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Author: nosepail
Date: 03-12-12 17:48
http://pitchfork.com/news/45714-westboro-baptist-church-protests-radiohead-show/
a note on the Westboro website about the protest referred to Radiohead as "freak monkeys with mediocre tunes" who "keep you busy and focused by lightness."
This is pretty tame criticism for the Westboro crowd. THey simply called Radiohead "mediocre." I almost agree with them on that.
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Author: erikalbany
Date: 03-12-12 18:18
I have to say that while I don't agree with the Westboro assessment of Yorke and co., their capsule review shows that they are much better wordsmiths than most of the Pitchfork staff.
(You have to admit that "freak monkeys with mediocre tunes" who "keep you busy and focused by lightness" has a certain Bangs-like ring to it. Sounds like something he would have said about Lou Reed.)
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Author: Jermoe
Date: 03-13-12 10:10
This may actually be the most reasonable protest Westboro's people have ever put together.
Several years ago, I met a man who was using his right of free speech to inveigh against the Antichrist from Ireland, Bono. An version of our exchange (heavily edited for brevity and clarity):
Me: You think Bono's the Antichrist?
Him: That's right!
Me: I'm sure you have a ton of evidence to support your claim...
Him: Oh, yes I do!
Me: You could probably break it down for me by chapter and verse...
Him: Sure! Did you know–
Me: Pardon me, but I have another question...
Him (grudgingly): What's that?
Me: If Bono really is the Antichrist, wouldn't YOU, as a Christian–wait, you are a Christian, right?
Him: Of course!
Me: Great. So as I was saying, wouldn't YOU, as a Christian, have a strong desire for Bono, the Antichrist, to succeed in his goal of ascending to world domination and the subjugation of humanity in order set into motion the rest of the events as outlined in John's Book of Revelation?
Him: Eh. Hmm.
Me: I mean, shouldn't you be preparing yourself, your family and friends for the upcoming reaping of the earth, not warning total strangers about the emergence of the Antichrist? Wasn't that die cast 2,000 years ago? It seems to me that calling attention to the False Prophet can only result in delaying the inevitable, at best. Shouldn't you be celebrating that the Whore of Babylon will soon–well, relatively soon–meet God's Final Judgment? If I was you, I'd be maxing out my credit cards right about now.
Him: Banks are evil.
Me: I agree with you on that.
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Author: HollowbodyKay
Date: 03-13-12 10:30
Quote:
Me: You think Bono's the Antichrist?
Huh? I thought he was "The Dublin Messiah ... scattering crumbs."
.
.
.
You mean ... my Mekons record lied to me?
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-13-12 12:11
"Keep you busy and focused by lightness"? I don't agree with that. If anything, the relative "lightness" of The King of Limbs has made that album harder for me to focus on than In Rainbows, let alone OK Computer or The Bends. Or am I missing the point?
With any luck, the Westboro Baptist Church will turn more of its attention & effort to generating music reviews. It's a lot less obnoxious or hurtful than most of the things that church does, and a lot easier to support as free speech. Plus, who knows, their in-house reviewer(s) might get pretty good at it, with practice.
Hmmm, I wonder if the attempt at a review was intended as some kind of balancing corrective ... since a "pitchfork" is sometimes associated with the Devil ... Would that make any reviewer whose opinion differs with that of WBC a "devil's advocate"?
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Author: nosepail
Date: 03-13-12 12:19
I fear they may be watching us through the power of Google and might set up to protest our next TP event. Maybe we should change the subject
Post Edited (03-13-12 12:19)
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-13-12 12:29
I can just see the protesters -- and it wouldn't be the first time; Colorado is part of their "territory" -- with signs proclaiming GOD HATES TROUSERS.
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-13-12 13:40
I've witnessed one of their protests. Trust me, Mr. Toland: it ain't that much of a thrill.
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Author: Michael Toland
Date: 03-13-12 13:45
I just relish the idea of getting into their faces. Of course, I'd use logic, which has jackshit to do with what they advocate.
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-13-12 13:59
Exactly. It'd be like teaching a pig to sing. It'd waste your time and effort, and annoy the pig.
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Author: erikalbany
Date: 03-13-12 15:05
"Me: Great. So as I was saying, wouldn't YOU, as a Christian, have a strong desire for Bono, the Antichrist, to succeed in his goal of ascending to world domination and the subjugation of humanity in order set into motion the rest of the events as outlined in John's Book of Revelation?"
A technicality: The Book of Revelation was added on much later. . . and a lot of Christians (particularly right-wing) don't see it as part of the Bible proper.
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-13-12 16:01
> A lot of Christians (particularly right-wing) don't see it as part of the Bible proper.
Really? I've never met any of those Christians. My observation is that, if anything, most "right-wing" Christians seem to be stoked about Revelation, because they interpret its message and import to be that they'll be swept up into everlasting bliss in the Rapture, leaving all the sinners behind to perish.
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Author: erikalbany
Date: 03-13-12 16:13
There are a lot of strains of Christianity that consider it heresy and that are quite comfortable with the Bible without it tacked on the end. Just stating a fact. I did a lot of research on apocalyptic literature a couple of years back, and this came up time and time again.
Some of the rejection stems from the fact that it's not THAT John that wrote it, but John of Patmos. . . (who wants to canonize a hallucination by a guy known as "John of Patmos"? Might as well have been Roky of Austin.)
I personally like it as a really messed-up, trippy piece of literature (and I like apocalyptic stuff in general).
