This 50-things meme comes courtesy of Natalia Antonova--an awesome feminist, individual, blogger, and Duke gal. :)
~*~
1. What time did you get up this morning?
My day off, so I got up at a delicious 10:30 am. Woo-hoo!
2. How do you like your steak?
Did you miss the last post? Do you mean tempeh or seitan steak? (Tamari and flax oil are fine!)
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Terminator Salvation. Ugh.
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Six-Feet Under, Sopranos, Mad Men, and the old Twilight Zone and Outer Limits shows--I try never to miss the SciFi network marathons on holiday weekends!
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
One of the barrier islands of South Carolina, particularly Folly Beach.
6. What did you have for breakfast?
According to Ayurveda, Kaphas don't need breakfast. (I've never wanted or needed it--consequently, I don't do breakfast.)
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Mexican! They know how to do it, my friends!!!
Also love Chinese, Indian, Greek...
8. What foods do you dislike?
Any animal being grilled or baked is disgusting.
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
Stax Omega--wonderful atmosphere and service.
10. Favorite dressing?
Most any, not real picky.
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
2000 Saturn with a dilapidated bumper ready to fall off.
12. What are your favorite clothes?
I'm an old hippie, and if old hippies would wear it, I usually do... long skirts, jeans, t-shirts, summer dresses, etc.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Amazon, Nile, Himalayas.
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Always full. :)
15. Where would you want to retire?
Folly Beach, as stated above, except during hurricane season!
16. Favorite time of day?
Dawn and dusk.
17. Where were you born?
Columbus, Ohio
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Basketball
19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
I don't do all that tagging stuff; I am far too disorganized, I'm sorry to admit! I have pioneered the art of the HIPPIE MEME: do it if you want to, don't bother with it if you don't. :)
20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
See above.
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
I'm curious about most folks, one reason I enjoy blogging and reading other blogs.
22. Bird watcher?
Not as much as I would like. I've been to a couple of bird refuges though, and they were fabulous.
23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night. I blame my parents, the musicians, who gave me bad habits.
24. Do you have any pets?
Two cats; one is still a baby all curled up and purring on my lap as I type. :)
25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?
My Senator, Lindsey Graham, voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor! ((faints))
Ohhh, wait... you mean PERSONAL news? Afraid not. :(
A musician, like my parents.
27. What is your best childhood memory?
Halloween with my friends, also a particularly sweet Thanksgiving with my stepfather's family in Navarre, Ohio. (Also, as I've said here before, I loved the drive-in!)
I have lots of great memories of my mother and stepfather's band; I was so proud of them.
28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Cat.
29. Are you married?
For over 21 years. :)
30. Always wear your seat belt?
Sure.
31. Been in a car accident?
Once with my mother as a kid; and four times as an adult while driving.
Two were my fault, two were theirs...
32. Any pet peeves?
Mostly work-related, can't really discuss here. (customer behavior)
One thing I will say: If you change your mind and decide not to buy something, how about you put it back where you FOUND IT instead of, say, sticking it back in the cracker aisle so it can rot, only to be discovered a year later during inventory?
Waste not, want not, etc.
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Cheese, cheese and more cheese.
34. Favorite Flower?
Azaleas, as my regulars readers are no doubt quite aware!
35. Favorite ice cream?
I adore most ice cream, except plain chocolate and banana.
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Taco Bell.
37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?
Twice!
38. From whom did you get your last email?
(I frequently avoid my voluminous email, a really bad habit. Because of course, then it just gets more voluminous, yes?)
I just received a link to an anti-Lou Dobbs/birther petition from MoveOn.org.
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Loose Lucy's, my local Deadheads. Also, Horizon Records.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Lately? Well, I spontaneously did an extra load of laundry yesterday!
41. Like your job?
When not totally bogged down in dumb-ass retail make-work bullshit like planograms and inventory, yes.
42. Broccoli?
Adore in all forms!
43. What was your favorite vacation?
Outer Banks, North Carolina.
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Mr Daisy.
45. What are you listening to right now?
I am listening to "Hang em High" from my weekend "instrumental oldies" post! 
46. What is your favorite color?
Red.
