Oryx Tempel

Many religions have a special day of the week set aside as a "sabbath" or day of rest, contemplation, and worship.

My sister, a convert to Judaism, observes the sabbath on Saturdays by using as little electricity as possible; she spends time at the library, in the park, etc. No computers, no Blackberries, no iPods, no TV, no microwaves, minimal lights, etc. She said they really have noticed a difference in their monthly electric bill since they started this.

Imagine - 4 days out of the month less worth of electric bills! Sounds good to me, regardless of religion.

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Sister Oryx of the Tempel of Pestilence, Destroyer of Faith, Counter of Calories, Murderer of Virtue, whose Sadistic Laugh Rings from the Walls As Her Victims' Screams of Anguish Fade to Bloody, Choking Gurgles and Then Silence.

Asher Bertrand

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

It depends on how you go about it. For example, my electric oven has a "kosher" setting, in which the oven can be kept on at a very low temperature for a day. That way, if you need to use it, you're not actually turning ON an electric appliance. It was already in use before the sun went down, so it's good to go. At least, according to some Orthodox interpretations.

Like the way, in Israel, they set elevators to run continuously and stop at each floor. Hey, the thing was already running when shabbos rolled around, it's good to go!

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Samantha Poindexter

...it's actually a lot more complicated that that. There are only a few cases in which oven use is allowed on Shabbos at all; the food needs to be placed in there and already mostly cooked before sundown, and it all needs to be taken out at once.

I think this setting is primarily useful for those holidays on which cooking using a pre-existing flame is permitted, but lighting a fire is not; for various technical reasons, it can allow one to adjust the temperature on such days.

(More information here, but it uses a lot of Hebrew jargon and is probably unintelligible to the uninitiated. There's also a list of oven models with more information about how one can use each.)

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Philip 3:16
For Rosedale so loved the grid, that he rezzed his only begotten Avatar, that whosoever believeth in him shall not crash, but have eternal Second Life.

Lucifer Baphomet

WTF...

I was hoping this was a thread about cheap Black Sabbath tickets.

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Ewan Took

Nooooooo!

Here's a local thing for me. One up for common sense against the arseholes who impose their crazy values on us...

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Storms rage over Sunday sailings

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."

Isabeau Imako

I think that setting aside a 'rest' day once a week, or even an hour or two a day, is a great idea. I don't see it as imposing anything on anyone.

As for those who love the idea of shops and services being available on Sundays, you'll find that most of these same people aren't the ones working week-ends. I've never had a 9-5 job/Mon-Fri job, and I don't mind working on week-ends, but it would be nice to atleast count on two consecutive days off a week - the same ones preferably.

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Aaachou!

Ewan Took

Rest is one thing, but the Churchy types here want nothing. No reading, TV, internet, singing, board games, escape to the mainland etc. Funny thing is they're called the 'Free Church'

Asher Bertrand

So much effort spent in avoiding "work."

Isabeau Imako

'Free' from brain cells...

Lucifer Baphomet

The WeeFrees are losing ground on their home turf in the hebrides.

No one under 50 takes them seriously anymore, and precious few under retirement age.

Surreal

One of my ex-girlfriends was an observant Jew and we kept the Sabbath.

We didn't go all crazy with the Shabbat oven or such, but we did make it a point to have a chore-free 24 hours. We'd leave work and school at the door, skip cooking unless it was for pleasure, do no chores, and spent the time together relaxing.

I think taking a day off of work of all kinds and spending it relaxing with your loved ones is good for your health, sanity and relationships.

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Lucifer Baphomet

Walter Sobchak: I'm saying, I see what you're getting at, Dude, he kept the money. My point is, here we are, it's shabbas, the sabbath, which I'm allowed to break only if it's a matter of life or death...
The Dude: Will you come off it, Walter? You're not even fucking Jewish, man.
Walter Sobchak: What the fuck are you talkin' about?
The Dude: Man, you're fucking Polish Catholic...
Walter Sobchak: What the fuck are you talking about? I converted when I married Cynthia! Come on, Dude!
The Dude: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Walter Sobchak: And you know this!
The Dude: Yeah, and five fucking years ago you were divorced.
Walter Sobchak: So what are you saying? When you get divorced you turn in your library card? You get a new license? You stop being Jewish?
The Dude: It's all a part of your sick Cynthia thing, man. Taking care of her fucking dog. Going to her fucking synagogue. You're living in the fucking past.
Walter Sobchak: Three thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Koufax...
[shouting]
Walter Sobchak: You're goddamn right I'm living in the fucking past!

Aodhan McDunnough

My landlord when I was in UK freaked out when I mentioned that it's Sunday when we see peak mall, restaurant, and store traffic. In the Philippines there is more money being spent during weekends be it for food, outings, movies, or home entertainment.