Friday Pet Blogging | Clash!

You Milo & Otis fans must be doing a great job with those healing thoughts flowing to our boys. Milo has a lower bacteria count. And although there was a slight (yeah ... slight) mishap with some medication for Otis, it's all sorted out and he is doing well, too. Poor Mrs. Brainwise has been at the vet's office -- taking one cat or the other for a look-over or a urine test, or just to pick up new medicines -- each day this week except Friday. Yes, I mean today. And I know this day is just beginning, so there is every possibility that she may yet make that drive and rack up a first-ever five in a row. (Lest you think I am slacking off in the vet duties, you should know that Mrs. Brainwise's office is really close to the vet's office. My office is ... well, it's really out of the way, but I have offered to help out in this regard.) But you came here for cat pics, right? Well, here is photographic evidence that, as they heal, the boys continue to be playful:

Fight Announcer: "And Otis lunges, attempting to pierce Milo's defenses and ... Oh! That's gotta hurt!"

It is a joy to behold.

More Pet Blogging See the Friday Ark, featuring a compilation of today's pet blogging posts, over at The Modulator. Check the M&O Archives for previous Milo & Otis appearances (currently up-to-date through Sept 2005!). Carnival of the Cats, coming at you every Sunday.

A Travel Guide for Fans of "The Da Vinci Code"

You just knew someone had to do it, right? Someone was going to find yet another way to make some money off of the DVC ("The Da Vinci Code") phenomenon. This time, instead of trying to hawk new theories, or bust Dan Brown in fallacies, someone (Fodor's, to be precise) has assembled a travel guide to help you track down all the wonderful sites mentioned in the bestselling novel. Fodor's Guide to the Da Vinci Code: On the Trail of the Bestselling Novel (Fodor's Travel Publications; edited by Jennifer Paull and Christopher Culwell) has a list price of $14.95 and is promoted as a book that 'delves deep into the locations, people, historic events, and landmarks that populate the gripping thriller that has captivated the masses.' The book features:

• Photographs of related artwork and key story locales
• A travel section featuring unique suggestions on where to go, stay, and eat for Da Vinci Code disciples who want to take the ultimate self-guided tour
• City maps and floor plans

Want to check it out? Borders has an excerpt from the book about Rosslyn Chapel. The excerpt includes some nice photos:

Rosslyn Chapel exterior

I don't know if I'll buy it, but I wouldn't turn down a copy ... that is, y'know, if someone wanted to send me a small gift. Maybe ask me to review it. (But, hey, no pressure!)

Now that Fodor is on the case, how long before before there is a backpacker's guide to "The Da Vinci Code" sites from Lonely Planet?

Quotable | Rewrite

Because words are imperfect, every generation rewrites itself." --Deng Ming Dao (365 Tao)

The Leviticus Gambit

Jazz, host of Running Scared and frequent contributor to the Middle Earth Journal, nails the hypocritical blather surrounding the latest round of anti-gay legislation (you know, all that stuff that just says no to same-sex parents). As mentioned in the comments over there, the supposedly well-meaning people behind this legislation have no true concern for children. If so, they would not be so opposed to seeing an abandoned child extending the family of a loving and stable partnership. No, the only concerns they actually have are for a rather narrow and legalistic interpretation of their desert god's codes. Go read the post.

Friday Pet Blogging | The Saturday Edition!

Last week I mentioned that we still need healing thoughts for Milo & Otis. Please, keep those thoughts flowing to our boys. There have been some findings (doc's working overtime). And we are trying some new medications, which seem to be doing a pretty good job. Last night, the boys played much more like their old selves. In fact, Mrs. Brainwise thought they were practically smiling all through their wrestling sesson. And guess what? Milo pinned Otis! Here are the pics I should have posted yesterday:

Milo says: "Come hither..."

"...cuz I needs me a belly rub."

More Pet Blogging See the Friday Ark, featuring a compilation of today's pet blogging posts, over at The Modulator. Check the M&O Archives for previous Milo & Otis appearances (now updated through Sept 2005!). Carnival of the Cats, coming at you every Sunday.

Friday Pet Blogging is Delayed

Sorry folks. I know it's disappointing, but today's pet blogging entry has to be delayed until later today, or possibly tomorrow. I just didn't have a chance to upload any new pics yet. At least you know I'm working on it. And that's a good thing, right? Right!? (Please, oh please, agree with me). Of course, the Friday Ark is in full swing without Milo and Otis. And you can check out some our boys' previous entries. Update [03-25-2006]: It's posted!

This Week in "God"

Stories of faith and irreverence, the latest vitriol from crazy Pat Robertson (he's complaining about radicals!), crazy angels, and more ... it's time for another installment of This Week in "God"! First up, we get touched by "his noodly appendage"...

Church That Reveres "Flying Spaghetti Monster" Finds Growing Following By Jim Beckerman The Record HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Unlike a certain other religion in the news, the First United Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn’t object to cartoon depictions of the supreme being... ...In some pictures, He is shown reaching out to confer the blessings of life and happiness with what church members like to refer to as His “noodly appendage.” Flying Spaghetti Monster could be the next big thing on the pop culture menu... [ Full Story ]

How do you pick a 'Secretary General' for a group like this...?

