an icepick through the keyhole

(by way of playingpossum)

( BBC: Vatican chief astronomer says extraterrestrial life cannot be ruled out. )

Old news to my Jewish friends, most likely, but I just came across this.



Messiah Bold ("It's the beer you've been waiting for!") from the Shmaltz Brewing Company, who have a variety of He'Brew: The Chosen Beer varieties available, including Genesis 10:10 (10th anniversary brew, using pomegranate juice), Genesis Ale ("Our first creation") and Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. (a rye-based IPA in tribute to Lenny Bruce). All kosher-certified and rabbi-approved, of course.

For more "Gadgets for God", go to Ship of Fools. In the "Just In!" section, I'm particularly disturbedenamoured of "Faith Mountain", which made me break the third commandment when I saw it (uh, not that I strictly adhere to that one all the time...).

Although to be honest, the "Ten Plagues Finger Puppets" is probably more disturbing, particularly the one that stands in for the Death of the First-Born... and even more disturbingly... I want a set.

Terry Eagleton, in the London Review of Books, on Richard Dawkins' latest, The God Delusion.

( Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology. )

Something for my own reference, from Deuteronomy Chapter 21:

1 If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:

2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

8 Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.