Open Hatch

If you read clear down somewhere in the middle of this thread at a web board, someone who went to a test screening of Mobsters and Mormons (my first speaking role in a major film) thought it was “a breath of fresh air” and “very funny”. My neighbor heard (somewhere, I don’t know where) that it’s “supposed to be pretty good” (well - everything is always “supposed” to be - I’m just a stickler for that phrase. You get the meaning). And in an email conversation with the director, he told me it’s been very well recieved in test screenings. Someone at this blog is dismissing it with prejudice for its film peers. At least let’s be clear that’s prejudice - they haven’t examined the film at all. Apparently those who have examined it like it. So I’m encouraged.

Perusing Barnes and Noble I came across this sentence in the introduction of a book entitled The Blank Slate, by Steven Pinker:

The denial of human nature has spread beyond the academy and has led to a disconnect between intellectual life and common sense.

Hoo!
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[Ed. Afterthought - I find myself somewhat dreading this may come across as bitter invective, that you might think I hate a person who hates clichés. I hope not. I’ll yet review and re-write this if that seems the effect.]

IGN.com reviews a fantasy book, entitled Eragon, that has become a “publishing sensation”.

Their review mixes overt adulation with cynicism that the book employs clichés:

One can’t help but notice the clichés in place.

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Nico Roscoe at sponbustion.com writes a load of fallacies and unfavorable comments about Mormons. The only thing I hope he’s right about is that the film Mobsters and Mormons will be great - of course, I have a vested interest, since I’m in the movie.

His fallacy: the LDS scriptures were pulled out of and translated while in a hat.
Truth: they were dug out of a hill where they were buried anciently. They were hidden in various places during translation while various thugs attempted by various and often violent means to get them. I do believe they were translated by the gift and power of God.

Fallacy: our founder’s name was John Smith.
Truth: his name was Joseph Smith. If you don’t get such a basic, founding fact right, you lose a lot of credit for everything else you say.

Fallacy: the plates were only seen by “John Smith”.
Truth offered in rebuttal at his website: there were 11 other witnesses to the plates.
Fallacious rebuttal to rebuttal: - first, he never minds conceding that he had the fact of no other witnesses wrong. Next, he immediately says without any historical or other references that Joseph Smith (also without concession that he had the fact of that name wrong) abused and battered them into “[CLAIMING]” what they saw, and only as a “spiritual” experience. Wowsers! First, a thing of importance needs a witness, and here there were 12. Second, this fellow cites no reputable witnesses to the contrary. Third, such witnesses are only hearsay, and the direct witness offered by these 12 is what should be given most weight. Lastly, if this fellow actually read their witness as put forth in the opening pages of the Book of Mormon, he dismisses their witness that they did in fact hold and handle the gold plates and see them with their own eyes. That is talking about a physical and not a spiritual experience. And it is not fair at all to equate a spiritual state with a brainwashed one. To really do that, you have to say that the vast majority of THE WORLD is brainwashed, where uncounted hosts of humanity witness belief in a living God by their spiritual feeling of the matter. There is no evidence of brainwashing because it did not occur. That is simply an invention, a fiction.

Fallacy: Mormons don’t use eBay.
Truth: Mormons use eBay as much or more than other groups (I would wager more) - I know at least five including myself who do.

Possible truth: I’d rather not explore that topic here - suffice it to say Mormons believe in abstinence before marriage, including abstinence from self-indulgence.

Topic breached without admitting it’s complexity: There are same-gender attracted Mormons that have their own community.
Overlooked complexity: such folks who actively pursue such a lifestyle aren’t kept in the church. Folks with such inclinations who don’t make it a lifestyle are kept in the church.

So, one of the rare places I agree with this fellow is in hoping the film Mobsters and Mormons is “great”.

Episode III spoiler

I read somewhere, and I don’t remember where, that according to the official REVENGE OF THE SITH novel, Darth Plaguis is Darth Sideous’ master, as I predicted.

Still no official word I’ve come across anywhere to the effect of either of these dark lords creating Anakin, though I hold to my observation of Sideous referring in passing to Anakin as “son” as a strong suggestion to the effect.