PS - it's tomorrow morning over here. And this is all over the news. Because Senator Xenophon spoke in Parliament (hence, the 'parliamentary privilege' bit), he can say pretty much anything he likes and be free from defamation prosecution. Our defamation laws are far tighter over here than in the States (freedom of speech laws aren't protected by the lovely amendments you have), and this has discouraged many former Scientologists from speaking out.
On another matter, it's Spring here, for those of you who have trouble with the whole dateline/Southern Hemisphere thingo. Not that this has anything to do with Scientology. #xenu
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: My futuristic Kiwi cronies assure me everyone travels around in giant inflatable balls and monorail bike systems. On the downside, everything smells of bad eggs.
@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: And you're a lovely, welcoming people at that... But I STILL can't get my head around the Rotorua love. "Culture Capital"? "The smell's healthy"? I just... sigh.
I will admit to zorbing, and going to that sheeopodrome thing. But then headed back home to Welly, where the wind might knock you over, but at least it's due to gusts, not stench. #xenu
@limber: I actually live in Wellington now, and as someone who grew up not far from Rotorua (next town over, actually), I am always amazed at the double image that town pulls off. It's a tourist mecca for all things 'ethnic' and geothermal, yet the crime rate and living conditions of a disproportionate number of its citizens is abysmal. Ever read Once Were Warriors? Yeah, somewhat unsurprisingly, the author grew up there.
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: Really? I am? I just sorta like Joeys. And anyone fighting with Scientology is hilarious and so very Sci-Fi, especially someone named Xenophon, and, yes, well, the whole criminal thing is true isn't it? Sorry if I offended.
How can you really be upset, though? There's an American real estate agent (Tom Cruise look alike in the photo there) running Scientology. Take all the free swings at us (America in general) that you like. Seriously.
@Spirit Fingers: Me? Offended? By you? Never, you great big Falcor, you. Crack as many convict jokes as you like. I have skin as thick as a wombat's hide. All that criminal blood served simply to strengthen our hybrid vigour down here.
I guess here would be where I'd insert the smiley-face emoticon. But I have a Pavlovian response to emoticons that usuallly results in copious quantities of chunky, bile-filled vomit. So, instead, here's lots of kisses for you and your joeys...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...#xenu
@m4ximusprim3: Something good the Australian government is doing. Apparently some mama kangos don't always survive the frequent bushfires, but the government has developed programs saving the Joeys so they don't starve and become dehydrated.
Yes, poor babies, but good on the Australian gov, for taking care of them. #xenu
@m4ximusprim3: Lots of them also survive car crashes where their mums are squished, but they're cushioned by the fluffy pouch. Never let a kangaroo behind the wheel of a car. #xenu
@m4ximusprim3: I think they're mostly rescued. Not sure why the mamas aren't as lucky. If I had to guess maybe the pouch is their protector and also serves as a source of nourishment from the mother, thereby they survive. That is, if I'm remembering 9th grade biology correctly.
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: Thanks, lovey. Emoticons! Hell noes. Just slit my throat like an Australian bandit why don't ya? Heh.
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: Cool! An Aussie! This Web thing really is World Wide, ain't it.
P.S. The biggest reason we like the "Z" stateside is because, in Scrabble, we get 10 points for using it. Also, there's Zima, every American's favorite elixir. #xenu
@AzureTexan: Ah, the source of many an Australian scrabble feud. According to Wiki, the ratio is 3:1 in favour of using 's' over 'z' within Australia. So 'z' spelling should technically be allowed, as it's used a quarter of the time. However, try telling that to your competitors.
As for the spelling of favour/favor? I think it would be remiss to ditch the 'u'. Rules are rules. #xenu
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: Ah, but therein lies the problem. The 'U' is worth only one point. Then again, if you get it in conjunction with the 'Q,' you can do some Scrabbtacular damage. #xenu
@Benny: Wow! I haven't had such a Scrabblecentric conversation since the last time I lived with my Mom! (Perhaps we should talk about whiskey, engines and shotguns now.) #xenu
Another Aussie reference? Back in the day, during an AC/DC concert in my hometown, I reached out and touched Angus Young's left shoe.
I reckoned it made me an honorary Aussie, and I've kept on believing it. #xenu
@AzureTexan: I will trade you my citizenship if it means I can work in the States fulltime. Deal? I currently have to leave every three months and it's a total drag on my bank account. #xenu
Ugh. Once again the CoS manage to respond in the worst way possible and perpetuate the impression that they are inhuman monsters.
'Disgruntled former members'? They are disgruntled because your deranged pseudoscientific rituals killed their kids. Express some sympathy, wish them well, and move on. Try some good PR for a change.
Stop pretending you don't have a problem and start pretending to address it. #xenu
My wonderful but politically misguided father got me a subscription to the Times a couple of years ago, and I always enjoyed reading the batshit insane headlines before chucking it into the trash. But! You also get the FREE perk of being put on every god damn freeper mailing list in existence, and my neighbors probably think I'm some sort of ex-pat militia member at this point. Damn you, Moon! #washingtontimes
Are we still operating under the assumption that the Washington Post is the liberal opposition to the Times? The WaPo (or maybe just the editorial page) seems like it's positioning itself to fill the neo-con void and I'm more than prepared to completely ignore their bullshit as well. The Weekend is still pretty legit but otherwise, the cord is nearly cut. #washingtontimes
@Helio: They are neo-con for sure. They let that failure of a human being Jendayi Frasier write an op-ed that made cancel everything with them #washingtontimes
I was at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations ( John Kerry) and it was opened up to questions. Reporters were sitting in the back. Except one, Barbara Slavin from the Washington Times. She was sitting with that awful Congresswoman Harman. I noticed it because all the other questions came from the back. Even stranger was Congresswoman Harman asking Sen.Kerry a question as well as if she couldn't kick with him on the Hill. It was very odd because she asked her question (really 3) after it was announced that these would be the last questions taken. I put her in my Moonie category that day. #washingtontimes
@Go Like Hell Machine: Sorry, I will try to explain it without any shortcuts. I went to an event at the council on foreign relations in DC. John Kerry was speaking , he had just gotten back from Afghanistan. The reporters were all sitting in the back , they had to. It was marked media. The room was small. All the questions came from the back, except this one lady Barbara Slavin who got up to ask the question, but she wasn't in the media section . She was sitting next to Democrat Congresswoman Harman. The Washington Times has been quite supportive of Harman through her possibly criminal involvement with those Israeli spies. i know this is really confusing. My point was that no other media- there were some heavy hitters there- sat in anywhere near the front. The second weird thing was Harman asking Sen. Kerry a question , like a reporter would. The mediator said these will be the last 3 questions and Harman raised her hand. She then asked 3 questions in one, they were not friendly questions either. I thought it was odd since I am assuming as Democrats in foreign relations committees albeit in 2 different houses of congress, she could ask him whatever questions she wanted at some other time. I think those questions were for the benefit of the Washington Times. I hope this makes some sense #washingtontimes
I've actually wondered that because there aren't as many people becoming Moonies as there were before, replenishing his coffers, how long the Rev would continue to drain his fortune. #washingtontimes
@Magister: I wrote a book about this. It turns out the Moonies are doing just fine in the cash department, mostly by separating Japanese widows from their cash. Google "spiritual sales."
@lanthewignom:
It's been so long since I've met any Moonies and television cults have gone all Waco, I figured that after the market crash, he'd be running out of funds.
I didn't think about globalization and how it could bolster religious empires. One world, indeed. Thanks.
11/18/09
11/17/09
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11/17/09
PS - it's tomorrow morning over here. And this is all over the news. Because Senator Xenophon spoke in Parliament (hence, the 'parliamentary privilege' bit), he can say pretty much anything he likes and be free from defamation prosecution. Our defamation laws are far tighter over here than in the States (freedom of speech laws aren't protected by the lovely amendments you have), and this has discouraged many former Scientologists from speaking out.
On another matter, it's Spring here, for those of you who have trouble with the whole dateline/Southern Hemisphere thingo. Not that this has anything to do with Scientology. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
Also, we copulate through thought-waves. This latter development is not so great. #xenu
11/17/09
Or maybe that's just Rotorua for you. #xenu
11/17/09
I have heard that all New Zealanders HAVE giant inflatable balls. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
For those of you unfamiliar with the Haka, see the following, and think about giant balls whilst you watch... #xenu
11/17/09
11/18/09
I will admit to zorbing, and going to that sheeopodrome thing. But then headed back home to Welly, where the wind might knock you over, but at least it's due to gusts, not stench. #xenu
11/18/09
11/17/09
All kinds of ironic and Joeys! Because, really, Joeys.
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
Also: here, joey joey joey! #xenu
11/17/09
How can you really be upset, though? There's an American real estate agent (Tom Cruise look alike in the photo there) running Scientology. Take all the free swings at us (America in general) that you like. Seriously.
Here, have more Joeys in pouches. Wheee!
11/17/09
11/17/09
I guess here would be where I'd insert the smiley-face emoticon. But I have a Pavlovian response to emoticons that usuallly results in copious quantities of chunky, bile-filled vomit. So, instead, here's lots of kisses for you and your joeys...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx... #xenu
11/17/09
Yes, poor babies, but good on the Australian gov, for taking care of them. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
@DevilsAvocadoRedux: Thanks, lovey. Emoticons! Hell noes. Just slit my throat like an Australian bandit why don't ya? Heh.
11/17/09
Working at that place would be such a sweet job. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
P.S. The biggest reason we like the "Z" stateside is because, in Scrabble, we get 10 points for using it. Also, there's Zima, every American's favorite elixir. #xenu
11/17/09
We also have a fondness for 'u'. As in 'colour'. #xenu
11/17/09
As for the spelling of favour/favor? I think it would be remiss to ditch the 'u'. Rules are rules. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
That's right. Mum with a 'u'. #xenu
11/17/09
Another Aussie reference? Back in the day, during an AC/DC concert in my hometown, I reached out and touched Angus Young's left shoe.
I reckoned it made me an honorary Aussie, and I've kept on believing it. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
'Disgruntled former members'? They are disgruntled because your deranged pseudoscientific rituals killed their kids. Express some sympathy, wish them well, and move on. Try some good PR for a change.
Stop pretending you don't have a problem and start pretending to address it. #xenu
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/12/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/12/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
It's been so long since I've met any Moonies and television cults have gone all Waco, I figured that after the market crash, he'd be running out of funds.
I didn't think about globalization and how it could bolster religious empires. One world, indeed. Thanks.
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
My money would be on Richard Mellon Scaife.
11/09/09
Scientific proof. #scientology
11/08/09
11/08/09
11/08/09