Writer’s blocks

Writing a novel, I said once, is like trying to make the Mountains of Edom out of Lego blocks. Or to build the whole of Paris, buildings, squares, and boulevards, down to the last street bench, out of matchsticks.

– Amos Oz, A Tale of Love and Darkness

I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth

Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin gives his theory on why Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness. It is the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgment of God. [...] [T]he signature of New Orleans is the French Quarter, Bourbon Street. It is known for sin. And you have a Bible that says God will judge sin, you can put two and two together and say, it may not be the judgment of God, but it sure looks like the footprint.

But what of the fact that the evil, sinful, anti-christful French Quarter was left largely unscathed by God’s wrath?

Well, I understand that, and I think the lord sent them a message that we need to turn around or we may have another hurricane come.

Watch the interview here

If I understand correctly and then extrapolate, a theory that states that noxious man-made emissions pollute the atmosphere and lead to global warming, one of the consequences of which is a higher frequency of category 4 and 5 storms in the Gulf of Mexico is far-fetched. A convoluted plot by a smiting, faceless almighty in which tens of thousands of innocents suffer to demonstrate a point to a few middle-aged gamblers from Iowa and some university-aged Mardi Gras revellers, however, is a perfectly sound theory. One of the great things about God is that you can make him say what you want him to say. The proof?

The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was flooded by Katrina. But Erwin said the Baptists knew they were ministering in a sinful place that could be targeted.

- links via Crooks and Liars

For an even better take on Katrina and the Almighty, go here and click on the picture.

– via -=JeW*SCHooL=-

Mysterious and secretive

Someboday in Toronto is very strange. A quick check of my stats showed that a Torontonian came to this site with the search, “Who is Bonhomme? What kind of creature is he?” Assuming I’m the Bonhomme in question, I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve never been very good with open-ended questions. You tell me what kind of creature I am.