Marty Essen's Blog, page 255
February 7, 2019
Jesus would not approve!
News broke today that Republicans in South Carolina have introduced legislation that would make abortion in their state a felony for both women and their doctors.
What would Jesus think of that? In my new novel, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! Jesus time travels with Marty Mann and Nellie Dixon to the year 2020. After some extensive acclimation, Jesus gets a church in Macon, Georgia, and Marty and Nellie contact him each evening from their Chromosphere Cruiser, hidden on an island in the South Pacific.
This excerpt features one of those conversations:
Later in the afternoon, I decided to check in with Jesus. I unmuted his communications implant, and the computer worked for a moment to compensate for our new position in time. When it connected, I said, “Jesus, are you there?”
“Hi, Marty. I am so glad to hear your voice. I have another modern mystery to figure out. I do not understand all this talk about abortion.”
“Oh boy. What don’t you understand?”
“Why do so many Christians think forcing women to give birth is something my lord would approve of? Scripture clearly states that life begins at first breath. And why would someone who opposes abortion also oppose birth control? I do not yet understand how your birth control works, but I know enough to understand that something that prevents a woman from being with child should please those who demonize abortions. Also, why do so many Christians lose interest in helping babies once they are born?”
“I wish I had an answer for you, Jesus. All I can say is that not all Christians are like that. Unfortunately, here in the United States, a high percentage of them do have the beliefs you just stated. They’re the ones who voted overwhelmingly for Handley to become president.”
“I must do something about them.”
“Good for you! If Jesus Christ can’t straighten out Christians, no one can.”
“Okay, Marty. I better run. I am learning how to use the microwave oven that came with the house, but I have been having trouble with things exploding in it.”
“Avoid eggs in the shell, and if you microwave a potato, poke some holes in the skin first.”
“I learned about eggs the hard way. What a mess!”
“Goodnight, Jesus,” I said with a chuckle. “Nellie and I might be out of touch for a few days. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from us.”
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Caribou on the run
Marty’s photo of the day #2797: Caribou on the run in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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February 6, 2019
Rainforest scenic
Marty’s photo of the day #2796: Here’s a scenic photo, taken along the Rio Orosa in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru.
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February 5, 2019
Prudish ad police at Amazon and Facebook
I’m always learning something. What I’ve learned in recent
days is just how prudish both Amazon and Facebook are. They’re prudish, of
course, because the conservative side of America is vocal about how nasty the
human body is and how it needs to be covered up. Unless, of course, it’s Donald
Trump walking in on nude contestants who are getting ready for one of his beauty
pageants. Then it’s perfectly okay.
Both Facebook and Amazon will allow the cover of my latest novel, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! on their regular pages, but when it comes to buying ads or boosting a post, that’s another story.
Yesterday, I boosted a Facebook post for my new book and everything started okay. Then Facebook’s censors got a hold of it and rejected what they previously approved. Here’s their rejection:
“This ad isn’t running because it includes an image or video
depicting excessive skin or nudity, which includes medical diagrams depicting
external organs of reproduction, breasts, or butt. This kind of material is
sensitive in nature.”
Really? What is excessive skin? I’ve always thought nudity
meant the showing of sexual organs. Now nudity means too much skin? Oh, the
horrors! I’ve lost count of how many perfume ads I’ve seen with unclothed models
strategically covering their breasts with an arm or a hand. Why is covering up
with a caribou any different? And why do I need to conform to the fake outrage
of conservatives who happily voted for a pussy grabber?
Come on Facebook and Amazon: Stop being such prudes!
And Facebook: the ads you accepted from the Russians to influence the presidential election were much, much more offensive! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZY6V1R
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Arctic lousewort
Marty’s photo of the day #2795: Here’s a photo from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, just about fifteen miles south of the Arctic Ocean: Arctic lousewort. Tough little plant.
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February 4, 2019
Curious sea lion
Marty’s photo of the day #2794: Swimming with a curious sea lion in the Sea of Cortez.
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February 3, 2019
It’s about time . . .
Marty’s photo of the day #2793: I’ve been rejecting posting this photo practically since I started posting photos. The reason is that this aspen forest looked so much cooler in person than it does in the picture. But since I’ve been passing by this photo for so many years, it’s going up today. I wouldn’t want it to get an inferiority complex.
(Photographed in Alberta, Canada)
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February 2, 2019
February 1, 2019
Really, Sarah Huckabee Sanders?
Marty’s photo of the day #2791:
“I think God calls all of us to
fill different roles at different times and I think that he wanted Donald Trump
to become president, and that’s why he’s there.”—Sarah Huckabee Sanders
“And humans think we are a lesser
species?”—Orangutan
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January 31, 2019
Lions on the prowl
Marty’s photo of the day #2790: When in Zimbabwe, Deb and I stood on the opposite side of a river channel and watched five lions stalking two Cape buffalo. We never saw a kill and eventually had to leave before it got dark. I shot this photo as we canoed on by.
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