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June 2nd, 2008
04:51 pm - 33% of bishops think 50% of priests suck? Huh?
On many levels, it is entertaining to me how interested I have become in the Church of England over the past year or so since I started reading the CartoonChurch blog by Dave Walker. I've graduated from his blog to a blog called the Chuch Times Blog, which features some of his artwork.
A recent story entitled "'Poor quality' of vicars alarms Church leaders" is based off a leaked, confidential report done by a division of the CoE that found that Bishops are worried about the standards they hold their priests to, as well as their continued enthusiasm for priestly duties. Once upon a time, this might have been an interesting news point or a blip on the screen for the CoE.
Of course, in today's blogging world where every jerk-priest has his or her own blog (says the jerk-priest you're reading), things are different.
The priests have reacted rather bitterly (imagine that) to being called "low quality" and insinuating that their motivations and temperament are not entirely level, and that their sermons just aren't up to snuff. You can read a sampling of their responses yourself. Fortunately, most seem to be waiting to actually see a copy of the report, rather than simply reacting.
I see the point of the study. As a very distantly (and somewhat disinterested) party, I know exactly what the Bishops wanted to see out of this: they were seeking constructive, honest criticism of their own methods of ordaining and promoting clergy.
One comment stood out in particular to me:
Dear Dave, I am the senior manager of a large firm. Currently, we are facing a few problems - rising costs, falling sales, poor morale, people leaving - that sort of thing. Recently I have decided most of my new staff are a bit rubbish. I have issued a management report pointing this out. What should I do next? PS I am ultimately responsible for staff appointments.
Indeed, those who are appointing and ordaining should be certain that they are ordaining at the quality that they wish to ordain. It is also vital that we don't necessarily look for people who are "perfect priests" when they're consecrated or ordained, just priests that we are confident will grow into the role (Gods know I'm still fumbling around in the dark half the time).
ADF's ordination process isn't actually "look-I-finished-this-study-program-now-when-do-I-get-consecrated?" though it often looks like that. Acceptance to the Clergy Training Program doesn't equal rights to become clergy, just the ability to become eligible. As I thought about this little hubbub over the CoE's own internal worries, I reflected on our own. I think that our Clergy Training Program goes a long way toward preparing people for clergy work, particularly as you advance through the second and third circles. Still, I find myself hoping that the Clergy Council Officers don't find themselves adding priests if they aren't sure that this person is capable and ready.
The CoE seems to be struggling even more than we are with the balance of providing support and the lack of qualified persons to provide that support (on the whole, I think we're actually doing pretty well). It's interesting to look at a four-hundred-plus-year-old institution and identify similar issues in our twenty-plus-year-old Org and ask, "Okay, how can we learn lessons from these guys?"
(And, of course, I can't help but wonder if my own consecration had issues of expectation or if those who consecrated me sometimes have doubts about me. But honestly, that thought isn't productive or important here. So this is just a note, in the spirit of openness.)
Current Location: Southeast of Disorder
Current Mood: awake
Current Music: "The Great Filling Station Holdup", -JB
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April 30th, 2008
10:16 am - Ghosti and comics
I often refer to the concept of *ghosti as being something like a close friendship where you and your friend go out to dinner, alternating who pays. Eventually, you both forget who bought the last meal, and one of you just sort of offers to pick up the check on the very basic understanding that it will really all even out in the end.
The relationship then sort of dissolves into a series of, "Whose turn is it?" questions followed by, "I don't care; I'll get it this time," answers; or else the meal becomes a pretext for inviting the other person out, saying, "Let's go out to eat, since it's my turn anyway," when both parties know that it's not actually that person's turn.
Recognition of relationship, followed by understanding that the relationship is deep enough that it was already even before the other person asked the question. That's really what ghosti is to me.
Well, for future reference, it may work like the above, but ghosti doesn't work like this.
Current Location: Southeast of Disorder
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/smile.gif) amused
Current Music: "One Particular Harbor", -JB
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June 14th, 2007
01:17 pm - Aliens in the Nave? How dare they?
