Category Archives: Books

Pope h8s Judas

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Battle Pope!Pope Rat lays one down on Judas, who is dead and thus unable to defend himself effectively.

"The money was more important than communion with Jesus, more important than God and his love," he told a congregation in the Basilica of St John Lateran. The Pope said the renegade apostle's lies had cast him into a hopeless, downward spiral. "He became hardened, incapable of conversion, of the trusting return of the prodigal son, and threw away his ruined life." Vittorio Messori, who wrote a book with the Pope, said the pontiff's approach was "the strictest interpretation of the mystery of the betrayal". Even his predecessor, John Paul II, had seen some hope for Judas in his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope, published in 1994.

As any decent theologian knows, the abandonment of hope is a definitively anti-Christian act, and specifically condemned by prophets from the Old Testament to the church next door. Da pope better watch his back.

Slightly OT: Anyone looking for cheap, vicarious religious thrillsBuddy Christ! Duuuuuude, what would I do? (and aren't they the best kind?) should rent the movie Dogma and show it in a room full of Catholic theologians. When I showed it to Carinthia (doctorate in theology, Trinity College Dublin) she watched the first act with amusement, pointing out obscure transgressions and citing relevant passages from the Old Testament, but when it came to the central theme of the movie, she leapt out of her armchair, cocktail flying. Pointing at the screen as they once must have pointed at Hester Prynne, she postively bellowed.

"The Plenary Indulgence! That goddam Plenary Indulgence! I knew it was nothing but trouble! NOTHING but trouble."

She then went on to slander, in baroque and glorious terms, the pope who came up with the stupid scheme and every band of roving cardinals who'd ever supported it. By name. Quite impressive. Even though I had spent a pretty penny on the brandy for that Sidecar, it was still worth it. Nothing like watching people Godspell, everybody's favorite Crucifixion Musicalget all riled up over obscure metaphysical references. I am reminded of a letter to Miss Manners; she was asked what she would have done at a dinner party given by the writer…it seems that several people got into heated discussion of whether or not the existence of angels depended upon the existence of God, to which Miss Manners, ever sensible, replied, "Where was this dinner party and why was Miss Manners not invited? She always ends up sitting between people who live to discuss the price they got for their condos, or the price they paid for their cars."

Word.

Easter Fun: The Life of Jesus in Lego

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Jesus Easter EggsThe truly great stories have always inspired creative reinterpretation and re-telling in a variety of media; the Easter story is no exception.

From paintings by Caravaggio and Bacon to the literal re-enactments that take over the Philippines every year, to the singin’, dancin’ disciples in Godspell, to the current Gitmo-referencing Manchester production, the story of the death of Jesus has been interpreted in virtually every art form known to humanity. Even Blogging!

And now, Lego.Brick Testament The Last Supper

At a reported cost of over ten thousand dollars, this American (well, what else could he be?) minister has recreated not only the life of Jesus, but much of the Bible in Lego.

For Easter we have the Last Supper, the Arrest of Jesus, the Trial, the Crucifixion (what an odd word to know how to spell. I mean, how often do you use it, eh? And yet I bet you know how to spell it?), the Empty Tomb, and the Final Appearance. These are only details, you’ve gotta go to the source for the real deal. Simon Peter has that hot Miami Vice stubble thing going on, as well as some major Austin Powers chest hair. Hawt.

As anyone who’s ever compared different biblical translations can attest (or is that “witness“?) the picture you get from the whole is substantially different from the picture you get from the snippets.

God is indeed in the details, but he’s also the original Big Picture Guy!

Brick Testament Last Supper

 The Last Supper

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 The Arrest of Jesus

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 The Trial of Jesus

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 The Crucifixion

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 The Empty Tomb, OMG OMG OMG!

The Final Appearance

The Final Appearance 

BC Book and Magazine Week

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They say that in order to succeed in any field it is critical to have mentors. More established, experienced practitioners who've been down all the false trails and worked out the kinks, they provide a guideline and touchstone to the newbies. As a gossipiste I have Perez Hilton to look up to, and I have learned a great deal.

Swag rules, baby!

So, both because I know this is a great event that many of my readers will be interested in, AND because James Sherrett offered me a bribe, the raincoaster blog presents:

BC Book and Magazine WeekBC Book and Magazine Week

BC Book & Magazine Week (BCBMW) is a collective project that the Association of Book Publishers of BC (ABPBC) and the BC Association of Magazine Publishers (BCAMP) coordinate annually. This weeklong literary celebration was founded in January 1999 as BC Book Week. In 2001 the event expanded to include the provinces magazine industry in continued celebration of British Columbia's literary arts scene.

