THE BIG LIE

that our culture tells us every minute of its life, by what it says and by what it leaves unsaid, is that there has never been and never can be any worthy ideal or any worthy idealist to the Left of capitalism, and that all that is admirable in human beings is compatible with that same capitalist ideology.

Nothing less than the survival of civilization, and perhaps humanity itself, rides on our seeing through this lie and exposing it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Sorry for the belated greetings, but I had some trouble accessing this blog yesterday (Christmas day).

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this blog this year or who has just dropped by to have a look.

A HERETIC'S GUIDE TO ETERNITY

I'm in the middle of reading the book shown to the left, A Heretic's Guide to Eternity, by Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor. Here's an excellent quotation from page 62:

Of course, growing up, I had a much different concept of grace. I grew up in an environment where grace was described as "unmerited favor." The only problem was that getting this "unmerited favor" still required doing something -- namely, "asking Jesus in your heart" or praying a prayer.

I'm reminded of those people in the mall who are always offering me a "free" gift -- and then telling me I just have to fill out a survey or apply for a credit card to get it. Let's be clear. If I have to do something to get it, it's not free. The amount of effort I need to put in might be minimal relative to the value or size of the prize, but it's still effort. The offer is still predicated on some kind of transaction.

If grace really is unmerited favor and I really can do nothing to get it, then that should be the end of the story. But in my experience, it never is. Religious people love fine print. They just can't seem to get away from it no matter how hard they try. It's always "God loves
you -- but . . ."

Exactly. I've come across this again and again: "God loves you -- but . . ."!

PATRIOTISM -- Directed by Yukio Mishima (1966)

I watched this film recently. I had never heard about it, and stumbled upon it by accident. It is only 29 minutes long, but extremely powerful.

It's done in the style of Japanese Noh theatre and is therefor very minimalist. The music is by Wagner, (or something very like Wagner) if you can believe it.

I don't want to say much more and do a spoiler. If there are any responses to this post, I might post a spoiler there if anyone wants it, so beware!

"DAMMIT, TAKESHI, I KNEW WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT LEFT TURN AT ALBUQUERQUE!"

This is the Kurogane 4wd, a Japanese vehicle used in World War Two. You've got to admit it's pretty damned cute. And that's why I've put a picture of it here. Yes, I know it's a military vehicle driven by a couple of fascists, but hey: cute is cute. And I am a great lover of automotive beauty, even though I don't actually know that much about cars. (Hell, I don't even have one!) Perhaps some day I will build a model of this (it should be 1/35 scale, because anything less would be just too small for such a small vehicle). Will I include Takeshi and Ichizo here? Perhaps. Or maybe I'll civilianize it and paint it a nice, shiny red. What do you think?

ROXY KATT'S EROTIC ARTISTS SERIES -- CRIGO

Here is some delightful work by CriGo, featuring Rhan and Yuki.

I do love the fish-down-the-back theme! How many artists do this? Precious few!

Imagine the supreme hysteria of a girl with a fish or some other icky thing stuck fast down the back of her catsuit. Wouldn't that just drive you crazy? I know it would me! You can find more of CriGo's work at Greco's Girls, which features the marvellous work of Osvaldo A. Greco.

THE FAMOUS THIERRY MUGLER ROBOT

Quite a hot suit, I say. The only thing I'd change, to make it sexier from my point of view, would be that all the parts covered by clear plastic would be covered in metal. I'd love to wear something like this! One problem: how do you go to the bathroom? I mean, does it require a team of mechanics or something? They'd really have to be people

you'd trust, wouldn't they?

(Or maybe not!)

I like to think she can't possibly get out of there without help. What a sexy idea!

JAMES BOND -- UGH!

You've likely heard the old controversy about who makes the best James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and whoever came after him. Really, I can't stand James Bond no matter who plays him. (Great theme music, though.) Smug, sexist bastard! But I rented THUNDERBALL recently, because I'd seen an interesting pic of one Fiona Volpe, a character in the film, in leather and mounted most enticingly on a motorcycle.

Well, predictably, the film had no such image at all. Instead, there was a brief sequence of her on a motorcyle, almost indistinguishable from a guy, until (SURPRISE!!!) she takes her helmet off and long hair flows out. YES, it's a GIRL on that bike, [insert exclamation of surprise here].

The rest of the flick she dresses like an astronaut's wife. And the movie itself is a cat's breakfast.