47. How many tattoos do you have?
Four.
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
The entire world can consider itself tagged.
49. What time did you finish this quiz?
About 4:45 pm. (If I'd known you were gonna ask the time, I woulda tried to be a bit faster.)
50. Coffee Drinker?
Ohhhh you betcha, passionately! I prefer The Fresh Market brand(s), freshly ground and brewed. :)
Every autumn, I look forward to their pumpkin spice coffee, my all-time favorite, especially if served with real cream. ((faints from wonderfulness))
~*~
If you have the time and/or the wherewithal, consider yourself tagged!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
50-things meme
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Q-and-A with Daisy - part IV
I get fascinating emails, particularly on the Sabbath. This one arrived in my inbox last Sunday evening.
~*~
Dear Daisy,
Your blog is interesting. I found it through your link about "Is Barack Obama the anti-christ?" You seem to think this is a funny question and it IS NOT at all. Please take this seriously.
You seem to have the timeline confused. I see from your blog that you are Catholic and most Catholics have no knowledge of the anti-christ or Rapture. Let me explain using Biblical principles.
Satan works in the world and he shapes people and society to achieve his goals. Knowingly or not, anti-christ will force people to follow and obey an agenda that appears to be in the best interest of its people but, in following the pattern of human history and man's rebellion to God, will bring about pain and suffering until Christ comes again.
(Insert pertinent quotes from Revelation 13 here, Mark of the Beast, et. al.)
A time is coming when society and lives will be ruled by a self-imposed system where mankind is monitored, analyzed, measured and evaluated by computers. In those times, anyone who refuses to accept this system will be tortured then killed.
We are moving towards a ubiquitous society where people from all walks of life can access anything, anywhere, and at anytime regardless of time and location. The implementation of RFID technology in retail stores is one example. It's estimated that the majority of retail merchandise will use RFID within 1-5 years, and will replace standard bar codes which have been used for the past 30 years.
What drives such development is the belief that we will live safer, easier, richer and more enjoyable lives by using technology to manage everyday aspects of daily life. In a society that craves automated financial management, instant communication and security, it's not a far stretch for RFID enabled biochips to be implanted into the body, and eventually, replacing currency that is easily stolen, lost or hidden.
In the near future:
1) All people will be required to have a biochip. All economic operations will use this chip, thereby replacing today's unit of monetary exchange.
2) There will be privacy invasion and freedom will cease to exist.
3) A charismatic leader, who is the Anti-Christ, will rule the whole world through a system that is interconnected and interdependent.
MARK OF THE BEAST [1] IN THE HUMAN BODY, WE MUST NOT RECEIVE IT. (REVELATION 14:9, 14:11, 16:2)
Accepting this mark is the irreversible act of selling your soul to Satan. This sin is unforgivable and cannot be reversed by physically removing the mark. (see Revelation verses, above). Your soul belongs to God. Therefore if you receive this mark, you then belong to Satan.
If you receive this mark, you are willfully placing your faith in man and not in God. You are actively choosing to live without a loving God who desires to spend eternity with you in Heaven. God does not want you choosing Hell's path.
God knew these things beforehand [2] and because He loves us and wants us to acknowledge this, it was revealed to us through the writing of the apostle John in Revelation around 100 AD.
If you are not taken up to heaven and are thereby left behind for the tribulation, you must not receive the mark of the beast even though you will be tortured then killed for not accepting the government's sanctioned acts of Satan. You must remember this at all times because the hope of heaven still remains.
The Rapture [3] is reserved for those saints who will be lifted into the sky upon God's trumpet call, saints that are to be Raptured will be lifted into the sky to meet Jesus in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17) The rapture is reserved for those believers who wear spiritual white robes. Their physical body will be transformed.
Jesus will be coming in the clouds for the salvation of Mankind.
If you remain in lukewarm faith, Jesus will spew you out, so you must not be this type of believer, Daisy! (Revelation 3:16) Jesus' first coming was to bring salvation, but his Second Coming is not to bear sins, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Those with lukewarm faith, those who are tied with the world, and those who do not know Jesus Christ, will be left behind for the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation will be the most devastating time in all of human history. All saints must realize this truth and pray for Jesus Christ's return. Be awake in the spirit and know that Jesus Christ's return is very near.