 Some days, it doesn't pay to be clergy. Particularly when the aliens are invading.
So, apparently, the Anglican church is a bit PO'd about the fact that Sony has produced a game where you have to splatter the walls of Manchester cathedral with alien blood in order to pruge the world of the alien scum.
See the video and read the story in the Times here
Apparently, the game "could not be more at odds with the message of Christian peace and charity." This statement confuses me some, as something tells me that if aliens were in a church of any denomination and trying to eat us, we would not offer them tea and crumpets.
But then, I am not British.
It really seems that the sticking point is that no one asked the clergy at Manchester whether or not Sony could use the nave for a gunfight. To quote the sub-dean, "It is jolly rude of them not to have checked."
One might almost think that it would have been okay, had Sony said, "Pardon me, but we were having a spot of tea and were wondering: would it be okay if we used your cathedral as a space to splatter aliens?"
In other news, the Anglicans have "Right Reverends" and "Very Reverends", but no "Left Reverends" or "Sort-Of Reverends."
Special thanks to Dave at CartoonChurch.Com who both brought the story to my attention, and provided a snappy comic to help explain it.
Current Location: Southeast of Disorder
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Burn That Bridge", -JB
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December 1st, 2006
02:01 pm - It's a tad blustery, but that's not really important. . .
 So today it's kinda blustery outside. People keep talking about it (one gent demonstrated the force of the wind to his friends by stumbling about in the lobby of my building when I got back from lunch), but it's really not that impressive to me. Sure, the wind is blowing, but then, it kinda always does. You know, it's wind. And wind, as they say, blows.
I would point out, though, that 'tis an ill wind that blows no minds.
Personally, I'm more concerned about the state of disaster I heard Kansas was in this morning, given that I have family there whose livelihood can be destroyed by a very bad ice storm, like the one that has recently passed over there.
The weather here, honestly, is annoying but not bad or extraordinary to me.
I've been following the conversations on ADF-Liturgists, but avoiding posting recently. A number of conversations have come up here on LJ, and they've been rather fun to talk through without a lot of the emotion that seems to have spurred discussion on the email list. Those I've talked to on LJ seem a lot more willing to chat about things, and I don't have to worry about being formal.
The prayer time has helped, too. With a recently cleaned room and a greater tendency to sleep in my bed (instead of the couch, which is where I have been exhaustedly falling asleep until about this week), I'm reopening a deeper personal practice. My liturgy journal is behind in postings, but it's not so far behind in being written down. I just have to find the time this weekend to do some catching up.
I picked up issue # 12 of the Army of Darkness comic book. The cover I got, of course, is the one with Ash and the two schoolgirls. I mean, honestly, what did you expect? The back cover, though, indicates that unlucky issue # 13 will involve the death of Ashley J. Williams. I'm curious to see how this plays out, but it's expected to coincide nicely with a Marvel Comics crossover, Marvel Zombies. Why didn't I get into comic books as a kid? This is kinda fun!
I'm also highly amused at two headlines, sitting sid-by-side in the politics section of CNN today:
Um. . . I think that the first and the second one are mutually exclusive. The GOP is apparently not happy with telling you what you can and can't do in your bedroom; it now also wishes to legislate when you're allowed to feel pain for the first time. How's that for civil liberties and personal responsibility?
Time to write my rat of a congresswoman yet again. She's so good at what she does.
Oh yeah: I also have a "terror score" assigned to me for the next forty years. Didn't know you were reading a terrorist's LJ, did ya? I wasn't aware I was writing one until just this morning.
I'll be at Outland tonight. . . We'll see how the 80's/industrial/goth night goes. I'm curious how it'll all play out.
Current Location: Southeast of Disorder
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Little Miss Magic", -JB
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October 26th, 2006
12:20 pm - A quiet night
Last night, I did nothing.
After I left my office around 7 PM, I went searching hard for the movie Darkman, which I have never seen. You see, I've picked up a comic book called Darkman Vs. The Army of Darkness, and I want to get the background story before I read the comic book.
I assure you, it's killing me that I own a comic I can't read yet.
