I misuse the ground, a poem circa fall 1996

I always picture
myself running out,
not in.

I misuse the ground
desperately pulling
my toes away
from touching …
Escaping from what
could dry,
cementing my feet
in an unwanted place.
That’s for
gargoyles and
Moliere.

There’s never
anywhere to hide
in a field this size,
not enough trees
or holes.

I misuse the ground.

– Jeremy Isaac Witteveen
(written while studying in France circa 1996)

On Reading Trash and Raising Ill-i-noise

This is an example of how my book shelf looks. Yes, those are Christian books right up against non-Christian books. In fact, if you look hard at the right side end, those are Tarot cards from back in Tina's heyday.

One of my favorite articles of all time is titled, “On Reading Trash” and it argues that having your kids read anything is the best way to get them to learn the value of reading. I did a google search, and it didn’t really come up. There were some links, but they weren’t what I was looking for.

I didn’t really start reading books until my senior year of high school. Before that point, I was guilty of Cliff’s Noting my way through books and literature.

The books I finally read all the way through and seemed to like them at the time were all books about how secularism is evil, and how to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into the public forum. There were books about the seven most influential leaders who I should hate. For example, I should hate John Dewey (of the decimal system, I’m not kidding) and Frederick Nietzsche. I was taught to hate just about everything that was in someway anti-religion.

Well I showed them. Ha! 🙂

I’ve said it before; guilt prevented me from accessing a lot of what I love now. This is a huge contrast to my brother’s experience in the same household. My conscience was more delicate, maybe? I don’t know.

Let your kids read what they want.

My current library is always changing. I lend books and never see them again. But I keep Christian books next to all kinds of other books. I took the “Debunking Christianity Challenge” and I won! Well, I took it before it was John Loftus’ challenge.

Although I have to say, my mom and dad will tell you repetitiously that they wanted to teach their children how to think for themselves. My mom has told me umpteen times that she held it against her father for not allowing her and her siblings to really think for themselves. She was determined to not impose that kind of mental imprisionment upon her kids.

I’m quite sure it’s safe to say that every parent says some form of, “I’m not going to do you kids like my parents, I’m going to …” You fill in the blank.

When and if I have kids, they’ll probably say they wished I would have taught them more about creationism.

What do you swear you won’t do when rearing your children? I’m serious. I want to know.

Mr. Deity FunBits: Conan

(Via Pat Robertson)

If Jonathan Trappe can live out his dreams, you can too

This positive message inspirational moment and tidings of hopeful bliss brought to you by The Daily Mail. I’m imagining a whole line of inspirational posters.

From the article:

Attaching 55 helium balloons to his trusty office chair, adrenaline junkie Jonathan Trappe managed to soar to nearly 15,000 feet.

After spending two years in training and upwards of £45,000 on the adventure, this was the technical project manager’s first ever cluster balloon flight.

Read more:

Tune in next week, when Trappe marries his longtime girlfriend and or boyfriend and they attach their home to balloons and fly to South America with their dog and a little boy scout in tow.

Remember when Obama was elected and the news reported it was the end of racism as we knew it?

Back when Obama was elected, there was some hoopla by 24-hour news idiots stating that Obama’s election meant the death of racism.

Well fill out a name tag with the name Jesus and slap that puppy on Racism’s lapel. By George, Racism has resurrected from the dead.

In light of such inanity, I laughed out loud at this post from Think Progress reposted at Cynical C:

A new professional basketball league called the All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA) sent out a press release on Sunday saying that it intends to start its inaugural season in June, with teams in 12 U.S. cities. However, the AABA is different from other sports leagues because only players who are “natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league.” AABA commissioner Don “Moose” Lewis insists that he’s not racist, but he just wants to get away from the “street-ball” played by “people of color” and back to “fundamental basketball.”

“There’s nothing hatred about what we’re doing,” he said. “I don’t hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here’s a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like.” […]

The stupid, my oh my how it burns.