Memo to Solid Rock Church, Monroe, Ohio:

When you rebuild the enormous Jesus-idol that just burned to the ground after being struck by lightening, it probably wouldn’t make it any more sacrilegious if you add a couple of lightening rods.

The graven image, before it experienced the wrath of static electricity. Photo by DRust.

“It sent goosebumps through my whole body because I am a believer,” said Levi Walsh, 29. “Of all the things that could have been struck, I just think that that would be protected. … It’s something that’s not supposed to happen, Jesus burning,” he said. “I had to see it with my own eyes.”

“I can’t believe Jesus was struck,” said his brother, who noted the giant Hustler Hollywood sign for the adult store across the street was untouched. “It’s the last thing I expected to happen.”

Whether jostled by the incident, or ready to call out zingers, all agreed the statue is what makes that stretch of I-75 in front of the church special.

Via Dan Savage, who correctly identifies the violation of the second commandment; and Slacktivist, who implicates Zeus.

I wish I could say this made me think less of them …

Anti-government-spending protesters complain about inadequate public transit on the way to the protest.

Rep. Kevin Brady asked for an explanation of why the government-run subway system didn’t, in his view, adequately prepare for this past weekend’s rally to protest government spending and government services.

Seriously.

Via the Slog.

So many links, so little time

Indiana … ?

Excerpt from the transcript of the meeting in which George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Lawrence Kasdan conceived Raiders of the Lost Ark (extensive highlights here, full text PDF here):

Kasdan — Do you have a name for this person?

Lucas — I do for our leader.

Spielberg — I hate this, but go ahead.

Lucas — Indiana Smith. It has to be unique. It’s a character. Very Americana square. He was born in Indiana.

Via BoingBoing.

Well, that’s different

In Catalonia, it’s a deeply entrenched tradition to make a very specific kind of addition to public Nativity scenes:

Statuettes of well-known people defecating are a strong Christmas tradition in Catalonia, dating back to the 18th century. Catalonians hide caganers in Christmas Nativity scenes and invite friends to find them. The figures symbolize fertilization, hope and prosperity for the coming year.

Via P.Z. Myers at Pharyngula, who points it out for his own doubtless nefarious purposes.