Sunday Morning

via Sam Isaacson.

We Like Sheep

Today, via Jesus Needs New PR, I happened across We Like Sheep Comics. It's a weekly comic with a penchant for whimsy and pointing out the ridiculousness of the Bible. Thus, I love it.

Also, I've just discovered that the author/animator/genius behind We Like Sheep has also worked on Happy Tree Friends. He gets bonus Christian- and Man-points for doing so.

The Good Shirt Shop PART II

1. This is a new shirt, especially made for Christian Groping Week. The design on this t-shirt is right in the middle of the chest, so I suppose it suggests that there is an acceptable type of groping that avoids either breast. Also potential for suggesting that covering your hand in paint, holding a small cross in your palm and touching someone inappropriately is fine, in t-shirt form.


2. Chris Tomlin has now branched out into t-shirts, clearly. I'm not sure why he'd use The Matrix font either.

I'm not even sure why you'd want this in a t-shirt. This is a creed I believe in. However, parading it on your chest, looking like a Stryper album cover, is not something that appeals.

3. This is a cool t-shirt. It's got funky Lights Alive writing, and references MC Hammer's U Can't Touch This. I would buy this t-shirt from a normal shop, if I ever bought anything from normal shops.

My problem: why is this a Christian shirt?! I mean, I know, you can read spiritual warfare and angels and protection and being safe with God. Yet I wonder how you go from Athanasian Creed for the above t-shirt, to subtle hints at a Cosmic Protection Racket?!

4. Now, I see what you've done here. You've taken the name of a section of the Bible, and the logo that The Beatles used, and the amalgamated the two. However, I would like to point that you can't wear this item of clothing (ostensibly a hoodie, but those two lines could be dribble) without having the word 'tit' printed on it. Apt, really.



5. This is actually quite well thought-out. And considering the second formula is actually pure ethanol, it's no wonder that the wedding guests thought he'd saved the best till last. Nothing like 100% proof to end a Jewish wedding.

(Again, the lines of dribble must be noted. Although, I suppose if you were drinking pure ethanol, all manner of bodily functions may happen without your say so.)

Alright, I'm done. I found all these at The Good Shirt Shop, a place where perusal brings about many giggles.

If you could make one bad Christian t-shirt, what would it be?

Three Cheers For Porn!

Found via the ever-thought-provoking Sam Isaacson. This is horrible.

If you think this is worth doing something about, go to xxxchurch.com. These are Christians who see the problems of pornography, and are doing something about it.

The Good Shirt Shop PART 1

I came across The Good Shirt Shop via an advert on Facebook, claiming to be the number one choice for Christian t-shirts in the UK. So, ever a sucker for popular culture, I decided to take a look. Here are some of my picks of the bunch, and not all for good reasons.

1. I liked this. It made me smile. And I could think of plenty of Christians who would wear it. Also, it uses Cooper Black, which is a good font. I approve.

2. What does this even mean?! That you and the Almighty are Skyping? Or maybe - as he's an old-fashioned chap - you're rocking it up on MSN. Perhaps you're even watching the same TV programme at the same time, and sharing all the latest celebrity goss? I suppose you could be MMORPGing together. God's character is pretty much definitely a troll. Fact.

3. Again, what?! LIFE for him? This makes no sense. 'Live' I could perhaps deal with, if it wasn't on a t-shirt, and thus making demands of everyone who reads it. Any ideas?

4. This almost feels like evidence in a murder trial: "Can you point out a person in this court room who would wear this abomination?" Cross: great. Colours: nice. Together? On a t-shirt? I'm alright, ta.

5. I liked this idea, and, at the risk of laughter from certain quarters of my friends, the font. I'm not, however, entirely sure about the slightly condescending tone of the extra tagline.

"Hey you, look at me. I'm reborn, recycled, all new. Look, look! Look at me. And you're... oh. Well, that's a shame. Tell you what, be like me, wear slightly tacky t-shirts, and your future looks peachy."

I think I'll pause there, because there is so much comedy gold within the website, and come back to it another time. If you know of any cringe-worthy Christian t-shirts (yes, my dear Americans, I'm particularly looking at you!) send them my way and I'll stick them up in the next post.

You would not believe the hassle I've gone through to get vaguely humorous caption underneath a photo in Blogger. I'm thinking Wordpress beckons...

Outcasts

Did you hear the one about the rapper and the spy on the new planet?

I have recently become slightly enamoured with new BBC (attempt at) sci-fi, Outcasts. Basic premise is that Earth has gone kaboom!, and the most vital of people have been sent in transporters to a new habitable planet. The series then looks at how this new community survives.

There are plot holes and acting discrepancies throughout. That's annoying. They ramp up a mystery in one episode only to take up an entirely new thread in the next. There are presumably thousands of people in the settlement, yet we only ever consistently meet 6 of them. The writers are clearly hopeful that anyone watching won't mind, and will just be dragged along by the (usually) brilliant musical score and dramatic action. Which, I must admit, I have been sucked into.

But I bring it up not because I particularly think you should watch it - although you should - but because of some of the ideas it explores.

Settling on a new planet is presumably a stressful experience. I wouldn't know, myself, but I'm guessing. However, we are given hints at the characters past lives and mistakes they made on Earth, and how life on Carpathia (the planet is named after the ship that picked up survivors from the Titanic) is a second chance for them. As with every society, they attempt to set up a utopia - and, as with every society, they fail. But what is so key is that the leader of this fledgling society begins to understand that despite the new opportunity, humans are fundamentally selfish people, and there is no getting away from that, however many light years away you are.

I doubt the BBC will continue with Outcasts - apparently they shifted from Monday night to Sunday night because the ratings dropped below 3 million - but I would genuinely appreciate a second series. One where the writers learn not to treat the viewers as idiots, some of the detail of the settlement is revealed, and we have less 'grit', and more humour.

Oh, and while you're at it, bring back Firefly?