Roland Boer's Blog, page 74

Crap National Anthems

I'm not one for patriotisms, nationalisms, flags or national anthems. I think they're bullshit and should be burnt, ignored and dumped. But I am all for the full version of the Australian national anthem.

The reason: a couple of years ago I was given a diary or planner, bought for me by a friend who thought I needed it. Thankfully I didn't catch the habit - never use the cursed things. But some enterprising publisher in Armenia or wherever must have had the task of finding the national anthems...

Uncovered: My Secret Places of Worship

Damn, Jim West has uncovered one of my worship places here, pointing out that I am actually a very devout and pious man. Just to make things easier, here's the pic:



Now for some real confessions, I must admit that I also worship with the Christian Israelites, who have half a dozen churches in Australia. Here's the one in Sydney:




What I like about the Christian Israelites is that they believe they are descendants of the lost ten tribes of Israel. Really, they are the only ones. Originally the te...

Concerning Fuifui Moimoi

That would be the Parramatta Eels's prop forward, who weighs 110 kg of hard muscle and can hit speeds of 32km/h. His job is unsophisticated (which is always good in football - prevents confusion): receive the ball at full gallop and run straight at the opposition.


Apparently, it is like trying catch a 20 kilogram bag of cement that has been dropped from 22 metres. In other words, he hits his opponents with a force of 14g. Given that 4-6g sustained for a few seconds is enough to black you out...

Essentialist and Proud

You know what really gives me the shits these days: the blanket dismissal by calling someone or something 'essentialist'. You know the scene. You are at a conference and someone is giving a really interesting paper, but then some bourgie idiot stands up and says, 'I enjoyed your paper, but it's soooo essentialist'. Or someone lets slip in the conversation over coffee, 'I feel like a pizza', or 'Shit, I feel like a smoke', and someone will mutter, 'essentialist'.

All mouths in the room drop...

Tea and Coffee for the Corrupt

Here in Canberra I've been helping myself to nice sweet things as well as the tea provided next door for conferences and suchlike. But today there is a sign that reads:

Tea and coffee is reserved only for corruption and anti-corruption staff and students!

Makes one wonder what corruption staff and students really do.

On a more serious note: the critique of idolatry

Since I am in Canberra and writing a lot, my thoughts are full of these sorts of things (is Roland becoming a dull boy?)

The critique of idolatry (as in Isaiah 44: 9-20) gives the impression, on the surface at least, that idol-worshippers are simply deluded, for they worship an oddly shaped block of wood, a chiselled piece of stone or perhaps a polished metal icon. However, if we shift perspective from the polemicist to the so-called worshipper of the idol, then the idol itself becomes a mere ...

From Ocean to Ice and Aggressive Black Swans

It does feel a little strange, to go from swimming in Newcastle on Friday:

To winter thermals in my tent and frost in Canberra Saturday:

Add some agro black swans and the contrast is complete:

Cats win; Eels to go

Unlike Vulgar Marxism (here), who claims that the Aussie Rules grand final is the greatest event in the Australian cultural calendar - it's like Melbourne claiming to be the best city because every second sleazy den sells bitter coffee - there are in fact two such events.

Today the Geelong Cats won the Aussie rule grand final: Go the Cats! Now that's my team, basically since I was born in Geelong. Forget that fact that I left when I was one. And forget the fact that the son of God led them to ...

The University of Utopia

As I am about to head off the Canberra, it feels like I am going to a different country. Here I swim everyday and the temperatures are pushing 30 degrees; there it still gets below zero every night, so I need to pull on all my thermals for nights in the tent.

So I thought I'd repost this one on my ideal university:

The University of Utopia is committed to research of the highest quality, a serious programme of reading, a willingness to discuss ideas with colleagues and work collectively. Unlike...

Sex and the SBL

A few years ago a hotel worker was once overheard to say at an SBL meeting: 'These Bible folks are a bit strange, and they sure don't have as much sex as people at other conferences'. So I want to say (glossing the Marquis de Sade):

One more effort, SBL attendees! Let's prove this hotel worker wrong this year!