Uneffingbelievable.

Sheldon Whitehouse: MUST WATCH: Republican @SenJohnKennedy asks one of @realDonaldTrump’s US District Judge nominees basic questions of law & he can’t answer a single one. Hoo-boy.

“Hoo-boy” does not begin to cover this. At all. I wanted to reach right through the screen, and space-time, to insist on answering the questions with a yes or no. Absolutely no other words allowed. I’m a 60 year old artist in rural nDakota, and I know what a motion in limine is, because Law & Order. So, do I get to be a judge?

Then there’s just the waste. The waste of time. The waste of money. The waste of brain cells in indulging this farce.

Via Twitter.

Cedar.

A woman holding a dove stands in a vesica with six doves in its border. She wears a red tunic, a blue mantel and has a brown hood. The whole scene is surrounded by an exquisite frame. There is extensive commentary on this image.

Text Translation:

Of the cedar and the sparrows that nest in its branches When the words ‘cedar’ and ‘Lebanon’ are placed together, it is in a good sense. As Solomon says in the Song of Songs: ‘his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars’ (5:15). Lebanon is a mountain of Phoenicia at the northern limit of Judaea. Its trees surpass the timber of other trees in height, appearance and strength. By Mount Lebanon we can doubtless understand excellence in virtues. It stands at the northern limit of Judaea, to prevent the Devil from entering by means of temptation the minds of those who are sincerely praising the Lord. Its trees surpass others in height, appearance and strength, as every faithful soul surpasses others in the exalted nature of its desire, the splendour of its chastity and the strength of its constancy. By the cedar we understand Christ. He is the tall cedar of Lebanon, similar in form to the hyssop which, although it grew tall, was made humble.

Sparrows are preachers. Their fledglings are those born of the word as it is preached. Their nest is a place where there is peace of mind. Build your nest in the cedar, therefore, if you are one of those who, by living at peace, have not given up hope of eternal bliss. There are those cedars of Lebanon which the Lord planted. They represent the rich of the world. Sparrows represent the heads of monasteries; fledglings are their disciples. The nest represents convent buildings. Sparrows nest in these cedars, because spiritual rulers place their convents on the estates of the rich. There the sparrows call ceaselessly, seeking food from God. Let all those who wish to be filled with the word of God as with food, seek their nourishment from him. Day and night the sparrows call out, like those who pray with all their heart to God on behalf of their benefactors. Their minds at peace in the midst of the world, they care for their wings, the wings of contemplation, on which they seek to fly to the cedar as swiftly as they can. They fly around the trees of Lebanon, because they wish to know of the life and behaviour of spiritually eminent men. From this timber of Lebanon we read that Solomon made himself a chariot (see Song of Songs, 3:9), as the Church was made from illustrious and untiring men. Again of the cedar There are those cedars which the Lord did not plant. He did not plant them of his own will, he did not extend their number out of desire. ‘Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up’ (Matthew, 15:13)

These cedars of Lebanon are the rich and proud. Gyrfalcons and hawks nest in them that is, birds of prey. They make nests there as robbers build strongholds on the estates of the rich. Their fledglings are their accomplices or henchmen. These birds hide in the the cedars in order to catch their prey, as robbers are empowered to commit crimes by evil rulers. But ‘the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon’ (Psalms, 29:5), that is, he will destroy the rich of the world, some by repentance, some by vengeance. The Lord will break some by repentance as he will humble the calf of Lebanon. He will humble them like the calf of Lebanon (see BSV, Psalmi, 28:6; NEB, Psalms, 29:6), in imitation of the life of Christ, making of each rich man a calf fit for sacrifice, who will mortify his flesh and carry his cross with Christ. He will break others by vengeance because they will be kept for eternal fire. Many profit from the felling of the aforesaid cedar, as when Christ with his death redeemed the world. ‘Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit’ (John, 12:24). Therefore the felling of the cedar represents the death of Christ. Truly, many benefitted from the death of Christ; by descending into hell, rising from the dead and ascending into heaven, he gave to the dying the hope of resurrection. For what good is there in living afflicted by distress and in dying at the end, if hope of resurrection does not follow? And what good is resurrection unless it is agreed that immortal man lives on without endless punishment? Likewise, when the cedar which the Lord planted is felled, it is of great profit, because it is transferred to the dwelling-place of eternal bliss. But if the cedar which the Lord did not plant is felled, it, too, will be of no little use, because the tree which bore no fruit in Lebanon, that is, in this secular world, may, when it is felled, support the weight of the building in a temple of the spirit. What I have said applies only if you cut down the pride of the cedar with repentance. If, however, you cut it down with vengeance, you consign it to the fires of Gehenna to be reduced forever to ashes.

