I wonder…

what Bea Arthur is up to right at this moment.

More on Peter Cook

Not to be confused with “Moron Peter Cook” or even “Moore on Peter Cook.” Yes, well, I’m posting this because I noticed that some folks had popped by my site looking for info on Peter Cook - presumably that OTHER Peter Cook, the less famous, less humorous, and less dead Peter Cook. Of course, the Peter Cook of whom I am so fond also never nailed Christie Brinkley, so, take from that what you will.

Anywho, here’s a wee tribute to the late Peter Cook of the never-having-nailed-Christie-Brinkley fame.

Oh, you mean MacBeth?

While reminiscing about Peter Cook (not the one from recent headlines), I was reminded that he did some work on the (completely ingenious) Blackadder series.  In the nearly Joycean stream-of-consciousness jazz riffing one can only do these days thanks to the world wide internet, I wound up laughing yet again at this, my favorite Blackadder episode.  Eh, even if it doesn’t have Peter Cook in it.

Diminishing expectations

Feh.  I’ve started about 10 different blog entries, only to wind up writing something like, “Well, I’ll pick up on this theme later.”  Yyyeaaaahhh, that’s probably not gonna happen.  Over the last several months I’ve been getting really interested in a topic, becoming enthusiastic about writing on the subject, then getting interrupted and not really finding the energy to rehash the theme.  So, if you’ve been popping by here expecting to find that I’ve written something I promised to write, sorry.  No excuses.  If you’re really interested in something in particular that I’ve already mentioned, let me know and I’ll try to get to it in a timely manner.  Otherwise, without my feet being held to the fire, it ain’t likely to happen.

Apropos of absolutely nothing, top searches leading to my site lately:

lyrics “o sight of anguish” (I’ll still highly recommend Tim Eriksen’s rendition of this.  Look for Tim on Youtube. )

“a token of my extreme” video -lyrics (Still Zappa-crazy after all these years)

caca.it (Haha!  Caca!)

Also apropos of nothing:

Really?  Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook?!  Too bad: they made a nice couple.  Uh, despite Cook being dead since 1995 and all.

Telemarketers blow goats

Found this video over at Why, That’s Delightful. (I like to believe this is the real Graham Linehan, so if it’s not, don’t bother to tell me.)

Oh, dangit.  Can’t embed this for some reason.  Here’s a link.

supernatural elements in the Amish religion

Somebody landed on my site today as a result of the search term in this post’s title.  I think it’s intriguing.  I might just post something on this in the next couple of days (as my current job is now winding to a close).  A few years ago I developed a strange interest in Pow-Wow “magic” (Hexerei) among the Pennsylvania-Germans (to which group the Amish belong, in their own way).  If you’re interested, keep your eyes peeled.

Isaac Watts’ hymn “Condescension”

I’m posting this mainly as a mnemonic device for myself.  If it blesses other folks, so much the better.  Many thanks to Larissa, from whose site I cobbed the lyrics. (Can’t find your site again.  If I do, I’ll link back.  Sorry!)

How condescending and how kind

Was God’s eternal Son!

Our misery reached His heav’nly mind,

And pity brought Him down.

When Justice, by our sins provoked,

Drew forth its dreadful sword,

He gave His soul up to the stroke

Without a murm’ring word.

He sank beneath our heavy woes,

To raise us to His throne;

There’s ne’er a gift His hand bestows

But cost His heart a groan.

This was compassion like a God,

That when the Savior knew

The price of pardon was His blood,

His pity ne’er withdrew.

Now, though He reigns exalted high,

His love is still as great;

Well He remembers Calvary,

Nor let His saints forget.

Here we behold His bowels roll,

As kind as when He died;

And see the sorrows of His soul

Bleed through His wounded side.

Here we receive repeated seals

Of Jesus’ dying love:

Hard is the wretch that never feels

One soft affection move.

Here let our hearts begin to melt,

While we His death record,

And with our joy for pardoned guilt,

Mourn that we pierced the Lord.

-Issac Watts

Bizzy, bizzy

I’ve been exceptionally busy and worn out lately.  With that in mind, in lieu of even attempting to write something clever, I’ll put up a link to a very cool church community I’ve just learned about.  I had a chance to listen to Jill Rowland deliver an inspirational keynote address at our Synod’s Assembly.  If you’re up to it, check out the community at Soul Cafe in Hood River, OR.

Universal Being?

There’s a really interesting post about God as “Being” (note the lack of article) over at Exploring our Matrix.

Notorious G.O.D.?

Sorry.  That was probably blasphemous.

I keep finding myself sucked into these Creationism v. Evolution discussions, prompted no doubt by the recent release of and subsequent bruhaha (funny word) surrounding Ben Stein’s Expelled.  I’m not a biologist and I’m not a Biblical literalist.  (Of course, if you saw Expelled, you’ll know that the film’s point has little to do with whether Intelligent Design claims are true, per se - just whether they ought to be considered as part of the conversation about life’s origins.)  Having said that, even though I do find evolution to be a mostly viable theory, I am disheartened by the viciousness and arrogance with which some evolution supporters defend their claims.

In complete disregard for the spirit of treating opposing views fairly and with respect, I post this.

I’ll have to write something in a future blog about my feelings regarding Christian hip-hop.  Christian hip-hop?  Military intelligence?  English cuisine?