July 17, 2007

• If you don't want to play today, stay home!! We live in a multi-cultural world. It's good to be respectful of other's beliefs. Most of the world doesn't hold that day holy, so why can't the Shas appreciate THAT belief system? I really am tired of one group of fanatics trying to hold the world hostage.
• But we're not allowed to criticize them because it's anti-semitic.
• Monkeys in drag? That's just wrong, on any day of the week.
• I saw the new movie the other day. I have seen all five, in theatres, in order. I have never read any of the books. I am wondering how unique that makes me. Also, I was as stunned as anyone when Hermione was gangraped by elves. Does that happen in the book?
• Yes, if by "gangrape" you mean "lusted after" and by "elves" you mean "Ron Weasley".
• Actually, I do like to use "gangraped" in place of "lusted after." For example: "I watched Secretary last night and gangraped Maggie Gyllenhaal." "Bush and Cheney have really gangraped power and money while in office." "I ordered the salad, but i secretly gangraped the Death By Chocolate."
• Weeelll, it is kinda sorta a Jewish state after all, innit? I mean, don;t their policemen even not use permanent ink on Saturdays and stuff like that?
• I'm unclear on the wording in the Minister's response. I can't tell if it's illegal for businesses to be open on the Sabbath, or if it's illegal to simply to force employees to work on the Sabbath. If it's the former, well, that's a stupid law, but the bookstores are legally bound to follow it, no matter what agreement Rowling's publisher made them sign. If it's the latter, then problem solved by staffing that shift on a volunteer basis.
• Dammit, NickDanger and his loose thread are going to haunt me forever now when I post. Most of the world doesn't Most don't The world doesn't Ah, crap. Whatever
• They should just mandate all TV stations to broadcast the synopsis of the last chapter. (Yes, I read the synopsis spoiler from the copy of Hallows released on torrents) Factual or not, and I don't see why it wouldn't be true, (either way, meh) you find out who dies, and why. Still, much like my rabid viewing of the A-Team as a child, would that really stop people from going apeshit about this? Probably not, and it shouldn't. (A-Team reference is in regards to my Dad yelling at me: "You KNOW they're going to get captured. You KNOW they're going to build some non-lethal contraption to break out and attack the bad guys, and you KNOW they're going to win! Just get ready god dammit!!!!!)
• The Seleucids had the right idea. Go in there and slaughter a few pigs in the holy places, smear the fat all over these Hasidic dueds, make em munch some bacon, then clear out of there. They'll have more serious god shit to worry about than somebody selling a fuckin paperback on Shabbos.
• Who'd have thought that they'd be so sensitive about Jewish custom in a place like Israel?
• So.... As of October 2006 the total population is 7,082,000. Of these, 5,313,800 or 76.0% are of the Jewish faith, and 300,000 or 4.3% are unaffiliated, but may be ethnically Jewish. Official figures do not exist as to the number of atheists or otherwise non-affiliated individuals, who may comprise up to a quarter of the population referred to as Jewish. According to a 2004 Israel Central Bureau of Statistics Study on Israelis aged over 20, 8% of Israeli Jews define themselves as haredim (or Ultra-Orthodox); an additional 9% are "religious" (predominantly orthodox, also known in Israel as: Zionist-religious, national-religious and Kepot Srogot); 12% consider themselves "religious-traditionalists" (mostly adhering to Jewish Halakha); 27% are "non-religious traditionalists" (only partly respecting the Jewish Halakha), and 43% are "secular". Among the seculars, 53% say they believe in God(s). Due to the higher natality rate of religious and traditionalists over seculars, the share of religious and traditionalists among the overall population is even higher.* So we're looking at ~15% of the population that could have their knickers ephods in a twist about this? *info from that WikiThingie
• I say good for him. I would think seriously about sacrificing my foreskin if it would somehow fend off Harry Potter.
• I just wonder why they took orders for the book when they could easily have known where the release date would fall. Or did they not know how to use a calendar a few months back? How is it that people store this kind of knowledge up, then shiite on someone else, thus shifting the blame? Some modern maturity, something that is relevant to today's culture, would be welcome. Perhaps they were torn between making money off of the young wizard, and their belief system. And, to ensure that it was not their problem, they go to the media. Wonderful.
• Blue laws are still around in places in the US. They've mostly gone by the wayside in Canada following the Big M Drugmart case, but as a kid in Montreal everything used to shut down on Saturday at 5:00 pm. It isn't at all surprising that Israel has the equivalent, substituting Saturday for Sunday. This is just the same as a bunch of churchy types in Massachusetts getting uppity about the sale of liquor on Sunday, with a politician who is willing to pander to that demographic.
• In Austin, they would rope off the liquor section of the supermarket on Sunday mornings. One little rope. I guess it worked, because God still hasn't smited the town yet, despite plenty of provocation.
• I really am tired of one group of fanatics trying to hold the world hostage. They all do it, them thar fanatics. We only just got Sunday shopping in my province last year. Same rubbish: it's contrary to MY religion, so nobody can have it.
• I think it's still true that autos can't be sold on Sunday in New Jersey. When the legislature tried to repeal the law about 10 years ago, they were forced to abandon the effort due to protests. It wasn't religious folk who were protesting, it was auto salespeople, who liked having Sunday off.
• ...gangraped by elves. 1. gangraped :

  A wee beastie with festering legs or a similar wee beastie with poor circulation of the foots.

  2. gangraped

  The highland Scots custom to pellet with grapes again or "a gan, wee beastie"

  Scottish elves?