Marilyn Manson Reads William Blake's "The Proverbs of Hell"

Skip to 1:20. This sent shivers up my spine. 

Rest in Peace Jack Layton

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." 

UFC Magazine's Core Demographic

50 Indispensable African-American Novels (And a Short Word from Me)

Once again, another awesome list from Accredited Online Colleges: 50 indispensable African-American novels. How many have you read? How many do you even recognize? I'm ashamed to admit that I've only read two of them; I should probably make an Amazon purchase soon and remedy that...

Oh yeah - in a couple of days I'll be putting up a blog post that'll update you about my WIP!

Ciao!

Slaughterhouse-Five Free for Students Denied the Opportunity to Read it by Wesley Scroggins

(Source: Time Magazine)

Even after death, Kurt Vonnegut is circumventing the rules.

When the Republic High School in Missouri banned Kurt Vonnegut's 1969 novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, two weeks ago, the late author's memorial library sprung into it action: offering free copies to any of the 150 students who were originally meant to read the book in class.

The book — which deals with war, the World War II bombing of Dresden, fate and society through a science-fiction plot vehicle — was banned for creating "false conceptions of American history and government or that teach principles contrary to Biblical morality and truth," according to a 2010 complaint in the Republic School District. Although the free copies were offered by the memorial library, the books will be paid for by an anonymous donor, according to a blog post by Julia Whitehead, the executive director of the Vonnegut library in Indianapolis, as reported by the News-Leader.

"It is shocking and unfortunate that those young adults and citizens would not be considered mature enough to handle the important topics raised by Kurt Vonnegut, a decorated war veteran. Everyone can learn something from his book," Whitehead wrote in a statement, according to Reuters.

Wesley Scroggins, a Missouri State University professor, wrote the original complaint against the teaching of Slaughterhouse-Five, objecting to several aspects of the science-fiction novel.

"The content ranges from naked men and women in cages together so that others can watch them having sex to God telling people that they better not mess with his loser, bum of a son, named Jesus Christ," Scroggins wrote.

Scroggins also asked that the Republic school district remove Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer. The school board voted unanimously to remove both books from class reading lists and from the high school's library.

The full name of the Vonnegut book is Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death.

The Bible, Grammar and a Question of Syntax

This is one of the most fascinating aspects of the Bible's transmission and it's a shame that so few people have given it any thought. 

As you may or may not know, Greek and Latin (the languages in which our earliest New Testament manuscripts were written) contain no punctuation or grammar marks of any kind. Everything produced at the time was was written out in capital letters, without spaces, in what is known today as scriptio continua ("continuous script"). It took roughly 1000 years before spacing was first introduced, and while the first known punctuation marks were introduced in ancient Greece, none of them served the purpose of what we now recognize today as the comma or the full stop. Indeed, the earliest punctuation marks were made for actors, with notches indicating suggested times in a speech in which an actor should draw his breath. Most of our matters of grammar and syntax have been the product of the past 500 years. 

With that being said, how trusting are you of the grammar and punctuation in your bible? I myself have a collection of roughly 30 variations and all of them differ on these matters of syntax. Now, you may not think this is a big deal, but the entire meaning of a sentence can change with remarkably little effort. Observe: 

GODISNOWHERE can be read as "God is now here" or "God is nowhere" depending on the inclination of the reader. 

Let's try the same practice with a biblical verse. 

ANDJESUSSAIDUNTOHIMVERILYISAYUNTOTHEETODAYSHALTTHOUBEWITHMEINPARADISE (Luke 23:43) This is a well known passage where Jesus informs the good thief that he will go to paradise. The interesting thing however, is that this sentence syntax has been interpreted in two significantly different ways by two major sects (Protestants & Catholics), with both sides using it as proof of their doctrine. 

Protestant's read the critical part of this sentence as "Verily, I say unto thee, This day thou shalt me with me in Paradise", which they use as proof that there can be no purgatory because Jesus sent the thief straight to paradise, with no delay. 

