Why I don't like quackery

I often have arguments with friends and rivals about whether or not I should just leave quacks alone. If people want to believe in stuff that is evidently nonsense, I am told, I should exercise a restraint and aodpt a live and let live attitude. Afterall, if people want to believe that they can live on air alone, or that they can attain immortality by paying the Church of Scientology lots of money, or that crystals have healing power ( beyond paying the crystal salesperson's debt), what is it to me? Why not just let them live in ignorance? When did a little benign fantasy ever do anyone any harm?

The point is, tho, that cults ( religious and otherwise) are far from being harmless. Remember Jim Jones, and the Jonestown massacre? Or the Heaven's Gate cult? Faddish cults lure unsuspecting people in and then, before you know it, you have a bunch of corpses on your hands because some nutjob thought that God told him to make everybody drink poisoned coolaid. Groups like the Scientologists are even worse- in every country where this bunch of lunatics have put down roots, they are facing lawsuits. As a matter of policy, the Churhc uses the sorts of tactics that would make Heinrich Himmler cream in his shorts (www.xenu.net).

Aside from the immediate danger that irrational groups pose, there is long term damage that originates with those who value flash over substance. Every aromatherapist who has ever uncorked a vile has contributed to the idea that it is okay to behave irrationally. Is it any wonder that we live during one of the dumbest eras in our planets history? Every nonsensical fashion creates the impression that we need not live our lives according to rational dictates.

Ten reasons why you should learn to speak German

So, my new housemate and I (yes, the one who neglected to post that I had moved in- one would think that a Person of My Stature would warrent a mention but nary a word was posted), have sortof started learning German. Below are my top ten reasons for learning the Teutonic tongue:

1) Once you know German, you can read Rammstein lyrics and Wagner liberettos in the original German. This might give you something to speak about when you meet all the other loser Rammstein/ Wagner fans who also cannot get dates on Friday nights, and thus spend their time talking about Rammstein/Wagner.

2) Knowing German means invading Poland will be easy for you, if your career ever meanders in that direction.

3) All the best porn from the seventies comes from Germany. You too can know the magical power of the word 'schnelle'.

4) Now you can finally understand what that Hitler guy is so tense about everytime he appears on the Discovery Channel.

5) Once Claudia Schiffer dumps that phoney David Copperfield guy, she is gonna need some tender lovin comfortin. Studly but sensitive guys who can speak her language will surely get first dibs.

6) If you speak German in public, no one is going to confuse you for a French person.

7) People tend to find you more convincing when you speak a language so full of gutteral and harsh grinding sounds.

8) Hopefully, during German lessons you'll learn the words to Deutshland Uber Alles. Next time Schumaker wins, you can sing the whole song while watching the Grand Prix from your lounge ( instead of singing Deutschland Uber Alles annoyingly loud and mumbling the rest of the song).

9) Einstein was smart. Einstein spoke German. Thus, speaking German makes you smart.

10) German folkwear is way cooler than the loincloths those Zooloos try to pass off as 'ethnic'.

My very first blog!

So, this is what it feels like to subject the rest of humanity to my saguine wisdom ( look it up, el tardo).

Since I like it so very much, I think I will devote my first blog to the subject of the latest Cold Play album viz. X and Y.

This is as close to the perfect album as I have ever heard. It just works so well on so many levels. Unlike other albums, which seem to be more or less random compilations thrown together in such a way as to increase the value of record execs stock, X and Y proceeds. By this I mean, it has a beggining, a middle and end. And each song in each section is precisely where it ought to be.

Don't get moi started on the innovative nature of CP's music, which is particularly evident on X and Y. Their music is not quite pop, not quite electronic and not quite anything. But brilliant.

Why did the band choose this name? Does anyone know?