Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Religion Jesus = Mr. Rogers or Braveheart?

Christianity has basically communicated to men that the reason God put you on this earth is to be a good boy. Mind your manners, be a nice guy. That’s soul killing! It’s not true, and for a man to hear the message that the greatest achievement of his life is simply not rocking the boat, not offending anyone, not taking any risks but just being a genuinely swell guy--that kills him.

His nature is made for something much more dramatic. Here’s how you can tell: look at the games boys play or the films men love. Boys want risk, adventure, danger, exploration. Why do men love maps? Women don’t love maps. Do you agree?
· A battle to win. [Belief Net]

Internet The Web: Whom Can You Trust?

It is rarely difficult to find information on any given topic on the Web, but it may be difficult to find information that is reliable. Indeed, Consumers International took to task a number of web sites that purport to provide consumers with reliable information on a range of topics.

Click through to the summary of a study by Consumer WebWatch or the full outline of predictable flaws.

Literature FOREIGN LEGION NEXT DOOR

Canadian writers are big internationally. But some of the Canada's best-known writers weren't born in-country. Canada is a great hotel maybe, but not necessarily a comforting home, these writers say. In a society that takes pride in the mildness of its political debates (with the exception of periodic dust-ups over Quebec sovereignty), immigrant fiction writers are among the country's sharpest social critics. Canada's immigrant literature often reflects deep feelings of incredible loneliness.
· Unbearable Loneliness of Being [New York Times]

Bringing mistakes to book

Doris Lessing has been complaining about the declining quality in the editing process. Several typos and misspellings appeared in her new novel, and she's upset about them. Some blame an increasing reliance on spell check which would not catch, for example, you're when it should be your. Whatever the cause, mistakes happen in all forms of print.
· The Art of Spilling Czechs [BBC]