Blogrophenia: The Reverend Aton's Site

Morrison Lives!

A new release from the late Jim Morrison? But he's been dead for 35 years. . . It's true folks, with a little help from former Jane Addiction frontman, Perry Farrell: Morrison Lives!

In the words of another immortal, the Boss: "Everything dies and that's a fact; But maybe everything that dies one day will come back"

Mr. Mojo Risin,
Moses

See Now Why'd You Have To Go And. . .

I like the Catholic Church. I really do. For all the bad press it gets, I think it is composed mostly of good people with a deep faith who are trying to make the world a better place. I like the ritual, I like the social component, the history and I love the Church's mighty intellectuals both current and throughout the ages. As frequent readers of this blog may have noticed, I'm also very interested in the papacy generally and this Pope specifically. But every once in a while you read about some batshit crazy psycho bastard like this speaking for the Church and you just have to shake your head in embarrassment, the same way you might if a nice gal you brought out to meet your friends got all wasted and weirded everyone out.

The idea that Hitler and Stalin were possessed is not only silly and juvenille but it also diminishes true human evil and the small matter of human responsibility. It says people are only capable of so much bad and after a certain point it must be something else. I've got news for you: That's bullshit. People, individuals and collectively, are capable of great evil and this is important to remember. I have no interest in tacitly exculpating these monsters by blaming their actions on ghosts and spirits. It's not dissimilar from the tactics of our President with his "Axis of Evil" crap and his constant implications of God being on "our side". The world is much more complex and interesting than this. . .

These people ruin religion, they really do. . .

In a many dark hour;
I've been thinkin' about this;
That Jesus Christ;
Was betrayed by a kiss;
But I can't think for you;
You'll have to decide;
Whether Judas Iscariot;
Had God on his side,
Moses

In the event that Hillary (dare to dream!) is elected President how would we refer to Bubba?

Benedict Update

This Pontiff remains a tough nut to crack. I've kidded on this blog about liking his "don't work too hard stuff" recently but I actually did admire the sentiment. This intelligent design stuff he may be pushing throug soon though is too much! This is a major step back from his venerable predecessor JPII's statement that Darwinism is "more than a hypothesis". Intelligent design is nothing. It's a sham psuedoscience and a weird half assed faith. It's horrible. I'd almost take a nutjob creationist first. I'd certainly take JPII's admission that there's something to Darwinsim and leave it at that. For a great case against Intelligent Design go here. Of course he's out there also arguing for the environment which is righteous, but, of course, also fairly safe. Interesting character in some ways this Benedict.

More on him to follow. . .

God only knows,
Moses

Hope lives. . .

Big Fish

Enjoy this little clip of an 800 pound shark caught recently. Someday I will catch one even bigger! (maybe)

Dream On,
Moses

Hope Alive

The year 2004 wasn't a great one for me for a whole lot of reasons. On a lighter note the Yankees collapsed and choked up a 3-0 lead in the ALCS, the World Series wasn't uh. . . fun and of course George W. Bush the worst President of my lifetime was reelected. I'll never forget election night: I went to see Eve Ensler's The Good Body and when I walked in the theater the exit polls were projecting John Kerry as the winner. I had worked hard on the Kerry campaign, seen him speak twice and I really had faith that he would win. I found it unthinkable that my fellow Americans would have such terrible judgement. Of course, they did. It was devastating. A few days later I saw REM at MSG (scroll down to November 5 to read my review) to and Michael Stipe and the band opened with their customary closer "It's the End of the World As We Know It". It summed up my feelings exactly.

Well, here we are two years later and on the verge of the midterm elections. Fortunately, Bush has now been exposed and even the Right sees him for what he is: Completely Incompetant. My vitriol for him has faded and I view him almost like any other pernicious former President. With some disdain, but ultimately harmless and worthy at least of a modicum of respect. So I've been asking myself recently what it was about that bothered me so much. I was surprised then earlier today to read Adam Cohen's piece in the NYT about Bush and hope. Well reasoned and thoughtful I think it sums up almost exactly my problem with the man.

I particularly liked this part:

President Clinton was often mocked for his declarations that he still believed “in a place called Hope.” But he understood that instilling hope is a critical part of leadership. Other than a few special interest programs — like cutting taxes on the wealthy and giving various incentives to business — it is hard to think of areas in which the Bush administration has raised the nation’s hopes and met them. This president has, instead, tried to focus the American people on the fear of terrorism, for which there is no cure, only bad choices or something worse.

