Jesus Christ

Pandagon: His Name Is Not HOVA

Poor Jesse reads Ann Coulter’s take on Christianity. It’s a very… unusual reading of the Gospels, to say the least. At least Mel Gibson pretends to think that the stuff that came before Jesus’ arrest was important.

I’m working on a script treatment for Species 3, by the way. In this, the leggy blond monster from outer space gets a job as a conservative pundit. I realize that this requires some suspension of disbelief, because Ann Coulter isn’t remotely attractive at all, but it’s Hollywood.

(UPDATE: See Also World O’Crap: St. Ann, the Patron Saint of Ignorance. I keep hearing that nobody takes Ann Coulter seriously, but all sorts of supposedly “legitimate” conservative publications seem to have no problem letting her spew her bile.)

Queen of the idiots

Smith School parent wants book removed

I give you Roxanne Cleasby, parent of a child attending an elementary school in Helena, MT. She wants a book (the story says that the title is Horses, but it is probably Horse, by Julie Clutton-Brock) removed from the school’s library because she thinks it promotes evolution. I sure hope it does. Failing removal, she’d like pages 8-9 of the book torn out. (Which would mean that 7 and 10 are gone, too.) Says the idiot in question:

“I’m sure the school’s curriculum is full of it through and through,” she said. “And I’m sure that I can’t challenge all of it, but I think there needs to be more public awareness on the creation side. There’s been lots of great scientific research done on creation that needs to be considered.”

Actually, “idiot” may be too kind.

Save the goldfish

MediaGuardian.co.uk | Broadcast | German TV causes fishy fracas

The producers of the German I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! are under investigation for the deaths of several goldfish which were crushed by the head of a teenage pop singer.

Tapes stay in

Scrushy loses initial bid to throw out key evidence

The tapes of Richard Scrushy in conversation with CFO Mafia Don William T. Owens, tapes that the Feds say prove Scrushy masterminded the fraud at HealthSouth, will stay in for now. Scrushy’s lawyers can still try to get it thrown out at trial, I suppose, but the magistrate said it didn’t appear that it would be. Scrushy was also rejected in a bid to find out personal information on the members of the grand jury that indicted him, and rightly so. I can’t believe he tried that.

TV show update: The second airing of Scrushy’s show was apparently pre-empted for an infomercial — the one with the guy with the ponytail selling skiing machines. I assume they resold the time.

You knew this was coming

Zap2it – TV news – NBC: New ‘Law & Order’ Franchise Coming Next Season

In NBC’s war on the other networks, its biggest weapon is the Law & Order franchise. With CBS coming up with a third CSI, you knew that NBC wasn’t far behind with L&O #4. They aren’t saying what it will be about yet — I’d guess cops in New York — and it won’t be ready to launch to start the season. With CSI #3 also set in New York, there will now be a procedural for every borough, though they’re all set in Manhattan.

Troll of the day

War Liberal: Independent Argument Rupert Cornwell: Today

Is “Liz”. Since when have I ever called myself a journalist? I may not be much, but I have my standards.

Silver lining

History hints state won’t go for Kerry

Alabama shouldn’t be competitive this November; it hasn’t been since Clinton skipped campaigning in the state in 1992. (That was a mistake; he could have won here, and it cost the party long-term.) However, Bush doesn’t look to win the state by the same margin this time, and the difference between Alabamians who identify themselves as Republicans and those who call themselves Democrats has been cut in half in the last four years. The pollster for the Alabama Education Association thinks that Edwards could have beaten Bush. As it is, if Bush loses Alabama it would be in the process of being the biggest loser in Republican presidential history.

Christ and/or bust

Loan of `Christ’ bust sought for centennial

The Vulcan Park Foundation is going to ask the state archives if it can borrow a bust of Christ for the upcoming centennial of the unveiling of both it and Vulcan (by the same sculptor) at the 1904 World’s Fair. Jefferson County Commission President Larry Langford — who is insane, but in a fun way — thinks that the bust should be kept at the Park permanently, but the state doesn’t want to give up the bust and the Park isn’t set up to keep it anyway.