destruction (items contaminated with measles), terrorism (Barbary States pirates), intelligent design (Franklin was against) and term limits (George Washington). Some critics on Amazon complain that the book could have been more detailed, but it would miss the mission of being a more lighter, general-reading book. Not bad.

Cool Food TV shows: Road Tasted (Paula Dean’s sons drive around the country – New York Italian episode was pretty good). Bobby Flay Throwdown got the chili champ to give up some secrets – light brown sugar. Alton Brown Feasting on Asphalt – lots of eating stuff that is really bad for you. The trick with the pull-down map going up like a windowshade revealing the site in question is slick.

Check out the delicious bar on the right – I’ll be adding links in the fly as a “micro blog” of what I am doing. News becoming discouraging – what part of “Thou shall not kill” did these people Going to keep it inside for heatwave #2. My home AC is just not cutting it during this 100 degree weather.