Displaying 11,191 To 11,220 Of 11,789 Comments Yes, that is what I was referencing. I didn’t want to seem racist though, by making a crack. As far as I knew he was a respectable banker. And brings up the same problem we’ve seen of these guys coming from wealthy families. I’m beginning to wonder if it is so much about ideology as getting daddy’s attention or ‘rebelling’. » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 12:42 pm LMAO! » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 12:10 pm All I know is that when I have time, I need to start looking into the Houthi situation. Yemen, as a security analyst was saying, is a collapsed state – and this event will hopefully bring more attention to the increasing role Yemen has as a radical Islamist base (though this is of course not a new phenomenon). I know about as much, if not less about Yemen than anyone here, but know the history well enough that a civil war in the making is not completely out of the question by any means. I only wonder – and I’m saying this off-the-cuff without so much as my usual perfunctory google search – if Iranian involvement is in coordination against a common enemy (Saudi Arabia), or if they’re vying for influence of a future Gulf State, a long-sought priority of the IRI. But this is my own particular, niche view of it. As to the domestic situation. Information is sensitive, and they’re not releasing anything yet, but like Richard Reid, I wonder if there was even the capability for what he was doing to bring down a plane. At this point, if these things even were centrally planned, I would assume it is AQ (and those who are lone actors inspired by the philosophy of global jihad) to annoy and inconvenience us with increased TSA and customs security, lacking the resources and opportunity to plan such a devastating attack again. After all, the Afghani Muhajideen used to always talk about death by a thousand cuts. As of now, I sense more of a Monty Python sketch coming up, but my current blas » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 11:44 am Indeed, as someone who celebrates the season secularly as well, family is what it is all about. That being said, I offer my own little prayer of positive energy towards your sister and you in these lines all the same. » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 7:42 am Canadians also take pipe bands super-duper seriously. Never want to compete against them! » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 4:31 pm Yay for Boxing Day! I was tempted to write something, and hope someone would still write, of the Christmas to New Year’s Day (or Hogmanay, aye, that’s how I rrroll – I would attribute the cheapskate nature of Canadians to heavy Scottish ethnicity as well) history and all the 12 days drinking bacchanalia roots of the holiday cheer – The History Channel had a good program on it one year. But I digress and ramble… » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 12:37 pm You actually continued the thought I had after I got off the computer. I realized that I may have come off as not appreciating that. Exactly. Also, being part of the dominant culture, I can afford to shirk keeping up traditions, with absolutely no guilt whatsoever. Being a minority, especially as a Jew, might do that to you, as well. What I was mainly getting at was I don’t fully understand (aside from intellectually, sociologically, etc) what is so wrong about adaptation, syncretism and fluidity to the point that a wreath or even a few blue LED lights is too Christian. Latkes were indigenous from central Europe, no? I also forgot to mention that that part about you in the really orthodox part was very interesting and mirrored some parts I’ve seen in Israeli film and mirrors other diaspora experiences I’ve read, as well. In any case, the only reason I celebrate the season secularly, is that it has been passed down, and formed my childhood memories. That point was not lost on me, though it may have not made it into my remarks. » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 12:24 pm So, being a Jew, celebrating Yule and the Winter Solstice isn’t an option… you monotheists… 😉 That’s also the thing about minority and enclave communities, they tend to become inflexible, as a natural defensive measure to maintain identity and culture. It’s the sociological aspect of religion. The Jewish experience, and concept of ‘Jewishness’ is of course fairly unique, unless anyone wants to propose another similar situation. The closest I’ve ever come is the Parsis. And the comparison is striking – apart from the wandering aspect and feeling strangers in their own adopted land (India is far more diverse and pluralistic so being absorbed – while still