Religulous: Up in Arms Againsts Belief

I can't recall who first told me about the movie Religulous, but I finally got around to watching it. I've come to this conclusion--the movie is not so much about bashing religion as it is about promoting Bill Maher. Maher wants to convince us that he's right so badly that he'll interrupt a perfectly rational person to make his own rash assumptions, finish their sentences, or make a lewd comment concerning their particular religion. And he doesn't just do it once, or ten times. He butts in over and over and over again. How am I supposed to take anything good out of this movie when all I see is a smart-ass comedian interrupt and override respected religious authorities and innocent bystanders. Some examples: accusing an "ex-gay" counselor of having an erection after giving him a hug; cracking gay jokes at the owner of a burka store; repeatedly referring to an actor playing the Lord as "Jesus," as though it were his actual name. This is a movie I do not plan to see again soon. I'm pretty sure that even Spock, who is an atheist, would be upset by the crude way this shoddy film is put together.


To make up for that tirade, here are some links on the more interesting topics that came up during the course of the film.
Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda: believes he is either Christ or the Antichrist, depending on the source
Cerne Abbas giant: If this was in America, the whole field would have been burned by now. Luckily, it's not.
The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie: This book certainly caused an uproar.
Joseph Smith: The founder of Mormonism, and all its wonders.
Scientology: Just ask Tom Cruise.
The Lucifer Principle, by Howard Bloom: this book seriously pissed off pretty much everyone in the Big Three [Judaism, Christianity, and Islam]
Raelism: Very alien-centric.
Wow... I don't even have to go to church this week, I've learned so much.
~Sushi

U(h)pdate 7: A Strange Thing Happens

Mr. Kistler, now to be known as Kistler the Inexorable [Unstoppable], only said "uh" fifty-five times today. I think he may be taking some sort of performance-enhancing drugs. Nevertheless, good job, Mr. Kistler!

Mr. Kistler's Uh Count

Mr. Kistler's *Uh* Count
Today	55
Semester	2521

Been There, Done That

I recently found one of Facebook's more interesting applications. It's a map, upon which you can show off every place you have ever been in the entire world. I'm sure I'm missing a lot of places, but here is mine:

• Create your own travel map or travel blog
• TripAdvisor has airfare search

U(h)pdate 6

Mr. Kistler's Uh Count

Mr. Kistler's *Uh* Count
Today	328
Semester	2466

Hamlet Goes to Hollywood

Spock and I are taking an Introduction to Shakespeare class, and one of the requirements is that we read one play a week. Last week, we read Hamlet, which I thoroughly enjoyed, because one of my favorite movies is The Lion King, which is based upon that particular play. I was reading Hamlet's soliloquy, and I noticed that there are an awful lot of movie titles within the text. So, I've decided to do a bit of research, and find every single movie title within his famous monologue. And, as usual, I will be using the Internet Movie Database extensively.


To be, or not to be--that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--
No more--and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--
To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly/ to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprise of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action. -- Soft you now,
The fair Ophelia! -- Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered.

Wow... Just... wow.
~Sushi

U(h)pdate 5

Mr. Kistler's Uh Count

Mr. Kistler's *Uh* Count
Today	437
Semester	2138

CONTEST: We [Finally] Have a Winner!!

After month upon month of polling, I can finally declare a winner for the "Name My Weebeast" contest. Kirk D. with the entry 'Percival', won by a a landslide. I will be on later to post the badge he will receive, watermarked, of course, so no-one can steal it. Wouldn't want that, now would we?
Thank you to all who entered and voted in the contest; it's been an interesting experience. I think Percival's going to come to school with me today. *grin*
~Sushi