links for 2009-04-18

  • "That's a change from the view of apocalyptic types from older times. They used to fear people like Napoleon -- those who sought to conquer the world through force, riding forth on literal, flesh-and-blood white horses, intent on empire. But to premillennial dispensationalists, would-be imperialists get a pass. They're obviously not "peacemakers," so there's no need to worry that they might be the Antichrist. This is another example of how the PMD view that the Antichrist will be a wolf in sheep's clothing leads them to be suspicious of all sheep while being complacent about wolves. They're not fearfully vigilant against the rise of the next Napoleon or the next Caesar or the next Pharaoh -- they're keeping watch against the rise of the next John Lennon. Imagine that."
  • "Now, my usual brief with How Bad Can It Be? is to look at pop culture and ask, âWhy?â Today, though, in a break with tradition, Iâm getting proactive. Why canât the music in Americaâs ballparks be fresh and fun? Why canât stadium crowds get roused by the inherent excitement of the music, rather than by the Pavlovian response of hearing âEnter Sandmanâ for the eight billionth time? Thereâs a ton of great music out there can get the fans up and pumped; all thatâs needed is the will to buck tradition and try something new."
  • Ridiculously cute animal pictures from the Boston Globe
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