Random stuff--August 18

More "liberal vs. conservative" discussion over at IntellecXhibitionist where they have classified the bloggers and commenters in the Bloggernacle into 'left' and 'right' categories. (It's a pretty comprehensive list with a few omissions like...um...me. Put me in the 'Right Reverend Right'--even though, of course, I have a number of more liberal opinions than a few others listed in that category...) Looking at the number of comments, Ryan and Davis have now undoubtedly discovered (as Wump Blog has in the past) that the easiest way to elicit comments and discussion is to rank and/or classify people into broad categories.

Wait...I thought making guns illegal was the key towards reducing crime... Could it be it's the person, not the weapon?

Not a good PR moment for churches here. Note that while the existence of mental illness may explain many cases that were mistakenly attributed to 'evil spirits' in the past, it doesn't by itself disprove the existence of evil spirits, then or now...

'Face cards' is the hot topic of discussion at Times & Seasons. I've played cards all my life--both the 'face' variety and various other card games (UNO, Phase 10, Rage, etc...) Oddly, I've never felt tempted to commit suicide by thrusting a sword into my head despite the clear subliminal messages to do so... The objection to card playing is its association with gambling, of course, but the problem is ANY game that keeps score or has a winner can be used for gambling (including--and especially--any sporting event). The Baroness and I play Mah-jongg with friends all the time--and that's a MAJOR gambling fixture in the Eastern Hemisphere. But if we don't gamble ourselves...I don't see the problem. (No comment on the 'waste of time' issue...)