A Couple Things to Watch and Listen To

The first one isn’t atheist related. It’s just hilarious.

Listen to the third segment of the latest episode of This American Life (MP3). Here’s the synopsis:

Elna Baker reads her story about the time she worked at the giant toy store, FAO Schwartz. Her job was to sell these lifelike “newborns” which were displayed in a “nursery” inside the store. When the toys become the hot new present, they begin to fly off the shelves. When the white babies sell out, white parents are faced with a choice: will they go for an Asian, Latino, or African-American baby instead? What happens is so disturbing that Elna has a hard time even telling it. (16 minutes)

It begins at the 41:05 mark. I promise it’s worth it 🙂 It made the long, snowy-roaded drive to work much more bearable this morning.

The second thing, as pointed out by reader Kaleena, regards the latest episode of My Super Sweet 16.

Let’s see the recap of this one:

Chanae is a preacher’s daughter from Cleveland, but she’s no angel. Her father is the biggest pastor in Cleveland and she is his princess. Now that she’s turning sixteen, Chanae is ready to show everyone that Christians can rock too.

Her parents are apprehensive about spending so much money for a rock and roll bash, but Chanae firmly believes that God wants her party to be the best thing Cleveland’s ever seen…

…

The party is about to end and it’s the moment of truth: will Chanae get her pink scooter? Sadly not…instead she got three! She is truly blessed.

I knew tithing was good for something.

[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]

Kaleena

And oh my goodness would I ever be pissed if I was one of the congregates that have donated money…
Kaleena

P.S. I LOVE This American Life.
Paul

My wife and I really love This American Life, too. In fact, it was Julia Sweeney’s essay that we heard on TAL (via MP3) that spawned life-changing conversations between myself and my wife.
Jen

I am not exaggerating when I say that My Super Sweet Sixteen is the single greatest television show ever, and perhaps may be the reason that the FSM has blessed us with television. There are few things in this world as great as watching spoiled rich kids whine about having to attend their parties in limos instead of on horseback in a parade that shuts down an important street in front of a hospital. It provides a glimpse into the lives of the very rich- they are better than us, and we can see that in how much money they spend on jewelry and sunglasses. And we know they have more friends- just look at all the people who want to go to their crazy parties.

But a scooter? Was it covered in diamonds? Most of those kids get $100,000 cars. One girl got a really tricked out bike that cost $2000… and a $100,000 car. Oh, and one very spoiled brat studied abroad, probably destroying Franco-American relations for generations to come.

And the Nubbins story was hilarious in a really sad way. I was never much of a toy baby child, though I did have a few Cabbage Patch dolls (this was from when people got reallllllly nutty over CP dolls) and they were white, and I think all of my Barbies were white. I don’t know that it ever occured to me to ask for a differently-hued Barbie.
Scotty B

Her father is the biggest pastor in Cleveland…

What, like 6’5″ and 300 lbs?
/I dare you to find a bigger pastor in Cleveland 🙂
anonymouse

I heard that story in the car! It was so great. Nubbins. 🙂
Polly

Nubbins:
Funny and yet I can’t help feeling disgusted.

OK, my wife likes to tease me with those realistic baby ads because she knows that I can’t even stand to look at them,
CREEEEEEEEEEEPPY!!!

That story just added like 15 layers of awkwardness to the whole life-like (dead-zone) baby issue for me. I may have to seek counseling.

Thanks a lot!
Sunglasses

AHAHAHa the second one made me laugh so much. I watched that and I was like, really…?
“Sadly not…instead she got three! She is truly blessed. ” funnnnny!
Kaleena

I just finished reading her book, “The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dnace” and I love, love, LOVE it. This book is so far my most favoritest read of the year (so far). I highly recommend reading this book. And it’s fast to read and hilarious too!