Pinning Pesci Pastors

So I joined Pinterest a while ago. I had resisted for a long time because I’d heard it was all about recipes and cleaning tips and fashion (and what I’d seen of it, reposted on other social media platforms, had seemed to confirm that). But then one day, I happened upon a Pinterest board dedicated to Every-Day Carry (EDC). If you’ve never heard of EDC, it’s a bunch of grown men (myself included) obsessing over which watches, gizmos, pocket knives, handguns, and other items they should carry on their person on a daily basis. My Pinterest was piqued.

I suppose it makes sense, as men were already “pinning up” pictures of women generations ago (and unfortunately, if one is not careful, there is plenty of that sort of thing on Pinterest as well). But before long, I was hooked obsessively repinning pictures of city skylines, theologians, vintage electronics, etc. Then I made a board a piece for three of my books (42 Months Dry, Playing Saint, and The Last Con).

And just the other day, I made one called “Pesci Preachers.” It’s not pictures of clergymen who look like Joe Pesci (although I would definitely be interested in seeing such a board), but rather a collection of my favorite fictional clerics who defy ministerial stereotypes in a way that leans toward heroic/hardcore/smooth. (For the etymology of “Pesci,” see this old post from my old blog).

Have a look at the board here, and let me know who I’ve missed. I’d love to add a few more Pesci preachers to my collection.

Also: do you have a favorite fictionalized version of your own occupation? This is an easy question if you’re an archaeologist, forensic scientist, pilot, or politician . . . maybe a little more obscure if you’re a physical therapist or mechanical engineer.

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A Skeleton in a Suit and Tie Tells Us What We Ought to Buy

Okay, that's a little obscure, isn't it?  It's lyrics from a song called "Social" from the best part of the Nineties, which fits because A.) It's Halloween, and B.) this post is about social media.

Namely, my social media. Know this:

1. I got on Pinterest against my own better judgment, expecting it to be full of nothing but recipes and makeup tips and for the woman-man ratio to be tilted toward the feminine more than the last two Christian writing conference I went to.  But here's what I learned: Pinterest is straight-up FULL of men pinning pictures of guns, cars, gadgets, sports stuff, and of course pretty girls (which reminded me that of course Pinterest is heavily populated by men--they were the original pinner-uppers).  Anyway, I've got like seven boards going and I find the process to be insanely cathartic, if time-sucking, muck like Flair was on the good version of facebook in like 2005 (also: remember Flair???). If you want to check out my boards, they can be found here.

2. A few months ago I had started #another100daysofrandombandnames on Twitter (see my first #100daysofrandombandnames here) and then let it fizzle out after only fourteen.  Well, now I've got them scheduled up through fifty. Make sure to check my Twitter @AuthorZBartels every day for the newest, greatest randomest (I know that's not a word, or a coherent concept) band name.