Best Beloved has long been a keen collector of stories about cults, conspiracies and gullibility. His bookshelves are full of people seeking truth and uncovering lies; my bookshelves are full of people dreaming up stories that push the boundaries of reality and normality -- it pretty much sums up the complete opposites of our personalities.
Last night Media Watch had a segment about Channel Nine's screening of Peter Popoff* and his Miracle Water scam. BB was ecstatic in rediscovering one of his old obsessions. I can't wipe the smile off his face, and first thing this morning he sent me this:
It's pretty amazing, and while BB finds it hilarious, I find it poignant. So much faith, so much hope, and you know they're all just going to go home and find that nothing has changed, they're just a bit more tired and have a badly bruised forehead. And that man, wiping the tears from his eyes! Sigh.
I do like the bit where his wife says 'Can you hear me? If you can't you'll be in trouble...' It blows the top off everything, if only because the playful glee in her voice shows how irreverently they think of their 'business'.
And now he's doing it again. Unbelieveable.
* Popoff is, of course, a delightfully Dahl-ish name for such a scammer. I always laugh extra hard because when Bumblebee was in family daycare, I mentioned one day that he had eaten a lot of lentils, and might fart a bit. His carer pursed her lips prissily and said 'we don't use that word here, dear. We prefer POP-OFF'. Gawd, I laughed like a drain, all the way to work.
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Enjoying oneself
Gosh, a few days away and I'm bursting with tales to tell.
I'm feeling much better, thank you very much. It turns out I *was* having a hormonal overload, but that doesn't excuse the shite I was dragged through early last week. It just explains the complete lack of my usual ability to take a hard situation reasonably well and walk away cheerfully.
Anyhoo, let's move on. Here's the latest:
FOCA
Knit 1 Blog 1 opened last night, as part of the ACT Festival of Contemporary Art. It was great to see a different crowd -- obviously knitters and bloggers -- from the usual opening suspects! There's some very cool knitted stuff in the show; go and have a trawl sometime.
An apology to the lovely person who I met who confessed to having read my blog for ages -- I was completely vague last night! I'd had a very near-hit car accident on the way to the first venue (don't tell BB!), sculled a glass of wine in shock, and I don't think I was really paying much attention to any one thing in particular. It was nice to meet you, though, and if you ever see me again, please reintroduce yourself!
Actually, there were a few things I paid particular attention to at the School of Art Gallery show, before the wine hit the shock (it was the first venue of the FOCA opening crawl): Kate Murphy's video 'Going Out Together' (I hope I got that right), and Charlie Sofo's series of self-portraits, both of which were resonant and evocative.
One of Charlie's works involved him carefully pulling apart a yellow- and green-bristled toothbrush and reassembling the bristles, poking them into cardboard to produce a hairy silhouette of his head, front-on, with the yellow and green stripes intact. Lit from above, the bristles cast very fine shadows, making the portrait even hairier. It sat up on a plinth, with the remnants of the original toothbrush sitting at the front. I kept thinking was a great comment on masculinity, especially when it was across the area from another self-portrait, this time a video.
The video starts with a picture of Jean-Claude Van Damme taking up the whole screen, but then it starts smoking and shifting downwards. It is burning from the bottom, and as it sinks downwards it reveals Charlie himself, sitting quietly behind the picture, staring straight into the camera with the same intense gaze as the Van Damme picture, but in a very neutral, non-threatening pose.
Brilliant. Well, I thought so, anyway. I guess you have to be there. So go there, if you're in Canberra. And that means you can see Kate's video as well. There's also more excellent work by Waratah Lahy, exploring Australia's BIG THINGS, Lauren Simeoni's gorgeous pieces, and Peter Volich's take on sports adoration. That's at the ANU School of Art Gallery.
BUMBLEBEE
I took B to the movies the other day, to see Transformers, a film that despite Harry's warning (sorry, you have to scroll down, I can never select individual posts on For Battle), I still snorted incredulously so hard that my brain nearly split. B was so testosterone-charged afterwards that I applied a hasty poultice of Sense and Sensibility to try and calm him down again. That has been my policy for years, and it's become a wonderful form of damage control. For every overly-masculine thing he's subjected to by his father, stepfather or grandfather, I make him sit through something completely opposite, like a romantic comedy. And bless him, he loves a bit of celluloid, so he's equally happy in front of Spiderman or Notting Hill. In this case he thoroughly enjoyed Emma and Kate romping through the English countryside, and discovered a new softer side to Professor Snape (aka Alan Rickman). And by bedtime, he was completely neutralised, and able to sleep soundly.
