Tailfeather » humor

Howl

Mary Lupin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:25:25 +0000

via That Cute Site

Hah!

Mary Lupin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:04:07 +0000

If you cannot answer a man’s argument, all it not lost; you can still call him vile names. ~Elbert Hubbard

Mockumentary

Mary Lupin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:20:24 +0000

While this is a political/environmental message, it is really well done. The narrator’s voice, for example, is perfect.

via Wimp

It should be de rigueur

Mary Lupin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:31:47 +0000

for all city hall crossings. It might remind us of the limits of corporate-style authority.

via The Daily Dish

The benefits of sleeplessness? Muggles and magical thinking

Mary Lupin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:44:58 +0000

On awaking just before 4 and realizing that I was not going to be able to sleep again I got up and went to my desk. I started reading more of Jon Butler’s Awash in a Sea of Faith. What a delight the book is.

Compared to some others I have read on the topic his command of both his material and his imagination makes reading it an act of mental nourishment – a bit like a huge fresh seafood salad after weeks of sausage with mac and cheese. I feel like my brain has had its palate refreshed.

More on the book later, but just a little sparkly I found. In the introduction (“The European Religious Heritage”), during a discussion of the rise of Dissenting Protestantism there was a reference to “endless cycles of religious extremism” (nice!) and a list of

social and spiritual radicalism at Munster, anabaptism in Switzerland and the Low Countries, and Familism, Fifth Monarchism, Ranterism, Muggletonianism, and Quakerism in England.

Muggletonianism! I actually giggled. I have always admired J. K. Rowling’s apparent familiarity with little bits of European esoteric history (she does have a French and Classics degree after all). I actually giggled when Nicholas and Pernelle showed up in HP. Imagine introducing actually history into a kids book! I suspect the delvings of some readers into European magical history will show up in tomorrow’s scholarship, sort of like early StarTrek technological fantasies have showed up in today’s shoulder sling bags.

I had never come across Muggletonianism before. No idea if Rowling knew about them but, even if not (and the wikipedia article suggests not), the coincidence is delightful anyway.

This from the wikipedia article linked above:

The six principles of Muggletonianism have perhaps been best set out by George Williamson

There is no God but the glorified Man Christ Jesus.

There is no devil but the unclean Reason of men.

Heaven is an infinite abode of light above and beyond the stars.

The place of Hell will be this Earth when sun, moon and stars are extinguished.

Angels are the only beings of Pure Reason.

The Soul dies with the body and will be raised with it.

Is this what muggles believe? No magical ability perhaps, but magical thinking seems to obviate its need.

Anyway, this is what I do with sleeplessness when I don’t have to freak out about having to spend all day at work. I can (and will) take a nap later and continue my pursuit of restedness.

Commentary on work

Mary Lupin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:05:20 +0000

My son sent me the link. It is wonderfully apropos to the day. The thing is everyone who knows me knows I am no good at all at games. No interest. No talent.

from: Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

Tribute paid to the god of hard drives

Mary Lupin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:46:47 +0000

via wimp

and this

Mary Lupin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 02:34:25 +0000

also via the Wooster Collective

Feel-good vids about humanity

Mary Lupin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:53:41 +0000

For whatever reason videos like this make me feel good about being human. Go figure. They just do.

via Wimp

Dude :)

Mary Lupin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:06 +0000

via wimp.com