No Pity for Pilate

And I was round when Jesus Christ
Had His moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed His fate

"Sympathy for the Devil"
- The Rolling Stones

This is the first station in the Stations of the Cross and is one of my favorites. I will post some better photos at a later date, but these are some of the older ones I wanted to go ahead and show, then burn to disc.

Stepping around to the middle of the exhibit, the detail on the bronze of Jesus' face is the very definition of "resigned to one's fate".

I've tried to not be caught looking, but I find it interesting to watch some people's reactions at this station, especially after they've seen the pure essence of dejection from the above view. Quite a few of the folks step away with a sad face, then turn facing Pilate with Jesus, standing side-by-side, often with their hand on Jesus' shoulder. I've never seen it done with disrespect, no mugging for the camera; in fact, I never have seen anyone posing with the statues...most of the photographing of people is done with the huge cross as the background.

A little closer view shows how the bronze has been shined by people touching or brushing up against it.

Both figures are fascinating to study; Pilate is interesting because he did nothing, "washed his hands" and I suppose I can relate to that more than I can being persecuted as was Jesus. Pilate was human, interested mainly in his own self-preservation.

We all have crossroads in life, decisions we make that turn out to be wrong, but which is the worse sin; making a mistake or doing nothing? Sometimes our fate hinges not on those things we do, but by the things we do NOT do.

It's also common to find several dollars worth of change in Pilate's hand washing bowl.

This is my favorite perspective of Pilate, and I've plans for this or similar photos. I altered this one with my IrfanView program several months ago and like the way it almost looks like an oil painting.

As I said, I will post more at a future date.

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Sorry, but this one is also a "bump" and was originally posted on 8/3/07

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"Bumped" again from May 31, 2008

Spring Has Sprung!

Happy Vernal Equinox!

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Summer, fall, winter, spring

The seasons rotate as each brings

Its special beauty to this Earth of ours.

Winter's snow and summer's flowers;

Frozen winters will flow come spring.

There is a renewal of everything.

- Edna Frohock
American poet (1906-97)

Everything you need to know: Vernal equinox 2016

The Oracle of Bacon

Ever heard of or played the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game? It works on the premise that everyone in Hollywood has worked with Kevin Bacon or worked with someone who has worked with Kevin Bacon and can be linked in six steps or less.

Well, here's a great online version:

The Oracle of Bacon

The premise is simple;  input the name of an actor/actress and click the button "Find Link" to see how he/she is connected to Kevin Bacon.  According to the site, any link of four or more is rare.  I would agree, because I've tried and tried and never done better than three.  Two links has been my average.  I've thought of some obscure films, B-movies and used the names of people who had insignificant roles in those flicks and have always been disappointed with the results.

Give it a go and tell us how you've done!

(a "bump" from March 25, 2012)

spoonerism

spoonerism \SPOO-nuh-riz-uhm\, noun:
The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.

Some examples: (from the website)

We all know what it is to have a half-warmed fish ["half-formed wish"] inside us.

A well-boiled icicle ["well-oiled bicycle"].

It is kisstomary to cuss ["customary to kiss"] the bride.

Is the bean dizzy ["dean busy"]?

When the boys come back from France, we'll have the hags flung out ["flags hung out"]!

Let me sew you to your sheet ["show you to your seat"].

Spoonerism comes from the name of the Rev. William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), a kindly but nervous Anglican clergyman and educationalist. All the above examples were committed by (or attributed to) him.

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Off the top of my head, I can think of only one spoonerism (it might not qualify, but it's still funny); my childhood buddy Joe Bill used to say -usually to a girl- in a low voice:

"Tickle your ass with a feather?"

And when the person did a double-take and said "Excuse me?", Jody would say

"Particularly nasty weather!"

Spoonerisms remind me of Cockney Rhyming Slang.

More spoonerisms

It's The Dog-gone Truth!

A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down.
- Robert Benchley

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Boys ARE quite a bit like dogs, come to think of it.

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Here's another topical quote:

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
- P. J. O'Rourke

Ain't that the truth; this govt. is spending money like a drunken sailor...or a kid with his/her folk's credit card.