Page 934 of 1668

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:03 am
by Lestat
[QUOTE=Fiona]Lestat. Have you seen this? Does it bother you?

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/1 ... index.html[/QUOTE]Not at all.
Several reasons:
A. There were already fairly religious overtones in some of her novels, which clearly indicated that it was something that was on her mind.
B. A writer's religion might help interpret some of her/his work, but does it influence your appreciation of the work. Tolkien was also a staunch Catholic, but that doesn't hinder people from other religions to appreciate the LOTR.
C. It had a far more profound effect when my best friend (re)turned to Catholicism, and some years later started his studies at the seminary. He's now been a priest for over a year, and he's still my best friend.

I have my disagreements with Catholicism, and I consider myself agnostic, but I can fully understand how people come to it.

And as far as Anne Rice is concerned, she does seem a fairly tolerant type of Catholic. I quote from the linked article:
The move wasn't easy because "I was tortured by questions I couldn't resolve." She told Hayes: "I'll do my best on the unresolved questions." Among these are her church's ban on women priests and opposition to gay sex. She's convinced both will vanish eventually.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:15 am
by Fiona
That's fair enough. But no more vampires?

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:30 am
by Lestat
[QUOTE=Fiona]That's fair enough. But no more vampires?[/QUOTE]Rereading. Other authors. I'll survive. ;) And, hey, vampires is not the only thing I'm interested in in reading about. Hey, I might even buy her Jesus novel! BTW one of the reasons I chose this nick is because I entered GB through the Bloodlines forum (not that don't like the character). And second BTW the quote in my sig, a phrase uttered by my "namesake" comes from her last vampire novel, written after she returned to the Mother Church.
Third BTW, it was my friend who gleefully informed me of her return to the embrace of the Church, the gloating bastard. Fourth BTW: we visited New Orleans together and sought out her house in the Garden Quarter.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:56 am
by Fiona
Are you at work today, Lestat? Are things safer now? I saw that Mr Weah called on his supporters to stay peaceful and settle things in court. But that may not be how it really is there.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:15 pm
by Lestat
[QUOTE=Fiona]Are you at work today, Lestat? Are things safer now? I saw that Mr Weah called on his supporters to stay peaceful and settle things in court. But that may not be how it really is there.[/QUOTE]
Let's put it this way: I'm at the office. :D
Things are certainly not yet up to French levels here ;) .
Fact is, even if nothing's happening, and demonstrations stay calm for the moment, we must remain cautious and alert, for two main reasons:
- crowds can quickly turn into mobs here, especially if you take into account that the most vociferous supporters of Weah are ex-combattants. There is a high level of unpredictability in the situation.
- as expatriates, and especially with those EU stickers on our cars, we can easily become targets for anger (international observers have more or less approved the way the elections went and thus, the defeat of Weah, and in the minds of people, we're quickly associated to that).

UNMIL-forces have stepped up their visibility in the streets of Monrovia, and the "elite" troops (Swedes & Irish) are patrolling in town (better equipment, training & pay than the Africans & Bangladeshi who make up the bulk of troops manning checkpoints and such). IMO, this is more to convey the message "Don't try to mess about, or else..." than in reaction to any concrete threats.
The last few days we've had every day one or the other zone of the city we had to avoid because of crowds and/or demonstrations, but everything has remained fairly peaceful.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:19 pm
by Fiona
That's reassuring. You think the election will settle thing? The lady who won seemed quite tough and sensible the way she was reported here

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:30 pm
by Lestat
[QUOTE=Fiona]That's reassuring. You think the election will settle thing? The lady who won seemed quite tough and sensible the way she was reported here[/QUOTE]It depends on so many things, I hardly dare to pronounce myself, without having to go into detailed explanations. Will Weah accept defeat or not, how will his supporters react, who will be included in the future government, etc. even the weather (nothing better to break up a demonstration than a good tropical shower). But UNMIL seems to have things under control as far as the public order is concerned.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:33 pm
by Fiona
I didn't mean to pressure you to get out your crystal ball. Sorry, stupid question

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:48 pm
by Ravager
Um, should I stop lurking and post something here now? :p
Here goes...

Something.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:09 pm
by Kipi
Evening all!!

How are things going here???

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:12 pm
by Ravager
Hmm...politics and spam death. :o
Not too much fun in here.

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:14 pm
by Fiona
Sorry. Ravager. I didn't think politics was frowned on here. Won't do it again :)

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:14 pm
by Kipi
[QUOTE=Ravager]Hmm...politics and spam death. :o
Not too much fun in here.[/QUOTE]
Okay...

I just finished watching Stephen King's Rose Red -movie. Very good one

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:16 pm
by Ravager
[QUOTE=Fiona]Sorry. Ravager. I didn't think politics was frowned on here. Won't do it again :) [/QUOTE]

*shrugs* I don't mind. It was just difficult for me to think of anything to add. I know very little about Liberian politics. Or Liberia in general. :p

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:17 pm
by Hill-Shatar
Hey, Kipi.

I stopped watching horror some time ago. Toop much Horror-lite for me. :rolleyes:

Back to updating the news threads. Specifically, Witcher. :D

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:17 pm
by Fiona
Didn't stop me :p How else are we going to learn anything. But there maybe needs to be another thread for it, I think

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:17 pm
by Kipi
[QUOTE=Ravager]*shrugs* I don't mind. It was just difficult for me to think of anything to add. I know very little about Liberian politics. Or Liberia in general. :p [/QUOTE]
Or politics in general... :rolleyes: :laugh:
At least, that's it for me

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:22 pm
by Ravager
[QUOTE=Fiona]Didn't stop me :p How else are we going to learn anything. [/QUOTE]

Okay, but to be honest, I wasn't too interested in Liberean politics either... :p

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:25 pm
by Hill-Shatar
[QUOTE=Ravager]Okay, but to be honest, I wasn't too interested in Liberean politics either... :p [/QUOTE]

Er... this is sad. Usually I read whatever Fiona puts up, and sometimes go searching for subjects being talked on here, but to be indifferent? Learn, Ravvy, learn! :D

Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:27 pm
by Ravager
I do read through posts, but there are topics I may not be interested in, you know.
It's not like I completely ignored it. :rolleyes:

Okay, this is getting a little too serious for the SF... :p ;)
(And I don't want Kipi scared away by it :D )