Anyway, as I was reading through the first chapter I was struck by something. I have my doubts. Now I have to say that I do think it good and sometimes even necessary that Christians doubt their beliefs. It gives room to learn, reassess, and hopefully become better people and Christians. So why am I doubting so early into Mark? Well I kept wondering why. Why should God made flesh, savior to humankind decide to show up around 2011 years ago? Why wouldn't Jesus show up in more contemporary times. Not necessarily in my lifetime, but at least in a time where there would be more evidence, better record keeping, maybe even a photograph.

Just writing some of this now I think I have a few answers. Imagine if Jesus did arrive in say the 14th century. There's wouldn't be a Catholic church, who knows if there would have been a renaissance. On the other hand maybe we'd be further along technologically if the church hadn't pushed us into trying to destroy the Muslims and their technologies (not to mention a stellar library).

So anyway this is what's been going through my head. I also learned that I am really really bad at praying (also my first time in a real long time), and had a hard time praying for our President. I guess I am pretty bitter towards Bush.

Still reading a chapter in my bible each morning is something I am going to continue.

I feel guilty for asking this, but if you have a couple of minutes, could you do me a solid and leave a good review on Mrs. L and my gaming podcast, The Married Gamers over on iTunes. We're trying very hard to move up on the featured charts and get some more exposure, and I figure if folks can give us bad reviews never even listened to an episode, certainly folks can give us good reviews for doing the same.

Speaking of The Married Gamers, I've been spending a lot of time posting news on the front page there, and it's been like pulling nails trying to recruit writers to post news pertaining to the various platforms and consoles. We're getting to be a pretty well-known podcast now, but it's our website news section that has been our stumbling block in preventing us from getting review copies, promotional materials, and the like. It's really been a source of frustration in getting that rolling.

I still love podcasting with my wife. It has been on heck of an adventure, and this summer I think we are going to get to do lots of really cool stuff, including a dinner at the San Francisco Russian consulate, doing press at San Diego Comic Con, and hanging out at PAX in Seattle. It should also be stated that it has been awesome, fascinating, and humbling this little community that has grown up around our podcast. The gaming fanatics have this knack of making the comic fanboys look like proper gentlemen, so to have a community of over 200 people that are friendly to one another, despite our particular differences.

I don't think we'll ever make money on the gaming podcast. I'm pretty realistic that the Married gamers will never turn into my primary job. It won't open doors into gaming PR work. It won't change my economic status or star quotient. However it has brought my wife and I closer. We've learned to work better together, to trust one another's abilities, and to listen better. And that is way, way cool.

(Having more itunes reviews would be cool as well too!)

1. Who was the hottest teacher you ever had?

2. Have you ever played a game that required clothes being removed? Any weird rules involved?

3. Have you ever dated someone just to get closer to their friends?

1. For at least ten years you have sported a bald or buzzed dome, and yet you are not losing your hair. Why do you like this look so much? I think you wear it well, by the way. I am just curious.

2. Do you ever miss the young, perhaps mildly naive Chris, who with a big smile on his face would greet people with a "How are you today?" and "You have a wonderful day."?

1. I have to correct you. I am losing my hair. I am developing what they call a widow's peak that is slowly trying to find the back of my neck. Fortunately I don't mind it too much since I just shave my head. I wear it this way for multiple reasons. First of which is ease. I don't have to spend time perfecting my hair. It's wash and go. Second, I have not been to the hair salon in 15 years. Let's say I go to the hair salon twice a month at ten dollars a pop, I've saved $3,600! Last but not least when I'm bald or shave very close, I look like a person not to mess with, which is great cover for a pacifist like me,

2. Well I still think I'm nice to most people. I still open doors for people. I still address people with a Mr, Ms, or Mrs. I think I do regret becoming a bit more surly in nature, and I wish I could pinpoint when that slide happened to see what may have triggered it. So yeah I guess I regret it somewhat.

1. What movie are most excited for this summer? Any of them NOT a sequel?

2. After the success of Doctor Who, Blake's 7 is coming back to TV on the BBC (and hopefully BBC America). What defunct classic television would you love to see back on television?

3. What celebrity are you left wondering if they are still alive or dead?

1. When, if ever, is assassination appropriate? (e.g. Hitler).
2. You've alluded in the past to your anger issues. How were they manifested and how are they now? What did you do to control them? (Prayer, drugs, rational thought?)

1. Color me naive but never. I am all for non-violent resistance, and do believe that violence gives birth to more violence.

2. I do have anger issues. I'm not violent, but I'm still quick to the draw when it comes to verbally lashing out. Funny I should answer this question now, because I "went there" yesterday in a nasty verbal fight with my wife.

