Frigg’s Day Mood.

Architects – Doomed.

Remember when hell had frozen over?
The cold still burns underneath my skin
The water is rising all around me
And there is nothing left I can give
All these tears I’ve shed
I saw the wildfire spread
You said you cheated death
But heaven was in my head
They say the good die young
No use in saying what is done is done
‘Cos its not enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like a brand new doomsday
What will be will be
Every river flows into the sea
But it’s never enough
And when the night gives way
Its like like a brand new doomsday
No matter what they say
It’s like a brand new doomsday
The embers still glow when I’m sober
The gold in the flame burns brighter now
I have to rebuild now it’s over
Maybe now I’m lost I can live
Souls don’t break they bend
But I sometimes forget
I have to do this for you
And the only way out is through
Death is an open door
Words the prophets said
Still swimming through my head
Now theres no stars left in the sky
‘Cos this well will never run dry
What if I completely forget?
What if I never accept?
‘Cos when you fade away
Its like a brand new doomsday
They say the good die young
No use in saying what is done is done
‘Cos its not enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like a brand new doomsday
What will be will be
Every river flows into the sea
But it’s never enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like like a brand new doomsday
No matter what they say
Its like a brand new doomsday

“Dear white people, have babies.”

Tim Gionet, aka Baked Alaska. Screengrab.

Poor Tim, he’s just stunned by Moore’s loss. And of course, all those people of colour who rocked the vote. The solution? Have babies! (White ones only, please.)

“I don’t mean to be a dick here, but what is going on with the non-white voters? I mean, what is—if you care about MAGA, if you care about Trump, if you care about ‘Make America Great Again,’ if you care about the good MAGA candidates, it’s mostly white people who are voting for these people and the non-whites are, and I’m not saying all, but I’m saying a large, almost 90-percent, are not voting for the MAGA candidates,” Gionet said. “What is going on?”

Sigh. People with actual principles went out and voted. People who thought that being a raving fanatic and drooler over young women was not fit for office. This must be breaking news to you, Tim, but all manner of white people do not care about ‘maga’ or about the Tiny Tyrant, unless you count wanting an impeachment as caring. Trump acts as if there was no choice but for him to endorse Moore, but that’s not true. Any person with an ounce of integrity would have clearly stated they could not, and would not endorse such a person, in spite of party lines.

Gionet agreed with what a viewer named “Joey” posted on the chat server, that the election results in Alabama were “like a black-lash.”

How adorable. :near-fatal eyeroll:

“Dear white people, have babies. This is not working out very well, OK? Just look at it racially—and I agree, judge people by the content of their character—but look at it racially. Look what’s going on,” Gionet said.

Why on earth do idiotic white supremacist scum always resort to this? What do you think that will do? It seems you morons don’t realize that the decision to have children is a serious one, which requires substantial resources, and is a lifelong commitment. All that said, children are people, they aren’t little robot slaves, and they come with minds of their own. Oh my! You’re also advocating moar babies in a perilous time, with job uncertainty, a lack of healthcare, and no safety nets. Don’t be surprised if people don’t run out and start the baby making. Speaking of, Tim, why don’t you have a passel of white babies?

“I like to think that it’s not sad a lot and that, ‘oh, we can all get along,’ but when I see results like this it definitely makes me sad. It makes me think that—I’m going to pull up this map again,” Gionet said, while putting a demographic breakdown of the 2016 election on his screen. “It not only happened here, but it happened in Trump’s election. I mean, you people who are not white honestly should be thanking white men. You should be thanking white people for having Trump into office, because this would not happen without white people.”

That is not endearing me to white people, and thanks is not what I have in mind.

“If it was just men who voted, it would be overwhelmingly Trump, overwhelmingly conservative. So maybe women shouldn’t vote. I think we maybe need to take away, just take away the vote from women, because here’s what the map looks like for only men and here’s what it looks like for only women and it looks a lot better when it’s only men,” Gionet said. “Either white people are going to have to play more identity politics and group together, not because we don’t like other people but because we need to form some sort of coalition to win. Because we’re the only ones—look at this—we’re the ones that are picking the right people.”

My, my. From where I sit, you’re picking all the wrong people – fanatics who want to illegalize people, who want to usher in end times, are pro nuclear war, deny climate change, and think sexual assault and rape is okey dokey, along with much more. All those people are concerned with personal power and how well their pockets are stuffed, nothing more.  Also Tim, y’know not all white men are conservachristian idiots. You really don’t have much reason to be secure in that assumption.

There’s much more at RWW, including a video of two clips, because as noted: the original broadcast, which lasted more than three hours.

Victor Ehikhamenor / Kehinde Wiley / Omer Ba.

Victor Ehikhamenor, I am Queen Idia, the Angel of Kings, 2017. Copyright the artist, courtesy of Tyburn Gallery.

Kehinde Wiley, Fishermen Upon a Lee-shore, in Squally Weather (Zakary Antoine), 2017.

Omer Ba, Amazone-Behanzin, 2017. Courtesy of Hales Gallery.

From a European perspective, the affirmation of cultural identities on display in these shows is important in London as it is anywhere in the world. There’s a dangerous lack of strong political opposition to the rhetoric of the far right just now, and the contribution of artists is vital to broadening and enriching the context in which significant debate and action can occur. Ba, Ehikhamonor, and Wiley aren’t interested in sloganeering, or in producing pre-digested protest art; instead they’re asserting their presence and cultural sovereignty, and reminding us that the climate of xenophobia in Europe is nothing new.

Kehinde Wiley: In Search of the Miraculous  is on view at Stephen Friedman Gallery, London, through January 27, 2018.  Omer Ba: Supernova is on view at Hales Gallery, London, though December 9, 2017.  Victor Ehikhamenor: In the Kingdom of this World is on view at Tyburn Gallery, London, though January 20, 2018.

You can read much more about these artists at Garage.

Trump: A Sackcloth and Ashes Doorway.

Cilices were originally made from sackcloth or coarse animal hair so they would irritate the skin. Other features were added to make cilices more uncomfortable, such as thin wires or twigs. In modern religious circles, cilices are simply any device worn for the same purposes. Source.

Given the compleat mess of conservachristians in recent political theatre, all the “prophets” are falling back on their old standby, Trump the Saviour. Today we have Sundar Selvaraj, Jim Bakker, and Mark Taylor.

Slevaraj said that Trump “will sit in sackcloth and ashes” and lead America in repentance “because he is God’s man to stand in the gap for this nation.”

Okay, can anyone picture the Tiny Tyrant in a hair-shirt tunic thoroughly dusted with ash? Perhaps if it was a designer hair-shirt (the softest of hair) with the ashes of his enemies! (The Tiny Tyrant sitting in the ashen fallout of nukes doesn’t count.)

“God has chosen him to stand as like the king of the nation,” he said.

Oooh, King. Has anyone told the Tiny Tyrant yet? He can start planning his crowning ceremony, and lie about the crowds all over again! He can start a war with Britain in an attempt to claim the crown jewels or something.

“And because of his God-fearingness, he becomes now a doorway for God and the angels to come through into this nation for one purpose: to cleanse this nation of all the filth, of all that mess, so that God can pour out His spirit, His Last Days powers of the age to come, upon this nation so that this nation will once again become a God nation.”

So…basically, the Tiny Tyrant will be a sewer for all the godwater? How apt. One thing, are you going with the last days shtick or no? Hard to tell.

Later in the broadcast, Bakker ranted that “we have a hunting program going on to destroy the president of the United States and no one is stopping it! The very person God has given to our nation to save our country is being hunted to be destroyed.”

Given all the gunnuts in this country, I’m sure any hunting program would be advertised half to death. The NRA would be all over it. You mean the investigations, Jim? That’s not a hunting program, it’s an investigation, because your saviour is fucking criminal.

Moving on to Mark “I am too a prophet!” Taylor:

For his part, Taylor proclaimed that God will “clean out the news media” and raise up millionaires and billionaires who will create new media outlets that will “be captivated” by Trump and finally restore truth to this nation, which will result in Trump’s overwhelming re-election.

Lighten up on ass kissing, Mr. Taylor. Millionaires and billionaires don’t need to be ‘raised up’. I’d say media is already over-captivated with the Tiny Tyrant. Many of us are sick to death of seeing that face plastered everywhere, every day. Oh, the truth. I think we can all live without your very Nineteen Eighty-Four version of the truth.

“The army of God will have victory after victory after victory,” Taylor said, which means that Trump’s second term is guaranteed. “When people see the good that the country is coming in to right now—the prosperity, the jobs, the economy, whatever the case may be—there is going to be no doubt he is going to sail right in for a second term.”

The army of god? Okay, are they going to be outfitted in hair-shirts and ashes? Was Moore’s recent loss an example of the victory after victory after victory business? I can live with that kind of victory. Whatever the case may be is about right. Everything and everyone is getting fucked right into the ground, Mr. Taylor, and it’s starting to dawn on even the most idiotic who has brought all this about. I don’t think Holy Hair-Shirt Donny is going to get yet another chance to continue destroying all good things.

Via RWW, there’s video for both: Sundar Selvaraj, Mark Taylor.

Turtle Dove and Palm Tree.

A pair of turtle doves on top of a symmetrical tree is placed beside the heading of dove and sparrow. The text on f.32r refers to the female turtle dove’s chaste devotion to her mate, even when widowed. So, the illustration refers to the birds’ faithful marriage.

A pair of facing turtle doves in a roundel.

This dominating image shows the usual bland white turtle dove in its roundel and square perched in the arms of a cross. The cross represents the tree which conceals the nest, according to the rubric. There is a long commentary on this image.

Text Translation:

The beginning of the account of the turtle dove and the sparrow. After the mournful note of the dove and the plaintive call of the hawk, lest I linger too long, I shall write more speedily of the lament of the turtle-dove and the cry of the sparrow – and not only write of them, but also portray them. My purpose is to show how the turtle-dove cherishes the solitude of the wilderness, and the sparrow cries ceaselessly, alone on the roof; so that, following the example of the turtle dove, you may cleave to the purity that comes of chastity, and following that of the sparrow, you may take pleasure in acting shrewdly and prudently; living chastely and going your way with caution. Of the turtle dove The turtle dove, so called from the sound it makes, turtur, is a shy bird, and stays all the time on mountain summits and in deserted, lonely places. It shuns the houses and society of men and keeps to the woods.

Even in the winter time, when it has lost its plumage, it is said to to live in the hollow trunks of trees. The turtle dove also overlays its nest with squill leaves, in case a wolf should attack its young. [There’s more interesting history on Squill here.] For it knows that wolves usually run from leaves of this kind. It is said that when the she-bird is widowed by the loss of her mate, she holds the name and rite of marriage in such esteem, that because her first experience of love has deceived her, cheating her with the death of her beloved, since he has become permanently unfaithful and a bitter memory, causing her more grief by his death than he gave her pleasure from his affection, for this reason she refuses to marry again, and will not relax the oaths of propriety or the contract made with the man who pleased her. She reserves her love for her dead mate alone and keeps the name of wife for him. Learn, you women, how great is the grace of widowhood, when it is proclaimed even among the birds. Who, therefore, gave these laws to the turtle dove? If I look for a man as law-giver, I cannot find him. For there is no man who would dare – not even Paul dared – to prescribe laws for observing widowhood. He said only:’I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully'(1 Timothy, 5:14). And elsewhere: ‘It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn’ (1 Corinthians, 7:8,9). Paul desires in women what in turtle doves is an enduring characteristic. And elsewhere he urges the young to marry, because it is only with difficulty that our women achieve the virtue of turtle doves. Therefore it was God who infused the turtle doves with this grace or capacity for affection, giving them the virtue of continence; God, who alone can set forth the law which all should follow. The turtle dove is not inflamed by the flower of youth and is not affected by chance temptation. It cannot go back on its first pledge of love because it knows how to preserve the chastity which it plighted as the first duty of marriage.

[Read more…]

The Destruction of the White Christian Male.

Oh, it’s Coach Dave again, this time sobbing and wailing into his bible (or beer), over the horrible crime committed against Roy Moore. Goodness, people didn’t elect him! The worst persecution ever, you know.

“We had an underbelly that was exposed to us last night,” he said. “If you guys don’t think that we’re in trouble—remember when I was telling you that it’s about the destruction of white Christian male? Do you remember that? This whole thing is all playing out that very thing, the destruction of the white Christian male. And the left, the God-haters, the devil has had tremendous influence in the lives of Christian believers, there is no other way to explain that mess that happened down in Alabama.”