But then, the next day, he discovered the wonderful world of Warhammer, thank to his For Battle hero, Harry:
This amassing of armies is only the tip of the iceberg; he pulled out about half the figures and a few machines, and almost swooned with excitement.
He spent most of the chilly winter's afternoon plotting, scheming and battling (no rules, no dice, only his imagination!) and then it took him two days to put them all away again...
I'm certainly not averse to miniature things, and these figurines are amazing. I think my favorites so far are the Beastmen, saucy little animal hybrids:
woof!
Bumblebee has always been a costume lover -- he saw the new Harry Potter movie this afternoon in full HP garb, complete with wand -- but this has now extended through to his everyday clothes. He's adopted a hat, bought in January at the Byron Bay markets, and it very rarely leaves his head, even during school. A few weeks ago we found a tracksuit top in Big W that is black with a sunburst of sewn ridges across the front, like rays of energy, but all in black, and he begged me to buy it for him. Now he seems to have formed a personal uniform -- the hat, the jacket, and a medallion covered in Arabic script that Colonel Duck found on the street in Bega (I'm hoping it's not some secret society marker, but it's more likely to be a coin of some sort). Here's a taste:
I call this 'Sith casualwear'. Without the lightsabre it looks more 'bad-ass gangsta rappa' but in the worst white-boy way. Sigh. I guess he'll grow out of it, literally. He's growing out of jeans faster than I can buy them for him, but he never grows sideways. I'm saving all the out-grown jeans to be cut-offs in summer, and he'll have plenty of pairs!
HARRY P
I got yet another email from Reverend Tim Todd today. He has really got his knickers in a twist about HP5:
My primary objection to the film and the story is the very strong and central theme of witchcraft. This is condemned clearly inDeuteronomy 18:10-12. Ephesians 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” says Evangelist Tim Todd, President of Revival Fires International. I plead with parents to use strong discernment regarding this film. Matt. 18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” My cautions are underscored by the fact that we are living in a day different than The Wizard of Oz. We are technologically “not in Kansas” anymore.
“While Harry Potter is popular even among many Christians, it presents a Godless universe, one in which the most powerful wizard wins,” says Todd. “The hero is a wizard who shows no evidence of belief in God and does not use the power of prayer to combat evil. This is not the vision of the universe that Christian parents should want to instill in their children; nor is “white” magic an appropriate response to evil.”
Todd explains, "The Internet, (which has numerous fan sites hyper-linked to Wican and Witchcraft sites), and this compelling visual film experience could be powerful enough to engage young minds to ponder the "dark side". Many of the toy tie-ins promote spells (55 mentioned so far in the series) and witchcraft. Parents may want to wisely choose their 'potter'."
My response was to take Bumblebee and BB to see the movie today. Of course it was lots of fun, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I fancy Lucius Malfoy and Sirius Black. But the main thing I wanted to say, something that will not be a spoiler in any sense, is that I LOVE the way they've played with traditional broadsheet typography. Absolutely mouthwatering.
Oh enough for today. I need to cook dinner before Dr Who starts. BTW -- did anyone notice the HP7 reference in Dr Who last week?
I'm feeling much better, thank you very much. It turns out I *was* having a hormonal overload, but that doesn't excuse the shite I was dragged through early last week. It just explains the complete lack of my usual ability to take a hard situation reasonably well and walk away cheerfully.
Anyhoo, let's move on. Here's the latest:
FOCA
Knit 1 Blog 1 opened last night, as part of the ACT Festival of Contemporary Art. It was great to see a different crowd -- obviously knitters and bloggers -- from the usual opening suspects! There's some very cool knitted stuff in the show; go and have a trawl sometime.
