Tuesday, February 22, 2005

That's the dark nature of capitalism...

Kids Show

Big file, but oh so worth it...

Monday, February 21, 2005

Mystery solved...

Everyone pretty much knows that the Dr. Pepper "Mahna Mahna" song is from the muppets, but did you know that the character and song have appeared in one form or another on various other shows? Apparently, the frazzle-haired puppet is named "Mahna Mahna" and he is one of the hipsters in Henson's various "hipsters vs. squares" sketches. Seems he's a hipster, scat-singing, drumming, jazz aficianado. He and the song have been appeared (confirmed) on Sesame Street, Ed Sullivan, the Muppet Show, and the song may have appeared on Red Skelton's radio show (if the reconstructed memory of a commenter can be believed).

See the Muppet Show clip here:
Mahna Mahna

Read about Mahna Mahna here:
Hipsters vs. Squares

Read more about the Muppets:
Tough Pigs

Good day, Sir!

Suicide is painless...

HST dead.

Bugmenot.com for login/pass.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Old news...

Hamdog

So they dress it up with chili, cheese, fries, and a fried egg. I believe it was at least three years ago that a hotdog was coated in raw ground beef and grilled at Jmac's one fine evening. Must be a case of the zeitgeist.

Friday, February 04, 2005

Test Making

I'm making the first test for my little ones in Psyc 2980 (Research Methods). It's actually kind of fun. I am trying to temper my difficult questions with easier, more straight-forward questions, all of them being more applied than straight recognition via rote memorization.

I had a good range of scores on the first quiz, so I expect the same for exam one.

I should make up a question that is completely out of the blue on something that isn't even covered in this class. I could put it as the first question just to watch them sweat it -- maybe make it an essay and give them the whole first page on which to answer it. That would freak them out, especially since I told them the test would be all multiple choice. Muah HAHAHAHAHAAAAAA.

Maybe I will do that. I can have that first page be a cover sheet for the rest of the test and after they freak out a little I can tell them to skip it.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

And now...The Lesbians...

No, not pictures of lesbians. Pervs. That's not until Friday.

Part Deux of Prather's Miracle Crusade.

Prather has just helped a young man take five or six excruciating steps, healed his fractured skull, and slain him in the spirit, hallelujah.

Prather returns to the stage and begins pondering. Pondering why it is that so many in the auidence raised their hands and stood up during his call, but now that the call has been extended to the alter (stage) they do not come. He tells us that he is sad-den-deh by the fact that these men and women who stood are too embarrassed by what man may think of them to venture down front. Nevermind that neither Xon nor I saw any other people standing other than one woman. He tells us that this may very well be the last chance we get.

Suddenly, to my right, a young blonde woman (late late teens / early 20s probably), Blondie henceforth, walks down to the front arm-in-arm with another woman (brown hair), Brownie henceforth. Blondie mutters to the usher who ushes them toot-sweet to the front. I heard, "Yes, she's ready..." Something about Jesus or saved or somesuch. I deduce that Blondie is a believer and Brownie wants to become one. I am wrong, however.

Keep in mind that no one has any idea what's going on at this point other than two women have made their way down to Prather. We don't know what's going on with them.

The singer of Healing Heart is sitting off to the side quietly singing into the microphone as the keyboard plays in the background. More of the same stream-of-consciousness phrases wash over us.

Prather kneels on the stage and places a hand on each bowed head. He says a non-descript salvation prayer typical of all alter calls. He asks God to heal these two women. Healing and savin' commenced, he leans down to Blondie and asks what God has done for her. She stammers, "He's...He's healed me..."

Prather then turns to Brownie and asks her what God has done for her...what happened just now. Blondie looks on with tears in her eyes. Brownie says, "I...I...love her..."

Prather is confused. I'm confused. I'm not making the connection yet. I don't think anyone else is, either. I start to think that Brownie is some Gaia worshipping Neo-pagan who doesn't quite get what she just came down front for. I wait for the joke to be unveiled. Xon and I both think that this might be a put-on. Go up front and stick it to the silly Christians. We're both wrong, though.

Prather turns back to Blondie and asks what God has healed her of...what he's done for her. She says, "He healed me of my HOMOSEXUALITY!" Audible gasp from the audience. Praise Jesuses and Hallelujahs subside.

"Your ho-mo-sec-shu-al-itee? Praise God," Prather says in his turtle's pace. I can almost picture him pulling his head into a shell after uttering, "Well Gaaah-leeee."

He turns again to Brownie. She continues, "I just love all humans -- I feel such love for all humanity." Yep, we've got a New Ager on our hands, I think. Prather counters, "Well, you know who loves all humanity the most? Jesus does."

Brownie says that Jesus doesn't understand. She says, "I don't know if this is real..." It now dawns on everyone

Before the "L" sound is gone from my ears I hear the male singer of Healing Heart singing, "Oh, it's real, it's real, it's real, it's real..." I feel like I'm in an episode of South Park -- this is just too silly and stereotypical to actually be happening.

Brownie then tells us, "I just love her...she's been so kind to me, taught me so much." Still, there is a chance that she's using feminine pronouns to talk about God.

Brownie then tells us that she loves everyone, that God doesn't understand and doesn't love her, and that she's not sinning by loving her because love isn't a sin. Now it's clear that this is a couple. I thought maybe they were friends, one of whom happened to be a lesbian and the other a wiccan or pagan or whatever the New Age belief du jour is these days. Prather counters by saying that God does love her, but not her sinful behaviors, He does understand, and that Prather himself loves her, but not her sinful actions. To be fair, I think Prather is handling this quite well. He's not intoning fire and brimstone. He's not telling her she will go to Hell if she doesn't repent. He simply tells her that God does love her, but not he sins. Prather tells her that God will be waiting when she's ready. Anyone else who went up front and confessed what is believed to be sin in their lives would get the same treatment.

So, Prather gets no where, but tells her that it won't happen if she's not ready. That she might not get another chance, but that the choice is hers to make. Then he tells Blondie to be an example and help her through her struggles. Not particularly bright -- to send a newly healed believer back to her partner to help her through and to support her, but the intention was good, I suppose. That's like sending a newly recovered alcoholic into a bar to minister to the drinkers. And yes, if you're wondering, I am comparing lesbians to alcoholics and passing judgment on both groups. And if you think I'm serious about that last sentence then you are a buffoon! A big buffoon!

Anyway, as the women walk back up the aisle, Prather has his moment of genius. He says, "As it is written: two women will be grinding together in a field...one will be taken and the other left behind."

He's quoting Luke 17:35-37.
35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.

No one could write a script this well. Two women go up front, one wanting to be healed and believing that she is, the other not ready and not willing to believe. One taken and the other left. Prather thinks on his toes well, I'll give him that.

After this Prather begins trying to get others to come up front. Xon and I leave as it is now 9pm and we've been there for two hours. Good stuff.

Thought Struggle