Wednesday, February 16, 2005
happy st. juliana day!
Yes, today is the anti-valentine St. Juliana of Cumae day for those who are not so lovestruck after all. St. Juliana was betrothed to a Roman senator c. 305 CE and refused to marry him (pagan that he was). So he tortured her (burning, boiling oil, he was quite delightful) and had her beheaded. And thus Juliana became the martyr for defiantly unmarried women everywhere.
(there was also something about her wrestling the devil in prison, but that part is a bit hazy)
Yes, today is the anti-valentine St. Juliana of Cumae day for those who are not so lovestruck after all. St. Juliana was betrothed to a Roman senator c. 305 CE and refused to marry him (pagan that he was). So he tortured her (burning, boiling oil, he was quite delightful) and had her beheaded. And thus Juliana became the martyr for defiantly unmarried women everywhere.
(there was also something about her wrestling the devil in prison, but that part is a bit hazy)
Friday, February 11, 2005
scary books
On Charlotte's suggestion I read Absolute Friends by John Le Carré. Holy scary political possibilities Batman! I've only read two of his books (that one and The Constant Gardener) but both contain incredible commentary on current world politics. Both highly recommended.
Also reading: Primary Colors (American political kick), The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy (takes place in my neighbourhood in Montreal!), Future: Tense by Gwynne Dyer (yet more world politics)and the rest of the same books I've had on the go for months.
In real life, in a couple of weeks I am attending a meeting of the humourously titled "All-Party and Multi-Faith Committee on Religious-Cultural Harmony" (the poor girl who had to call everyone with that mouthful!)on Parliament Hill. Representin' the Mennonites aw yeah.
On Charlotte's suggestion I read Absolute Friends by John Le Carré. Holy scary political possibilities Batman! I've only read two of his books (that one and The Constant Gardener) but both contain incredible commentary on current world politics. Both highly recommended.
Also reading: Primary Colors (American political kick), The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy (takes place in my neighbourhood in Montreal!), Future: Tense by Gwynne Dyer (yet more world politics)and the rest of the same books I've had on the go for months.
In real life, in a couple of weeks I am attending a meeting of the humourously titled "All-Party and Multi-Faith Committee on Religious-Cultural Harmony" (the poor girl who had to call everyone with that mouthful!)on Parliament Hill. Representin' the Mennonites aw yeah.
Friday, February 04, 2005
I was forced to watch real life US politics on Wednesday night when the State of the Union address usurped West Wing on TV. There were many, many alliterative pairs, 'protected by peace', 'freedom from fear', 'tyranny and terror', 'hatred with hope' etc. My favourite phrase was 'frivolous asbestos claims'.
Scariest excerpts (as well as a serious warning to Iran):
We should not be content with laws that punish hard-working people who want only to provide for their families, and deny businesses willing workers, and invite chaos at our border. It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists.
Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.
But I was happy to hear (if it goes to the right place):
To promote this democracy, I will ask Congress for $350 million to support Palestinian political, economic, and security reforms.
And there was some nice writing at the end. I'll be happy to get back to fake politics next week!
Scariest excerpts (as well as a serious warning to Iran):
We should not be content with laws that punish hard-working people who want only to provide for their families, and deny businesses willing workers, and invite chaos at our border. It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists.
Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.
But I was happy to hear (if it goes to the right place):
To promote this democracy, I will ask Congress for $350 million to support Palestinian political, economic, and security reforms.
And there was some nice writing at the end. I'll be happy to get back to fake politics next week!
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
mmm...cable
I'm housesitting right now for a few weeks, which is pretty sweet as I am now living back in the land of cable tv (plus 5min walk from work). Last night I enjoyed the luxury of channel surfing, some CBC documentary goodness, a little Family Guy, a little Simpsons, the end of the Daily Show and of course, my first dose of QAF in a good while! This morning, news and weather. Ah television... I would watch American Idol tonight, but tragically have a church council meeting which will no doubt last until about 11pm.
But still, TV!
I'm housesitting right now for a few weeks, which is pretty sweet as I am now living back in the land of cable tv (plus 5min walk from work). Last night I enjoyed the luxury of channel surfing, some CBC documentary goodness, a little Family Guy, a little Simpsons, the end of the Daily Show and of course, my first dose of QAF in a good while! This morning, news and weather. Ah television... I would watch American Idol tonight, but tragically have a church council meeting which will no doubt last until about 11pm.
But still, TV!
