Please Call Me "Areligious"

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Monday November 09, 2015 · 11:16 AM PST

2015/11/09 · 11:16

As I approach the age of 50 years old, organized religion has ceased to be a determining factor in my life. I tend to view organized religion much like an episode of Scooby Doo. In every episode, someone is attempting to convince the townspeople and the Mystery Inc. gang that ghosts, zombies, ghouls and other assorted monsters exist, only to see in the last two minutes that it is some guy in a dumb outfit who’s doing it for money. When I realized that the plot lines of every episode of Scooby Doo wouldn’t be fundamentally changed if the unmasked party turned out to be the leader of a church, self-styled or otherwise, it was quite the revelation. Consider this script sample:

“Now let’s see who our mystery ghost is”…

[Ghost’s sheet is taken off, and the gang shouts in unison, surprised]

”JOEL OSTEEN!”

jpspencer

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Saturday October 10, 2015 · 10:54 AM PDT

2015/10/10 · 10:54

If you walked up to random Americans on the street and asked them to define "leadership", chances are very good that you get a modest number of different definitions. This would be based mostly on the life experiences and education level of the respondent.

When I think about leadership, I think of a person who is calm in a crisis, who can bring disparate forces to the table for the greater good and is able to take credit or blame for tough decisions.

Which brings me to Paul Ryan, and why, particularly after this week, he will never have a snowball's chance in Hell of being the President of the United States.

jpspencer

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Tuesday May 15, 2012 · 8:20 AM PDT

2012/05/15 · 08:20

Usually, when I schedule vacation time away from my job, it is for the purpose of getting out of town for a few days. I am a person who enjoys the open road, preferring to see the world through the windshield of my Toyota Yaris, rather than from the window of an airplane.

Last summer, I scheduled six working days off to drive from Milwaukee to St. John's, Newfoundland (the birthplace of my late mother-in-law) and back. In February, I went to see an old friend north of Atlanta and recorded the basic tracks for a long-delayed first album of original songs.

Today, I am on a one-day vacation from work. While I post infrequently in this forum, I thought my reason for playing hooky would be of interest here.

I stayed home because Scott Walker is invading my office today.

jpspencer

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Tuesday January 20, 2009 · 5:06 AM PST

2009/01/20 · 05:06

I don't have to tell anyone here, but I'll do it anyway. Today's the day!

Ironically, to quote a semi-famous, clumsy Republican, our long national nightmare is over!

How many ways can I say it? My new favorite number is 44. After holding my breath since 2001, I'm exhaling. As a beaten, bloodied Rocky Balboa, I'm getting up and waving an exhausted Apollo Creed towards me for one more dose of fisticuffs (I grew up in and around Philadelphia; my apologies).

jpspencer

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Thursday November 06, 2008 · 11:47 PM PST

2008/11/06 · 23:47

Well, it's been two days since Barack Obama became our President-Elect. It's been an amazing year.

In my circle of friends and co-workers in Milwaukee, a common theme has begun to emerge. I call that theme Cautious Optimism. Personally, this is the first time I've felt absolutely sure that we have the right person headed to the White House.

jpspencer

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Friday October 31, 2008 · 4:49 PM PDT

2008/10/31 · 16:49

This diary entry is meant for, primarily, the reading pleasure of the DKos community, but more importantly, this is meant as a brief note to the Wisconsin Republican Party.

jpspencer

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Thursday September 25, 2008 · 10:56 PM PDT

2008/09/25 · 22:56

As a part-time musician, I always have a song in my head. Maybe it fits the mood of the evening news, or maybe it's the last song I heard on the satellite radio in my car, but someone's always whistling up there.

My song today, in the wake of a Republican federal government that won't accept open markets failures without passing the costs on to taxpayers already hurting in this economy, my song for the immediate future is "We're Not Gonna Take It" by The Who.

jpspencer

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Wednesday September 10, 2008 · 6:26 PM PDT

2008/09/10 · 18:26

I turned 42 back in April. It was in the middle of the week. I went to work, had a quiet dinner with my wife and son and was generally satisfied with my life as it currently stood.

Next year, I'm drinking champagne and eating cake with crooks while people die and lose their houses, just like John McCain.

jpspencer

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Thursday September 04, 2008 · 8:19 PM PDT

2008/09/04 · 20:19

The Republican convention, with its waves of unbalanced distortion, Aqua Velva and Old Spice, comes to a close. Thus brings an end to the only four days in my personal history when I actually didn't wish I could visit Minneapolis.

Yet, one thing has changed in my personal life, thanks to that aging beauty queen and moose-eating verbal bomb thrower known as Sarah Palin.

jpspencer

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Friday August 29, 2008 · 6:56 PM PDT

2008/08/29 · 18:56

Mark this day down on your calendars. Today was the day that the Republican Party tacitly admitted that for all its bluster and chest-thumping, it has nothing left in the magic hats but gimmicks and desperation.

jpspencer

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Wednesday August 27, 2008 · 5:32 PM PDT

2008/08/27 · 17:32

OK, I've seen some great speeches and will continue to do the same, but one thing is bugging me. What relic is picking the music that's playing between speeches?

jpspencer

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Saturday August 23, 2008 · 6:51 AM PDT

2008/08/23 · 06:51

OK, OK. It's Joe Biden. I know because I got the text message at 2:40 AM CDT this morning. Good thing it was fairly good news. Had it been a friend of mine texting while drunk, I wouldn't have been in a good mood.

And yet, Biden isn't the reason for my good mood today.

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Please Call Me "Areligious"

...And Paul Ryan Wants to be President?

I Took A Vacation Day Today

A Tale of Two 44's

The Power of Discipline

A Brief Message For The Wisconsin GOP

You Want Power? Then Run Your Bank!

Next Year, I Want A Better Birthday

A Personal Thank You to Sarah Palin

Low Hanging Fruit

Who's Picking The Music For This Thing?

A Short Break From Biden For An Unrelated Friendly Reminder