Post Edited (03-13-12 16:24)
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Author: HollowbodyKay
Date: 03-14-12 10:48
Quote:
who wants to canonize a hallucination by a guy known as "John of Patmos"? Might as well have been Roky of Austin.
Saint Roky of Austin!
How many miracles would he need again for consideration? You can start with the miracle that he's still making records and go from there. I'd say "You're Gonna Miss Me" counts as both a miracle and as pure prophesy. We're already half way there.
Any of y'all have the Pope's e-mail address?
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-14-12 11:35
A very old joke here ...
The Pope answers his office phone. His secretary tells him, "Your Holiness, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, Jesus Christ is on the phone, and wants to talk to you."
The Pope can scarcely believe it, of course. He eventually asks, "What's the bad news?"
The secretary answers, "He's calling from Salt Lake City."
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-14-12 13:24
Here's my wife's review of Radiohead's concert last night in Broomfield, CO:
It was OK. It will not make my Top 10 list. The presentation of the music was great, but as I should have expected, this band's passion is within the music, not on the stage. If not for the light show, it would have been quite boring, and even that got somewhat old.
I wouldn't say they phoned it in at all. They clearly were present and in the music, but there was not much talk to the crowd, no real relationship to us. Thom even said, "Where are we?" though I think he was joking about Broomfield being so far away from Denver. They were tight and excellent. The drummers were great. Thom was weird. But there was NO improvisation at all. It was like listening to album tracks on TV, but with better sound.
I'm glad I went, but you should not be too disappointed that you got the money back for your ticket. And I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. Of course it's cool to be able to say you've seen Radiohead, given how little they tour, and they are still one of my favorite bands. But I was underwhelmed. Might as well drink some good beer and listen to their albums at home, on volume 9.
That's likely to be the fate of most bands I see, after the Muse concert ...
Post Edited (03-14-12 14:20)
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Author: erikalbany
Date: 03-14-12 16:06
So, Delvin, you're saying that they weren't "freak monkeys with mediocre tunes" who "keep you busy and focused by lightness"?
I must say I'm disappointed. I would pay to see that.
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Author: Nile
Date: 03-14-12 16:39
erikalbany wrote:
> So, Delvin, you're saying that they weren't "freak monkeys with
> mediocre tunes" who "keep you busy and focused by lightness"?
>
> I must say I'm disappointed. I would pay to see that.
That's it. I just registered "freakmonkeys.com." It just seemed the right thing to do.
So how about we start a meme? I'm taking suggestions for what to post on the freakmonkeys website.
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Author: rhettlawrence
Date: 03-14-12 16:43
Play your cards right, Nile, and you'll be able to sell that domain to some pervy porn entrepreneur for a pretty penny someday. Which is not to suggest that that's what you should start posting on there. 'Cuz I would NEVER look at a site like that. Hear me?
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-14-12 19:39
> So, Delvin, you're saying that they weren't "freak monkeys with mediocre tunes" who "keep you
> busy and focused by lightness"?
I'm not in a position to say anything; I didn't get to see the show. I got sent to Seattle on business, and had to sell my ticket. The comments above are my wife's.
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Author: HollowbodyKay
Date: 03-14-12 20:50
Two things about the WBC folks I've been pondering since this thread went up:
1.) Like every crowd, there would almost have to be a certain segment of the total that are more "out there" and "weird" than the rest. Would being a judged a "weirdo" in this context be more or less of a good or bad thing? What would it be like to be "almost TOO weird" for that bunch?
2.) What are their potluck dinners like? Have they thought about doing a cookbook?
OK. That's more than two. But they're grouped by theme.
Weirdness.
Food.
I'll admit that the idea of working music into this post hadn't even occurred to me until now ... after it's far too late.
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Author: Delvin
Date: 03-15-12 12:25
> What are their potluck dinners like?
I imagine that preparing for one must be time-consuming. Imagine going to the trouble of taking all the left wings off the chicken platter before serving, lest any of the guests be offended.
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Author: STEVE
Date: 03-18-12 18:27
i'm neither baptist nor selfrighteous (i can be hypocritical though) but i can honestly say that radiohead aint never made no believers outta my parishioners.
Post Edited (03-18-12 18:29)
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Author: zoo
Date: 03-19-12 08:47
Steve, just in case you didn't know, the Westboro's aren't Baptist, either. Definitely self-righteous, though, or it would seem.
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Author: HollowbodyKay
Date: 03-19-12 10:55
Quote:
. . . they do identify themselves as Baptists (independent Baptists).
Bobby-Joe: Listen. The only people we hate more than the liberals is that there @#$%^& Southern Baptist Church!
W.B.C: Yeah...
Jazzmyn-Mae: Splitters.
W.B.C.: Splitters...
Joe-Bob: And the New Reformed Southern Baptist Church!
W.B.C.: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Splitters. Splitters...
Jazzmyn-Mae: And the Westboro Baptist Church!
W.B.C.: Yeah. Splitters. Splitters...
Bobby-Joe: What?
Jazzmyn-Mae: The Westboro Baptist Church! Splitters.
Bobby-Joe: We're the Westboro Baptist Church!
Jazzmyn-Mae: Oh. I thought we were the Independent Baptists.
Bobby-Joe: Westboro Baptist!
Joe-Bob: Whatever happened to the Independent Baptists, Bobby-Joe?
Bobby-Joe: He's over there.
W.B.C.: Splitter!
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