This year, BC Book & Magazine Week will run from Saturday, April 22 to 29, 2006, with events hosted throughout the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. BCBMW's purpose is to instill in British Columbians the importance of the local publishing industry and its contributors, writers, photographers and illustrators; it contributes not only to literacy, but to the province's culture and identity as well.

The week re-establishes British Columbia's valuable and dynamic role in the Canadian publishing industry and is an excellent opportunity for the ABPBC and BCAMP to promote and support their members: the publishers of BC books and magazines, and those who make the industry successful – the readers and writers.

As a result of the buzz created by the media, the roster of writers and the fantastic events put on each year, British Columbians are becoming increasingly aware of this annual event that celebrates the richness of BC books and magazines.

Now, the serious poop here is in the blog. If you're a literatus looking for a good time (and who among us is not?) check it out regularly, because it lists all the most bibliotastic book launches, parties, contests, etc within reach of downtown Vancouver. And most of them are free, us not being the type to walk around loaded down with cashola. More of said hot poop on the Upcoming.org listing.

See you there?

Easter Fun: Cthulhu Peeps

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I'm not big on the Peeps, myself, but Americans love them. They must contain some chemical that counteracts the PCBs in their beer or sumpin'. Anyway, here is a kind of Peep designed to tempt even me. How can anyone resist? It would be futile.

Cthulhu Peeps, resistance is futile

Shebeen Club: My Life in Crime

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Truman, very TruTake two: the first attempt at posting this went kapoof!

Apparently, this little press release of mine has stirred up quite a response. The presenter emailed me a bit anxiously, noting that he's in every paper in town today. Funny, that. I found myself to be considerably less upset about it. Good thing he doesn't know Granta is on the list, along with every literary magazine in the US and Canada (all the ones I could find emails for, anyway). Hey, sooner or later everyone comes through Vancouver, and that woman in Georgia said some very nice things in January.

Someone told Maikopunk that the release was "tasteless and glib." While I fully cop to the glibitude, I must protest the characterization of this missive as "tasteless." As with the finest works of the esteemed cinematic genius Mr. John Waters, it is in the very best of Bad Taste.

Vulgar is the new black.Holmes and Watson

 

In any case, her friend was perversely piqued and intrigued by her put-downs, and once I actually posted the word "Harumph" on her blog, signed up for two tickets.

As the great Gawker says,

It's Not Whoring If You Do It For Free

For immediate release: post/forward at will!

Who: The Shebeen Club presents Jeremy Hainsworth, crime reporter extraordinaire

What: My Life in Crime!  When: 7-9pm Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 (3rd Tuesday ea month)

Where: The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall

Why: Voyeurism runs deep, baby! Find out what it really takes to do this job. It’s not all fedoras and dive bars. 

How (much)? $20 before April 14th, $25 thereafter

reservations and media inquiries: lorraine.murphy at gmail dot com.

Admission includes a criminally good dinner/drink combo! This month it will be a Bloody Mary and your choice of blood pudding and a side of fries/salad OR a vegetarian blood orange entree salad. Bloody marvelous!

 Background: https://raincoaster.wordpress.com/2006/03/18/the-shebeen-club-a-history-in-press-releases/ 

Putting the “laughter” in “manslaughter.”

 

With patented black humour, Jeremy will lead us down the dark and twisted alleys of a crime reporter’s life. From paperwork to prison visits, we’ll become one with the sordid underbelly of Vancouver. It’s Blood Alley, so we’re halfway there!

Jeremy will also be discussing (and bringing a copy of) the publication ban on the Pickton trial.

Dress: Clark Kent, Lois Lane, or Raymond Chandler. Ann Rule doesn’t know how to dress!  

Bio: Jeremy Hainsworth is one of a handful of journalists writing for the international media from Vancouver. As B.C correspondent for the AP, he has had the dubious honour of covering the ongoing hearings of alleged serial killer Robert Pickton and the Air India terrorism case. He has freelanced for Reuters, was senior crime reporter for The Calgary Herald, senior editor of Sterling News Service (his office was below that of Conrad Black's partner David Radler), and managing editor of the Dawson Creek daily paper where he covered his first murder from seeing the body to the release of the convicted youths.

He has a diploma in journalism from Langara and a BA from UBC. His work has appeared in many of the world's major newspapers on every continent except Antarctica where penguins cannot read. 

The ShebeenMeet & Mingle 7-7:30

Listen & Learn 7:30-8

Wistful reminiscences of hookers with hearts of gold 8-9