Ha! Sometimes a writer drops a big hint...

[onager]

...about what he's thinking in a book, without coming right out and saying it:

Titus walked into the so-called Holy Place, where only the Jewish high priest had been allowed to tread...He walked a little farther on, through a curtained opening, into the Holy Of Holies, God's abode, where even the high priest could venture only on the Day Of Atonement.

On the day the Temple fell, Titus found God's room to be empty...

Meanwhile, the Zealots looked to the heavens, certain that the prophecies of old would be fulfilled and God would smite the heathen violators of the Temple and save the Jews. But their prayers went unanswered, their expectations were unfulfilled.

From "Caesar's Legion" by Stephen Dando-Collins. In this part, he's describing the attack on Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus in 70 CE.

<edit for travel update>

I'm not anywhere near those bombings in Sharm-el-Sheikh today, which is a big Egyptian resort on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Thanks to those of you who PM'ed to check on me!

I spent today wandering among some of the oldest and greatest landmarks of human achievement, the site of the Pharos Lighthouse and the rebuilt Library Of Alexandria. History Geeks may remember that a Xian mob torched the Library and destroyed a huge amount of our common human scientific and historical knowledge. And according to legend, they were so outraged by the uppity female mathematician Hypatia at the Library, they hacked her to death with sea-shells.

And of course, I saw all this while musing on how the illogical belief in Big Sky Daddies is still doing iis best to destroy human knowledge. And real humans.

[beam me up scottie]

1. You really suck,

you know that ?

Do you realize what type of entertainment and sight-seeing options are available where I live ?

Just kidding, hope you are taking lots of digital pictures and if you are WHY AREN'T YOU POSTING THEM ???
Just kidding again, I'm sure there's not enough time but you'd better do it when you get home.
I live vicariously now, you know.

[onager]

2. Hmph. I guess I'll just have to keep pissing you off...

...until I reach the exalted "fuckass" status. "I suck" is pretty low-key.

:hi:

Not posting pictures because my employers sent me to travel with a Fundamentalist laptop that has no picture viewing/editing programs, except for antique MicroSoft POS "Paint."

But I am taking lots of digital pics and will post some when I get home, though.

[beam me up scottie]

4. Fundamentalist laptop !

:rofl:

I'm going to start using that word more often.
I drive a fundamentalist car.

[salvorhardin]

6. Huh. Fundamentalist laptop...

Can you calculate the 9 billion names of god on that?

[progressoid]

3. Ha ha

"But their prayers went unanswered, their expectations were unfulfilled" That's because they didn't have internet prayer blogs and prayer chain emails. THAT'S how you get god's attention.

Have fun despite the distractions. In addition to our concerns for your well being, some of us are breaking one of the 7 deadly sins: envy! Enjoy!

[GOPFighter]

5. Thanks for checking in!

Glad you're safe. Terrorists of all stripes SUCK.

Thanks also for entertaining us with your observations using your fundamentalist laptop (I'm surprise it let you type Xian!)

Beware of spitting camels...

[onager]

7. Thank y'all!

I haven't seen any camels yet! As I said somewhere else, lots and lots of donkeys, though. When we went thru one of the farm villages this morning, I saw a big donkey cart functioning as a school bus. It was loaded with well-dressed little kids.

A moment later I saw one of those things that stick in my mind (which I admit works in Weird Ways). Just one of those everyday sights that remind me of how much we all have in common, no matter who we are or where we live.

What I saw was a little Egyptian girl about 6 or 7, in a dress that looked brand new. She was toting a bright red book bag that also looked new. Her father was walking her to school and holding her hand. I don't know who looked more proud, the kid or her father. Both were obviously having a fine morning.

Somebody smarter than me could write a whole novel about that little scene, I bet...

[beam me up scottie]

8. I'd like to have photographed that scene.

And then painted it.

Fathers and daughters are the same all over the world.

I'll never understand why people let religious and political leaders talk them into believing that they are different from us and therefore less human.

[onager]

9. Update! Religious Wars XVIII or something....

This is the eve of my one day off in Alexandria, Egypt. I celebrated by having a Giant Dinner. Two couples at a table near me were speaking fluent English, which made me a bit homesick.

They were Canadians and we got along great after I requested Future Amnesty from the Bu$h Administration. It was SO MUCH FUN to be 6000 miles from home and sitting/drinking with people who hate that stupid SOB as much as I do.

Then I moved over into the bar and had a very similar conversation with some Brits and a Scot.

You know the only derogatory words about Americans I've heard from any Egyptian people? An Egyptian farmer came up to me and said, "George Bush no good!"

I shook his hand.