Another Bio Update

Posted: March 7, 2012 in Blog Entries
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Here’s the latest version with the latest info in bold:

Anthony David Jacques is an American author and freelance journalist. Born and raised in the Midwestern U.S., he has earned degrees in Graphic Design, Music and Gemology.

His fiction writing ranges from mainstream to neo-noir and has been published both online and in print, including the 2011 collection Warmed and Bound : A Velvet Anthology.

He currently writes for An American Atheist and ManArcy Magazine. He also runs you might be an Atheist and Fuck Yeah Christopher Hitchens on tumblr.

His personal tumblr is adj.

Jacques lists among his influences Alex Garland, Craig Clevenger, Thomas Paine, Mark Z. Danielewski, Italo Calvino, Bertrand Russell, Trent Reznor, Richard Thomas and Chuck Palahniuk.

Currently living in Southern California, his other interests include philosophy, music, pipe tobacco and a dark green ’67 Plymouth.

You can contact him at irelocus_at_gmail_dot_com.

Whiskey 101 : Celebrity Death Match Edition

Posted: March 7, 2012 in Od-Ed
Tags: , , , , ,
0

The latest in my Whiskey 101 series, now live over at ManArchy Magazine:

In this corner: From Moray, Scotland. Weighing in at 750ml, in the light green bottle, with black lettering over a tan label. It’s the 12 year old single malt you’ve probably never heard of, here to defend its title as the best-selling whiskey in the world: The Glenlivet.

And the challenger: From Kilmarnok, Scotland. Also weighing in at 750ml, in the notorious clear bottle, with gold lettering over that distinguished diagonal Black Label for which it is named, this 12 year old blended whiskey is arguably the most well-known whiskey in the world: Johnnie Walker.

Read on –>

Heavy Metal Bible

Posted: March 7, 2012 in Blog Entries, Essay
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

This week’s essay at An American Atheist is sort of a cross-promotion between my tumblr, …you might be an Atheist, and my typical essay style. I’ve made the point short and sweet, to fit the witty one-liner style of the blog.

Here’s a sneak peek:

* * *

Did you know that Metallica’s song “Creeping Death” is a specifically about the Biblical tenth plague, when God killed the firstborn child of every household in Egypt? …

Shouldn’t it be alarming that bands like Slayer, Lamb of God, Megadeth and Iron Maiden get some of their most violent or disturbing imagery right out of the good old King James Bible, often quoting scripture ver batim? Yet if we’re honest, such stories of aggression, violence, rape, debauchery, war and genocide make up more than half of the Christian Bible.

Read on –>

Check out …you might be an Atheist on tumblr.

Website Updates

Posted: March 2, 2012 in Blog Entries
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Just a quick note on a couple changes to this site and my obsession with the micro-blogging site, tumblr.

Since I sustained a concussion early on in February, my ability to read or write anything of length has been greatly diminished. Not only have I been off work because of this, I’ve also been unable to do much of anything else that required any level of concentration for more than a few minutes at a time. This means that all the things you do when you’re laid up and can’t work, I can’t actually do.

As such, I’ve been culling through those essays which I’d already written and really only needed one or two edits before publication. I found quite a few were already complete and I’d just forgotten they were there.

Also, the world of micro-blogging has become a much needed refuge. So, my old tumblr, simply titled adj, has gotten a breath of new life. Two others that I started just before I sustained the concussion have also become more of a focus as I wait for my brain to heal.

It probably goes without saying that Fuck Yeah Christopher Hitchens is a fan site for the Hitch. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t one of these already.

The other one, more cleverly titled … you might be an Atheist, is a fun site where I post little one-liner factoids about the non-religious. The goal is that each of these posts could be a funny or thought-provoking conversation starter between people of all faiths, or no faith at all.

Also, I’ve added an Audio page on this site, which corresponds to that new tab up there between Non-Fiction and Bio. This is to serve as a place to keep track of podcasts and interviews for any number of things going forward. There are three entries on the page now, and I hope to be adding to it more in the near future.

But first, my brain needs to stop hurting so I can get back to not only my job, but the stack of books I have yet to read and all the ideas I have yet to unleash on the page. I’m hoping no more than another week of this tedious convalescing stands between me and a return to life as usual.

Cheers!

ADJ

Suffer the Little Children : Witch Hunters in the 21st Century

Posted: February 26, 2012 in Non-Fiction
Tags: , , , ,

My latest is now live over at An American Atheist:

Helen Ukpabio is a Christian fundamentalist and Biblical literalist who incites torture, violence, and persecution against alleged witches and wizards, citing Exodus 22:18 as a primary justification and foundation for her methods: ”Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Based on this  and quite a few other Old Testament scriptures, Ukpabio and many other witch hunters in several African countries put children, the elderly and the mentally infirm at serious risk.

Ukpabio’s ministry is based at Nigeria’s Liberty Gospel Church, but she is coming to Houston, Texas in the middle of March at the invitation of Glorious Praise Ministries, to lead a conference on witch-hunting.

Read on –>

To sign the petition urging the US Department of State to ban her entry into the US, click here.

An Open Letter to Religious Conservatives

Posted: February 19, 2012 in Non-Fiction
Tags: , , , , , , ,

To whom it may concern,

We, the People of the United States of America, understand that many of you don’t like the idea of same-sex marriage. We only wish you would realize that you are free to not get one. You are free to marry whoever you wish, or no one at all. You are also free to not recognize same-sex marriages in your church. You are free to count no gay couples among your friends and shun those who may happen to be part of your family tree. This is your choice, and we see no reason to deprive you of it.

However, please do not confuse your failed attempts toward limiting the rights of those outside your religious community with your own rights being somehow limited.

Read the rest of this entry »

Whiskey 101 : Jack Daniels Old No 7

Posted: February 2, 2012 in Non-Fiction, Tasting Notes
Tags: , , ,
0

My whiskey series continues with some thoughts on the quintessential American Whiskey, Jack Daniels.

“This week, each one of you has a homework assignment. You’re gonna go out, you’re gonna start a fight with a total stranger.” ~ Tyler Durden

Now substitute “start a fight” with “have a drink” and “total stranger” with “drinking buddy” and you’re right on track.
* * *
In the first article, Stop Drinking, Start Tasting, we covered the very basics of whiskey, how it’s made, and how to sip it right, noting color, smell and taste. This is a man’s world, after all, and the modern man knows when to order a Jack and Coke, and when to order a Highland Park 12 year, neat. And not just because your date will think you’re a genius for knowing how to order whiskey (talk about pre-heating the oven), but because these drinks really are worth tasting.

Now it may seem that we’re just railing on Jack Daniels here, so rather than give the impression that the Old No. 7 is a whiskey for the undiscriminating palette, let’s take a closer look to see if it deserves the popularity it enjoys.

Read on –>

Older Entries
Newer Entries