The Devil made me do it??

Been reading about how Harry Potter is influencing the world toward Satanism. Now, I happen to really enjoy Harry Potter. It always has been amazing to me, though, how a a series of children's books written by a down-and-out Scottish lady could just sweep everybody. Hmmm.

If you were the Devil, what would you do that would influence the future of the world: A. Push your message among the likes of Ozzie O. and Judas Priest and a bunch of heavy metal burn outs? or B. Plant an idea within the minds of all the sweet, innocent children (and many adults) in the world via an entertaining children's book?

Another weird thing that I've read about lately is the Illuminati, the World Order, and the hand signals that all the politians (not just Bush and the republicans) and "People Who Matter" flash. I think that, when asked, GWB said that the hand signal representated the U of T Long Horns - that should tell you something.

The top of my brain says "Oh for heaven's sake - is that stupid!" then somewhere deep inside a finger taps me and says "We never know the whole truth".

I've been reading too many apocalypse books.

Schadenfreude (he he he)

I really try to be a noble woman, but when I see someone, who has given me so much intentional grief in my young life, go through messy crap at the hand of someone of his own choosing, it just f____g feels good.

In my daughter's words - "There, I said it"

Schadenfreude is a German expression (from Schaden: damage, harm; and Freude: joy) meaning pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune or shameful joy. The word is often capitalized, however since all German nouns (proper or common) are capitalized it should be possible to spell it lower case in English.

It is usually believed to not have a direct English equivalent. For example, Harper Collins German-English Dictionary translates schadenfreude as malicious glee or gloating. An apparent English equivalent, derived from Greek, is epicaricacy. This word does not appear in most modern dictionaries but does appear in Nathaniel Bailey's Universal Etymological English Dictionary (1727) under a slightly different spelling (epicharikaky) and gives its etymology as epi (upon) + chara (joy) + kakon (evil).

Taken in a broader sense, it could apply to the feeling of being “blessed” because there are always people who are worse off than ourselves. Instead of compassion or pity for those less fortunate, we are thankful that it is they instead of us. However, it is never used in that sense in German, where it always carries a negative connotation. German actually draws a distinction between "secret schadenfreude" (a private feeling) and "open schadenfreude" (Hohn) which is outright public derision. Ultimately though, in the english language Schadenfreude is commonly characterized as "sick pleasure".

Some German quotes on Schadenfreude

• Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude (denn sie kommt von Herzen). Schadenfreude is the most beautiful kind of joy (since it comes directly from the heart).
• Neid zu fühlen ist menschlich, Schadenfreude zu genießen teuflisch. To feel envy is human, to enjoy Schadenfreude is devilish.

Now I will go say a prayer and ask God to forgive me.