Clea's Cave

R.A.W. In Hospice & In Need Of Funds

Many readers of this blog are fans, admirers, or friends of Robert Anton Wilson. His unique combination of iconoclasm and humorous, compassionate optimism influenced me profoundly my whole adult life. If you are a Discordian, SubGenius, or a Thelemite, you likely praise Bob.  Meeting him was one of the joys of my life, and i'll always regret that he and my late husband never met.  For some months deteriorating health has prevented Bob from presenting the talks and online courses which provided him urgently needed income.  Now it seems likely that  the post-polio syndrome he has suffered for many years is ending his life.  Currently he is at home being cared for by family, friends, and hospice.  For more information on Wilson's condition and needs, see Mark Frauenfelder and Douglas Rushkoff's Boing Boing post.  Also, Robert Anton Wilson's Website and the Maybe Logic Academy's Blog have links where you can contribute according to your will and ability.  Here's hoping the small and large gifts provide Bob with a bit of comfort and awareness of how much he is loved.

Better News on SubGenius Custody Case

Rachel Bevilacqua's Blog reports that the Judge in her custody case has granted a two hour supervised visit with her son, with more visits to be arranged if he sees the visit has no ill effects on the child.  Perhaps with sustained attention from the internet and continued donations to her legal fund, there will be a mutually satisfactory future for both biological parents. 

Give It Up For Connie's #1 Handmaiden and Conbo!!!

i'm going to try to keep this light, but, really, it isn't.  Rev. Mary Magdalen, conspiracy name Rachel Bevilacqua, has been engaged in a nine year custody fiasco with her son's father, culminating in this incredibly unfair turn of events.  Some readers of this blog may be unfamiliar with The Church of the SubGenius, if, for example you don't pay much attention to banners and blogrolls. If you're not a SubGenius, perhaps the concept of X-Day might be hard to grasp, and you might not comprehend why, 1.) attendance at X-Day might shock a Roman Catholic judge, and 2.) why Rachel and her husband's membership in the Church and its participation in its events is in no way a sign of unfit parenting. But, lets be clear, this judge's custody decisions are based solely on Rachel and Steve's high profiles in the Church.  As Rev. Stang points out, if we can't get this judgement overturned, any woman who has ever been to X-Day could lose custody of her children. 

Over the past several years i've seen and spoken with Rev. Magdalen at X-Days and Devivals, and wasn't even aware she had a child, which speaks to the fact that her son Kohl has been kept well apart from the more adult aspects of SubGenius life.  She is a person of uncommon sweetness, charm and self possession, which is shown by the amount of strength it takes to keep your convictions while living through a parent's worst nightmare.  Rev. Ivan Stang has a blog entry on just how much SubGenii owe to Magdalen and Jesus here, and the official Church account of the case and legal donation site has detailed information on why money is desperately needed to see justice is served.

Praise "Bob", we're seeing some tax refunds this year, and i'm grateful to help a little, when so often lately we have to sit idle due to lack of funds.  i'm urging you to go to the links, read, and donate (scroll down). Then, take a look at Jesus' General's take on the subject.

Thanks to Rev. Michael and modemac at the High Weirdness Project for mucho info.
Let's not let the pinks win this round!

Wil Wheaton and the War On Christmas

Check out Wil Wheaton's piece, The Real War On Christmas, on Salon today. i'm soooo grateful i'm not working in retail this year.  i guarantee you that i'd have to apologize for any and all holiday, Solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwaanza, etc., greetings i did or didn't give.  Here the customer, Bill O'Reilly,  or the corporate overlords aren't always right, so have a happy holiday of your choice!

Ferret and Fightin' Dinos Redux

Ferrett's LiveJournal has found the website of Jim Pinkoski
, the artist and author of A Creationist's View Of Dinosaurs.  His many books, which put Jack Chick on notice, are available for sale on the site.  Ferret points out that he seems pretty cool - likes Star Wars, Carl Sagan, and came up with the idea of dinosaurs fighting angels!  Heads up from Dr. Brite!

Betcha Didn't Know Dinosaurs Hate God

...and all His creations!  From Davezilla, check out the Ferrett's 'Weirdest Book I Ever Got' post.  i'm not going to spoil this for you - Ferrett tells this story well.  But here's a taste:

This Pretty Much Makes It Official -

-the Constitution is dead. American Samizdat reports an Indiana judge's divorce decree, prohibiting the parents from exposing their child to "non mainstream religious beliefs and rituals".  The parents are, of course, Wiccans, the story is here.

Gnostics Redux

Nice rundown of modern varieties of Gnosticism (beyond Phildickian) from Fantastic Planet can be found here.  Via Tim Boucher: Occult Investigator.

Phildickian Gnosticism

Artwork by R.Crumb from Weirdo

Corpus Mmothra has a well considered piece by Tim Boucher on modern Gnosticism. i've been calling this current 'Neo-Gnosticism', probably influenced by Harold Bloom's writings, particularly The American Religion. But, really, that's too imprecise - he nails this trend of thought and those of us caught up in it in The Birth of Phildickian Gnosticism.  While you're visiting, check out Chaos vs. Thelema?, another challenging piece on a subject close to my heart.

SubGenius News

First, a reminder for people in this part of the country.  There will be another SubGenius Devival at the Magic Stick on Woodward in Detroit on Saturday night.  i won't be there (i'm a panelist at Millennicon), but i sure wish i was going.  If you've never experienced a SubGenius event, you're in for a treat...more than that a relief, that finally someone is saying what should be said, "Bob" dammit.  The Amino Acids have a great new CD out, Destroy the Warming Sun! , and i'd love to see them, but if you're not going to Cincinnati, maybe YOU can!

If you have a damn good excuse for not making the show, but want to know just what this "Bob" bidness is all about, click on the links in the SubGenius section on the left.  i suggest you start with the churchly button.  And, in case you missed the news, the Hour of Slack shows are now available as BitTorrents here.  The links for the shows on Ogg Vorbis and MP3 are here.  These shows are amazingly fine...sometimes listening to church audio was the only thing keeping me from a homicidal rage. It's no substitute for a hands-on SubGenius experience, but these shows have saved many a mutant life.

There's actually a lot going on with the church at present, but i'm basically kicking up a few posts today to show some signs of life.  It's been a hellava week.  i might be off line if the Millennicon hotel doesn't have wifi.  So there's NO TIME to put up all the skinny today...so, check out the Churchly News on the SubSite, OK?
Sugar's sugar, salt's salt...ya didn't get off? Not MY fault.