Al Gore is Fat and Also Flies in Aeroplanes

He heats his "Mansion" as well. Wonder how much that costs? 'Nuff said!

Where's your Global Warming now?

Snow Demon

Of course, as soon as it gets cold or snows in the Winter, your witty Wingnut will mockingly ask "What happened to Global Warming"? I tell them that Snow Demon is unpredictable and easily offended. And boy has he been offended this Winter!

Portland ME after 30 plus inches in early February.

Skiing to work! Up here in Gondolin it started snowing in early December and hasn't really stopped. Producing scenes like:

Redshirt photos. So yeah, funny story - Global Warming can cause all kinds of different weather conditions, including increased snowfall amounts. Warming temperatures worldwide will cause more extreme variations of weather in different locales, but yes, there could be far more snow in certain areas because of GW. Good luck trying to explain this to Mr. Wingnut. But then, maybe I will. Tomorrow.

Until then, pray with me to the Snow Demon to accept our offerings and mercifully stop sending snow. My back beseeches you!

Meta 4

Unlike mythical Jesus, Superman really has no conflict, or you never see it. Sure, his homeworld was destroyed, but does it bother Kal-El? Not really - he's got Earth to protect, which he does without doubt or despair. Now, that is, and over the last 50 years or so. But the Superman as originally created (Action Comics #1 1938 - the most expensive Comic Book in the world) was a Super Lefty - perhaps like Jesus - who fought stupid Repuglicans of the day. Check it, from the Wiki:

An influence on early Superman stories is the context of the Great Depression. The left-leaning perspective of creators Shuster and Siegel is reflected in early storylines. Superman took on the role of social activist, fighting crooked businessmen and politicians and demolishing run-down tenements.^[34] This is seen by comics scholar Roger Sabin as a reflection of "the liberal idealism of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal", with Shuster and Siegel initially portraying Superman as champion to a variety of social causes.^[35] In later Superman radio programs the character continued to take on such issues, tackling a version of the KKK in a 1946 broadcast.^[36][37] Siegel and Shuster's status as children of Jewish immigrants is also thought to have influenced their work. Timothy Aaron Pevey has argued that they crafted "an immigrant figure whose desire was to fit into American culture as an American", something which Pevey feels taps into an important aspect of American identity.^[38]

Another sign of the times, right? Also too, this guy:

Batman suffers for all our sins. But, really? He's a billionaire playboy, who's something of a highly functioning psychopath. Is that really a hero we should admire? A vigilante? Sure, he's doing the right thing, but in many wrong ways. But did not Jesus break many laws in service to a higher calling? Was he not a criminal in the eyes of the powerful and corrupt? Jesus as Batman would be awesome - kicking ass in the Temple, than fighting some Romans, than escaping with powered grappling cables and a dramatic use of the Robe Glider. Awesome!

Also awesome in the eyes of many - but not really me - is the ultimate tortured "hero", the Hulk. If a hero he is it all. He smashes many things, and inevitably this causes the loss of many innocent lives - for no real reason, usually, for the Hulk is a force of nature, of rage and anger and confusion. And guilt - perfect qualities to be a priest!

The Hulk is Jekyll and Hyde, man and God, wishing to do right but all too often doing wrong. We as humans have foibles and failings, we impose and are imposed upon by fictional moral standards, frightened by demons and boogeyman, lost in this world so often that makes no sense we cry out for an answer! For a why! For someone in charge!

The longing for heroes: A miraculous empowering that frees us from what we perceive as our failed human nature, and the chaos of nature. An answer to the why. And so for the whole of human history we have made up stories to answer the why's, and these stories get repeated and repeated, transformed and multiplied, till over and over again and again across the world for all of human time, we've had our Gods, our mythical heroes This does in no way mean there are such things as Gods, but rather speaks to our need for answers. It defines our use of metaphor, as we are defined by our metaphors.

And I would argue now, at last, we have the true means to find these answers: Science! With Sci Fi and Comics for fun and stimulation!

Possessed

What is clear is this: Anytime you read or have heard about demon possession, know that it is in fact one of the following situations:

A. A person suffering from some form of mental and/or health issue, and/or under the influence of a substance which causes the same behaviors.

B. Someone is using the label "demon possession" (or "Witch") in order to persecute and/or otherwise control someone else. This can range from sincere (that is, they believe the person is possessed by demons, because they're dumb) to outright insincere (witch hunts were often politically or socially targeted).

Newsflash if you don't know: There's no such thing as mythical demons. There are metaphorical demons of course, but that's just a flourish of words to describe actual human conditions.

And certainly, metaphorical demons would never cry.

Painting for Peanuts

Even elephants are terrified of clowns - which makes the circus that much more of a torture. To rid herself of these demons, Tessie here paints. Clowns, always painting clowns.

The Devil Went Down To Guangdong

Not a photoshop. The "horn" is really an out of control mole; since this picture was taken, apparently, the mole on the right side of her head has started sprouting as well.


But fret not - since this nice old lady (over 100) lives in a place in China not yet corrupted by the evils of Christianity, the villagers still respect and honor this elder, rather than... hmm. Burning her? Among other Christian kindnesses...

Tips for livin'

Take it from me: If you ever have to battle a giant, seemingly invincible Rock Demon, take heart - you can win. All you need is one of the following:
A. Extreme cold
B. Extreme heat
C. A piece of the Rock Demon himself, by which to pierce his unpierceable Rock Demon hide.

Good luck, if this situation ever presents itself.