Neanderpundit

First of all, let me say I had fun wiht this book, and I’ll probably have fun with the movie. It’s a popcorn-for-your-brain potboiler.

Let me now say this as a Catholic.

I spent six years in the seminary. I understand the dirtyl little secrets. I know where a lot of the bodies are buried. Dan brown manages to string together a couple of out-of context facts, and a few conspiracy theories, to assemble a halfway decent book. Yeah, it’s formuilaic (Dan Brown’s classic formula is “scholarly expert is awakened in the middle of the night to traipse halfway around the world in search of the Real Truth, enduring danger and intrigue in the face of overwhelmiong odds to bring the World out of Darkness and Into the Light”)

Dan desperately wants to be Crichton. He couldn’t carry Crichton’s luggage, never will. He’ll sell books, and has done so, because his stuff is entertaining to many, and catholics are such an easy target of derision- right up there with smokers and obese people as undefended material for comedians everywhere. If Brown opens up people’s eyes and gets them looking for the Truth on their own, and people are diligent enough to FIND the real truth, then that’s god- but unfortunately, the people who are likely to read and enjoy these books, myself included, generally aren’t all that bright.

Don’t take Brown’s word that ANY of this shit is true.

This week has been a rapid succession of clusters of near biblical proportions, including middle-of the night wake up calls, repetitive repairs of the same items, impossible bullshit. Busy as a three peckered goat. Internet access at the hotel was two cups and a string. Not a decent deli in sight where I could get a nice sandwich with fresh meat on a decent roll. Five days of fast food and bullshit.

Home to the simplest recipe on earth:

1 can of Ro-Tel diced tomatos with chilis
1 can of chili beans
1 yellow onion, diced small and sauteed till transparent
1 block of Kraft Velveeta Mild Mexican cheese
1 pound of ground beef, browned and drained.

Put all ingredients in a crock pot. Best thing is to put all the cold shit in and turn the crock on high, and add the onions and meat hot as soon as they’re browned/sauteed. Stir and let sit

After it sits for a half hour stir again. I sometimes add bacon. And sometimes a little garlic or cilantro finely chopped.

This looks like a bad case of the hershey squirts, and tastes like more. Anyone who can eat a single serving is a master of self control. I rarely ever have leftovers. I’m gorged on the crap now, and happy to be home.

There’s a fine line, but it’s almost always possible to tell when you have crossed it.

1:
“I believe that god created man from whole cloth in one fell swoop, and the theory of evolution is crap” Stubborness.

“I believe that god created man from whole cloth in one fell swoop, and the theory of evolution is crap, and I’m going to try to prevent evlution from being taught” Stupidity.

2:
” I believe that the universe- including man, sprang forth from nothing. The natural laws wrote themselves, and the universe has no creator” Stubbornness.
” I believe that the universe- including man, sprang forth from nothing. The natural laws wrote themselves, and the universe has no creator, and I will do my damndest to prevent any mention of a creator in any form, anywhere, ever.” Stupidity.

3
“I believe guns are evil, and I would never have one in my house” Stubbornness.
“I believe guns are evil, and I would never have one in my house, and I’ll do my damnedest to prevent anyone else from owning them” Stupidity

See a pattern? You can have whatever bizzarre beliefs you want, and sticking to them in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary is just stubbornness. Inflicting that ignorance on others is stupidity. Perhaps even evil, depending on circumstances.

Your mileage may vary.