Worcester: Tripping the Light Fantastic
As one of my favorite Worcester columnists noted, it was school vacation week last week, which meant that not only could I pay twelve bucks for a sno-cone at Disney on ice, but also that I was back in my home town for an ENTIRE WEEK. As some folks may not know, I commute back and forth between Worcester and my new teaching job on the South Shore in a lovingly renovated suburban high school. The commute being what it is, I have a room nearby to stay in, so spending an entire week with my family (less one — my eldest daughter is off at MCLA in North Adams) rather than pining for their company in my little room in Pembroke was a treat.
Walking around in Worcester (walking the dog is my chief duty at home; more so when the weather is bad) I couldn’t help but compare my […]
Original post by urbansocrates
Freedom, the Veil, and Western Views of Islam
I often spend time reading such blogs ashttp://www.muhajabah.com/islamicblog/archives/veiled4allah/010848.php to read Muslim interpretations of the West, as well as Muslim interpretation of the Islamic world FOR the West. What struck me today as I read about women in the Islamic world, the UAE port deal, and the Danish Cartoon Extravaganza was how much emphasis is placed in Islam on Society and the individual’s place in the Umma (as I believe it is called), while in the West, the individual and individual conscience tends to have the upper hand. Wearing a veil is partly viewed by some as a FEMINIST response to Muslim men; see http://www.muhajabah.com/islamicblog/veiled4allah.php and scroll down to read about this.
From an American perspective, it seems sheer folly to wear a veil and cover oneself BECAUSE SO MANY MUSLIM MEN CANNOT BEHAVE PROPERLY TOWARD WOMEN IN PUBLIC. We have assholes here, too, hanging out of […]
Original post by urbansocrates
yt 001
amalinny posted a photo:
Original post by nobody@flickr.com (amalinny)
Ahoy Bikers! Confront Narrow-Minded Stupidity
Reading this article at CNN made me wish I had learned to ride a motorcycle. Shame on Phelps and his ignorant followers, and kudos to the Patriot Riders.
Original post by urbansocrates
Opening for Vorcza at Tammany Hall 2/23
: Tonight is a very special show with Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse opening for Vorcza! Vorcza is the brainchild of Ray Paczkowski, the only member of Trey Anastasio’s Trey Band since its inception in 2001…
Original post by Robert Newton
Equal Opportunity Offensiveness
Just thought I’d point you in this direction in the interest of spreading offensiveness around on an equal-opportunity basis.
Original post by urbansocrates
I’ve Always Liked the Danes, but I’m Not Muslim; Or: Buy More Havarti and Legos
After viewing this video which I think sums up the Islamic culture war situation pretty well (although it doesn’t go into much depth), my reaction was to note how much shame is a part of so much of Muslim culture. Is Islam so weak, it cannot withstand a little blasphemy in a part of the world where blasphemy of all types is now the norm? And why are so many of these protesters hiding their faces?
And after hearing an English apologist for Muslim anger over the Danish cartoons, I wondered if he was standing the Muslim reaction on its head. Europeans learning to hate again? Huh? Doesn’t this fellow know that when the Germans invaded Denmark, the Danish Jews had the support of their gentile countrymen? Or perhaps since so many Islamists hate Jews (actually, I think it’s required) they still hold that against the […]
Original post by urbansocrates
CD Release show in NYC June 24th
Yup the 1st of the CD Release shows has been announced!
Saturday night June 24th at Kenny’s Castaways in NYC’s Greenwich Village.
2 Monster Sets ! -starting at midnight
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Original post by Robert Newton