Sunday Link Encyclopedia and Self-Promotion
The badminton scandal at the Olympics. Why don’t more people care about this beautiful sport?
A brilliant post why the anti-gay movement is doomed to failure. I can’t recommend the post highly enough.
“Mitticulous“: a blogger proposes we add this new word to the vocabulary of the English language.
Why care what people think? Very insightful.
“If you hang around evangelicals long enough, you’ll hear over and over again that we’re NOT saved by our works, but rather by our FAITH – and that if you even start to think your works might matter in gaining salvation, well, then you’re not saved.” I always thought that this was what Catholics believed. Now it turns out that Protestant Evangelicals have the same approach. Is there Christian denomination where works matter more? Or, at least, matter somewhat? I might consider joining up. Maybe the Orthodox Christians can clear this up for us?
“I’m not going to stop yelling at feminism when it goes wrong. But I kind of want to take the moment to say… yeah. This is my movement. My stupid, faily, horrible excuse for a movement filled with stupid, faily, horrible people that has made life better for literally billions of people. It fucking changed the world in ways we’re still dealing with the fallout of. Once, men and women weren’t equal; now they mostly are, and getting more and more so every day.” Let’s have a contest as to who can count the greatest number of egregious falsehoods in this very childish outburst. And then we can have another contest counting all the ways in which this blogger has violated the English language.
I agree that this is the best reason to vote for Obama in 2012, no matter how you feel about him.
Another heartbreaking story from a victim of homeschooling. What is really sad is that such people only get a chance to speak about what was done to them by irresponsible homeschooling parents after they grow up. When they are still at the mercy of their parents, they don’t get to have a voice. Which is, of course, the entire point of homeschooling.
I’m glad to see that other bloggers join me in denouncing Bloomberg’s idiotic attempt to legislate breast-feeding.
A brilliant putdown of a condescending jerk of a colleague. I love these stories where people don’t crawl into a corner and cry when they are being insulted but, instead, fight back.
Is there anything wrong with being a loner? The post suggests that we should stop feeling ashamed for being loners. I couldn’t agree more! Our way of being is as valid as that of the ultra-sociable people. And let’s not allow anybody to convince us otherwise.
A very insightful post on unhealthy marriages: “Chronic complaining becomes the bond above bonds. Not with your significant other, of course, but with your close friends. Significant Other talks to their friends all the time about what’s bothering them, decisions they’re trying to make, how frustrated they are with you… and you do the same with your close friends. Your bond with your close friends is much stronger than your bond to Significant Other—and the same is true for them. A lot of what makes those bonds to friends so strong is the complaining: you complain to them about your significant other, they complain about their significant others, and everyone feels that at least they’re not alone in the world. No problems ever get solved, of course, but people get a chance to temporarily vent their frustrations.” The blogger attributes this to religious or conservative marriages, but they can be found among people of all political and religious persuasions. I know a few ultra-progressive atheists who live this way.
A brilliant takedown of a miserable creature who spewed garbage about Sally Ride. The post is very well-written and funny. Do read!
“Slavoj Žižek: ‘Humanity is OK, but 99% of people are boring idiots.‘” I thought that, too, for a long time. And then I started a blog and changed my mind. Maybe Zizek should start blogging, too. 🙂 The article is hilarious, though. At least, look at the first paragraph. I was in stitches for 5 minutes because that’s exactly the kind of thing I might say.
A list of every blogger participating in the Classics Club. I so admire the person (people?) who came up with the idea and organized the club.
Why the media frenzy around horrifying crimes is not a good idea.
And the post of the week: Lazy arguments. I’m guilty of making such arguments in my own writing, which is why I find this post invaluable.
The Catholic teaching on faith vs works as I understand it (I was raised Catholic but never Confirmed) is more subtle than needing just one or the other: works are the outward sign of grace and faith. Faith, and of course the Sacraments, save–but if you’re not performing good works, you don’t really have faith.
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Thanks for the link love!
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“If you hang around evangelicals long enough, you’ll hear over and over again that we’re NOT saved by our works, but rather by our FAITH – and that if you even start to think your works might matter in gaining salvation, well, then you’re not saved.” I always thought that this was what Catholics believed. Now it turns out that Protestant Evangelicals have the same approach. Is there Christian denomination where works matter more? Or, at least, matter somewhat? I might consider joining up. Maybe the Orthodox Christians can clear this up for us?