Catholic doctrine however reads it as, "Verily I say unto thee this day, Thou shalt be with me in Paradise". See the difference? In the first sentence Jesus' words mean that the thief will go straight to heaven, in the second sentence the time of the thief joining him in paradise has not been set. This technicality is used by Catholics as proof that the thief's judgement did not necessarily occur on that given day, and so they are justified in their doctrinal belief in the concept of purgatory. 

Yet both sides are reading from the exact same sentence. All that has changed in the syntax, courtesy of grammar and punctuation. 

This occurs literally thousands of times throughout the Bible. Granted, many of these instances are not important to matters of doctrine--Is it "Comfort ye my people" (please go out and comfort my people) or "Comfort ye, my people" (hey guys, cheer up)? 

I guess what I want to ask you all is, how do you know that the syntax of the bible is correct? It varies heavily among different versions and translations throughout history, and nobody can be certain of the original authors' intentions because the original documents were all written in scriptio continua. 

What if some of your beliefs about the bible have come from reading incorrect syntax? How would you know? And more importantly, how do you determine what is and is not correct? If this is God's holy book shouldn't this be a matter of some importance?

PS: While I've studied this subject for a few years, the inspiration for this post was drawn from a reading of Eats, Shoots & Leaves (in which these same bible verses are used as examples to demonstrate the power and importance of the comma).You can expect a review in the near future.

The 10 Most Famous Muses of All Time

Once again, courtesy of those wonderful list makers over at Accredited Online Colleges. How they keep assembling these I have no idea, but I had a great time reading this one.

1. Alice Liddell

   Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, more than likely penned his classic fantasy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland after befriending the Liddell kids. Speculation about the true nature of Alice’s relationship with Carroll abounds — no evidence pointing towards anything sexual or romantic exists, but that doesn’t stop historians and literature buffs from raising such questions. The celebrated author and his muse’s family parted ways thanks to an ill-advised courtship with the governess (or eldest daughter!), but not after he penned some of the most beloved children’s stories of all time. In addition, he also used the little girl as a model for photography forays. Alice’s legacy has gone on to spawn a plethora of parodies, movies, video games, art and plenty of other adaptations, although the famous character and the very real child do not overlap completely.

2. Gala Dali

   Born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, the strikingly beautiful Gala Dali is best known as surrealist superstar Salvador Dali’s wife and model. She famously left her husband, painter Paul Eluard, for the youthful Spaniard and remained a major player in his life until her 1982 death. Many times, he credited her with saving his life, as he oftentimes feared dying young and succumbing to overwhelming insanity. Gala served as Dali’s model for most of his career; although she also took on both muse and benefactor roles for plenty of other creative types as well — usually painters and musicians, including Jeff Fenholt. Because the artist himself allegedly encouraged his wife’s extramarital activities for fetish reasons, he certainly didn’t mind sharing her passion and beauty! Even individuals without any real interest in surrealism or even art have still probably caught a glimpse of Gala somewhere.

3. The Dark Lady

   Whether or not William Shakespeare based his mysterious, lusty character on an actual woman or created a pastiche continuously sparks debate amongst the literati. Some think she might be Emilia Lanier. Others say Mary Fitton. And a few even think it could very well be both or neither. About the only thing anyone knows for certain is that she possessed seductively dark hair and eyes. The Bard dedicated sonnets 127 through 152 to this closely-guarded figure, oftentimes juxtaposing her with a comparatively more innocent Fair Youth. What makes this cycle so notable is how overtly sexual they read, particularly when compared to the more romantic and spiritually-minded poems preceding and succeeding them.

4. Yoko Ono

   This widely-recognized activist and avant-garde artist and musician probably elicits as much controversy as she does inspiration. Most notably, Yoko Ono acted as John Lennon’s personal muse after he attended one of her exhibitions. She handed him a card simply reading, "Breathe," and the Beatle immediately felt compelled to abandon his wife and young son. Many of the band’s later songs either outright reference ("The Ballad of John and Yoko") or allude to ("Julia") Ono, and the pair released their own albums while Lennon continued rocking with the Fab Four. Beyond that, she encouraged him to take up human rights and peace causes — though how exactly staying in bed for an entire week was expected to end the Vietnam War is quite the mystery. Whether or not Ono directly contributed to the Beatles breaking up remains firmly in the realm of "he said-she said" bickering, anecdotes and individual opinions. Regardless of one’s views, though, she certainly fits the description of a creative muse.

