Bytes: Funny Friday

"Why are we running?"

"You don't want to get an ugly one, do you?"

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By way of introduction to the theme of today's Funny Friday, it is interesting to note that Christains and Muslims alike have protested against Russell Crowe's new film "Noah", the story of Noah's Ark. The basis of those protests is that the story depicted by the film departs from the Flood narratives in the Koran and the Bible. That in itself is worthy of a Funny Friday item on its own, that the film has departed from the truth, which is that Noah is told by God that He, God, is mightily pissed off and intend to destroy the world by flood. Noah is to be the saviour of humanity and animality (I made that word up) by building a FBB (a big boat) and taking two of each animal aboard so that when the rains stop and the waters go down, they can start all over. The protests don't surprise Noah directior Darren Aronofsy, who has called the film “the least-biblical biblical film ever made.” His goal was to create an alternative version of the Genesis story, one that is more in line with ancient heresies than with the Bible. The protestors aren't having a bar of it, they know where the truth is and it ain't with Russell Crowe.

Needless to say, the theme of FF today is Noah and his FBB, aka the Ark.

There has been a previous Bytes on Noah and the Ark, at:

http://bytesdaily.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/noah-and-ark.html

Here is some more Noah . . .

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Which leads me into a somewhat lengthy story about a modern day Noah, this one set in England. It has a message that will probably cause all of us to nod in agreememnt . . .

NOAH'S ARK - A MODERN TALE

And the Lord spoke to Noah: ''In six months I'm going to make it rain until the whole earth is covered with water and all the evil people are destroyed. But I want to save a few good people, and two of every kind of living thing on the planet. I am ordering you to build Me an Ark.''

And in a flash of lightning He delivered the specifications for an Ark.

''Okay," said Noah, trembling in fear and fumbling with the blueprints.

''Six months, and it starts to rain,'' thundered the Lord. ''You'd better have my Ark completed, or learn how to swim for a very long time.''

And six months passed. The skies began to cloud up and rain began to fall. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard, weeping. And there was no Ark.

''Noah," shouted the Lord, "where is my Ark?'' A lightning bolt crashed into the ground next to Noah, for emphasis.

''Lord, please forgive me," begged Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems. First I had to get a building permit for the Ark construction project, and your plans didn't meet code. So I had to hire an engineer to redraw the plans. Then I got into a big fight over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system. My neighbours objected claiming I was violating zoning by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.

Then I had a big problem getting enough wood for the Ark because there was a ban on cutting trees to save the spotted owl. Then the carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labour Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or a hammer. Now we’ve got 16 carpenters going on the boat, and still no owls.

Then I started gathering up the animals, and got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me taking only two of each kind. Just when I got the suit dismissed, EPA notified me that I couldn't complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood.

Then the Army Corps of Engineers wanted a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe. And the IRS has seized all my assets claiming I'm trying to avoid paying taxes by leaving the country, and I just got a notice from the state about owing some kind of use tax. I really don't think I can finish your Ark for at least another five years,'' Noah wailed.

The sky began to clear. The sun began to shine. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up and smiled.

''You mean you're not going to destroy the earth?'' Noah asked, hopefully.

''Wrong!'' thundered the Lord. ''But being Lord of the Universe has its advantages. I fully intend to smite the earth, but with something far worse than a flood. Something man invented himself.''

''What's that?'' asked Noah. There was a long pause, and then the Lord spoke:

''Government.''

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