While I’ve heard of the Chick-Fil-A brouhaha, I really haven’t a clue what it is all about, and I don’t think it is worth taking the trouble to find out. As one of those little poster thingies on Facebook pointed out, the USA goes around invading lots of coutnries, killing people with drones, and all sorts of other stuff, but none of those things get them as worked up and willing to comment as the opinion of a guy who sells chicken sandwiches. And trying to sort out the opinions of the opinions of the guy who sells chicken sandwiches seems to be a daunting task and a huge waste of time, unless you are an American, and then, no doubt, it is Really Important. But the guy who sells chicken sandwiches doesn’t sell them in this neck of the woods, so the whole thing is hugely irrelevant.
So wading through the linked post about that to find out where the faith vs works thing comes into it seemed a bit too much. I think that the general Orthodox view is that that controversy too is two sides of the same Western coin, and, unless you are really keen on theological nit-picking suffice it to say that the Orthodox believe in synergy between faith and works.
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“As one of those little poster thingies on Facebook pointed out, the USA goes around invading lots of coutnries, killing people with drones, and all sorts of other stuff, but none of those things get them as worked up and willing to comment as the opinion of a guy who sells chicken sandwiches.”
– This isn’t very fair. The demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq and the work of activists protesting the invasion were a lot – and I mean A LOT – more massive than the Chick-Fil-A brouhaha. And this isn’t about anybody’s “opinion” either. This company fires people, deprives them of their livelihood in very uncertain economic times. Of course, it’s hard not to care. There is a story of a woman fired by the company because she has children. How can one not care?
“And trying to sort out the opinions of the opinions of the guy who sells chicken sandwiches seems to be a daunting task and a huge waste of time, unless you are an American, and then, no doubt, it is Really Important. But the guy who sells chicken sandwiches doesn’t sell them in this neck of the woods, so the whole thing is hugely irrelevant.”
– I find this hard to believe because I didn’t ask about chicken sandwiches, yet you proceeded to discuss them at length. 🙂 They seem way more serious to you than to me, actually. My question was about different Christian denominations. I was brought up in an atheist country and am trying to fill the lacunae in my knowledge of the world. This has nothing to do with sandwiches. 🙂
It would be nice to be able to ask a question and hear an answer that does not involve a long diatribe against “those stupid Americans.” Especially given that I’m not even American.
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OK, I have now read Libby’s post and I think it is quite good, esp. on why the Chick Fil A thing matters. Re evangelicals in US, they are important topic because they have so much power and they influence public discourse so much.
What I would emphasize about Libby’s post is the stance vs. substance distinction, with stance being more important to evangelicals than substance. What I would add to Libby’s points, is that it is not just that some forms of Protestantism separate faith from works, but that among evangelicals not to live up to one’s ideals, not to keep one’s word, etc., is almost an *article of faith.* When you sin and so on, you prove you know you are not God and that you need God, etc. You must not question your beliefs, but your actual actions not only can, but should be somewhat inconsistent with these if you have true humility before God (an important sign of faith). And round and round.
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I didn’t say you were concerned with chicken sandwiches, but rather that in order to understand the post that you linked to that provoked your question, I would need to do a lot of research into the ramifications of a controversity in a country a long way away, about a business that I know nothing about. realise that your question had nothing to do with sandwiches, but the post you linked to was all about the opinions of a guy who makes chicken sandwiches, |I know that you are not an American, but I amm also not an American and so I could no ollow he pos ha you linked o ecause he pose assumed ha eeyone knew wha she was alkin aou and I did no soy my keyoad is skippin lees so his is no ey coheen coherent….
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I had this exact keyboard a while ago. 🙂 How did it end up with you, I wonder. 🙂 (Joke.)
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Thank you for the link.
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Pingback: American priorities: Chick-Fil-A and Faith vs Works « Khanya
It’s the Catholics who *must* do works, though; Protestants who *can* live on pure faith although works are nice.
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I was taught time and again that for Catholics grace is not connected to works. I always thought that protestants were the exact opposite but now I’m confused.
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Martin Luther is the one who came up with the faith *alone* theory. This isn’t the best source, but it isn’t too bad, either – http://www.catholicbible101.com/faithandworks.htm
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The post at the Thinking Housewife is so out there that I wonder if it is a spoof of some sort. Or at least I sincerely hope it is.
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I hope so, too, but I ‘ve met people who say these things completely seriously. I was raised by such people. “I so pity this famous composer / poet / scientist. Her life was useless because she failed to achieve the true female happiness of making soup for her husband. ” All this is being said completely in earnest.
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Sadly, I think you are right.
