More on this later

Wow. Rod Dreher almost convinced me to become Eastern Orthodox in his latest article about how great Eastern Orthodoxy is. Then I saw the picture...

...and I could not believe my eyes. Orthodoxy has completely sold out and become suburban American as evidenced by that big powder-blue Tupperware pitcher used to fill the baptismal font. Plus that book the deacon is reading from is a paperback. It's like Pizza Hut with an iconostasis. Obviously Eastern Orthodoxy has become just as hokey as Catholicism, and all hope for civilization and transcendent beauty is now lost.

"In my dreams I'm dying all the time"

A lie within a lie

Just got this email from a scammer.

Dear Paul,

I am Mr. Wong Yoke Eng, a legal practitioner. Please be patient and go through the contents of this email very careful which I believe is a message that will be beneficial to the both of us. I am the legal representative to Late Frank Fry. Who herein after shall be referred to as my late client. He died in June 2006 as a result of heart condition.

Basically, my motive of writing you is to assist me secure the funds left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this fund valued at US$6.8 Million Dollars (Six Million, Eight hundred Thousand United State Dollars) was deposited. I have a mandate from the bank to present the next of kin to the deceased or the funds will be confiscated and so far, all my efforts to get hold of someone related to this man has proved abortive.

I want you to consider this proposal. If you grant your consent that I present you to the bank as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client (since you have the same last name), so that the proceeds of this account can be transferred to you, then we can share the entire proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documentation to back up your claim as my deceased client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This entire process will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. However, if this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at your earliest convenient to indicate your interest.

Best Regards,
Mr. Wong Yoke Eng, Esq.

All he needs is my "honest cooperation" with his deception. Of course, the real deception is that there is no dead rich guy. Obviously, the devil tempts stupid people as well as smart.

If this offends your moral values, send Mr. Wong Yoke Eng, Esq. an email at wongyokeeng@lawyer.com.

Normally I just delete these emails, most of which get trapped in my spam catcher nowadays. But this one reminded me of my favorite film, The Usual Suspects. Among many facets of the film which works on many levels, I like the idea that the problem with a life of crime is that eventually you run into someone really evil.

Kinetic Non-military Action

Bacause "you got to contradict all those times you were butterflying about."

The epitome of 'epic'

Why is this so funny? Why do I keep watching it? And where is Yoda when you need him? or Samuel L Jackson for that matter?

"She's got the rhythm down"

It's official. My wife has agreed to let me drag her to the Bottom Lounge in Chicago on May 20 for the Urge Overkill concert and album release party in their native city.



It will be awesome to check out Nash, King and the boys' new rhythm section.

"Television is furniture"

I saw that quote on a T-shirt once.



I agree with his point. The stupidest creative act is a superior use of time than passive consumption. This axiom can be used to guide the use of time in a number of ways. For example, it explains why it's good to have your kids help set the table or in some other way help with preparing dinner. I suppose it might be some justification for Est Quod Est, although maybe we should take a vote.

The Botherhood of Brothers Union

Raw deal? You decide.