Folio 33v – the palm tree, continued.De cedro; Of cedars.

Frigg’s Day Mood.

Architects – Doomed.

Remember when hell had frozen over?
The cold still burns underneath my skin
The water is rising all around me
And there is nothing left I can give
All these tears I’ve shed
I saw the wildfire spread
You said you cheated death
But heaven was in my head
They say the good die young
No use in saying what is done is done
‘Cos its not enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like a brand new doomsday
What will be will be
Every river flows into the sea
But it’s never enough
And when the night gives way
Its like like a brand new doomsday
No matter what they say
It’s like a brand new doomsday
The embers still glow when I’m sober
The gold in the flame burns brighter now
I have to rebuild now it’s over
Maybe now I’m lost I can live
Souls don’t break they bend
But I sometimes forget
I have to do this for you
And the only way out is through
Death is an open door
Words the prophets said
Still swimming through my head
Now theres no stars left in the sky
‘Cos this well will never run dry
What if I completely forget?
What if I never accept?
‘Cos when you fade away
Its like a brand new doomsday
They say the good die young
No use in saying what is done is done
‘Cos its not enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like a brand new doomsday
What will be will be
Every river flows into the sea
But it’s never enough
And when the night gives way
It’s like like a brand new doomsday
No matter what they say
Its like a brand new doomsday

“Dear white people, have babies.”

Tim Gionet, aka Baked Alaska. Screengrab.

Poor Tim, he’s just stunned by Moore’s loss. And of course, all those people of colour who rocked the vote. The solution? Have babies! (White ones only, please.)

“I don’t mean to be a dick here, but what is going on with the non-white voters? I mean, what is—if you care about MAGA, if you care about Trump, if you care about ‘Make America Great Again,’ if you care about the good MAGA candidates, it’s mostly white people who are voting for these people and the non-whites are, and I’m not saying all, but I’m saying a large, almost 90-percent, are not voting for the MAGA candidates,” Gionet said. “What is going on?”

Sigh. People with actual principles went out and voted. People who thought that being a raving fanatic and drooler over young women was not fit for office. This must be breaking news to you, Tim, but all manner of white people do not care about ‘maga’ or about the Tiny Tyrant, unless you count wanting an impeachment as caring. Trump acts as if there was no choice but for him to endorse Moore, but that’s not true. Any person with an ounce of integrity would have clearly stated they could not, and would not endorse such a person, in spite of party lines.

Gionet agreed with what a viewer named “Joey” posted on the chat server, that the election results in Alabama were “like a black-lash.”

How adorable. :near-fatal eyeroll:

“Dear white people, have babies. This is not working out very well, OK? Just look at it racially—and I agree, judge people by the content of their character—but look at it racially. Look what’s going on,” Gionet said.

Why on earth do idiotic white supremacist scum always resort to this? What do you think that will do? It seems you morons don’t realize that the decision to have children is a serious one, which requires substantial resources, and is a lifelong commitment. All that said, children are people, they aren’t little robot slaves, and they come with minds of their own. Oh my! You’re also advocating moar babies in a perilous time, with job uncertainty, a lack of healthcare, and no safety nets. Don’t be surprised if people don’t run out and start the baby making. Speaking of, Tim, why don’t you have a passel of white babies?

“I like to think that it’s not sad a lot and that, ‘oh, we can all get along,’ but when I see results like this it definitely makes me sad. It makes me think that—I’m going to pull up this map again,” Gionet said, while putting a demographic breakdown of the 2016 election on his screen. “It not only happened here, but it happened in Trump’s election. I mean, you people who are not white honestly should be thanking white men. You should be thanking white people for having Trump into office, because this would not happen without white people.”

That is not endearing me to white people, and thanks is not what I have in mind.

