Monday, July 31, 2006
"Tar Baby" remark gets Mitt in a "sticky situation"
Kiss any black vote goodbye!
I hate to see something this good after I've shut down the PC for the evening because I now must post via the laptop. Damn!
Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has apologized for referring to the troubled Big Dig construction project as a "tar baby" during a fundraiser with Iowa Republicans.
What the hell gets into these Presidential aspirants when they get into the cornfields with those Iowa Republicans? Cornholio? Sweet mother of Jesus.
"The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that tar baby as I can," he told a crowd of about 100 supporters in Ames, Iowa.
Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said the governor was describing "a sticky situation."
Oh yeah... real sticky. Why not just blame the faulty tunnel construction on Negro workers? Couldn't do much worse at this point.
Another case for the superiority of "traditional families"
Nice Mommie.
Meanwhile, Agape Press has a piece titled "Do Homosexuals Really Want to Get Married?"
The morning after a deadly house fire gutted her home, a Michigan mother who lost four of her eight children in the blaze allegedly said that "she had too many kids to start with" to a friend who testified Friday in the trial of the man accused of starting the fire.
CINCINNATI - A woman who molested at least one of her five children and prompted four of them to have sex with each other has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Robin Kraft, 40, and her husband, Paul Kraft, 32, sexually abused their four sons and one daughter, ages 1 to 6, in 2004.
HELLO!!! This is Texas and it's HOT in late July! Why do you have a child if you can't even remember to take it out of the car?
PASADENA, Texas — A Pasadena woman whose 2-year-old daughter died after being found inside a locked SUV parked in the family's driveway has been
arrested.Christina Elaine Alvarez, 21, was charged with injury to a child by
omission. The child died at Hermann Hospital on Friday night after being found
nonresponsive.Police said the mother did not realize the girl was still in
the car after returning home Friday between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
Other family members later arrived and looked for the child, but they did not find the girl inside the vehicle until about 8:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, Agape Press has a piece titled "Do Homosexuals Really Want to Get Married?"
Citing a report issued by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, they assert the answer is no, as if that has any relevance on our rights to marry if we wish. There is not a requirement that heterosexual couples living together get married. This is not a valid issue but the fundies will continue pinching even the smallest teats in an attempt to extract a drop of milk to bolster their stance.
I don't find it surprising that a much smaller percentage of gay couples are getting married, where it is legal for them to do so, than heterosexual couples. For us as a group, the idea of marriage has only recently become a reality. Couples need to to assess whether marriage is right for them. Even the fundies would argue that no one should rush into a marriage.
To assert, as they do, that we as a group don't really want the right-- that it's being pushed by activists simply to "normalize" our "sin," well... excuse me, but that's just more asshattery.
Sending positive thoughts to Lebanon
Growing up, I always wanted to visit Europe. Finally, in March 1978, just a month prior to my 18th birthday, my parents agreed to let me travel on a 9-day "Holy Land" tour sponsored by a Methodist church and guided by the minister. It wasn't Europe, and I wasn't going to have a lot of personal freedom, but it was so exciting!
On the flight over to Amman, Jordan we had a long layover in Beirut, Lebanon and I purchased this blanket from a vendor in the Beirut airport. I wanted to share the picture of this beautiful piece of craftsmanship as we remember and mourn the death of innocent civilians, especially the children killed yesterday in Qana.
So much for the idea of a ceasefire.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Public Urination
After yesterday's post with the bit about the horrendous stench of city alleyways, txrad just gave me an idea for a new post. Consider it a Question of the Day:
What's the most memorable public pissing episode you have?
Don't be bashful. Most of us have been out for some heavy drinking, and unable to find or get to a toilet in a timely manner, we've had to relieve ourselves where and when we can. It doesn't even necessary have to have been influenced by alcohol consumption, but mine were.
My first trips to Europe began in 1978 and into the early 80s. Once in London, after a night out at the pubs & clubs, I was stumbling around the streets in the wee hours and had to pee like a horse. I ended up urinating into a dumpster at Scotland Yard.
