Aurélia Oratorio
March, 2009
Aurélia's world is a charming dreamscape. Like most dreams, the world is a place of the everyday impossible. Aurélia's Oratorio begins with an old chest, on a stage framed in beautiful, disheveled red velvet. The phone rings, a man leaves a message on the answering machine. The drawers mysteriously slide open to reveal the hands and legs of a lady. In seemingly impossible contortionist movements, the woman is getting dressed from inside the chest.
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Story of the Eye
By Bastaille
Book Blog
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What's with the shoes?
December, 2008
A reader asks: What's with the shoes in porn movies?! And, once you clarify what's up with that, maybe you can answer the age old question - why to the women almost always leave them on?!
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Gew-Gaw:
Killed a Cactus
My cultural background is one of farmers. Whenever people make the cultural assuption that I've got a Green Thumb, I always tell them I'm an urban horticulturalist - I've got a cement thumb. |
Precious Words
Rabbi Emanuel Rackman
"Doubt is good for the human soul, its humility, and consequently its greater potential ultimately to discover its Creator." |
Christ Of Nations
September, 2008
I must disagree with James Carroll, that this is a fight over the identity of suffering servant. He speaks strictly as a scholar, looking at broad sweeping truths rather than individuals. I have never experienced a Pole who held resentment towards the Jews because they have made the Holocaust their own. I'm sure they exist, but I pray you, do not judge the group by the worst of its people. The individual nature of the disquietude amongst the Polish is our loss of life: our friends, our relatives, the families that would never be, the children that would never have their own. The Genocide of the Poles was not played out on so grand a scale as the Jews. Of 3.3 million Jews, 90% died. Yet, we live with the knowledge that we too were slated for extermination. This is impossible to let go for any people, particularly when they have a bloody history, as both the Polish and Jews do.
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The Christianity I Never Knew
August, 2008
In this portion of James Carroll's work, I am introduced to a Christianity that is alien to me. The novel takes on the daunting task of exploring relations between the Christian Church and the Jewish faith over two thousand years. In this early part of the novel, the church's "religious contempt" for the Jews is carefully explained. Contempt for homosexuality, sexuality and abortion I knew well. But... Jews? This concept struck me as completely foreign, and somewhat stunning. I am not shocked to learn that there are intolerant, ignorant and murderous people in religion. However, the institutionalized nature of this ancient hate was something I'd managed to be completely ignorant to.
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The Japan Journey
Into the Rising Sun
July, 2008
I began my journey as they all do - no, not with a single step. With a line at the airport. After check in and security lines, it was a line at the little convenience store. A Japanese woman in front tried to convince the cashier to give her two packs of gum for the cost of one. An amusing exchange on my end, absolutely aggravating to the woman behind the counter.
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The Gardens and Shibuya
July, 2008
I noticed quite a few people staring my way, something I would come to expect during my stay. "It's because you're eating mochi," explained a friend. Mochi is a rice cake that has been pounded.
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Meiji Shrine
July 2008
So dangerous, apparently, that if you kill a crow and take it to a police station, you are given a cash reward. I looked into the trees and finally spotted the creature, a giant beast of a bird. One of those could tear apart a silly farm scare crow.
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Electronic District and Harijuku
July 2008
We decided to visit Harajuku. Quite a fan of goth and counter-culture fashion, this destination was a must. There is a small neighborhood of eccentric fashion, where quite a few go on Sundays in outlandish outfits just to hang out. They even carry suitcases with them and change outfits through the course of the day. Groups stood around holding up signs that said "Free Hugs!" Life stylers can be found here too, on any day of the week. Finding a place where I could dress up in anything that I fancied was delightful!
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The Onsen
This time around we would visit a Onsen (hot spring) in Tokyo. Public baths are a popular past time in Japan and I was assured that the experience would leave dreaming of a return trip.
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Updated With Comments!
12/08
The Nature Of Human Piety
May 18, 2008
"There is a world of difference between learning to repeat "God is an omnipotent Being" and learning to address oneself straight to God and say: 'Thou art my rock."
I cannot say that I am a firm believer in an individual all powerful being and creator. Even so, the value of theology and philosophy does not escape me. It is folly to imagine that reality ends at us and the material world we can perceive. Intellectual and spiritual pursuit is an expression of our celestial nature.
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Mud Slinging Corporate Board?
October 12, 2007
Amongst my giant collection of books, sits one with a fancy shiny metallic silver cover. When I take it off the shelf, I'm reminded how heavy the damned thing is. 503 glossy pages full of big shiny pictures of Kool-Aid, a dust buster, Listereine and goldfish crackers.
This beast of a book is the "Icons of the American Marketplace", published by American Benchmark Press . One of those delicious books that I would find irresistible at Chapters. <continued...> |
Who the Hell is Sassy?
May 22, 2008
I am many things. I am pagan, bisexual, polyamorous, submissive. I am a muse, a preacher, a sex worker activist, a stripper, a model, and a graphic designer. I am a friend and lover to all those who are open to the self annihilation of love.
The Sassy Edge is my voice.
My experiences began as a graphic designer.
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