“If it was just men who voted, it would be overwhelmingly Trump, overwhelmingly conservative. So maybe women shouldn’t vote. I think we maybe need to take away, just take away the vote from women, because here’s what the map looks like for only men and here’s what it looks like for only women and it looks a lot better when it’s only men,” Gionet said. “Either white people are going to have to play more identity politics and group together, not because we don’t like other people but because we need to form some sort of coalition to win. Because we’re the only ones—look at this—we’re the ones that are picking the right people.”

My, my. From where I sit, you’re picking all the wrong people – fanatics who want to illegalize people, who want to usher in end times, are pro nuclear war, deny climate change, and think sexual assault and rape is okey dokey, along with much more. All those people are concerned with personal power and how well their pockets are stuffed, nothing more.  Also Tim, y’know not all white men are conservachristian idiots. You really don’t have much reason to be secure in that assumption.

There’s much more at RWW, including a video of two clips, because as noted: the original broadcast, which lasted more than three hours.

Victor Ehikhamenor / Kehinde Wiley / Omer Ba.

Victor Ehikhamenor, I am Queen Idia, the Angel of Kings, 2017. Copyright the artist, courtesy of Tyburn Gallery.

Kehinde Wiley, Fishermen Upon a Lee-shore, in Squally Weather (Zakary Antoine), 2017.

Omer Ba, Amazone-Behanzin, 2017. Courtesy of Hales Gallery.

From a European perspective, the affirmation of cultural identities on display in these shows is important in London as it is anywhere in the world. There’s a dangerous lack of strong political opposition to the rhetoric of the far right just now, and the contribution of artists is vital to broadening and enriching the context in which significant debate and action can occur. Ba, Ehikhamonor, and Wiley aren’t interested in sloganeering, or in producing pre-digested protest art; instead they’re asserting their presence and cultural sovereignty, and reminding us that the climate of xenophobia in Europe is nothing new.

Kehinde Wiley: In Search of the Miraculous  is on view at Stephen Friedman Gallery, London, through January 27, 2018.  Omer Ba: Supernova is on view at Hales Gallery, London, though December 9, 2017.  Victor Ehikhamenor: In the Kingdom of this World is on view at Tyburn Gallery, London, though January 20, 2018.

You can read much more about these artists at Garage.

Trump: A Sackcloth and Ashes Doorway.

Cilices were originally made from sackcloth or coarse animal hair so they would irritate the skin. Other features were added to make cilices more uncomfortable, such as thin wires or twigs. In modern religious circles, cilices are simply any device worn for the same purposes. Source.

Given the compleat mess of conservachristians in recent political theatre, all the “prophets” are falling back on their old standby, Trump the Saviour. Today we have Sundar Selvaraj, Jim Bakker, and Mark Taylor.

Slevaraj said that Trump “will sit in sackcloth and ashes” and lead America in repentance “because he is God’s man to stand in the gap for this nation.”

Okay, can anyone picture the Tiny Tyrant in a hair-shirt tunic thoroughly dusted with ash? Perhaps if it was a designer hair-shirt (the softest of hair) with the ashes of his enemies! (The Tiny Tyrant sitting in the ashen fallout of nukes doesn’t count.)

“God has chosen him to stand as like the king of the nation,” he said.

Oooh, King. Has anyone told the Tiny Tyrant yet? He can start planning his crowning ceremony, and lie about the crowds all over again! He can start a war with Britain in an attempt to claim the crown jewels or something.

“And because of his God-fearingness, he becomes now a doorway for God and the angels to come through into this nation for one purpose: to cleanse this nation of all the filth, of all that mess, so that God can pour out His spirit, His Last Days powers of the age to come, upon this nation so that this nation will once again become a God nation.”

So…basically, the Tiny Tyrant will be a sewer for all the godwater? How apt. One thing, are you going with the last days shtick or no? Hard to tell.

Later in the broadcast, Bakker ranted that “we have a hunting program going on to destroy the president of the United States and no one is stopping it! The very person God has given to our nation to save our country is being hunted to be destroyed.”

Given all the gunnuts in this country, I’m sure any hunting program would be advertised half to death. The NRA would be all over it. You mean the investigations, Jim? That’s not a hunting program, it’s an investigation, because your saviour is fucking criminal.