On a different trip to Europe, I was in Munich at one of those enormous beer halls. It was quite a festive occasion. I drank four of those bad boys you see in the photo above. Thinking that wasn't quite sufficient to see me through the night I began draining any unfinished beers other patrons had left behind.
Once on the streetcar heading back to my youth hostel, I naturally had the urge to pee about a gallon. I did the leg-crossing, clutching my privates tightly, anything to hold it in until I got to my destination.
Like a swollen river spilling over a dam, the torrent could not be restrained. I stood up, ready to get off at the next stop, and began peeing in my jeans. I just stood there looking down at the puddle forming around my feet.
Despite my embarrassment, I think the reason I remember this incident so well was due to the enormous sense of relief I felt.
I suspect women have a more difficult time with this than men do simply because we can just whip out our hoses and spray away.
Your turn.... let it out!
What's the most memorable public pissing episode you have?
Don't be bashful. Most of us have been out for some heavy drinking, and unable to find or get to a toilet in a timely manner, we've had to relieve ourselves where and when we can. It doesn't even necessary have to have been influenced by alcohol consumption, but mine were.
My first trips to Europe began in 1978 and into the early 80s. Once in London, after a night out at the pubs & clubs, I was stumbling around the streets in the wee hours and had to pee like a horse. I ended up urinating into a dumpster at Scotland Yard.
On a different trip to Europe, I was in Munich at one of those enormous beer halls. It was quite a festive occasion. I drank four of those bad boys you see in the photo above. Thinking that wasn't quite sufficient to see me through the night I began draining any unfinished beers other patrons had left behind.
Once on the streetcar heading back to my youth hostel, I naturally had the urge to pee about a gallon. I did the leg-crossing, clutching my privates tightly, anything to hold it in until I got to my destination.
Like a swollen river spilling over a dam, the torrent could not be restrained. I stood up, ready to get off at the next stop, and began peeing in my jeans. I just stood there looking down at the puddle forming around my feet.
Despite my embarrassment, I think the reason I remember this incident so well was due to the enormous sense of relief I felt.
I suspect women have a more difficult time with this than men do simply because we can just whip out our hoses and spray away.
Your turn.... let it out!
and the beat goes on.....
The airstrike prompted thousands of demonstrators into downtown Beirut to join angry protestors, who broke into the UN headquarters following the raids.The Lebanese Red Cross said the airstrike in Qana, in which at least 34 children were killed, pushed the overall Lebanese death toll to more than 500.
Condi is making a hasty retreat back to Washington, skipping a planned meeting in Beirut. Angry Lebanese officials said it was their government that called off the meeting.
And Tony Blair is dealing with a "full-scale cabinet rebellion" after his former Foreign Secretary warned that "Israel's actions risked destabilising all of Lebanon."
For all the talks here and meetings here and there, the only thing I see being accomplished is a lot of thumb-twiddling. Why?
After reading more than 2 dozen blogs this morning on the subject, my optimism meter still registers a big fat zero. Most take a position strongly backing Israel, or strongly supporting Lebanon, or strangely enough, stauchly supporting Hezbollah.
I get a sense that many people want this to drag on, for whatever reason.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Le Weekend
It's the weekend...let's have some fun. My goal this weekend is to learn to use Paint Shop Pro X. With temps in the high 90s I sure as shit won't be mowing the yard or doing much else outside.
I found this over at Best Gay Blogs and immediately thought of Shakes and Paul the Spud
Best Gay Blogs (yes, I go there to read the posts, not look at the "Hottie of the Day" photos -- what do you think I am, shallow??) features a nice rant of things we could all do without including:
* Men: Please stop clipping your fingernails on the subway.
* Women: Please stop wearing flip flops with dirty feet and calloused heels while sporting a face full of perfect makeup and a french manicure.
* Puerto Rican men: Stop with the constant adjusting of your balls. What? Are they so big they're trying to escape? What've you got going on down there? A family of squirrels? Give us a break with the machismo bullshit. You like it up the pooper anyway; don't kid a kidder.
