Kneel before Zod

We serve an ancient deity, say Gary Willis. His true name is “Moloch,” but we call him “Gun.”

The gun is not a mere tool, a bit of technology, a political issue, a point of debate. It is an object of reverence. Devotion to it precludes interruption with the sacrifices it entails. Like most gods, it does what it will, and cannot be questioned. Its acolytes think it is capable only of good things. It guarantees life and safety and freedom. It even guarantees law. Law grows from it. Then how can law question it?

Our Moloch

I pity the fool

Seth Godin is a fool. And he’s a genius. He pushes marketers to be better by being more authentic. Crazy thought, huh? He reminds me of a bit of St. Francis. A “holy fool” indeed.

Ridiculous isn’t safe. If you do something ridiculous and you fail, people get to say, “you idiot, of course you failed, what you were doing was ridiculous.” Which is precisely why it’s so rare. Not because we are unable to imagine being ridiculous, but because we’re afraid to be.

Ridiculous is the new remarkable

You better watch out

I’m not ashamed of it: I hate the Elf on the Shelf. I know some of you will hate me for it, but… Lee Hull Moses sums up the pertinent questions nicely.

And what will parents do come January, when the elf flies home for the rest of the year? Who will keep the children in line?

The tattle-tale elf leaves little room for redemption. Mischievous activity is reported to Santa, and that’s the end of it. There’s no role for repentance, making amends or healing relationships, and it’s not at all clear how many naughty acts gets you demoted from presents or how many nice one make up for this.

No elf on our shelf

One is the loneliest number

I’m calling it now: The Lone Bellow‘s album (due out on January 22) is an early favorite for my 2013 Album of the Year. Enjoy “Two Sides of Lonely”: