First Looks category archive

Daniel Burke of the Religion News Service on contemporary conceptions of Christmas vs. the Bible:

Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph are there for sure. Three wise men, a few shepherds. Maybe a donkey, ox and lamb stand nearby in the stable.

Centuries of Christmas carols, creches and pageants—among countless other works of art—have ensconced this scene in the heart of the Nativity for generations of Christians. But the Bible doesn’t.

Read the whole thing.

(Even the most superficial reading of the Christian Bible puts the Wise Men’s arrival about two years after the birth.)

Except:

Of course, the option “to affirm,” rather than “to swear,” was included because a number of religious sects and denominations (most notably Quakers, are against “swearing” an oath.

Via The Daily Dish.

Warning: Adult Content.

Read more »

From StevenD.

He’s right, you know.

A member of the Egyptian parliament has filed a lawsuit over an article questioning why polygamy is allowed for men in Islam but not for women.

The article in the newspaper Al Masry Al Youm was written by a female Saudi journalist, Nadine al-Bedair.

It has been denounced by some Muslim clerics as inflammatory and anti-Islamic.

But others have said it serves the purpose of highlighting how badly some husbands treat their wives.

One spouse is so damned much trouble why would anyone want etc.

I had to run an errand up in northern Connecticut this weekend. I drove up yesterday, 250 miles in about four and a half hours driving time. Beautiful sunny day and a gorgeous drive.

I stayed over at a hotel in Waterbury and set out early this morning, figuring I’d have a nice explore on the way back.

I wandered through southwestern Connecticut, eventually finding myself on the Merritt Parkway near Bridgeport, then beat feet for the Tappan Zee (I won’t drive through New York City on a bet–that’s what trains are for).

But wait! There’s more!

The nominations are open for the 2009 Golden Dukies. Categories include

Meritorious Achievement in The Crazy.

Best Public Policy-based Fib.

Outstanding Achievement in Corruption-based Chutzpah

Best Scandal — Sex and Generalized Carnality

Best Scandal — Local Venue

Best Scandal — General Interest

Follow the link above to make your nominations.

If at least one of these awards isn’t Sanfordized, I’ll eat my blue serge suit with my green fedora for desert.

More on the theme of “grow up” (see the earlier post). The closing tune is a little strong for my taste, but the message is on point:

Wishing against reality is futile. And harmful. And, in that sense, perverse.

Via Mithras.

I cannot improve on this.

I’ve decided to do no thinking today.

Via MarketWatch.

But anything would be better than what we’ve got.

A old man, just a tad older than I, walks into an emergency room, complains of pains consistent with heart trouble, gets told to wait, and dies an hour later in the waiting room. From Will Bunch:

You know, I listen to a lot of talk radio and the other places where people are talking healthcare reform a lot of the time these days, and these conversations, quite frankly, tend to be dominated by affluent suburbanites who have decent health coverage — as long as they’re not laid off, anyway — and access to state-of-the-art hospitals in safe communities, people who can’t understand why there is a push for changing things in the country. And there are people like Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina who thinks that just showing up at the hospital is a perfectly fine way of receiving healthcare. No one is speaking loudly enough for the Joaquin Riveras.

Addendum:

According to the Inky, Rivera died 11 minutes into his visit to the ER; 49 minutes passed before anyone noticed (except, of course, for the three losers who heisted his watch).

In English, the passive voice has several legitimate uses:

1. When the speaker wants to emphasize the recipient of an action over the doer of the action (“The house was destroyed” rather than “the fire destroyed the house,” when the house is the topic).

2. When the doer of the action is unknown (“The till was emptied”).

3. When not pointing out the doer of the action makes for tact (“This blog post sucked eggs–wait! that’s active could have been writtten better.”).

And one illegitimate (sadly, the most common) use:

When the speaker wants to avoid acknowledging responsibility for his or her actions (“Mistakes were made“).

I just heard this poem as the soundtrack for a blankety-blank Levi’s commercial.

Sacrilege.

(I knew there was a reason I preferred Wranglers.)

And I promise I won’t crash it.

It is probably not a good idea to take a personal feud on line, even if the case is dismissed.

A civil peace order filed by a Salisbury (Maryland–ed.) business owner against a controversial blogger was dismissed by a Wicomico County District Court judge late Wednesday afternoon.

(snip)

Robinson (the plaintiff–ed.) told the judge he called Albero (the blogger–ed.) after he received a phone call concerning a comment on Albero’s blog that had Robinson’s name attached to it. Robinson said he called Albero to say he didn’t author the comment, and that Albero allegedly cursed at him and made a death threat.

Albero told the judge that he did use an expletive when he spoke with Robinson, but claimed that Robinson was the one who allegedly threatened to put a bullet in his head.

“I’m satisfied that on behalf of both parties there has been deplorable and ungentlemanly conduct,” Hayman (the judge–ed.) said.

More details at the link.

Aircraft carrier, slightly used.

Details here.