An apology to the lovely person who I met who confessed to having read my blog for ages -- I was completely vague last night! I'd had a very near-hit car accident on the way to the first venue (don't tell BB!), sculled a glass of wine in shock, and I don't think I was really paying much attention to any one thing in particular. It was nice to meet you, though, and if you ever see me again, please reintroduce yourself!
Actually, there were a few things I paid particular attention to at the School of Art Gallery show, before the wine hit the shock (it was the first venue of the FOCA opening crawl): Kate Murphy's video 'Going Out Together' (I hope I got that right), and Charlie Sofo's series of self-portraits, both of which were resonant and evocative.
One of Charlie's works involved him carefully pulling apart a yellow- and green-bristled toothbrush and reassembling the bristles, poking them into cardboard to produce a hairy silhouette of his head, front-on, with the yellow and green stripes intact. Lit from above, the bristles cast very fine shadows, making the portrait even hairier. It sat up on a plinth, with the remnants of the original toothbrush sitting at the front. I kept thinking was a great comment on masculinity, especially when it was across the area from another self-portrait, this time a video.
The video starts with a picture of Jean-Claude Van Damme taking up the whole screen, but then it starts smoking and shifting downwards. It is burning from the bottom, and as it sinks downwards it reveals Charlie himself, sitting quietly behind the picture, staring straight into the camera with the same intense gaze as the Van Damme picture, but in a very neutral, non-threatening pose.
Brilliant. Well, I thought so, anyway. I guess you have to be there. So go there, if you're in Canberra. And that means you can see Kate's video as well. There's also more excellent work by Waratah Lahy, exploring Australia's BIG THINGS, Lauren Simeoni's gorgeous pieces, and Peter Volich's take on sports adoration. That's at the ANU School of Art Gallery.
BUMBLEBEE
I took B to the movies the other day, to see Transformers, a film that despite Harry's warning (sorry, you have to scroll down, I can never select individual posts on For Battle), I still snorted incredulously so hard that my brain nearly split. B was so testosterone-charged afterwards that I applied a hasty poultice of Sense and Sensibility to try and calm him down again. That has been my policy for years, and it's become a wonderful form of damage control. For every overly-masculine thing he's subjected to by his father, stepfather or grandfather, I make him sit through something completely opposite, like a romantic comedy. And bless him, he loves a bit of celluloid, so he's equally happy in front of Spiderman or Notting Hill. In this case he thoroughly enjoyed Emma and Kate romping through the English countryside, and discovered a new softer side to Professor Snape (aka Alan Rickman). And by bedtime, he was completely neutralised, and able to sleep soundly.
But then, the next day, he discovered the wonderful world of Warhammer, thank to his For Battle hero, Harry:
This amassing of armies is only the tip of the iceberg; he pulled out about half the figures and a few machines, and almost swooned with excitement.
He spent most of the chilly winter's afternoon plotting, scheming and battling (no rules, no dice, only his imagination!) and then it took him two days to put them all away again...
I'm certainly not averse to miniature things, and these figurines are amazing. I think my favorites so far are the Beastmen, saucy little animal hybrids:
woof!
Bumblebee has always been a costume lover -- he saw the new Harry Potter movie this afternoon in full HP garb, complete with wand -- but this has now extended through to his everyday clothes. He's adopted a hat, bought in January at the Byron Bay markets, and it very rarely leaves his head, even during school. A few weeks ago we found a tracksuit top in Big W that is black with a sunburst of sewn ridges across the front, like rays of energy, but all in black, and he begged me to buy it for him. Now he seems to have formed a personal uniform -- the hat, the jacket, and a medallion covered in Arabic script that Colonel Duck found on the street in Bega (I'm hoping it's not some secret society marker, but it's more likely to be a coin of some sort). Here's a taste:
I call this 'Sith casualwear'. Without the lightsabre it looks more 'bad-ass gangsta rappa' but in the worst white-boy way. Sigh. I guess he'll grow out of it, literally. He's growing out of jeans faster than I can buy them for him, but he never grows sideways. I'm saving all the out-grown jeans to be cut-offs in summer, and he'll have plenty of pairs!