But, after a night of searching, I came up empty-handed at the rental stores I visited, with one telling me, "Oh, that's an old movie. You might want to try the library."
Then again, I suppose 1990 was 16 years ago.
So, when I finally came home, I ended up sitting with Tina on the couch and watching some brain-candy: Dancing with the Stars, Lost, and The Nine.
Lost still manages to keep my attention when it's on, but The Nine just. . . isn't any good. It's too scattered and disjointed for any sort of plot or feeling to take place. I think it's trying too hard.
But the nice thing about Wednesday evening TV is that none of it takes any thought.
I ended up falling asleep with Tina on the couch. It was a nice change of pace.
Edit: On the bright side (regarding how old Darkman is), one of our students is reading his history book, and said, "That's crazy. The Japanese weren't allowed to become citizens until 1952. That's not that long ago."
Current Location: Southeast of Disorder
Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: "The Great Filling Station Holdup", -JB
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March 21st, 2006
01:23 pm - Something to watch in your spare time
Warning, this might be depressing:
The cutting down of two old English oaks
It runs about five minutes and is a sort of mini-documentary. (Yes, completely safe for work, so long as environmentalist documentaries are cool in your office, of course.)
The link came into the ADF Office today, and while I usually don't spend a lot of time on most of the crazy things that come in (things about people being told they're the King of the Druids and such are not exactly uncommon), I checked out this link.
I'm unimpressed, in general, with the piece, but there are certain aspects that make it worth watching. In particular, the two horses who show up, ostensibly, to "save" the trees are interesting. The "shame on you, England" motif is kinda. . . annoying. But then, it's also not surprising (nor necessarily undeserved).
[Here's a direct link to the video feed.]
I also have two new Army of Darkness comics. My day is made.
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "USS Zydecoldsmobile", -JB
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December 23rd, 2005
01:58 pm - Today is a good day.
You want a nursery rhyme, demon boy, I got one for you.
Ash be nimble,
Ash be quick,
Ash blows off your friggin face with the boomstick! It is, perhaps, impossible that more than a few of my interests might intersect in a single place. Yet, today, three have managed to come together in perfect synthesis.
- Ashley J. Williams (aka: Ash of Army of Darkness fame)
- Tentacles and other Cthulhoid things (okay, not exactly an interest, but you've been around my journal long enough to understand)
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Strangely, this particular synthesis also included a few other nifty things and homages, including nursery rhymes, Sesame Street games, and the 2-D bad guy from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
I challenge anyone to fit more of my interests together in one place.
The place in question is issue #3 of Army of Darkness Vs. Re-Animator, an excellent blend of two genres that were always closely related, but were never really integrated until now.
The cover alone gives you a good idea of what this thing is all about.
Now, I understand that not everyone can get excited about a comic book. Some of you are probably old enough to believe that a good, solid book without pictures is the way to go. But then, I must echo Alice: "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"
I have mentioned these comic books before, but never this particular series, I don't think. First, of course, was the Army of Darkness: Ashes 2 Ashes series of comic books, which picked up where the movie Army of Darkness left off. This was followed closely by the series Army of Darkness: Shop Till You Drop (Dead), which amused me greatly by having one issue that looked like a department store catalogue, and one which had Ash wielding a lightsabre! You cannot go wrong with such things.
Well, now we have Army of Darkness Vs. Re-Animator, the third comic book series here. In this, we finally start to see the tie-in with the Necornomicon being a part of H. P. Lovecraft's horrific world. Until now, the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis has summoned Kandarian demons and that's about it. Now, it also unlocks the gate for Yog-Sothoth, who has been mentioned by name. And. . . Was that Cthulhu I happened to see in this issue? (psst: he's certainly on the cover of issue #1!)
Gotta love Bruce Campbell, in all his incarnations, you know.
There's so much potential here, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
So, yeah. Maybe I get excited over small things. Maybe I find them just a tad too much fun. But really, would anyone have me any other way?
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Trouble on the Horizon", -JB
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December 7th, 2005
02:09 pm - Mary Sue?