Maranatha, [4]
__________ (real name given, phone number, the works!)
~*~
[1] Does anyone remember the German horror movie, MARK OF THE DEVIL(1970), that promised free vomit bags to the audience?
[2] I dunno about this. Theologically, it's kind of tricky.
[3] Although my correspondent dutifully links this site, I don't have the heart to tell him that I was already banned from the message board years ago (after only ONE post that didn't contain a single cuss word).
[4] Which congregation started this fad? Who exactly decided to dig up this old Aramaic word and use it all the time? Was this Lonnie Frisbee or somebody like that? 
Speaking of which, thanks to John Powers for the heads-up on the documentary of Frisbee's life, which I watched over the weekend, courtesy of Netflix. I enjoyed it, but the music was horrendous and made me want to rend my garments, if I may sound suitably Biblical for a moment. If I had to listen to music like that all the time, I'd be praying for the Rapture to hurry up and get here, too.
My criticisms: not enough explanations regarding precisely what Pentecostalism IS and the various factions therein. Thus, when these various factions started accusing each other of not being genuinely Pentecostal, it wasn't very clear what they meant, theologically. (They all seemed equally Pentecostal to ME, for example.) I certainly enjoyed the chronicle of the Jesus Movement, although I would have greatly preferred more exactitude: dates, times, places and names all seemed to blur together. It was unclear to me if Frisbee was integral to the actual founding of Calvary Chapel and The Vineyard, or if he was just part of the ongoing charismatic scene. The filmmakers never once clarified the geographic locations of any of these places, which was pretty shoddy. And the hugely controversial nature of "being slain in the spirit" was skimmed over, given very short shrift.
I found the central spiritual concept of the last half of the movie--where Lonnie says, "They want my gifts, but they don't want ME!"--to be most interesting. This is similar to what so many artists say, which begs the question of whether charismatic spirituality is a unique talent or possibly a specific art form.
And again, the music made me want to shriek. It might have been the worst music I've ever heard.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Q-and-A with Daisy - Volume Three
Left: Mr Natural by R. Crumb
~*~
A defender of Bob Jones University writes me, blood a-boilin, and wants to know WHY I dislike the school. Seriously, he wants to know WHY!! What, dear God, can one say to that?
My reply:
Did you bother to read my posts? Isn't it CLEAR? If not, I can't help you.That answer didn't set too well with BJU-defender. He replied and I pseudo-fisked his reply, most of which is included below for your amusement, edification and as a cautionary tale. Names and details left out to protect actual BJU students. [I will say: I don't know anyone NOW attending Bob Jones University, at this moment. Thus, what I have said below applies only to past students and alumni I have known. BJU ANTI SEX LEAGUE: Please do not use what I have written below to start a witch hunt against anyone NOW attending BJU. Thank you.]
My question: How could you NOT hate a backward, reactionary, disgusting, repressive, anachronistic, warmongering, heretical, duplicitous, power-hungry, racist, sexist, homophobic, fascist organization like that, unless you are unAmerican and think repression is GOOD?
The USSR is history. Hopefully, BJU will be next.
Ciao,
Daisy
~*~
Mr BJU-Man replies:
Of course it's not clear, Daisy. All I see is a bunch of raw emotion and no facts.One fact, just one of 12,000 of any "facts" I could randomly provide: gay people are denied the right to marry, a right that heterosexual couples enjoy and that confers the rights of adoption, automatic parental rights, inheritance, tax deductions, insurance, and so forth... and BJU financially backs politicians (proudly!) who avidly work to continue to deny these rights.
Do you deny that this is so?
There's a fact for ya.
Great catch phrases in your description--those self righteous terms are typical of folks that are unwittingly narrow minded. U are simply another simpleton with no understanding of the school, just what U choose to believe.I've known gay students at BJU who have to slink around and arrange to meet their girl/boyfriends off campus, lest the BJU Anti-Sex-League (SEE: Orwell's 1984) catch them. I've also known AA and NA members, BJU students, who likewise had to lie and sneak around. Why? Why is it the business of the school what individuals do in their personal lives? It has been personally described to me many times as an intrusive, damaging cult environment.
