September 2011
149 posts
Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me. →
ucc.org
On airplanes, I dread the conversation with the person who finds out I am a minister and wants to use the flight time to explain to me that he is “spiritual but not religious.” Such a person will always share this as if it is some kind of daring insight, unique to him, bold in its rebellion against the religious status quo.
Next thing you know, he’s telling me that he finds God in the sunsets. These people always find God in the sunsets. And in walks on the beach. Sometimes I think these people never leave the beach or the mountains, what with all the communing with God they do on hilltops, hiking trails and … did I mention the beach at sunset yet?
Like people who go to church don’t see God in the sunset! Like we are these monastic little hermits who never leave the church building. How lucky we are to have these geniuses inform us that God is in nature. As if we don’t hear that in the psalms, the creation stories and throughout our deep tradition.
Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn’t interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself. What is interesting is doing this work in community, where other people might call you on stuff, or heaven forbid, disagree with you. Where life with God gets rich and provocative is when you dig deeply into a tradition that you did not invent all for yourself.
Thank you for sharing, spiritual but not religious sunset person. You are now comfortably in the norm for self-centered American culture, right smack in the bland majority of people who find ancient religions dull but find themselves uniquely fascinating. Can I switch seats now and sit next to someone who has been shaped by a mighty cloud of witnesses instead? Can I spend my time talking to someone brave enough to encounter God in a real human community? Because when this flight gets choppy, that’s who I want by my side, holding my hand, saying a prayer and simply putting up with me, just like we try to do in church.This is written really obnoxiously but that’s probably how I would write it because I am obnoxious. Also, I’d prefer to exclude the apparent jab at “monastic little hermits.” But for real.
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS
August 2011
156 posts
On the Viaduct
So I just moved to Portland from Seattle, and voted against the viaduct replacement tunnel, but it went through anyway, roughly 60/40. Like most of Seattle, I’m tired of arguing over the thing, and my apathy is mounting, especially since I now live in Portland.
But for comparison, the tunnel will be 1.7 miles long and supposedly cost just under $2 billion, not counting the accompanying seawall replacement, which will tack on another $1 billion.
As someone once pointed out, and I ran the numbers on, the MAX cost $214 million to build a quarter-century ago, which would be $477 million adjusted for inflation. The Portland streetcar cost a total of $74 million a decade ago, $90 million adjusted. Together they have 56.4 miles of track, 5 from the streetcar.
That’s 33x the length for a quarter of the price. Now, the MAX isn’t a highway (like, say, 405), and I don’t pretend that Seattle could build a system similar to the MAX for $500 million - Seattle is way more dense than Portland was twenty-five years ago, for one thing. But Seattle’s current light rail system is pretty much functionally just a shuttle to the airport/out of Seattle (and cost $2 billion itself for 17 miles of track, although it is raised). Seattle’s streetcar, at 1.3 miles for $56 million, is pretty much a joke at this point, although it is supposed to be expanded to be sort of useful. Seattle, you can do better. But you won’t, even with McGinn as your mayor.
You are doing a good job of making Portland look good, though. So thanks for that.
Missing e {browser extension for tumblr}: The future is not bright for 'Missing e' →
blog.missinge.infraware.ca
Moments ago, I participated in surprise conference call with Tumblr staff members. They have indicated to me that they continue to take issue with Missing e even with the removal of usage of the Tumblr API.
They interpret the Tumblr API License Agreement in such a way as it continues to apply…
Damn you Tumblr. This guy has bent over backwards and made some people very unhappy in efforts to please you and your inane need for control, and are using your power to strongarm him into shutting down a very useful service. Previously, you had some legitimate reason to be concerned - increased API load, mainly. But at this point, Missing e in no way increases the load on your servers. It is clear that at this point, you are simply unhappy because Missing e makes clear features that are missing or badly implemented in Tumblr’s core, and instead of working with this obviously talented developer to improve upon them (which I’m sure he would gladly do) or welcoming his improvements that come at no cost to you, you are shutting him down for no good reason. Bad form, Tumblr. Bad form.
I will be sending this post in a modified, less angry, more coherent form, to support@tumblr.com. I don’t expect a response, but it’s the most I can do.
aaahhghhgfaskjhaldg i need to move
…what are you doing Sunday night?
Mink Car Cover Album →
minkcarcover.bandcamp.com
At midnight on September 11, 2001, They Might Be Giants officially released their album Mink Car and launched the celebration with a party at a Manhattan Tower Records.
We all know what happened the next morning.
To mark the ten-year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, and to raise money to support and train New York’s essential emergency personnel, we are going to release a full cover of the Mink Car album.
All proceeds from Mink Car Cover will go to the FDNY Foundation, the official not-for-profit foundation of the Fire Department of New York, established to provide resources for the professional development, education, and training of members of the FDNY.
Featuring artists like Hank Green, MC Frontalot, Drifless Pony Club and my friends Nuclear Bubble Wrap and Tom Milsom, I had no god damn idea this was happening and even though I don’t really like the album, all the people I like are covering the songs I like so I am buying the fuck out of a CD copy of it.
Joel, Joel, look.
:D I knew Tom did a Mink Car cover, but woo! This is an awesome fusion of my musical interests.
Dammit
Checked my mail today, and my ticket that I shouldn’t have gotten in the first place (expired tabs on a parked car across the street from my driveway, what part of that is “operating a motor vehicle”?) apparently went to collections because even though I called and paid it over the phone from my vacation in New York City and got a confirmation number, they apparently didn’t actually get my payment, and made no attempt to contact me before sending it off to collections, doubling my fine. Thanks a lot, City of Seattle.
Now I just hope I can find that confirmation number…