HARRY P
I got yet another email from Reverend Tim Todd today. He has really got his knickers in a twist about HP5:
My primary objection to the film and the story is the very strong and central theme of witchcraft. This is condemned clearly in
“While Harry Potter is popular even among many Christians, it presents a Godless universe, one in which the most powerful wizard wins,” says Todd. “The hero is a wizard who shows no evidence of belief in God and does not use the power of prayer to combat evil. This is not the vision of the universe that Christian parents should want to instill in their children; nor is “white” magic an appropriate response to evil.”
Todd explains, "The Internet, (which has numerous fan sites hyper-linked to Wican and Witchcraft sites), and this compelling visual film experience could be powerful enough to engage young minds to ponder the "dark side". Many of the toy tie-ins promote spells (55 mentioned so far in the series) and witchcraft. Parents may want to wisely choose their 'potter'."
My response was to take Bumblebee and BB to see the movie today. Of course it was lots of fun, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I fancy Lucius Malfoy and Sirius Black. But the main thing I wanted to say, something that will not be a spoiler in any sense, is that I LOVE the way they've played with traditional broadsheet typography. Absolutely mouthwatering.
Oh enough for today. I need to cook dinner before Dr Who starts. BTW -- did anyone notice the HP7 reference in Dr Who last week?
Friday, July 06, 2007
Beware Black Friday!
I've been on the mailing list for the Tim Todd Revival Fires/Truth for Youth ministry ever since I bought a copy of their Truth for Youth bible to add to BB's collection of weird and wonderful Christian printed ephemera. Normally I would unsubscribe from such lists soon after discovering I'm on them, but I've kept this one going because it keeps me in touch with the wacky world of fundamental missionaries.
One week they're saving Africa, another week they're sending stuff to the troops in Iraq. This week they are girding their loins and dusting off their loudhailers in preparation for the release of the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
You'll notice that I'm not afraid to hand over their contact details. Go nuts. I highly recommend both publications for a really ridiculously stupid read. I've reviewed this comic before; their version of the Bible is very entertaining as well, with extra comics about converting gays and vanquishing other enemies of the free world.As far as I'm concerned, this all revolves around humourless and unimaginitive people using fear to enforce their narrow-minded views. I'm just counting the days until Tim Todd is arrested for some really juicy scandal involving transgender crack dealers in witch costumes. It's bound to happen, don't you think?
And in the meantime I shall go on reading the books, watching the movies, and counting the days.
One week they're saving Africa, another week they're sending stuff to the troops in Iraq. This week they are girding their loins and dusting off their loudhailers in preparation for the release of the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
The dangerous spiritual nature of the new Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie due to come out on Friday, July 13, is exposed through the comic book, Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire, published by Revival Fires International located in West Monroe, LA.
This 32 page, colorful and informative comic book may be viewed and purchased online at www.thetruthforyouth.com/special/hp.htm and in “Revival Fires Crusades” across America.
“While Harry Potter is popular even among many Christians, it presents a Godless universe, one in which the most powerful wizard wins,” says Evangelist Tim Todd, President of Revival Fires International. “The hero is a wizard who shows no evidence of belief in God and does not use the power of prayer to combat evil. This is not the vision of the universe that Christian parents should want to instill in their children; nor is “white” magic an appropriate response to evil.”
The Hairy Polarity Comic is also included in the popular Truth for Youth, which has been enthusiastically endorsed by Pat Boone, the late, Bill Bright, the late, Jerry Falwell, T.D. Jakes, Actor Dean Jones, Art Linkletter, Rod Parsley, Michael Reagan and many other prominent leaders. Truth for Youth bibles may be purchased at http://www.thetruthforyouth.com/paypal.htm
The Truth for Youth, designed by Todd, is a New Testament with powerful comics that deal with “absolute truths” from a biblical perspective, addressing the moral issues that young people are confronted with. More than 1.2 million copies have been distributed to youth in an attempt to respond to the liberal agenda that is being promoted aggressively in public schools.
Todd concludes, “The Hairy Polarity comic book creatively informs the reader of the many explicit examples of appalling evil in the Harry Potter Movie, such as, blood sacrifice, animal sacrifice, demon possession, levitation, divination, shifting humans into animals, communing with the dead, bringing evil wizards back from the dead through the shedding of blood, only to mention a few.”