I doubt you have met those particular BJU students, because they would NOT TRUST someone like you, who defends the fascist rules of the school.
Why does what a student does in their off hours matter? That's FASCISM, sorry.
It's so much easier to spout off endless ranting of hate and stereotype than to dig a little deeper and actually educate yourself, right? Hey, the world's a complicated place and it takes a little effort to gain new perspectives.I've been to the Bob Jones University campus to hear various right-wing speakers, such as Pat Buchanan. It is one of the few times the campus IS open to the public [with the exception of the Art Gallery, a somewhat separate entity].
The students were ordered to attend. I saw and heard for myself their political engagements, the employment of the student body for political ends, the expectation that the students would automatically share the politics of Pat Buchanan and Bob Jones III.
And when BJ III started to talk, BANG, I never saw a buncha kids jump into shape so fast in my life--SHUUUUUSH. Like, right now. Nobody talked over him, or dared say anything while he was speaking. He commanded an almost-cultlike respect, in my humble opinion. Of course you would not agree with me, since I speak as an outsider. You are completely accustomed to the adulation. However, I considered it spooky and Stepford Wives-ish, like a bunch of androids, all dressed alike, all abruptly silenced on cue.
Yes, I do my homework, as I think my posts make clear. Although if you want more posts explaining even further why I dislike BJU, I can certainly provide that.How about another fact: BJU party hacks monopolize the Republican Party in this area, they pack every local district/precinct meeting and in a block, elect each other as delegates to the state and national conventions. (What EXACTLY does this politicking have to do with the Lord? Render under Caesar, etc.)
[Here in] the USA, unlike the USSR, we celebrate diversity and tolerance.Does BJU allow openly gay students to attend? No. That is discrimination, not diversity... certainly, it has no resemblance to tolerance. What a joke.
BJU would be glad to support your right to think incorrectly and choose to believe anyway U wrongly desire, because that group of people actually understand the US Constitution and what America is all about. If U ever want to visit the school and learn for yourself what this place is all about, I'd be happy to give U a tour.I've been many times, XXXX, as stated above. I love the painting of St Francis receiving the stigmata in the art museum, although I find the Catholic-hating theology, cheek-by-jowl with the Catholic art, more examples of the same repugnant, disgusting hypocrisy always present at Bob Jones University.
But hey, I will try not to take it personally, right?
Like I said, I have many gripes about BJU myself, but that doesn't mean I just lump them into a boiling pot of emotion without educating myself first.I got plenty more where the above examples came from. So I think I am the one educating YOU.
Happy thinking and enjoying your first amendment.First Amendment is properly capitalized, but probably not at BJU. [Note, this was after he implied I didn't know what certain words meant, so I was being petty and correcting his punctuation. Yes, I know, I know...]
Same backatcha, Mr BJU-Man!
Daisy
Edit: Another timely plug for the Carnival for Progressive Christians - First Edition
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Listening to: The Pogues - Transmetropolitan
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Q-and-A with Daisy - VOLUME TWO
Left: Thanks to Yellowdog Granny!
~*~
Wow, has it really been almost five months since I publicly answered my mail? Goodness mercy. Slack, that's me.
My excuse: I saved the fun emails in another file, then promptly forgot all about them. I found them whilst searching for something else entirely, which seems to sum up my whole life.
And so, at long last, we go forward with Q-and-A with Daisy, VOLUME TWO!
~*~
Q: I can't figure out what kind of Christian you are. You claim to be Catholic and then you quote Buddhists and Hindus. You talk about the saints and then you welcome people with gender confusion and affirm their psychosis. You casually use the F-word. What kind of Christian are you, anyway?
A: The fun kind!
Q: I suppose you know that you are no vegetarian if you eat cheese and eggs? Please stop calling yourself one!
A: Bite me!
Q: What is your real name, and why won't you tell us? Is it LaToya?