* Smelly alleys: I am tired of walking by city alleys that reek of stale beer and urine. Can the fire department hose down the alleys along Rush Street once in awhile? Must I always smell piss and beer on the walk home?
* Do not eat breakfast McMuffins on the bus. It smells like ass with bacon.
Good rant! My mother used to say a Quarter Pounder with cheese smelled like a stinky armpit.
I found this over at Best Gay Blogs and immediately thought of Shakes and Paul the Spud
Best Gay Blogs (yes, I go there to read the posts, not look at the "Hottie of the Day" photos -- what do you think I am, shallow??) features a nice rant of things we could all do without including:
* Men: Please stop clipping your fingernails on the subway.
* Women: Please stop wearing flip flops with dirty feet and calloused heels while sporting a face full of perfect makeup and a french manicure.
* Puerto Rican men: Stop with the constant adjusting of your balls. What? Are they so big they're trying to escape? What've you got going on down there? A family of squirrels? Give us a break with the machismo bullshit. You like it up the pooper anyway; don't kid a kidder.
* Smelly alleys: I am tired of walking by city alleys that reek of stale beer and urine. Can the fire department hose down the alleys along Rush Street once in awhile? Must I always smell piss and beer on the walk home?
* Do not eat breakfast McMuffins on the bus. It smells like ass with bacon.
Good rant! My mother used to say a Quarter Pounder with cheese smelled like a stinky armpit.
"We're a happy family"
Chalk one up for the same sex marriage opponents. This should remind us why children are better off in a "traditional family" household.
A bank executive who said he had battled depression for years was sentenced to life in prison for killing his 5-year-old twin daughters. David Crespi, 45, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder to spare his family the trauma of a trial and possible death penalty.
****************************************
Norma Jean Roberts will not be eligible for parole until she is at least 90 years old.
The Keller woman was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison for the murder of her 11-year-old daughter, Kelsey.
Prosecutors said Mrs. Roberts, 50, took her daughter's life because she did not want to share the girl with her estranged husband. Her intentions were carved in a message in the dining room table at her home where the girl's lifeless body was found Aug. 5. She was suffocated.
***************************************
It works the other way as well:
LAUREL, MS -Another grizzly homicide in Laurel thursday leaves a father dead, a mother severely wounded, and a son behind bars. Laurel police say a domestic assault escalated into murder. Authorities are not yet releasing the identities of the victims or the son in custody. They say the son killed his father with an ax, then attacked his mother.
and in the flamboyant priest department:
CONNECTICUT
Church: Priest misspent cash
BRIDGEPORT — A priest who resigned in May misspent up to $1.4 million in parishioner donations to lead a life of luxury with another man, according to a church-directed investigation. The Rev. Michael Jude Fay spent church money on limousines, stays at top hotels, jewelry, Italian clothing and a Florida condominium, auditors hired by the diocese found.
I'm just randomly sifting through news today and found this in the Dallas Morning News....interesting:
In 1915, the Texas Colored Teachers Association condemned a new and "immoral" form of music – ragtime. In the 1920s, a coalition of ministers denounced the soulful harmonies and sexual hip-swiveling of rhythm and blues. Later, gospel was criticized as sinfully irreverent; rock 'n' roll was cited as evidence of social decay; folk, it was said, provoked civil unrest. Historians, academics and artists say Dallas police stepped into a century-old quagmire two weeks ago when they suggested the motive for a double-slaying could be found in the profane, taunting lyrics of a song by Lil Jon and East Side Boyz.
A bank executive who said he had battled depression for years was sentenced to life in prison for killing his 5-year-old twin daughters. David Crespi, 45, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder to spare his family the trauma of a trial and possible death penalty.
****************************************
Norma Jean Roberts will not be eligible for parole until she is at least 90 years old.
The Keller woman was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison for the murder of her 11-year-old daughter, Kelsey.
Prosecutors said Mrs. Roberts, 50, took her daughter's life because she did not want to share the girl with her estranged husband. Her intentions were carved in a message in the dining room table at her home where the girl's lifeless body was found Aug. 5. She was suffocated.