Moving on to Mark “I am too a prophet!” Taylor:

For his part, Taylor proclaimed that God will “clean out the news media” and raise up millionaires and billionaires who will create new media outlets that will “be captivated” by Trump and finally restore truth to this nation, which will result in Trump’s overwhelming re-election.

Lighten up on ass kissing, Mr. Taylor. Millionaires and billionaires don’t need to be ‘raised up’. I’d say media is already over-captivated with the Tiny Tyrant. Many of us are sick to death of seeing that face plastered everywhere, every day. Oh, the truth. I think we can all live without your very Nineteen Eighty-Four version of the truth.

“The army of God will have victory after victory after victory,” Taylor said, which means that Trump’s second term is guaranteed. “When people see the good that the country is coming in to right now—the prosperity, the jobs, the economy, whatever the case may be—there is going to be no doubt he is going to sail right in for a second term.”

The army of god? Okay, are they going to be outfitted in hair-shirts and ashes? Was Moore’s recent loss an example of the victory after victory after victory business? I can live with that kind of victory. Whatever the case may be is about right. Everything and everyone is getting fucked right into the ground, Mr. Taylor, and it’s starting to dawn on even the most idiotic who has brought all this about. I don’t think Holy Hair-Shirt Donny is going to get yet another chance to continue destroying all good things.

Via RWW, there’s video for both: Sundar Selvaraj, Mark Taylor.

Turtle Dove and Palm Tree.

A pair of turtle doves on top of a symmetrical tree is placed beside the heading of dove and sparrow. The text on f.32r refers to the female turtle dove’s chaste devotion to her mate, even when widowed. So, the illustration refers to the birds’ faithful marriage.

A pair of facing turtle doves in a roundel.

This dominating image shows the usual bland white turtle dove in its roundel and square perched in the arms of a cross. The cross represents the tree which conceals the nest, according to the rubric. There is a long commentary on this image.

Text Translation:

The beginning of the account of the turtle dove and the sparrow. After the mournful note of the dove and the plaintive call of the hawk, lest I linger too long, I shall write more speedily of the lament of the turtle-dove and the cry of the sparrow – and not only write of them, but also portray them. My purpose is to show how the turtle-dove cherishes the solitude of the wilderness, and the sparrow cries ceaselessly, alone on the roof; so that, following the example of the turtle dove, you may cleave to the purity that comes of chastity, and following that of the sparrow, you may take pleasure in acting shrewdly and prudently; living chastely and going your way with caution. Of the turtle dove The turtle dove, so called from the sound it makes, turtur, is a shy bird, and stays all the time on mountain summits and in deserted, lonely places. It shuns the houses and society of men and keeps to the woods.

Even in the winter time, when it has lost its plumage, it is said to to live in the hollow trunks of trees. The turtle dove also overlays its nest with squill leaves, in case a wolf should attack its young. [There’s more interesting history on Squill here.] For it knows that wolves usually run from leaves of this kind. It is said that when the she-bird is widowed by the loss of her mate, she holds the name and rite of marriage in such esteem, that because her first experience of love has deceived her, cheating her with the death of her beloved, since he has become permanently unfaithful and a bitter memory, causing her more grief by his death than he gave her pleasure from his affection, for this reason she refuses to marry again, and will not relax the oaths of propriety or the contract made with the man who pleased her. She reserves her love for her dead mate alone and keeps the name of wife for him. Learn, you women, how great is the grace of widowhood, when it is proclaimed even among the birds. Who, therefore, gave these laws to the turtle dove? If I look for a man as law-giver, I cannot find him. For there is no man who would dare – not even Paul dared – to prescribe laws for observing widowhood. He said only:’I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully'(1 Timothy, 5:14). And elsewhere: ‘It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn’ (1 Corinthians, 7:8,9). Paul desires in women what in turtle doves is an enduring characteristic. And elsewhere he urges the young to marry, because it is only with difficulty that our women achieve the virtue of turtle doves. Therefore it was God who infused the turtle doves with this grace or capacity for affection, giving them the virtue of continence; God, who alone can set forth the law which all should follow. The turtle dove is not inflamed by the flower of youth and is not affected by chance temptation. It cannot go back on its first pledge of love because it knows how to preserve the chastity which it plighted as the first duty of marriage.

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