Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Alabama.  Again. MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A judge refused to delay a trial Tuesday when an attorney objected to his wearing a judicial robe with the Ten Commandments embroidered on the front in gold. Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan showed up Monday at his Covington County courtroom in southern Alabama wearing the robe. Attorneys who try cases at the courthouse said they had not seen him wearing it before. The commandments were described as being big enough to read by anyone near the judge. (rest of the article) You know, Bush and other Republicans complain about "activist judges" quite a bit, yet I'm willing to bet a sizeable sum of money that Bush won't condem this judge though he clearly has an agenda. That being the case, someone please explain to me how a judge like McKathan, who is actively ignoring the principle of separation of church and state outlined in the Constitution he is sworn to uphold, isn't an "activist judge." If you're willing to tackle that, then you can also explain how the first four commandments have anything to do with upholding the law.  What place does Thou shalt have no other gods before me and Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain have in any courtroom or in the decisions being made there? And how about Honour thy father and thy mother?  I know we'd all like for that to happen, but is it written in any laws?  Is this judge enforcing laws that don't exist outside of The Bible?  Or even Thou shalt not covet any thing that is thy neighbour's.  Will this judge fine me if I look enviously at a friend's iPod?  If that's the case, the whole basis of capitalism is illegal. Bottom line is that a courtroom is not a church, and religion (any religion) needs to stay the hell out of it. Related links: Alabama a couple of weeks back Dear President Bush 6:45:01 PM     |

"P" Is For What? The way to knowledge is through questions.  Questions that challenge and provoke.  Questions that will open vast swarths of newfound understanding in the forest of doubt which will both enlighten and inspire.  In fact everytime you search online through something like Google, you're merely asking the questions for the knowledge you seek.  You're searching for that enlightenment and inspiration, right? Here's what we're searching for.  Not exactly an inspirational list. 4:22:32 PM     |

Christmas Special It's a Wonderful Life in 30 seconds and re-enacted by bunnies just for you. 4:13:06 PM     |

Michael Stipe Comments On Radiohead Fans In the latest issue of Interview Magazine, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. has this to say: Michael: …at a Radiohead show in New York at the Beacon Theatre.  It was a televised thing, and they had sold tickets for $2.  The entire place was filled with fanatic Radiohead fans.  Typically at a Radiohead show, everyone sings along to every song; they know every lyric.  Sometimes you can’t even hear Thom Yorke’s voice over the din of the audience.  But this night, when they walked onstage and started playing the first song, the audience was quiet, reverential.  No one was singing along to any of the songs.  It wasn’t until they played the song “No Surprises” that says “the government, they don’t speak for us.”  And on that line, every single person in that room shouted out “the government, they don’t speak for us!” and on the next line of the lyric, they were dead quiet again.  I was there with a group of people, including Q-Tip, and I looked over and Tip, and his mouth was hanging open.  And I was like, “Did that just happen?” and he just nodded his head yes.  Afterwards, we were sitting around at the bar with Thom and the band, and Tip and I said, “Do you realize what happened tonight?” and Thom said, “I almost fell over.  I almost couldn’t sing the next line of the song.” Source: at ease 4:09:30 PM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.