Oh, my, there's a quote:
"'You know, when you stop and think about it… Cthulhu is a bit a Mary Sue isn’t he?'"
second definition of Mary Sue
I found that quote on Errant Story, one of my favourite webcomics. I laughed so damn hard I hurt. I'm still hurting. Oh, the pain!
I know a lot of fan-fic writers, and found this "Mary Sue Litmus Test", as well as this similar one, to be amusingly useful, and probably a good wakeup call. . . Because I know a lot of my favourite characters from various fantasy novels would score high on this thing.
But really, the idea that authors need to take a good, hard look at their characters and think about the character a lot more would make a lot of writing a hell of a lot more interesting.
On a personal note, I realized that there are some places, some things where I simply need to start over. I'm not quite sure how to do that quite yet, but I'd like to try that. I was just thinking that it might be a good bet to simply start at the beginning with everybody, and everything.
There's so much I love in this life, and I need it to be shiny and new again.
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "I Have Found Me a Home", -JB
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July 12th, 2005
01:19 pm - Bruce Campbell is all good. . .
Nothing can excuse Wendy's no longer giving you larger fries when you ask them to "biggie size" your meal.
But I did manage to find two new issues of Army of Darkness: Shop Till You Drop Dead. One cover includes Ash wielding a lightsabre!
Today is a good day, but it would have been better if Wendy's were a team player.
On second thought, as I was looking for a link for their bastard plans to reduce my fry intake, I found their section on animal welfare, and I'm quite pleased with their treatment of chickens. Maybe a chicken sandwich is in order. I don't usually eat it because of the methods of raising and transporting chickens. Call it a "bad run-in" with a transported chicken in my childhood. ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) red_sput will know what I mean.
McDonald's isn't quite so descriptive of their initiatives, though, so I'm curious about their chicken, not that I eat it anyway.
Anyone know where I can get a myrtle branch? I need it to summon me a ghost.
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Truckstop Salvation", -JB
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September 1st, 2004
02:14 pm - It's like Bucky is talking to me. . .
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Coastal Confessions", -JB
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August 10th, 2004
08:36 am - Maybe it's an inside joke, but. . .
Oh. My. That's amusing. . .
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Everybody's On the Run", -JB
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March 4th, 2004
11:54 am - This should be amusing. . .
I wonder how long it'll take the crazies to call foul on Scott Adams for painting an "ugly picture of Wiccans".
I give it three comments.
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: "Take Another Road", -JB
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December 10th, 2003
10:31 am - For my LJ friends in NY
Well, I thought it was funny.
I can't keep my head level with my monitor today. Bad pain in my neck. I should have stayed in bed.
Final in my Vampire class today. Woohoo.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/angry.gif) irritated
Current Music: "Lone Palm", -JB
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December 3rd, 2003
08:50 am - Some cuts, some substance
Heard from a girl I haven't heard from in a while the other day. It was nice.
I got a load of stuff edited on the DP last night. PSA had very low attendance, and no one was interested in Twister. Party-poopers.
Can I find someone else interested? I warn you: I'm good.
Speaking of Twister, I found an amusing Twister board: it's a sheet for your bed. I have to admit, that would make for some amusing foreplay.
I've been working out designs for a large Twister board for a while. I don't really like the small dots or the four colours on the mat that came with my game. I want something more. Am I too demanding?
I put the damn cat in the attic last night. I noticed last night that she's given my boys some very bad habits while they were all living together. They fight and wrestle with each other more now.
And that stupid cat also tried to jump onto the chest of drawers where I keep all my extra ritual stuff, and succeeded in breaking 2 brand new glass candle holders, scattering spent matches all over the floor, and denting the wood. She also used my wood floor to sharpen her claws.
WTF? What kind of shady personality traits did Priscilla imbue this cat with? And is she ever going to pay me for taking this cat against my better judgement? The answer to all questions is, "Only the Gods know."
Well, I took a quiz ( check it out )And I read a very amusing comic( see that, too! )
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/sad.gif) disappointed
Current Music: "The Last Mango in Paris", -JB
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