Wasn't there a study just published last month or so that showed that the blue light from phones is super over-blown? I know I just read this...

Am I the only one low-key annoyed that the photo does not show a septum piercing (I understand it's called a "smiley" piercing--done on the frenulum of the upper lip)? It's Alysa Liu's signature look.

Octsoc. The individual items are small and cheap. But a hot dog is like $12

This has given me yet another opportunity to post my fan-theory/head-canon regarding the "look" of the Founders--particularly the leader. Some say that the leader (the "Female Changeling" which I guess is all we get for a name for her) chose her "look" to resemble Odo, but my theory is that this look is the "default" form they use when dealing with humanoid solids because they once encountered the Progenitors and found them to be an inspiration. Which is why the Founders did things like evolve the Vorta and create the Jem'hadar. So they choose to look like a Progenitor when interacting with solids (it's also a fun way to acknowledge that the same actress portrays both the Female Changeling and the Progenitor in the above image)

Maybe? The money changers were operating in the Second Temple, which was the focus of Jewish religious/cultural identity. The High Priests held significant cultural sway... I suppose this is a fair argument. The money changers were also extorting their own people's religious convictions for a dime, which feels quite resonant with what we're seeing today.

What's funny is that the included books often contradict their beliefs. And how do they handle that? Well, guess how many times I've heard a Southern Baptist preacher preach on Matthew 25: 31-46? (This is the one where Jesus says that people who neglect the poor and harm immigrants, etc. are effectively doing that to Him)

So sad, but true. I recall a comment I read many years ago in response to the Episcopal Church's progressive stances that said something like "I'm so happy that you're doing that, but I'm no longer a Christian so... good for you all, I guess."

There are also those who look at what we're doing as basically a kind of marketing. While there are probably a few clergy in the Episcopal Church who see us as "Christianity, but not like you remember" or whatever, for the most part we Episcopalians have arrived at our progressive place out of a difficult struggle with being faithful to the gospel. When I hear the criticism that "if what you're doing is true, how come more churches aren't doing what you do?" (which can come from multiple angles), I always go back to Jesus saying that "narrow is the road that leads to salvation." That and "take up your cross and follow me." Following Jesus isn't meant to be a path to political power and influence. The only time Jesus was ever in the halls of political power, it was for a sham trial in order to nail Him to a cross.

You'd think that people who claim to love the Bible as much as the Southern Baptists do would relish the opportunity to have MORE Bible!

I mentioned above that I grew up Southern Baptist (not only as a church member, but also educated from preschool through high school at a Southern Baptist school; also attended two undergraduate schools with SBC roots) and guess what? They NEVER taught us this history. Wasn't until I started paying attention to things that I began to really wonder why the "Southern" was in our name...

THANK YOU!