***************************************
It works the other way as well:
LAUREL, MS -Another grizzly homicide in Laurel thursday leaves a father dead, a mother severely wounded, and a son behind bars. Laurel police say a domestic assault escalated into murder. Authorities are not yet releasing the identities of the victims or the son in custody. They say the son killed his father with an ax, then attacked his mother.
and in the flamboyant priest department:
CONNECTICUT
Church: Priest misspent cash
BRIDGEPORT — A priest who resigned in May misspent up to $1.4 million in parishioner donations to lead a life of luxury with another man, according to a church-directed investigation. The Rev. Michael Jude Fay spent church money on limousines, stays at top hotels, jewelry, Italian clothing and a Florida condominium, auditors hired by the diocese found.
I'm just randomly sifting through news today and found this in the Dallas Morning News....interesting:
In 1915, the Texas Colored Teachers Association condemned a new and "immoral" form of music – ragtime. In the 1920s, a coalition of ministers denounced the soulful harmonies and sexual hip-swiveling of rhythm and blues. Later, gospel was criticized as sinfully irreverent; rock 'n' roll was cited as evidence of social decay; folk, it was said, provoked civil unrest. Historians, academics and artists say Dallas police stepped into a century-old quagmire two weeks ago when they suggested the motive for a double-slaying could be found in the profane, taunting lyrics of a song by Lil Jon and East Side Boyz.
Friday, July 28, 2006
When is the time "right?"
Condi said she would return to the Middle East "when it is right" but gave no timetable, dashing hopes she would launch a new Middle East peace drive on Friday. However... Bush & Blair have other plans. See next story below....
More than 420 people, mostly civilians, have been confirmed killed in Lebanon and 51 Israelis, including 18 civilians, have died since the conflict was triggered on July 12 when Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight.
Meanwhile back at home, British Prime MinisterTony Blair, shown in a stock photo above, is meeting with El Presidente Shrub in Washington to discuss the "deteriorating Mideast crisis."
B&B said Friday they want an international force dispatched quickly to the Mideast but said any plan to end the fighting must address long-running regional disputes to be effective.
Bush also announced he is sending Condi back to the region on Saturday to negotiate the terms.
"This is a moment of intense conflict in the Middle East," the president said. "Yet our aim is to turn it into a moment of opportunity and a chance for broader change in the region."
Sorta like Iraq? Is it time to shit a brick yet? We'll see.
William F. Buckley vs. Coulter
Ann Coulter's column has been dropped by two newspapers and a Shreveport paper is considering dropping her. Now, a weekly in Greensboro, N.C., has decided to drop Ann Coulter's regular column, distributed by Universal.
"Yes! Weekly", which has carried the Coultergeist conservative firebrand since last August, announced the move after polling its readers. She will be replaced by another conservative, William F. Buckley.
I don't know how much longer Buckley will be around.... he's in his early 80s. Speaking of early 80s, I was an avid watcher of Buckley on Firing Line back then. The whole red state/blue state nonsense had not entered our lexicon yet, although the seeds were being sown, as they were for the cultural divide, (until 2000, televised coverage of national elections often used blue for Republican states and red for Democratic states) and there wasn't yet a strong statewide Republican movement in Arkansas where I had grown up. I was enamored of his political positions and how articulate he was.
Now that I have moved to the other end of the political spectrum I still have some respect for the guy even if I don't agree with him on most issues. (And I'm probably cutting him some slack due to his age, experience, and intellect.)
Here is a snippet from a recent CBS News piece online.
Buckley finds himself parting ways with President Bush, whom he praises as a decisive leader but admonishes for having strayed from true conservative principles in his foreign policy. In particular, Buckley views the three-and-a-half-year Iraq War as a failure. "If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced it would be expected that he would retire or resign," Buckley says.
I always had a special place in my heart for this old codger: a conservative Republican with a brain. Always refreshing and what a contrast against Coulter's insane asshattery vitriol. (Interestingly, he was also a member of the Skull & Bones society.)
SignOnSan Diego has a related article.
"The purpose of an open mind is to close it, on particular subjects. If you never do — you've simply abdicated the responsibility to think".
