when? NOW!

While I’m thinking of things that I love, I’d like to bring to your attention, in case you are not already familiar, Dr. Jack Van Impe. This man is a walking Bible, quoting chapter and verse with reckless abandon but at the same time stunning precision.

The thing that sets Jack apart from other televangelists, though, is not his rapidfire Bible quotation, nor his partner-in-prosyletization/wife Rexella, but his bizarre throwback-to-the-Cold War mentality regarding the interpretation of scripture. He’s forward-thinking in some ways — he isn’t particularly tough on people of other religions, for example (even Muslims!). And, despite (clearly) being Protestant, he often expresses being a fan of the Pope. His hangup is . . . Russia and China! And . . . THE EUROPEAN UNION (see Final World Government When? NOW!)!

In a time when, according to most, the enemy is stalking among us and our own sin could be the undoing of us, it’s refreshing to see a fundamentalist crazy on TV talking about the outside enemies — the big empires that are out to destroy. This guy’s not folding to current trends in religious rhetoric. He’s all about what the Good Book says. I respect a man who stays on message.

Watch an episode online if you can, or check the phenomenon out on Cornerstone TV (Channel 40) in Pittsburgh Saturday night or Sunday morning.

letting it lay

As I played drums for only the second time in months last night, the snow happened. Things outside became quiet and heavy, just as I like them. We made it home alive, and, after a lengthy phone talk with the mother, I settled down with soup and Satie (Gymnopedies I absolutely melts me). Things could be much worse.

Also of note: today I went to Veracruz (the little Mexican joint in Oakland) for the first time in several weeks and was greeted there by a massive Christmas tree on the counter, under which resides a full nativity scene in miniature, including a bicycle made of foil and plastic lids leaned against the stable and a turkey the size of Melchoir. I recommend a visit to see it for yourself if you haven’t yet — just for the sights if nothing else.

mix and mingle

I began preparations last night for my mixtape for the mixtape potluck, but I supposed I shouldn’t let any cats out of any theoretical bags, for fear that the person who ends up with my tape will have read this and therefore the element of surprise will be ruined. So let’s just say that there’s some doom and there’s some Dan.

Was a time when I thought anything less than a 90-minute mixtape was cheating, but lately I’ve come of age and realized that quantity is not always (not usually?) (not ever?) paramount. There’s nearly always a point in that 90-minute mixing session which is really like three hours at which you just blank. It’s usually about 25 minutes into the B side. You know where it’s going to end but not how to get there. So you reach for some ridiculous long song that doesn’t really fit but will eat up some time before that AWESOME CLOSING TRACK. And it usually ends up okayyyy, but not GREAT. So I’m working with the 60-minute format for this one, in hopes that the whole thing will RULE. HARD.

Also, someone e-mail me a prompt for my next post. I’m full of opinions but low on motivation to go the next step with any of them. If there’s something on your mind right now, I’d be really happy to engage in a conversation with you.

it looks like you’re writing a letter!

I’ve been (hardly) working on writing something about crowded buses, but since that’s going nowhere, a quick couple things to voice some concern over:

Out there in the great beyond: they’re gearing up to put Tookie Williams to death. Read the article to get a little information about the case — he founded the Crips, was convicted of murdering four people with a shotgun, has worked to end gang violence, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and now Governor Schwarzenegger is going to put him down. I’m not (right now) going to thoroughly explore my stance on capital punishment, other than to say that ultimately, race, good behavior, and any other issue that might be brought up pales in comparison to the simple fact that we shouldn’t be perpetrating this absolutely appaling practice.

There is an online petition here if you’re into that sort of thing (I signed, although I don’t know how effective they are) and there’s also a link to e-mail the Governor’s office on that page, if you like that method.

Closer to home: there is a bill being brought to the table tomorrow in City Council to ensure unimpeded entry to health care facilities. Basically this bill would make it illegal for abortion clinic protestors to come within 15 feet of the clinic doors. Regardless of your stance on abortion, I think most of us can agree that we’d rather not F up the minds of the women who are in most cases already F-ed up about the fact that they’re having the procedure in the first place. Call or email your city council people and as them to support it. Bill Peduto and Doug Shields are sponsoring, so thank them. Twanda Carlisle is straddling the fence apparently, so give her your support.

the big bus

To continue our Sunday Reading Series: Do check out Dennis Roddy’s column from today’s Post-Gazette forum section: Roll over and beg. It’s about a woman in Denver who doesn’t want to have to show identification in order to ride the bus. Imagine!

If I haven’t said it before, I’ll say it now: Dennis is my favorite newspaper writer in Pittsburgh. (Don’t worry, Potter, you’re a very close second. Also, one of my friends who once had you for class told me the other day that at the time she wanted to have an affair with you.)

But yeah, Dennis Roddy. Both an amazing reporter (definitely the best interviewer I’ve had the experience of watching in action) AND an amazing weaver-together of words. Example:

How much of this is security and how much is theater? And if it’s theater, how much of it is conditioning a population to put up with feeling shoved around by a monolith that takes our taxes, regulates our economy, inspects our food and sends our sons to war?

Sound libertarian? Sure. Would I consider myself to be pretty left-libertarian? Yeah. So I’m into it.