Rabbi Calls for 'UN of Religions' By Danny Wood BBC News, Seville Monday, 20 March 2006, 03:53 GMT The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, has called for the creation of a world body with representatives from the major religious groups. Rabbi Metzger was addressing the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville, Spain... The imams and rabbis at this conference, which opened on Sunday, say the world is in crisis and it is time they acted to restore justice, respect and peace... [ Full Story ]

Now, on the surface, this seems to be a pretty good -- perhaps even overdue -- idea. But note that he is calling for representatives from "major religious groups." Aren't some of those "major religious groups" responsible for most of the problems they want to address. And didn't some of those "major religious groups steal traditions or ride rough shod over earlier, indigenous religious expressions? Perhaps the "major religious groups" -- and then the world -- would be better served if they looked to some of what they consider to beminor religious groups. Some of those minor religious groups are already organizing, and probably have much to teach their bigger brethrens. There is the World Congress of Ethnic Religions for example. Athiest sells soul to priest; he gets to keep it but must do homework ...

Atheist: Church isn't a bad place Suzanne Sataline / Wall Street Journal Sunday, March 19, 2006 He sold his soul on eBay to evangelical, who has him critiquing sermons and services. A few weeks ago, Hemant Mehta posted an unusual item for sale on eBay: a chance to save his soul... ...When the auction stopped on Feb. 3 after 41 bids, the buyer was Jim Henderson, a former evangelical minister from Seattle, whose $504 bid prevailed. Henderson, 58, wasn't looking for a convert. He wanted Mehta to embark with him on an eccentric experiment in spiritual bridge-building. Mehta's mission: attend 10 to 15 services of Henderson's choosing and then write about it for Henderson's Web site, off-the-map.org, whose professed mission is "Helping Christians be normal." "I'm not trying to convert you," Henderson told Mehta. "You're going there almost like a critic. ... If you happen to get converted, that's off the clock." [ Full Story ]

I like the fact that some of the reviewed priests actually appreciated Mehta's criticism. But I'm not surprised that most of them blew it off.

Crazy Pat is at it again, this time documenting the "101 most dangerous academics in America."

Pat Robertson on College Professors: "You know some of them are killers!" March 21, 2006 Pat Robertson calls liberal professors “racists, murderers, sexual deviants and supporters of Al-Qaeda” Crooks and Liars has the video of Pat Robertson in another one of his "moments." Hat tip to People for the American Way for their coverage. [ Full Story ]

C'mon, Pat, you really have to face the truth: No professor in America is a more dangerous radical than you!

From the "You should have seen the one that got away!" department...

'Angel' Claims He Killed Devil African Eye, via News24.com, South Africa Mar. 22, 2006 Zinkie Sithole www.news24.com Nelspruit - "I have killed the devil. He is dead. I killed him on February 18 this year," says Seuntjie "Mortalman" Nhleko, who claims to be an angel. The 22-year-old, who lives in Zwelisha outside Nelspruit, said on Wednesday: "People say I'm crazy, but I hear God's voice inside me that tells me that I have a special purpose." Nhleko said his rebirth as "Mortalman" took place on February 4 last year. "While I was praying, I heard a voice that told me not to be afraid. "It told me I would change forever and that all the people in the world were my children, including Jesus," he said. [ Full Story ]

Nietzsche proclaimed, "God is dead," way back in 1882. So I suppose it was only a matter of time until someone finally offed the devil (only took 124 years). But here's what I don't understand: If Mortalman actually succeeded in killing the devil, and Satan is no more, then ... what exactly explains the fact that Dick Cheny is still sucking down oxygen? Hey, I'm just asking!

Fire Thunder Defies South Dakota

Cecilia Fire Thunder, Oglala Sioux Tribal President (and former nurse), has decided to defy the South Dakota's proposed abortion ban. And it's a damn good thing she's challenging these smugly self-righteous politicians, too. Her plan is to open a Planned Parenthood on reservation land. You see, Fire Thunder this boils down to a matter of sovereignty -- and the State of South Dakota has no jurisdiction over the Pine Ridge Reservation. But this action also goes a long way toward protecting women's rights and traditional Native American health practices. For example, here is something that I don't think many people consider:

[T]he word "abortion" is not in any indigenous language, but the practice of terminating a pregnancy to preserve a woman's health is part of basic medical knowledge and was traditionally a decision left to the woman. -- Charon Asetoyer, Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center

You can get more details and pertinent links over at Jason Pitzl-Waters' The Wild Hunt Blog: Tribal Sovereignty vs. Christian Patriarchy. It's all worth reading. (Thanks for posting on this, Jason).

Quotable | Soul At Odds

What is madness but nobility of soul at odds with circumstance? -- Theodore Roethke, poet (1908-1963)

Today's quotable comes from Roethke's best-known poem, In A Dark Time. For more samples of his work, dig into the following URLs:

• Selected Poems of Theodore Roethke
• The Academy of American Poets - Theodore Roethke (includes an audio clip of My Papa's Waltz)
• Poems and Biography at PoetryConnection.net

Friday Bacon Brothers Blogging

Mrs. Brainwise and I live in a little town with a great location for live music: the Sellersville Theater 1894! And last night, we saw the Bacon Brothers. Now, I had heard of them before. And, while I knew they had a number of albums out, I did not own a single recording by them. Oh, I had never heard a negative review, and I caught some of their TV performances on venues like TODAY and such. So, without any background info or experience to predispose me one way or the other, we decided to take advantage of this "name" act being within walking distance of home. Damn. What a great show. Made all the more enjoyable with our great seats, right down near the stage at "cabaret" table #5 (seating chart) The Bacon Brothers are talented multi-instrumentalists (with brother Michael jamming on the cello for three tunes, and Kevin splitting his time among guitar, bongos, tambourine, and harmonica). They were fun, had a great backing band, and just really rocked the house. So much so that we ended up buying their new album. The few photos I took last night are on my Flickr pages. Use this composite image as a link to the set:

Bacon Brothers in Concert