Meme of the Day for 11 Jan., 2008

Got tagged by Eileen, so here goes...

- Link to the person that tagged you. (done)
- Post the rules on your blog.
- Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
- Tag six people and at the end of your post, link to their blogs.
- Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm a Southern boy and know that certain dishes are meant to be finger foods (e.g. fried chicken, ribs). But having me eat with my fingers, and esp. licking them off (Mmmmm...BBQ saaaaaauce), drives my wife nuts. I do it anyway.

2. Being a bit absent-minded, I tend to do things like always put important stuff (wallet, keys) in the same spot in the house everytime, always park in the same general area when visiting the local mall, movie theatre, etc... Saves much anxiety on my part.

3. I find Wal-Mart to be an incredibly tacky & depressing place, and it's almost painful for me to patronize one. I felt this way even before finding out about their predatory business practices, lousy treatment of their employees, etc..., and will go to some length to avoid shopping there. I am, however, quite fond of discount stores like Target and IKEA.

4. Don't like Italian food. Matter of fact, I'm not fond of any food containing tomatoes. However, I will eat almost anything from various Asian cuisines at least once, incl. some pretty weird stuff (try "Beef with Bitter Melon" on for size sometime).

5. I'm hooked, not just on coffee in the morning, but on good coffee. At home, we buy beans and grind our own before we make it. When traveling, I'll go to quite a bit of trouble to at least find a Starbuck's vs. drinking (yech!) Folgers or some swill from the local convenience store.

6. I'm a middle-aged, middle-class, straight, white, Southern male who has absolutely no interest in NASCAR, Major League anything, hunting, fishing, conservative Protestantism, or Republican politics.

OK, so I tag PJ, Grandmère Mimi, Fr. Bill, the Doxy, Kristin, and DP :)

QotD for 4 Jan., 2008

I will not vote for Ron Paul under any circumstances. Sorry. The fact that I might agree with him on one or two things doesn't mean I'm keen to have an abortion-banning white supremacist alternative-medicine quack in office. --- Rusty Foster, founder of Kuro5hin

Where Are You Politically ?

You are a Social Liberal (68% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (21% permissive) You are best described as a: Strong Democrat (21e/68s) Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Not quite sure of the ultimate accuracy of this, as I'm nowhere near a real Socialist*, and I'm much more "socially permissive" than this lets on - An ye harm none, do what thou wilt and all that. But a fun quiz with a decent amount of questions :)

* (I suppose my support for a decent std of living for everyone combined with a desire for universal healthcare ala Canada makes me a pawn of the dreaded Socialists ;)

QotD for 26 Dec., 2007

(from a lengthy essay on Anglican polity at The Daily Episcopalian)

...the alternative to the rule of law on this side of the kingdom of heaven is not grace, but the rule of men (and I use the gender-exclusive term quite intentionally), men who equate their prejudices with God’s word, their ambitions with God’s will, and their agendas with the tradition of God’s Church. Polity and canon law are the security of God’s people against the wrongful exercise of power. --- the Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Lexington

[thanks to DC at The Questioning Christian]

What Does Your Latte Say About You ?

What Your Latte Says About You

You are very decadent in all aspects of your life. You never scale back, and you always live large. You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious. You have a good deal of energy, but you pace yourself. You never burn out too fast. You're totally addicted to caffeine... but you like to pretend like you aren't! You are responsible, mature, and truly an adult. You're occasionally playful, but you find it hard to be carefree. You are complex and philosophical, but you are never arrogant.

What Does Your Latte Say About You?

Baby's First Mythos

Baby's First Mythos is a book that blasts your child's soul as it teaches them their ABC's and 123's by illustrating them with Lovecraft's Elder Gods.

I. 'I' is for "Iä! Iä! Cthulhu ftaghn!"

Update: An entry on the book over at Geek Parenting.

City of God Appeal Hits $5K

After only 14 days, the appeal to send funds for the work of Christ the King Anglican Church in the Cidade de Deus neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has exceeded $5,000 in donations!

Come on, folks - there's still 11 days left until Christmas, and every little bit helps. For the cost of a few lattes at Starbucks or a lunch out, you can make a real difference. See the posting below for details on how to contribute.

Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. ---Matt. 25:40 (NRSV)