Here's how I control it. I take deep breaths before speaking and speak in measured tones. Well last night my sparring partner said that pissed her off even more, so I sometimes feel like in stuck in a Catch-22 sometimes.

We got past the argument somewhat and now are doing better, but I do think things are a bit fragile between one another right now. I'm hoping I get on her good side soon.

Thanks Roger!

If anyone else has some questions, I'll answer some more next week.

*a reference from The Daily Show in which John Stewart breaks through the bullshit to give some honest advice.

Senator Obama,

Please. Enough with the tic for tic accusations between you and Senator Clinton. I understand you don't want to have a Clinton campaign attack to grow into a Swift Boat-sized lie. The problem is, people like you best when you are giving them Hope, not just political S.O.P. My advice, let the Clinton campaign look petty, and ignore the buzz. Go out and talk about important issues to all Americans: Getting out of a recession, getting the cost of gas and groceries to drop, and getting us out of Iraq while keeping America "safe and secure". Sure we the people take to rubber-necking at whatever Britney or Paris is doing, sure we take belly-aching to an all-new art form, but we do care about the issues.

So less about the hoodwinking that Republicans do to squeeze Red votes out of policies that harm them economically, and more about the vision-thing. That kind of thing appeals to all kinds of demographics and scares the living shit out of the McCain camp.

It's time to look Presidential, and to take those vital steps to heal our party and get us re-energized to get a Democrat in the White House, and restore honor and dignity to the White House...and sanity. Loads and loads of sanity.

Church sign links Obama with Osama bin Laden

19 hours ago

JONESVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina pastor says he wasn't trying to be political when he posted a sign in front of his church linking Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Pastor Roger Byrd said he just wanted to make people think when he put up a sign reading "Obama, Osama — humm, are they brothers" in front of the Jonesville Church of God on Thursday.

Obama, a Christian, attends Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Fifteen percent of respondents to a recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll said they thought the Illinois senator was a Muslim.

WYFF-TV reported Monday on its Web site that Byrd said he won't take the sign down. He said his congregation voted unanimously Sunday to keep it up.

The church is part of the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination based in Cleveland, Tenn., according to the organization's Web site.

Jonesville is a town of about 1,000 people in northwestern South Carolina.

This pastor and his congregation would rather believe an outright lie than acknowledge the truth. It reminds me of a quote by Stanley Hauerwas in which he says that the American Christian church is good at making Americans but not so good at making Christians. Actually in Pastor Byrd congregations that not actually good at making Americans, because I always believed that it was very American to take someone at His or Hers word.

In any event, I can't understand why folks like this do this. I get more chain-emails from Christians than I get from any other demographic. It is my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have an uncanny knack of passing around whatever mistruth, mispeak, demagogue, or myth as if it came from Saint Paul himself.

I just don't understand it, and honestly between you and me I think it pisses Jesus off too.

1. Has there been a CD you bought without knowing anything about the band, and ended up really loving it?

2. What live action Disney movie is your favorite?

3. Do you own multiple versions of an album? If so, who is it, and why?

There are 7 open spots. Send me an email: leftybrown [at] gmail [dot] com to enter. Full details can be found here. Come and join these maestros of CD mixes:

Greg Burgas
Gordon Dymowski
Roger Green
Tony Holt
and me!

Looks to be a fun round of new and exciting music (some old and some new, and some way out there)!

2. The Police re-uniting.

3. Anne Rice becoming a Christian.

4. Myself having dinner at the Russian Consulate in San Francisco to talk and play video games.

(June can't come soon enough)

The DC Previews just came out and there's a special issue coming out in July called Final Crisis Requiem. The solicitation mentions a superhero dying. I'll go on the record now that the fire image on the cover leads me to believe that Martian Manhunter may be taking the dirt nap and eating his Oreos with Barry Allen.

Item #2: This is the last week to let me know if you want to take part in the latest Mixed Bag: Bag & Tag. I have 7 spots left. Get your email into me by Friday, April 18th.

Item #3: Next week I think I'm going to answer some reader mail. If you want to ask me something, leave a question or two in the comments section of this post.

Item #4: I am hoping to get another Lefty Side of the Dial Podcast recorded soon. If you'd like to be a guest or have a subject, drop me an email. I do have skype credit so even if you don't have skype I can record landline or cell phone conversations.

1. So 2008 inductees were hit or miss, if you got to make the call what five bands or artists would you induct? For a list of who is already in the HoF, click on this link.

Bonus Question: Any music releases this year you are really looking forward to?