As we approach the release of the new and last Harry Potter Movie, Todd is encouraging concerned parents and leaders to obtain quantities of the Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire comic book and distribute them as an informative resource. The Hairy Polarity comic book and the Truth for Youth Bible are both available at http://www.thetruthforyouth.com/paypal.htm
You'll notice that I'm not afraid to hand over their contact details. Go nuts. I highly recommend both publications for a really ridiculously stupid read. I've reviewed this comic before; their version of the Bible is very entertaining as well, with extra comics about converting gays and vanquishing other enemies of the free world.As far as I'm concerned, this all revolves around humourless and unimaginitive people using fear to enforce their narrow-minded views. I'm just counting the days until Tim Todd is arrested for some really juicy scandal involving transgender crack dealers in witch costumes. It's bound to happen, don't you think?
And in the meantime I shall go on reading the books, watching the movies, and counting the days.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Time to get folked, good & proper
Bumblebee, after listening very intently to my explanation of what Easter is, asked 'why do they call it GOOD Friday? it should be BLACK Friday or SAD Friday or BLOOD Friday or something.' Not having listened very hard in Sunday School (more mindful of all the yummies being laid out on the nearby table), I had no answer for him. It is a bit weird, since it's really a Deathday celebration. Can someone tell us why? I'd rather hear it from you than Google the answer.
Then I hadan argument a discussion with Best Beloved about the fact that Woollies is closed on Good Friday; he found it inconvenient, and I supported the closure... not on religious grounds, but because if we're going to have a public holiday then it should be for EVERYBODY and I don't see why some poor 16 year old has to be outside of the term 'public'. We should, I argued, live a few days a year without shopping, and should plan our lives accordingly.
Half an hour later I really wanted to eat something specific and found myself thinking 'I'll just nip down to Woolies'. DOH! Still, I stand by my stand, so to speak. I'll just have to not eat that thing.
Something which never stops for Easter is the National Folk Festival, folking madly as I type, down the road a wee bit at Canberra's EPIC (the showgrounds). I love this time of year because I can just jump on my bike and within ten minutes I can immerse myself in all that is weird and wonderful in today's alternate minorities. Because I have a few things due on Tuesday, I have decided to work by morning, festival by afternoon. And because I live close by, that is a very realistic goal.
I've probably said this before, but I actually go to very few concerts at festivals. I'll catch a few familiar gigs by old favorites like Totally Gourdgeous, Frencham Smith and the annual 'Infinite Song Competition' (a daily round of themed covers by Festival participants. So far they've done ABBA, Queen, Bob Dylan, etc. This year it's The Sound of Music.); and I'll try to get to names that intrigue me, like The Dolls (3 cowgirls combining country, hillbilly, blues and cabaret), Nester Lou and the Slim Knackers Show, and The Transylvaniacs. If anyone out there knows of something hot coming to the Festival that I have to catch, please let me know.
Otherwise, I spend most of my time in the festival streets, checking out the beards, the costumes, the impromptu jams around oil drum fires. It's a great time of year, and the temperature is dropping every minute, so hooray for jumpers and mulled wine!
Have a great Easter/holiday, whatever you find yourself doing.
Then I had
Half an hour later I really wanted to eat something specific and found myself thinking 'I'll just nip down to Woolies'. DOH! Still, I stand by my stand, so to speak. I'll just have to not eat that thing.
Something which never stops for Easter is the National Folk Festival, folking madly as I type, down the road a wee bit at Canberra's EPIC (the showgrounds). I love this time of year because I can just jump on my bike and within ten minutes I can immerse myself in all that is weird and wonderful in today's alternate minorities. Because I have a few things due on Tuesday, I have decided to work by morning, festival by afternoon. And because I live close by, that is a very realistic goal.
I've probably said this before, but I actually go to very few concerts at festivals. I'll catch a few familiar gigs by old favorites like Totally Gourdgeous, Frencham Smith and the annual 'Infinite Song Competition' (a daily round of themed covers by Festival participants. So far they've done ABBA, Queen, Bob Dylan, etc. This year it's The Sound of Music.); and I'll try to get to names that intrigue me, like The Dolls (3 cowgirls combining country, hillbilly, blues and cabaret), Nester Lou and the Slim Knackers Show, and The Transylvaniacs. If anyone out there knows of something hot coming to the Festival that I have to catch, please let me know.