Oh now, there are plenty of ways to explain what happened in Alabama. We owe a great deal to all the people of colour who faced tremendous bigotry and oppression and still got their vote out. There aren’t enough thanks for that one. Some white christians managed to find their conscience, and decided that being a liar and a skeevy ephebophile* was not a good thing. Doug Jones is a white male too, Dave.

*To all the people using pedophile in regard to Moore: please, fucking stop it. It’s inaccurate, and it does no good to go the hysterical and wrong route conservachristians are so fond of running down. Take the time to be right, please.

Daubenmire blasted Christians who refused to support Moore simply because he “maybe molested a girl 40 years ago” but were willing to vote for a Democrat “who wants to kill babies.”

So, maybe molesting a girl doesn’t matter? At all? Goodness, you sure are clarifying those christian morals, Dave. Democrats do not want to kill babies, and they don’t in fact kill babies. They do support women, which I realize is a crime in christianity.

“When they weighed those two things in the balance,” he said, “evangelicals said, ‘My faith will not allow me to elect the man that lies or molested a child, instead I’m going to elect this guy here who wants to kill babies.’ Now, folks, I don’t care who you are, that is a delusion right there, that is a strong delusion and it is evidence that we do not love the truth.”

They weighed those two things in the balance, and did the right thing. You don’t need any religious faith at all to shun a man who unapologetically slavered over teenagers. Most people would turn away from such a person, and not see fit to reward such a person. Doug Jones has not killed any babies. Ever. He does support women, and all people who can get pregnant, and stands up for their rights as full human beings, who have the right to bodily autonomy. I like people who recognize that I am indeed a person, a person who should be able to make my own medical decisions in privacy. Given how much you christians always have your nose shoved in other peoples’ crotches, I guess it’s no surprise that you don’t see an adult drooling over teenagers as a big deal.

Thankfully, the christian immorality and delusional thinking did not win the day in Alabama. It was too close for comfort, and all those people supporting Moore should scrub all the filth out of their minds and off their so-called consciences, then perhaps they could actually think. When it comes to delusional thinking, there’s nothing quite like christian thought:

Via RWW, there’s video.

ETA: Oh look, we can add Lance Wallnau to the pile of immoral assholes moaning over Moore.

Wallnau warned the “nut jobs” at the Republican National Committee not to start discounting the power and importance of evangelical voters because of this race, saying that if just a few thousands more Christians had shown up to vote for Moore, the result would have been totally different. But unfortunately, Wallnau said, too many Christians were unable to discern the correct choice “between giving the devil a free pass or working with a flawed sinner, or somebody who was a sinner who is now a saint who doesn’t have the sense to know to cosmetically present themselves to the electorate.”

Erm, what? I hate word salad. Hate to tell you Lance, but lots of christians did show up to vote – black women. Black women, unlike their white counterparts, showed up in strength: and women too were overwhelmingly against Moore (58% of all women, 35% of white women, and 98% of black women). (Via Mano Singham.) Thankfully, all those women of colour had sense and good morals.

“Poor Bannon,” Wallnau said later as he encouraged the Breitbart executive and Moore booster not to be discouraged by Moore’s loss and prayed that he would be “covered in grace and peace and consolation.”

Wallnau said that conservative Christians must stand by Bannon as he “storms the barricades of the establishment status quo” and be prepared to fight along side of him.

:Laughs: You do know Bannon is catholic, right? Since when do evangelicals have anything good to say about catholics? Hypocritical does not even begin to describe you fuckwits.

“We’re going to take on the establishment,” he said. “They’re going to feel the heat people, yes they are … You screwed up, Mitch. Your days are numbered there, Mr. Mitch McConnell. You’re going down, because, after all, we represent 25 million of us out there. We’re not always organized, we are not always coherently motivated, but once we get our crosshairs fixed, bam! When we show up, watch out.”

Taking on the establishment? :falls over laughing: Oh please, you are not the counterculture. 25 million is a minority. You aren’t all that, and as you continue to endorse lying, ignoring sexual assault and a myriad of other unethical, immoral behaviour, I think you’re going to find more people finding their spine and turning away from you all. You’re in favour of fascism. You don’t have a problem with nazis. You hold up a shallow sociopath as a ‘great man of god’. Eeeuch.

Via RWW.