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Author: David Barker

Story: Yeskia 9mm

Posted on November 5, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Although the Swedes aren’t known as a warlike people, the marketing department had launched their latest campaign with military precision. They softened the beachhead – in a manner of speaking – by deliberately leaking all kinds of rumours that exploded like mortar shells in the trenches of America.

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Poem: There is no sky

Posted on November 1, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

You are the great what if of my life.I shared my hundred million possibilitiesbut none took hold. Not a single one!There remains only the dribble on the sheetsand the presumption of another time. Like arthritic lovers, you and I,we perform our coupling,seeking pleasure less than fleeing pain,melting in light less than groaning in shade,rolling back…

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Story: Public Works

Posted on October 24, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

I’ve lived in this neighbourhood for nearly ten years now. Not alone, of course; I have the requisite wife with her weekly manicure appointments, and the requisite dog with her poufy tail, and the requisite two point four children. Two of the children are easy to find.

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Bully at a Book Sale

Posted on October 21, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

I’m an incorrigible bibliophile. Although it’s an awful-sounding disease, its worst symptom is a compulsive desire to attend used book sales and a subsequent need for more shelves. As with allergy sufferers, autumn can be a difficult time of year. The challenge is a gauntlet of book sales sponsored by colleges of the University of Toronto.

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Seminary Made Me An Atheist

Posted on October 16, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

In 2000, I began discernment. Within the United Church of Canada, discernment is a formalized process that potential ministers engage to “listen to the will of God.” I should have known right from the start that I’d be in trouble. For me, “the will of God” is kind of an inside joke.

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Story: Jack the Giant Killer

Posted on October 14, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Doctor Horvath motioned for Jack to take a seat by the round, low coffee table while he settled himself in a swiveling chair in front of the bare desk, and then he turned to face Jack while resting his right elbow on the desk.

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Thanksgiving as Day of Atonement

Posted on October 12, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

This year, at least in Canada, Yom Kippur almost coincides with Thanksgiving. In English, Yom Kippur is referred to as the Day of Atonement and involves repentance for sins committed in the previous year.

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Religious Parody Sites

Posted on October 9, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Whenever I’m surfing, I keep an eye out for wholesome web content I can pass along to my gentle readers so they too can nurture their delicate sensibilities. When I find unashamed discussions of masturbation, I despair that things have gotten out of hand.

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In Praise of Masturbation

Posted on September 23, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Given the relative scarcity of masturbation in pop culture, it should come as no surprise that masturbation conversation is virtually absent from religious dialogue. Have you ever heard a sermon devoted to masturbation? Have you ever had a discussion group?

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Mixing Religion and Politics

Posted on September 15, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

With federal elections running both north and south of the 49th parallel, it’s interesting to note differences in these two democratic processes. And never have the differences been so stark.

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Ethics – The Final Frontier

Posted on September 12, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Remember the opening words to every episode of the original Star Trek series? William Shatner would say: “Space: the final frontier …” Then the theme music: a series of fourths: dut, da da. And the backup singers: Ah, Ahhhhh …. Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah.

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Chrome Blockers and Data Mining Paranoia

Posted on September 9, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Google has entered the browser wars with Chrome available as a beta version for Windows – which explains why I haven’t been too excited about it. Chrome is a simple browser based on the same base code as Safari and, interestingly, it’s open source.

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Whatever Happened To Feminism

Posted on August 15, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

My daughter has always enjoyed sports. Growing up, she’s gone through phases. There was a gymnastics phase which lasted for three or four years. When that phase ended, I breathed a sigh of relief (gymnastics parents are some of the most tightly wound creatures on the planet). Then there was the trampoline phase which lasted for another three or four years. That sport had its ups and downs too.

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Google Street View Coming To Canada

Posted on August 5, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

Google Street View (launched on May 25, 2007 in the U.S.) continues to expand its reach, providing service in France and Italy on July 02, 2008 and in Australia and Japan on August 4th, 2008. Google has overcome privacy hurdles in the UK and photographing has begun there. While Canada’s Privacy Commissioner voiced concerns nearly…

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The Glorious Appearing

Posted on July 30, 2008October 17, 2022 by David Barker

I tried. I really did. In my continuing quest to plumb the mind of the fundamentalist evangelical Christian (FEC for short), I tried to read Glorious Appearing, the 12th and final installment of the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

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