But most of all I liked Taranto's ham handed and pathetic attempt to once more use the Rovian tactic of fear:

Besides, Adam, where have you been? There is actually a reasonable explanation for why Americans fear terrorism more now than they did during the Clinton years, and it isn't because of anything President Bush has done. We'll be happy to explain it to you over drinks. Just meet us at the time of your choosing at Windows on the World.

Like a final whimper and gasp it marks one of the final defenses George W. Bush a man that has done incalculable damage this amazing country and, indeed, to the entire world. Taranto reminds me of a deluded old seductress unaware of the ravages time and still thinking she exudes sex. . .

What a fool.

For me I remain cautiously optimistic and I like to think that the worst is over. Signs like Lieberman's primary loss inspire me. . .

That's great it starts;
with an earthquake,
Moses

A Rose by any Other Name. . .

I've always admired women who keep their maiden name, although I understand that there are legit reasons to chage too. Interestingly the practice of keeping the maiden name seems to be declining.

Hello I love you won't you tell me your name?,
Moses

PJ in the UK

"There's a lot of flags from a lot of different countries. Being from America I guess we should say 'we come in peace!." The great Eddie Vedder, August 27, 2006 in the UK.

Don't be Dumb Jeff!!

If Loria let's Girardi leave/fires him he's making an ENORMOUS mistake. . .











Picture by Moses Aton, Girardi signs for fans Spring Training 2006 Ft. Lauderdale.

Theater Review: The Lt. Of Inishmore

Anyone who reads this blog knows how much I love Broadway. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to see the level of theater that I can see almost any day. I even prouder that my home city has such great theater. I am, however, often disappointed in my fellow fans. Inishmore, a show that will only be showing through September 3, 2006 reminds of the deficiancies of my fellow theater goers.

Inishmore is a thoughtful and very layered show both in plot structure and thematically. It is about 1990's Ireland, it is very much about our modern alienation but most of all it is about morality. And it is brilliant. Written by Martin McDonough it is puts even his last show, the impressive The Pillowman, to shame both in terms of it's wit and depth. The show is funny and entertaining and leaves you, among many other things, asking some very important questions about the motivations of the characters, the nature of altruism, the danger of boredom and most of all hammers home the point of the fulility of political violence.

One caveat is that it is very violent and this may put some people off, as it did my sister, Yolanda Aton, who grasped all the themes and appreciated some of the humor but didn't think ultimately it was worth sitting through all the gore. For me, a guy who's seen every Tarantino movie ever made, it didn't bother me much. Not a huge deal in my opinion, but not good for those who don't care for such violence, and make no mistake: the violent is Tarantinoesque and maybe beyond. . .

All in all though, a great show, I highly recommend it.

How long,
How long must we sing this song,
Moses

Canon by Funtwo: Exposed

If you havent' seen this yet, shame on you, but watch it immediately if you are a rock guitar fan or a fan of classical music: It's absolutely sublime. There's also an interesting piece on it in the NYT today.

A giant step each day,
Moses

Check out this cool new blog. . . Assembled and run by one of my favorite people. The guy is a HoF sports and culture fan should be interesting.

In Short, the Best Show Ever on Broadway

I go to about one Broadway show a month and to countless other plays, movies, sporting events, etc. Seldom, if ever, have I been as entertained as I was the other night when I attended Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. The show is quite simply, staggeringly brilliant. Short is so talented, entertaining and funny it would be obnoxious were he not so aware of it and consequently so self effacing. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are aspiring comics and entertainers who may be discouraged in realizing the gap between their respective talents and Mr. Short's.

Present are all the characters and skits we've come to know and love over the years, with the notable exception of chain smoking attorney Nathan Thurm who is conspicous in his absence. But fret not Shortiacs as you'll get a a little Ed Grimley, some Katherine Hepburn, a little Jackie Rogers Jr. (author of "Damn You Daddy, Sir") and so much more.

One of the seemingly infinite highlights is the appearance of Jiminy Glick, who improvises - yes, htat's right! improvises a piece wiht an audiencememeber, show me another entertainer with tthe khutzpah to improvise on Broadway. As Irving Cohen might say: "That Short kid has got it!"

If you like food and air I can't imagine that you won't like this show. See it immediately.

For a complementary though sloppy review go here. The somewhat complementary NYT review here. Very fair and positive review here from Reuters.

It was a beautiful day,
Moses

Arbusto

It's amazing how not only the Left but the Right now too realizes how horrible and incompetant Bush truly is. . .

Now I've long said Buchanan's a nut but when he's right he's often very right. . .

It's the same every day and the wave won't break,

Moses

Rethinking Religion

Now here's an idea even the most lapsed Catholic can get behind. . .

Working for a living,
Moses