Blasphemy

OMG... can't... stop... laughing...

http://blasphemygame.com/

What covers nearly six square feet and costs 100 bucks and features various multicolored Jesus figurines, and the winner is the one who gets to be crucified first? No, not the carpet in Jerry Falwell's dorm room in hell, silly. It's Blasphemy, the board game.

Yes, now everyone gets to play a would-be Messiah as you race around the board maneuvering your personal Jesus through six phases of life, trying to get to the cross in time for the Big Event. Fight the devil! Give sermons! Drink a lot! Die for everyone's sins! You win!

Yes, it costs 100 bucks. But this ain't your average game. It's smart. It's extremely well made and well executed (so to speak). The cloth board is fully three feet across. Best part: A fresh new Jesus is crowned every time you play. Maybe the black one next time! Rejoice!

God bless Mark Morford for gracing the Net with his wit and wisdom.

Another Notch on the Birthday Cake

As of 11:36am EST today, I have been on this planet attached to this body for 40 years. I don't feel any different than yesterday, or even any different from the day I turned 30. I think people make fun of these landmark birthdays because they're afraid of their own mortality.

It's just another number to me - a label that identifies your place in society, like your social security number or how many kids you have or how much blood money the IRS will want on April 15. A human record of absolutely no consequence when all is said and done. Now is the only moment that counts anyway. In fact, I'd prefer to be able to say I'm 372. Now THAT'S an accomplishment.

Maybe I'm not so impressed by four decades because I've packed about 6 lifetimes into them so far. 150 years ago you were lucky to still be alive at this age.

I'd really like to write more but I'm coming down with some kind of cold and sleep is calling. I just felt like I should probably write something in the blog commemorating this day since everyone else makes such a big deal of it. So there it is. Yay me - I haven't been eaten by a dinosaur yet. (Yes, Jimmy, I know it's because I am one.)

Prologue

He offered his open arms for a friendly embrace and she stepped toward him easily. His comment that she looked familiar was just a marketing tactic; he really had no idea who she was. It would be nice to be able to remember every single face that passed through his world daily, but that would be impossible. She'd met him before, but she wasn't fooled by his claim. It was okay. Although they were friends in many lifetimes, she didn't expect him to remember in this one - yet.

"Mmmm, you smell like magick," she said, almost to herself, as she let go.

"What does magic smell like?" he asked with a chuckle.

Her eyes caught his and suddenly he felt a bit odd. "Physics and faeries, belief in the truth, nature and nurture, with a pinch of stardust," she stated matter-of-factly, as if reading a recipe reflected in his gaze, "or maybe just something like a grape lollipop."

"I see," he smiled.

"I know," she replied as a young girl rudely pushed in front of her, spewing a stream of teenage babble in his direction.

As her smile melted into the crowd, he thought he heard "Third time's a charm," but he wasn't sure if it was out loud or only in his head.