5. Edie Sedgwick

   Dubbed an "It Girl," "Youthquaker" and 1965′s "Girl of the Year," Edie Sedgwick’s bubbly social butterfly persona landed her straight in the presence of such luminaries as Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground and more. Tragically plagued with an eating disorder and addiction issues, she launched her muse career at The Factory, where she modeled and acted for the artists and filmmakers involved — and Warhol in particular. At least two Dylan songs off the legendary Blonde on Blonde ("Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat" and "Just Like a Woman") came about because of their baffling relationship, and The Velvet Underground composed "Femme Fatale" in her honor. Patti Smith wrote a poem about Sedgwick, even naming it after her. And it just stretches on from there. While more notable for her influence on Warhol and Dylan, this fascinating figure left quite an impression on almost an entire generation of creative movers and shakers.

6. Frida Kahlo

   "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best," one of Mexico’s most beloved artists once quipped. Although her tumultuous, frequently adulterous marriage to fellow painter Diego Rivera frequently sent him scrambling towards the canvas as well, Frida Kahlo most notably acted as her own muse. She despised the "surrealist" label, but her deeply personal work certainly reflected many of its and magic realism’s tenets. Focusing mainly on self-portraiture, Kahlo channeled her most intimate pain and pride into her vivid, visceral paintings. Other artists obviously threw plenty of themselves into their own work, but not nearly at the same level as this incredible, veritably immortal woman.

7. Beatrice Portinari

   Italian epic poet Dante Alighieri figuratively walked through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven for his beloved. The Divine Comedy features Beatrice Portinari as the author’s guide through the last book of Purgatorio and the entirety of Paridisio, replacing the pagan Virgil. The real Portinari’s life was far less charmed than her literary counterpart’s, however. Born into a Florentine banker family, she only met Dante twice, though he pined for almost an entire decade between encounters. Portinari died at age 24, only a few years after marrying Simone dei Bardi, but continued charming the poet throughout his existence. And it wasn’t just The Divine Comedy upholding her memory, either. The collection La Vita Nuova bursts completely under Dante’s love — even after he himself had married and sired children.

8. Pattie Boyd

   While not a household name in the vein of Yoko Ono, Pattie Boyd definitely played a significant role in shaping music history. One of the most infamous love triangles of all time centered right on her, after all. She married Beatle George Harrison in 1966 and Eric Clapton in 1979, inspiring the both of them to pen some of their most famous tracks. Allegedly, Clapton’s "Layla," "Wonderful Tonight" and "Bell Bottom Blues" as well as Harrison’s "Isn’t It a Pity," "Something," "For You Blue" and "I Need You" all contain some very personal allusions to the model and photographer. Even outside the romantic craziness realm, Boyd created something of a fashionable splash. No less than Twiggy herself cited her as a major influence!

9. John Nettleship

   Given the muses’ Greek roots, it makes perfect sense that most would tend to associate the concept with women. But one of the most iconic fictional characters of the past decade either would have never existed (or at least existed in an entirely different state) without one chemistry teacher’s harshness. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling based Hogwarts potions master Severus Snape on her grim instructor John Nettleship at Chepstow Comprehensive School. His wife eventually brought the apparently obvious similarities to his attention, cycling through shock and concern before eventually (if a bit grudgingly) accepting the immortalization. Most people can’t brag that Alan Rickman sort-of played them in one of the most popular, beloved book AND film franchises of all time, after all.

10. Someone so vain, he probably thinks this song is about him

    David Geffen, James Taylor, Warren Beatty, David Bowie, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, David Cassidy, Mick Jagger and a plethora of other men have all been speculated as the true identity of chanteuse Carly Simon’s most famous tune. Only the singer herself and NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol — who won the privilege (and a private performance) in a charity auction — know, and they prefer staying coy. Simon frequently claims the song’s central character is really a composite of three different people, though Ebersol states the individual in question has an E, A and R in his name. Honestly, the fact that people still clamor to know despite the 1972 release date means the muse should remain obscured. Telling everyone now would just stop the publicity train from a-chuggin’.

