Tolworthy wrote me the other day to point out that there’s a discussion thread on the old foyer that has been continuously running for more than seven years, and asked if there are any to top it. Does anyone here know? Then he waxed philosophical: Next year the thread reaches…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Thanksgiving Edition!
Celebrating Thanksgiving this year (and Black Friday), people have expressed thanks for lots of things: real authentic connections to so many people, damn fine loin fruit, blog readers, a great family and support system, lots of stuff, giving without prejudice, being out of the church, being a gay man and…
A road-trip out of crazy: “Hippie Boy,” by Ingrid Ricks
Dad was a master salesman who could talk anyone into anything, and life on the road with him was the wildest adventure any kid could possibly imagine. Unfortunately, since he was often unreliable and occasionally violent, it wasn’t always the good kind of adventure — but it was a great…
The Armpit of the Mission Field: “Heaven Up Here” by John K. Williams
When John got his mission call to Bolivia, it was like a joke come true. Before the letter came, he and his friends had a running gag that he’d be sent there — because it’s the clich worst-possible foreign mission (see here for a coincidental example). Then he really got…
“I’m a Mormon” campaign prompts copycat ads
As the ongoing campaign expands to Brisbane and beyond, it’s also earning flattery along the way as mimics come out to play. I’m a Muppet.org I’m a bear, I love to tell jokes, and… I’m a muppet. BEAT DRUM! CHASE GIRL… AM MUPPET! Meeeh mee mee me mee. Me meee…
Call for Submissions
I am accepting short stories dealing with unconventional Mormons for an anthology to be called “Marginal Mormons.” The stories should be 25 pages or shorter, though length will not necessarily disqualify a submission. Payment will be $20 and one copy of the book, in exchange for perpetual, non-exclusive rights. The…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Democracy Edition!
Everybody’s talking about the 99% movement, which — despite unfriendly police encounters — is still going after two months, and inspiring others. Maybe there’s something to the idea of having no leaders. And when it comes to Democracy vs. Theocracy, remember which side the church is on and which side…
Well known Ex-Mormon, Emily Pearson, misrepresented on ABCs Channel 4 News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Salt Lake City, Utah November 19, 2011. Emily Pearson, author of the newly released book Dancing With Crazy shown in false light on the Friday night ABC Channel 4 News. An outspoken Ex-Mormon, and daughter of famed LDS writer Carol Lynn Pearson, was shown on an ABC…
The Other Great Commandment: Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself
I found this open letter on Facebook. It is a courageous and inspiring effort to protect our gay children and neighbors in the BYU community. Since it is doubtful that the Daily Universe will publish it, I am taking the liberty to disseminate it on Main Street Plaza. It might…
Pornography vis-a-vis Female Ordination
I’m slightly annoyed by people who are against pornography because of its offense to women, but also think female ordination is out of the question. Specifically, on LDS forums, Mormon men sometimes rant about not watching pornography in respect of their wife who takes care of “the home.” In my…