pope_cahbet

I hope everyone will recognize that this person is most likely A) here under false pretenses (joined an open-minded group just to tell us how wrong we are for being open-minded) or B) a troll (someone who joins forums and such just to post messages that get the members stirred up). The best response to either is to click on the REPORT button and do not post any responses. Report trolls and other fraudulent members to the Admin so he/she/they can remove the offender. Oh, and, BTW, I love how this thread started off with idiotic hatred and digressed into a discussion of boobs. This is why Women really run the world -- we men are so easily distracted by boobs and buns and a nice smile.

Sometimes, whimsy is just the touch of inspiration needed to tip one into a decision that has been brewing under cover for a while. As a Discordian (sometimes), I recognize the touch of the divine in whimsy. So, when the ULC ad appeared on facebook (the current era's best example of the Discordian maxim that imposing order leads to more chaos), I went with my whim & clicked on the ad. Thus, the first visible step taken was Discordian. I was prepared to take that step in a room or place Masonic. For years, I had served as the Prelate in the 32nd Degree of the Scottish Rite & before that I served as Chaplain of my Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and before that, as Prelate of my Court of the Order of the Amaranth. More recently, I volunteered to become the Chaplain for 2010 (and beyond) for Zaman Grotto & I am serving in that office now. I will not belabor the Masonic point to go into all the ways Masonry encourages its members to participate more in their respective religious faiths -- or the overtly-religious titles of some offices I have held, Degrees I have received & bodies of which I have been an active member. So, before I took my first step in Whimsy, my way was made straight by Masonry. Having taken that step, I followed through & applied to be a ULC Minister. Once I received the email confirming my ordination, I began doing more research on the ULC, which I had looked into several years ago. (Yes, this is pretty much the way I approach all life-altering events -- consider it at the subconscious level, then jump right in, and THEN do research on what I have done. Not the most logical behavior, I admit, but it sorta works for me - grin!). As a Christian, I was pleased to see that they have a Biblical basis for their open-door policy on ministers. As a Unitarian Universalist, I am pleased to see the focus on ethical behavior & the absence of restricting creeds & doctrines. As a Mason, I am happy to see that this is a legally constituted body which focuses on freedom of religion. Not that I expect most Christians, UUs or Masons to agree with my decision. Although the UUs will probably agree that I am free to do this, their requirements for their own ministers are considerably more educationally-intensive (I checked), as are many Christian denominations. Suffice it to say, I am still researching & considering where this new status of being a Minister leads -- and I am convinced that this first step was a good one. I am a new ULC Minister (ordained 30 April 2010).

Anyone living in (or from) the greater Memphis, Tennessee area, please check out the Darrell Awards website for info on some really good genre books that either feature the area or were written by area authors. We have been giving out the Darrell Awards for over a decade and amassed quite a list of Winners, First Runners-Up, and Honorable Mentions and/or Finalists and Semi-Finalists in novels, novellas, short stories and, some years, other media categories. We also have a Hall of Fame for authors who have a body of work at least some of which would qualify for Darrell Award consideration. If you like to read SF/F/H, please consider joining us as a Reader or a Jury Member. Contact us via the website for details on getting involved.

Gawd, yes! That trilogy blew me away in college and it is one of the few books that I own in multiple editions and printings. It exposed me to Principia Discordia, the Discordian High Holy Book, as well as Discordianism. It probably planted another seed in my subconscious that helped lead me, years later, to become a Freemason. It definitely linked up my love of SF with my 10-year involvement with the Libertarian Party. HIGHLY recommended, though it can be hard to read in spots with stream-of-consciousness writing and many references to esoteric (meaning, hidden) and occult (also meaning hidden) societies, events, philosophies and so forth.

--- Okay, I was going to post a response to an earlier post, but I see someone else already made the same points I was going to make and answered the question I was going to ask. How do I delete this response? ( )

I LOVE this quote from HDT. Just made it my top quote on facebook. Thanks for sharing.