Otherwise, I spend most of my time in the festival streets, checking out the beards, the costumes, the impromptu jams around oil drum fires. It's a great time of year, and the temperature is dropping every minute, so hooray for jumpers and mulled wine!
Have a great Easter/holiday, whatever you find yourself doing.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Hairy Polarity and the Obvious Over-reaction
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a reference in someone's blog to a Christian satire of Harry Potter. Since my Best Beloved collects Chick Tracts and other loony comic paraphenalia (a by-product of a religious upbringing rich with eccentric congregation members), I thought he would like a copy of this choice morsel, entitled Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire.
The comic is published by a certain Tim Todd, a revivalist minister in the US, who runs a mission called Truth for Youth. I ordered a comic (they cost next to nothing, and are even cheaper in bulk, of course), and it arrived quick smart, along with a glossy brochure advertising how effective Minister T-odd has been in his crusade. Nice printing, I thought, until I actually handled the brochure, which has a prickly, sticky feel to it, like it had been hair-sprayed. But not as much as Tim Todd! Whose title on the inside back cover of the comic is 'Publisher/Evangelist', with a drawing of himself. Not a hair out of place. Lots of teeth. Just like his photo on the brochure.
I quite enjoy Harry Potter satires -- didn't mind the Barry Trotter books, and there were various odd Chinese wannabes on the net a few years go at HP peak freak time. But this comic is just plain vindictive and utterly unimaginative. Check out the first seven pages. Ari (it has a bit of a manga feel to the drawing, and in fact was produced in Japan for TT) has a best friend called Minnie who his parents disapprove of because she distracts him from his "Christian' friends. Ari (we later find out his last name is 'Potiphar') and Minnie have a love of Hairy Polarity books in common. One day they wander into a bookstore and discover the original HP manuscripts, written by the author, Dr Bela Verbosi. Just picking up the books starts a spell sequence that whisks them into dark magic central, full of pentacles, witches and devil worshippers. Hogwarts is called the Pigzits University of Scintillating Sorcery, Dumbledore is Professor Doltus Dumbitdown, and there is the incisively witty Lord Vulgarmouth who apparently tried to 'whack' Hairy when he was a baby.
The whole 'story' (I'd balk at using the word 'plot') is desperately trying to convince people that Harry Potter and his friends are satanic. When spells are cast, the words are things like 'HURTEM HOAXUS', and 'KNOCKUS YUSOXOFF'. Eventually you get to the point where Ari & Min find the author, a balding elderly man under the spell of the 'real' Lord Vulgarmouth, a demon called THUUKUS, DUKE OF DEMONS. Oh, quake in your boots. Ari discovers his saviour in Jesus; Minnie thinks her newly-acquired white magic can save her skin, but she is really in a coma until she calls out to Jesus and is saved too...
And just when you think it is all over, the back cover gives a written diatribe against Harry Potter, about how it represents a Godless universe. It lists 20 examples of appalling evil. I'll give you some:
#1 = sacrificing animals [fairy nuff]
#2 = emphasizing power regardless of good or evil [uh huh]
#9 = projecting or traveling [sic] without transportation [hmm]
#12 = divining by crystal gazing [bugger]
#13 = Telling lies, stealing, breaking rules and cheated advocated in Wizard ethics by copying another student's homework (oooo)
#14 = approving of astrology [ahhh]
#17 = taking mood-altering drugs used by real witches and shamans [:)]
and this is my favorite:
#20 = Believing death to be just the "next great adventure."
I thought Christianity did believe in something following death? A better thought than 'the great full-stop' (not my cup of tea, any of it, but that's another story).
There is absolutely no mention of the better qualities of HP -- friendship, loyalty, team spirit, kindness, family togetherness, sportmanship. It's all mouth-frothing, bitter, unconvincing stuff, and I'd like to meet any teenager who would take this pap seriously. Mind you, it's probably bedtime reading for the Olsen Twins.
