I started a new job this week and I’m swamped.

More details on the new gig another day, but for now I’ll only say that I’m taking a gamble on giving up that reluctant cynicism I talked about a couple or three posts ago. I’m really looking forward to doing the work, and that’s nice.

So Chutney will be on a working vacation for the next several days as he learns the ropes and gets up to speed. He’ll blog as able. In the meantime, check out The Daily Scribe. Lots of great blogs over there.

In other news, nominations are open for the Third Annual UU Blog Awards. Any nominations would be much appreciated.

No, I don’t have someone in particular in mind. But I do hate the preacher man. Hate him something fierce. And for a long time now.

I’d like to say it’s from long considered reasons, which are extensions of a long considered theology. While my reasons are long considered, the reasons are younger than the experiences. Without the experiences, there would be no reasons.

I want to say up front that I was never abused or molested. That’s not my story. To say I was spiritually abused, though, is close to the mark.

It’s also not the story of one bad preacher man who did this and did that. If that was the case, I should be further along getting over it than I am now.

My story runs in two streams, one a story of spiritual dysorientation, the other a story of five or ten bad preacher men over ten years. Let’s see how briefly I can tell them both. Click to continue reading “Why Chutney hates the preacher man”

Looks like GM is showcasing a new concept car—the Volt—that uses a small gas engine to recharge the otherwise electric vehicle. A gas, biodiesel, or ethanol takes 30 minutes—while you’re driving—versus a six hour plugin recharge. Photos here.

If you haven’t heard, the idea is pass several much needed reforms this week, before Bush’s State of the Union speech. Imagine how that would take the wind out of his sails! It also might restore some credibility to Congress.

Click here to sign the petition. We’re closing in on 175,000 signatures.

Here are the details:

• Good Government: Cutting off lobbyist gifts and restoring fairness and transparency in the way laws are passed
• Fiscal Responsibility: No more recklessly driving up the national debt.
• National Security: Implement all of the 9/11 commission security recommendations
• Fighting Poverty: Increase minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, helping 15 million working families
• Health Research: Increased funding and availability for stem cell research
• Cut interest on federal student loans in half
• Clean Energy: Cut oil company subsidies and invest in safe alternatives

Internet Explorer is now a minority browser here at Making Chutney, coming in at 49.7% over the last 7000 visitors. Firefox comes in at 37.9%, and Safari at 10.9%. (So we have a disproportionately high number of Mac users too.)

Good job folks! And if you don’t have an IE alternative, go get Firefox!

There are probably only eight of you out there who will get this, but the good folks here at Making Chutney teamed up with the dauntless Lion-O of ThunderCats fame to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

So may the Eye of Thundera be with you, and don’t let Mumm-Ra steal Christmas, ok?

[audio:Lion-O-Ho-Ho-Ho.mp3]

(So click that little arrow-dealie and listen already.)