Revelations
In January, Cindy Jacobs, a co-founder of an American prayer movement and host of the TV show God Knows, had a prophecy come to her. The voice of God warned Cindy about the troubles ahead for global economy.
And lo, on October 29 Cindy and her fellow believers went to Wall Street and prayed in front of the Golden Bull that their fortunes should be restored and for wealth to return to the US.
In Cindy's own words:
"We are going to intercede at the site of the statue of the bull on Wall Street to ask God to begin a shift from the bull and bear markets to what we feel will be the 'Lion’s Market,' or God’s control over the economic systems," she said. "While we do not have the full revelation of all this will entail, we do know that without intercession, economies will crumble."
Thank you Daily Kos, Ravelry and Metafilter for the heads-up. I was going to write a lengthy commentary but I think Cindy and her friends speak well enough for themselves.
As You Wish
The third and final US presidential debate has been and gone whilst I was soundly asleep. I have looked at various reactions - ranging from Republican blogges to left-wing UK newspapers - but this remains the funniest take I've read:
::30 minutes into the debate, tension has increased as each candidate has perfectly parried each others attacks::
McCain: You are wonderful.
Obama: Thank you; I've worked hard to become so.
McCain: I admit it, you are better than I am.
Obama: Then why are you smiling?
McCain: Because I know something you don't know.
Obama: And what is that?
McCain: I... am not left-handed.
[McCain moves his pen to his right hand and gains an advantage]
Obama: You are amazing.
McCain: I ought to be, after 20 years.
Obama: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.
McCain: Tell me.
Obama: I'm not left-handed either.
[Obama moves his pen to his right hand and regains his advantage]
And if you are less geeky than me (which is very, very likely - yes, I'm embracing my inner geek nowadays), they are referencing this film.
Is It Only Tuesday?
You know what I abhor? The phrase "one of them". I was told Saturday that all foreigners should leave Scotland and when the speaker learned I was foreign, he qualified his words with a "but you're not one of them" excuse. If I had a penny for every time I have heard people use that phrase, I'd be knitting cashmere sweaters. It's a lousy, cheap way of trying to seem less xenophobic and more inclusive, but the phrase only makes the speaker appear more racist and exclusive.
Anyway. Sorry for that mini-rant. It has been a long week even if it is only Tuesday. My head is pounding and I still haven't had dinner (because cake does not count). Let's go for some delightful links.
+ Viktor & Rolf's Barbican Exhibition. Side-by-side comparisons of runway models and quite creepy dolls. Interestingly, it took longer to recreate V&R's clothes in doll-size than it took to create the original runway look.
+ Interesting Bookcases and Bookcase Designs. I used to know someone who lived in a 17thC Copenhagen townhouse and who'd use the rafters as her bookshelves. It was awesome. I really like the children's bookcase-bedroom, actually. Wonder if it would be possible to recreate that in an adult size?
+ The Word Clock. What it says on the tin.
+ Czech uranium glass buttons. Uranium?! I came across these listings on eBay and I still don't know what to make of them.
+ I'm not a huge fan of cupcakes but this shark attack cupcake mountain is fantastic.
Finally, Charles Bernstein on the current global crisis:
Let there be no mistake: the fundamentals of our poetry are sound. The problem is not poetry but poems. The crisis has been precipitated by the escalation of poetry debt—poems that circulate in the market at an economic loss due to their difficulty, incompetence, or irrelevance. Illiquid poetry assets are choking off the flow of imagination that is so vital to our literature.
One For the Danes
Spotted in Glasgow City Centre.
Not Danish? Here's an explanation of why it is hilarious.
Comic Sans?
A sans-serif face walks into the street and is hit by a Swiss Modernist truck. The carnage is grotesk... but you know, akzidenz happen.
Typographunnies. Seriously.
Third-Party Candidate?
Just a quick link before I go out to face the world: Palin For President! That is, Michael Palin For President! The case for him is strong (you know, apart from him being Michael Palin which is an awesome reason as it is).
Addendum: Saturday Night Live sketch ft Tina Fey as The Other Palin. "And I can see Russia from my house!"
Tuesday Linkage
I may be in the throes of female hormones, so here are some calming links.
+ Smugopedia: "Smugopedia is a collection of slightly controversial opinions about a variety of subjects. We offer you the chance to buy a fleeting sense of self-satisfaction at the small cost of alienating your friends and loved ones."
+ It’s Not You, It’s Your Books: Literary dealbreakers. I once dated a guy who had a shelf of Oprah-esque self-help books. I'm not saying that's why I broke up with him.. but we only lasted a week after that discovery.
+ Pretty staircases. Note that the URL is NSFW but the content is very, very SFW. This is my personal favourite (first photo).
+ A Field Guide to Ten Most Common Frontmen Styles. My favourite frontman happens to be a cross between no. 6 and no. 10. Hmm.
+ The Lost Tribes of Green Sahara. Beautiful photography.
+ Sarah Palin is Your New.. What? Many people have opinions on just what who Palin is. I quite like "..Hail Mary" and "Faustian Bargain" but my absolute favourite is "Star Wars: Episodes I - III Plus The Clone Wars". Heh.
Addendum: Booker Shortlist.