A: I explained in the comments of the gargantuan thread in question, why I would not reveal my real name. I have also divulged a great deal of very personal stuff in my blog; I live in a smallish town and my name is pretty distinctive. I am usually the only person with my name that people have met, and it would be easy to figure out who I am and who Mr Daisy is. He shouldn't have to pay for my sins, which as he would say, he does already!
You don't have a right to anyone's real identity on the internet. What's YOUR name, anyway?
If you don't want to answer that question, why am I expected to?
Q: You wrote about your name, so don't you think it's different?
A: You write about your workplace, so why won't you tell me where you work?
(((crickets)))
Q: You said you intended to go to 75% raw foods. Which books on the raw foods lifestyle do you suggest?
A: Living Foods Lifestyle, Rawsome, Complete Book of Raw Food, Living in the Raw, and many more here.
Q: When are you going to write more about the presidential campaign?
A: When the candidates choose their veep nominees, I will be all over it like flies on shit, pardon expression. Right now, not much going on, IMHO.
Hopefully, counter-demonstrations will also be going on during the conventions. I wish I could join them, as I did in my youth, but don't think I can run from riot police as well as I used to.
Q: I think your blog is really stupid, I can't believe the dumb things you write about.
A: Just keep clicking on it. Stats are stats!
I will try to keep amazing everyone with my stupidity. It's a dirty job, but... etc.
Q: Thanks for the Outlaws song, dude! I didn't know the name of the band or what the fuck they were singing. I couldn't have found it on my own. I love it!
A: My pleasure and ROCK ON!
Keep those cards and letters coming in!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Q-and-A with Daisy - Volume One
Q: When you went to The Grit, did you meet anyone from Widespread Panic or REM? What's the best thing to order?
No, I didn't. I did see people talking about Bonnaroo and one kept saying "My band at Bonnaroo--" so people kept looking at him as if he was important and whispering, "Who is that?" but I don't think he was a star or anything. (Admittedly, if any of the WP guys cut their hair, I'd be easily fooled.)
The grilled vegetarian Reuben sandwich is to die for!!!!
Q: Which of JG Ballard's novels is your favorite? Which do you think would make the best movie?
I am passionate about Cocaine Nights, Hello America, Rushing to Paradise, High Rise and Super-Cannes.
Concrete Island would make a fantastic movie, but not over, say, 80 minutes. Optimally, it should be done swiftly, like an early-60s Twilight Zone episode, not a lot of introspection and talk. Done well, it could kick serious ass.
Ditto Running Wild, which needs to be carefully crafted to keep the very-obvious ending from being so very obvious. Whoever successfully does that?--could make a blockbuster, classic movie. Because the plot is just too fabulous.
Q: Which of PKD's novels-into-movies have you liked best?
I really liked Minority Report, although the ending turned all touchy-feely and was nothing like Phil. Yech. However, the mutants are portrayed perfectly; the whole plot is true to the novella up to the Dr Feelgood-lets-all-hug finale. Also, the subplot about Tom Cruise's son dying was an unnecessary addition, part of the touchy-feely thing. Blech. The F/X were fantastic!
The short story Second Variety was molded into a well-done fantasy/horror movie, titled Screamers. Again, they had to prettify the ending (which is right out of left-field and really makes no sense), but until then, good stuff. If you enjoy sci-fi/horror, look it up.
To Linklater's credit, he left the novel's ending intact... pure magic!
Aside: I hate how they enforce happy endings in Hollywood, because my guys often don't do happy endings.
Keep those cards and letters coming in.
Edit #1: I did not mention Blade Runner in my above reply, because I think it's as much a creation of Ridley Scott as it is PKD, but let me assure everyone that yes, I adore it! (Once again, we see Sean Young's sociopathic character was considerably softened, although at least they left Daryl Hannah's killer female android alone.)
Edit #2: The female character of Angel Archer, in The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, is a wonderfully, painfully three-dimensional and sympathetic character... so there IS such a thing as a sympathetic female character in a PKD novel. However, that IS the only one I can think of, the exception that proves the rule.
And to be fair, his male characters aren't bastions of decency either, but usually more hapless than malicious.
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Listening to: Lou Reed - I'll Be Your Mirror
via FoxyTunes