BTW, BB loved this addition to his collection. he has two big boxes of like stuff. He especially likes the idea of being on Minister T-odd's mailing list. I guess we'll be buying one of the Yoof Bibles next, just to see what's really goin' dahn in the US of A (and, according to Minister TT, all over the world...)
Postscript: My Olsen Twins link came from a blog called Bent Corner. Just found it on Google, but it's going straight onto the blogroll. Try this, and this. And, go on, treat yourself to this. I never thought I'd type this, but LOL.
The comic is published by a certain Tim Todd, a revivalist minister in the US, who runs a mission called Truth for Youth. I ordered a comic (they cost next to nothing, and are even cheaper in bulk, of course), and it arrived quick smart, along with a glossy brochure advertising how effective Minister T-odd has been in his crusade. Nice printing, I thought, until I actually handled the brochure, which has a prickly, sticky feel to it, like it had been hair-sprayed. But not as much as Tim Todd! Whose title on the inside back cover of the comic is 'Publisher/Evangelist', with a drawing of himself. Not a hair out of place. Lots of teeth. Just like his photo on the brochure.
I quite enjoy Harry Potter satires -- didn't mind the Barry Trotter books, and there were various odd Chinese wannabes on the net a few years go at HP peak freak time. But this comic is just plain vindictive and utterly unimaginative. Check out the first seven pages. Ari (it has a bit of a manga feel to the drawing, and in fact was produced in Japan for TT) has a best friend called Minnie who his parents disapprove of because she distracts him from his "Christian' friends. Ari (we later find out his last name is 'Potiphar') and Minnie have a love of Hairy Polarity books in common. One day they wander into a bookstore and discover the original HP manuscripts, written by the author, Dr Bela Verbosi. Just picking up the books starts a spell sequence that whisks them into dark magic central, full of pentacles, witches and devil worshippers. Hogwarts is called the Pigzits University of Scintillating Sorcery, Dumbledore is Professor Doltus Dumbitdown, and there is the incisively witty Lord Vulgarmouth who apparently tried to 'whack' Hairy when he was a baby.
The whole 'story' (I'd balk at using the word 'plot') is desperately trying to convince people that Harry Potter and his friends are satanic. When spells are cast, the words are things like 'HURTEM HOAXUS', and 'KNOCKUS YUSOXOFF'. Eventually you get to the point where Ari & Min find the author, a balding elderly man under the spell of the 'real' Lord Vulgarmouth, a demon called THUUKUS, DUKE OF DEMONS. Oh, quake in your boots. Ari discovers his saviour in Jesus; Minnie thinks her newly-acquired white magic can save her skin, but she is really in a coma until she calls out to Jesus and is saved too...
And just when you think it is all over, the back cover gives a written diatribe against Harry Potter, about how it represents a Godless universe. It lists 20 examples of appalling evil. I'll give you some:
#1 = sacrificing animals [fairy nuff]
#2 = emphasizing power regardless of good or evil [uh huh]
#9 = projecting or traveling [sic] without transportation [hmm]
#12 = divining by crystal gazing [bugger]
#13 = Telling lies, stealing, breaking rules and cheated advocated in Wizard ethics by copying another student's homework (oooo)
#14 = approving of astrology [ahhh]
#17 = taking mood-altering drugs used by real witches and shamans [:)]
and this is my favorite:
#20 = Believing death to be just the "next great adventure."
I thought Christianity did believe in something following death? A better thought than 'the great full-stop' (not my cup of tea, any of it, but that's another story).
There is absolutely no mention of the better qualities of HP -- friendship, loyalty, team spirit, kindness, family togetherness, sportmanship. It's all mouth-frothing, bitter, unconvincing stuff, and I'd like to meet any teenager who would take this pap seriously. Mind you, it's probably bedtime reading for the Olsen Twins.
BTW, BB loved this addition to his collection. he has two big boxes of like stuff. He especially likes the idea of being on Minister T-odd's mailing list. I guess we'll be buying one of the Yoof Bibles next, just to see what's really goin' dahn in the US of A (and, according to Minister TT, all over the world...)
Postscript: My Olsen Twins link came from a blog called Bent Corner. Just found it on Google, but it's going straight onto the blogroll. Try this, and this. And, go on, treat yourself to this. I never thought I'd type this, but LOL.
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