Matt Damon Defends Teachers from Idiot Reporter

As if I needed another reason to love Matt Damon.

Supernaturally

Why haven't you read my review for Kiersten White's Supernaturally, yet? Surely you didn't all miss it!

It's okay, you're forgiven. Just go read it now. I want to find out you thought of it!

Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Product Summary

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be... kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

First Impressions

Supernaturally is the much anticipated second book in Kiersten White's trilogy that began in 2010 with Paranormalcy (click here for the review) and concludes next year with Endlessly.

Supernatually begins in the gym class of Evie's new--first?--school, a dubious luxury granted to her courtesy of a new identity and forged documentation. No longer having to worry about her soul-stealing sister or her faerie ex-boyfriend, Evie spends her days bored out of her mind in class, and her nights working in a diner alongside the very paranormal creatures she once would have tazed and tagged. On the weekends Evie and Lend are inseparable, desperate to spend every free moment together now that they're in a semi long-distance relationship.

But the routine and boring monotony of everyday life is bound to shatter, much to Evie's unspoken delight.

Supernaturally shares many of the same strengths that Paranormalcy had. Kiersten White's ability to keep the dialogue and plot moving in a fluid, almost stream-of-consciousness manner is commendable. Moreover, her first person narration is both believable and suits Evie's personality. The chapters are consistently short and entertaining (much like Kiersten?), demanding the reader's attention for just a little longer. Before you know it, you've finished the book.

I am pleased to write that two of the characters I had minor qualms with in Paranormalcy, Lend and Reth— the former I enjoyed while the later I didn't care for at all—have grown well beyond their sometimes rigid characterization. This time around we see a Lend that teenagers could actually relate to: someone who, even while secure in his love for Evie must still fend off not-so-pleasant emotions like jealousy, frustration and anger. But it's Reth and his newly displayed level of semi-indifference towards Evie that I'm happiest about; it's refreshing to learn that he wasn't always chasing her on his own volition.

The introduction of a new character into the mix, Jack, is a welcome addition. Boundless energy wrapped in a bundle of bluffing arrogance, he is the balance to Lend's more collected and analytic mind, as well as serving as Evie's primary foil. 

Fans of White's humor and wit will not be disappointed. Indeed, it will be quite a long time before I forget the stench of unicorns, the creepy smile of gnomes, Jack's affinity for improvised incendiaries and the not-so-subtle stab at Twilight's sparkly vampires towards the end of one of the chapters.

My only issue with this book is the bleeping bleeps. I felt that they were way too abundant. Evie doesn't need a catchphrase. Yes, I know that it was a habit picked up from Lish in the first book, but I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking that this was just a clever method developed to avoid cursing. Granted the bleeps are cute in moderation, but there's one noteworthy offender towards the end of the novel stuck in a serious passage that was dangerously close to ruining the mood of the scene. Kiersten, should you ever read this – I love your books, but if there's even a tiny part of you that wants to say “fuck” just say “fuck”! You won't be shunned for it, and it's a lot of fun to write. Fuck, fuck, fuck! :)

Fans of Arianna will be satiated with some of her expanded back story, and I'm willing to bet that she will play a larger role in Endlessly. As for Vivian, I previously hypothesized that she would awaken and become the greatest antagonist of the series. I couldn't have been more wrong. That being said, the role that Vivian does play in Supernaturally helps to bring about a new level of depth for her character.

There are of course a few scenes in particular that everyone will want to discuss. Since the book has only been on the shelves for a few days now I won't go into details. What I will say is that there is one scene in which a character makes a drastic 180 that I felt was handled beautifully.

Final Thoughts

A fantastic sequel, Supernaturally is able to stand on its own merit, regardless of the popularity of the first installment. I'll see you all next year around the advent of Endlessly.