being protective and guarded of their own traditions – was a bit less of a big deal). Me? I have no compunction whatsoever, I’ll celebrate just about anything! Especially if it involves a party, drinks or good food and sweets! Satanic Mass you say? you better have fabulous Bloody Mary’s! I’m freelance when it comes to religion and observances. In fact I’ve often thought about getting a menorah for the heck of it, but went against it for it probably being disrespectful. Merely lighting a candle each night, a proper observance does not make, and I could never put my spirit in it like I can standing around a bonfire for Yule. It’s funny you say this about the rest of the world, because it is my understanding that Japan has adopted some Christmas stuff, and Christmas in India has spread outside of Goa, the Christian parts of Mumbai, and of course the northeastern areas of Orissa, etc. Kashmiri artisans makes some famous papier m » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 7:39 pm And Zarathushtra, et cetera ad infinitum. It is, as Campbell would say, a metamyth. Also interesting on Krishna is the comparison to Moses with being sent down the river and adopted, etc. The two of us together could go on and on and on about this, I imagine, KQuark. I’m half-tempted to come up with a more complete list, but it’s Christmas (for me), so that can wait. 😉 » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 6:55 pm Xmas Music Thread – Holiday Music I may be of a generation (or two?) after Bowie, but heavily influenced as my music is by Bowie, it makes this generational gap even crazier to me. Furthermore, at least when Johnny Cash covers NIN, it makes more sense as rebels from different generations… but Bing Crosby? Maybe he did it just because of the superior hipness we Washingtonian natives are born with. 😉 » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 11:24 am It turns my stomach. And honestly the Muslim thing I’ve never “unnoticed” while everyone else was preoccupied with Hitler mustaches and KKK-themed posters – oh, it was there all along with the BC and ‘otherness’. It really effing pisses me off, that I fly into just the sort of rage they might expect (though I’m not Muslim). By the way, where was a decorated tree in the Bible? At least in the Qu’ran Mary gives birth under a palm tree – making it more relevant. …Puhleaze, as if this D. fellow ever heard of Sir James George Frazer…. heck, I remember the time I had convincing my intelligent (and eccentric) High School German teacher of her Christmas tree’s unchristian roots. Edit: whatever you do, do not blow their mind with this: Mich. Muslims join Jews for Christmas Day Mitzvah » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 8:21 am Hope you don’t mind if I share some music on this thread, Nellie. I spent a sleepless night working on most these – and getting my first to finally upload correctly after like 4-5 days. Needless to say, I got them done just in the ‘Nick’ of time; though apparently iMovie didn’t prune the ends like I thought it had – too much geek talk – on to the music! This is my first ever YouTube upload, so don’t laugh (too much): Lovespirals – Aspen Glow
This is one I just finished real quick an hour ago or so. I’ll probably end up pulling it and redoing it with more of my own photos of Christmas in the desert. Good song though: Mirabilis – Riu Riu Chiu
This one I kinda got a little conceptual on. See if you can tell where I was going with it. Also, a note, this one is slightly darker in tone (in essence making a 19th century hymn sound much older), not to everyone’s taste, I’m sure. Rhea’s Obsession – We Three Kings
This I got so behind on, and wanted to do for some time. This one is definitely dark, so if you’re not screwed up in the head like me, it might not cheer your day – though I find it naughty and, well, devilishly exquisite. Unto Ashes – Krampusnacht
— If I don’t get back to the computer today, a hearty ‘Merry Christmas’ to all who celebrate, and to everyone else, enjoy your day as well (hopefully you have the day off regardless). » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 8:41 am It would seem we both write poems with similar themes. 