The site is full of all kinds of gems, not just this one. I can quite imagine a female Stephen Colbert writing a blog like that. 🙂
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It isn’t. I go there just wonder at the well-written awfulness.
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It is grammatical, but not logical, doesn’t make real arguments, has poor transitions, etc., so I am not sure how well written it actually is.
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Thank you for your support on badminton. I compete competitively in junior tournaments and nothing rankles my friends or I more than when idiots who have no idea of the demanding effort and hard work we put in almost every single day, like anyone else who competes, bash on badminton.
“It is, in short, a dull game and does anyone watch it?” It’s fine and dandy if you want to report the news, but don’t belittle other people’s passion just because you can’t get it into your narrow mind that others enjoy it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics–olympic-badminton-scandal-serious-business-for-the-sport–comedy-for-everyone-else.html
An even worse article. Who the fuck spends 90% of an article dissing on a sport you haven’t played? It’s disappointing how the reporter thinks if the US sucks at a sport, then it’s alright to dismiss it. After all, it’s badminton and obviously you have to be an idiot to think this is a real sport harhar.
As the friend who posted the link said, “It’s only funny to you cause you don’t know a damn thing about the sport.”
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My husband and I play badminton outside (just for fun, we are not professionals like you) and we keep having to explain to our neighbors what it is we are doing. 🙂
There is nothing dull about the game. It’s beautiful and it’s also the best way to introduce sedentary people with a poor sense of balance (like me) to physical activity. You don’t need a team, expensive equipment or a special arena to play it for fun. I wish more people discovered badminton.
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May be, you’ll be interested in this “My Books of the Year” post.
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I thought especially about this book, but not only:
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I’m dealing with the fallout of, verily, once-upon-a-time. What is it you don’t like about the feminist article? It seems like it strings together a number of cliches about identity politics, without any original insights. It makes moral excuses for the idea of feminism as a movement, but doesn’t address why feminism is necessary. It makes claims that most men and women are now equal, but doesn’t state how. It doesn’t state what the fallout of might be. How are we dealing with this fallout of? Are we handling it okay?
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Billions of people, gender equality everywhere in the world and the vomit -inducing word “family” slaughtered me. 🙂
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I was once on a mailing list that told me how to make myself attractive to “heaps of men”.
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I love this. I just imagined heaps of men lying around, making googly eyes at you.
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🙂 🙂 I forgot to put smiley faces in the comment and made it sound crazy.
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sounds gendercidal.
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Also, giving birth via cesarean is much better if you have to give birth to a tortoise.
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Woman gives birth to a tortoise.
Horror as woman (30) gives birth to a tortoise after being pregnant for 10 months
A tradomedical practitioner in Lagos has claimed that a 20-year old woman delivered a tortoise and a baby girl in his clinic.
The woman, Rasheedat Raimi, said she had carried the pregnancy for 10 months before she eventually delivered the baby girl and the tortoise at a trado-medical clinic on Mutairu Street, Off Ijegun Road, outskirts of Lagos. She was in pains as she talked to P.M.NEWS about the strange delivery.
“I came to Yakafi for prayers because of the terrible pains I was having in my stomach. Immediately I got here, prayers were offered and immediately there was a burst of water and blood under me. The tortoise came out with the placenta and the baby came out later. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but I was very weak. I was happy the pain left me. I felt relieved after the delivery. I thank God,” she told P.M.NEWS slowly.
On whether she attended ante-natal clinic before the delivery, the young woman said: “I carried the pregnancy for 10 months. I did scans several times and nobody told me that I was carrying tortoise in my womb. What they always told me was that I am alright and would deliver at the right time,” she added.
“This is amazing, but true. She did not register with my clinic for ante-natal. When she came here with her people, she was in pains, we didn’t know she will deliver here. She only came here for Tahajjud prayers (night vigil). We were praying when suddenly she started wriggling. She was in pains.
“I touched her stomach and observed something strange moving inside her. It was a strange thing. I thought it was a lizard but it turned out to be a tortoise. The tortoise tore the placenta into pieces and came out. The baby came out afterwards.
“She fainted after the delivery and we had to revive her with prayers. This is what God can do. She had several scans but nobody told her that she was carrying a tortoise in her womb. God is great,” he declared.
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Yay, more link-reading!
I wrote about some of the body image issues I have with seeing my stomach.
Also thinking about co-pay-free birth control for endometriosis if my insurance decides to cover mine.
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Thanks for the link to one of my posts! I’m glad it resonated with you!
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