😉 » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 5:37 pm The Tea Party is Biting the Hand that Feeds Them? I know, the very concept of a strike itself… » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 5:42 pm I think I saw that. I like Don Lemon. I also remember the thing when the black boy wasn’t allowed in a swimming pool. Lemon was perhaps too fair, but at the end geve a good wink and passing statement. I know “straight journalism” isn’t suppose to editorialize, but sometimes they bend over too much, don’t correct lies, and there’s nothing wrong with calling out bullshit. » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 5:41 pm Ugandan Official: Don’t Kill the Gays; LOCK ‘EM UP! Indeed, I didn’t really realize how big it was until I heard him on NPR. Rachel only skims the surface on her show. » Posted By Khirad On December 26, 2009 @ 5:22 pm There’s a reason Iran has more sex change operations than any country but Thailand, too. » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 9:01 am I like the fellowship, nothing whatsoever to do with god, especially with us. » Posted By Khirad On December 25, 2009 @ 8:58 am Senate Passes Health Care Bill in Final Vote I’ve often been a lone defender of him. I think Nate Silver and especially Lawrence O’Donnell’s defense of him have also been a long time coming. It could be that I take it somewhat personally, though, as I share many of his same lugubrious, shrinking from the lime-light personality traits. And while this may be totally irrelevant to his leadership capabilities, he, with Lincoln have my added admiration for getting to where they got while battling with the melancholia, as it were. I think we get so caught up with him in front of the camera, we forget the arcane procedures he would pull as minority leader and that where it really matters is often in the proverbial cloak room – though I’m not saying it wouldn’t have been nice to have a gregarious Ted Kennedy on the floor passionately arguing his case. However; these things are often about as much to do with lofty, even brilliant rhetoric, as good old fashioned “West Wing” wheeling and dealing and trading of votes (I know, I’m like totally aghast it happens in Obama’s America, I thought there would be “change” says the the fairweather progressive and right-wing disingenuous snarkster). From what I hear, and O’Donnell, if I could find the clip, did a superb job (if overly praiseworthy even in my estimation) explaining what a feat it really was (and why we were sort of kidding ourselves in not realizing what a hill this was to climb in the first place). Now, I’m sure there’s actually problems people have on his record (or Nevada-specific ethical problems), and I’m not saying he may not be deserving of ire. Nothing of the sort. Most people here are way more knowledgeable of the sausage-making process and procedure than I am. Maybe I did just reflexively take it too personally and not see the criticisms as valid as they may really be, but I’ve seen more shots taken at his personality than I care to remember which get me a wee bit annoyed and even bring out the seething of the bullied and teased quiet kid I was in school in me. Don’t underestimate us just on our demeanor. We can surprise you and come back swinging. » Posted By Khirad On December 24, 2009 @ 6:39 am Sometimes though, they will be reconfigured at the beginning when embedded, in which case the simple fix gets more complicated. /watch?feature=player_embedded& Go down to short URL, copy, and paste in the address bar. Upon entering the original basic address will revert back, ready to copy and add a ‘v’ to. I do this every day many times, it’s an automatic ritual I perform like a machine now. » Posted By Khirad On December 29, 2011 @ 12:20 pm Does the new WordPress still have the add video icon? » Posted By Khirad On July 9, 2011 @ 12:00 pm [img]http://www.council-of-elrond.com/forums/images/smilies/inquisition4.gif[/img] Yeah, the a href thing doesn’t work for me either, just imaging it, which, obviously, blows the smiley up. » Posted By Khirad On April 13, 2011 @ 10:34 am The student has become the teacher. I did not know about this. » Posted By Khirad On March 16, 2011 @ 6:45 pm I’d noticed I had that power but never told. 😈 » Posted By Khirad On March 16, 2011 @ 6:43 pm I was about to suggest the same for Cher’s Daily Planet, if it was going to be a continued thing, to give it a space like TO/OT or Morning Blog. » Posted By Khirad On March 14, 2011 @ 1:30 am I just noticed that and was going to mention it. We ask and you deliver! » Posted By Khirad On March 1, 2011 @ 11:23 pm ‘Zactly. » Posted By Khirad On February 25, 2011 @ 11:17 pm Yes, I reference that one too, but you did a better job explaining it. » Posted By Khirad On February 25, 2011 @ 11:17 pm They’re glitches, and quite minor ones. Just thought I’d bring them to his attention. » Posted By Khirad On February 25, 2011 @ 10:40 pm Yeah, I’m having that glitch too. Or, it will take me to another comment with a page after I’ve replied. And never mind, they seem to return after a refresh. Oh well, just seems odd. » Posted By Khirad On February 25, 2011 @ 10:01 pmComments Posted By Khirad
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