---William F. Buckley
Thursday, July 27, 2006
SNAKE FARM: It's a reptile house
motherfuckin' snake in the motherfukin' house!!
txrad had gone through our laundry room into the garage to take something out to the dumpster today. Upon returning he noticed a snake about to enter the laundry room from the garage. He tried to close the door but the snake was already slithering in.
I knew damn well I should not have posted yesterday about snakes. This shit was bound to happen. He THINKS it's a garter snake, and said it was a baby, but given the fact that I've seen two young highly venomous coral snakes in the past year, I'm not 100% convinced until I see it myself. Unfortuately, I can't because it went behind the baseboard and behind the wall somewhere. We have a towel under the door between the kitchen and the laundry room, as if that would keep a baby snake out of the house.
So, I'll take advantage of this opportunity to tell you about a new CD from one of our local favorites, Ray Wylie Hubbard who has an excellent new release called "Snake Farm". We're listening now. It just seems so appropriate!
There is a "snake farm" down I-35 between Austin and San Antonio which supposedly inspired the album and song. We haven't been there but have passed it on the freeway. I doubt I'll be stopping anytime soon.
ewwwww... it's NASTY..
txrad had gone through our laundry room into the garage to take something out to the dumpster today. Upon returning he noticed a snake about to enter the laundry room from the garage. He tried to close the door but the snake was already slithering in.
I knew damn well I should not have posted yesterday about snakes. This shit was bound to happen. He THINKS it's a garter snake, and said it was a baby, but given the fact that I've seen two young highly venomous coral snakes in the past year, I'm not 100% convinced until I see it myself. Unfortuately, I can't because it went behind the baseboard and behind the wall somewhere. We have a towel under the door between the kitchen and the laundry room, as if that would keep a baby snake out of the house.
So, I'll take advantage of this opportunity to tell you about a new CD from one of our local favorites, Ray Wylie Hubbard who has an excellent new release called "Snake Farm". We're listening now. It just seems so appropriate!
There is a "snake farm" down I-35 between Austin and San Antonio which supposedly inspired the album and song. We haven't been there but have passed it on the freeway. I doubt I'll be stopping anytime soon.
ewwwww... it's NASTY..
uh-oh, here we go again in Maryland
No rest for the weary
The Court of Appeals, Maryland's highest court, has agreed to bypass a mid level appeals court and take up a challenge to a Baltimore judge's ruling that declared the state law banning same-sex unions is unconstitutional.
"We would like to seek justice for these [same-sex] families served earlier rather than later," Equality Maryland's Executive Director Dan Furmansky told 365Gay.com.
The high court has already issued a number of rulings that were positive for same-sex couples in areas such as adoption and Furmansky said he is cautiously optimistic.
I'm glad HE'S cautiously optimistic. Lately, I've become cautiously pessimistic. I hope they prove me wrong. The Washington ruling was tough. Speaking of which...
Rep. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) is going to introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington. Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire indicated she would sign a marriage bill if it passed the legislature. A BIG "if" considering the Republican opposition.
Get ready for some more asshattery.
Holy World War!
I've always thought WWIII would be about religion. Someone needs to get a grip on this and fast. I guess we can rule out the United States for any level-headed guidance.
Washington will fully support Israel's military actions until Hezbollah has been brought "under control." How long will that take and how many more innocent lives will be lost until "mission accomplished?"
Al Qaeda's No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq."
And in another absurd statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told Congress on Wednesday that his nation wants to play a role in Mideast stability. Very noble of him, but how about playing a role in Iraqi stability first, where 27 more were killed today? Makes sense to me!
The Iraqi Prime Minister's speech to Congress was opposed by a group of Democrats who called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) to rescind al-Maliki's invitation to address Congress, because of his condemnation of Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah.
Wait a minute. I thought it was the conservative Republican fundamentalists who were the primary protectors of the Judeo-Christian relationship. I'm so confused.
For The Association of South East Asian Nations conference in Malaysia this week, there will be no show tunes on the piano from Condi Rice. Perhaps some Brahms to reflect thedepressingly fucked-up somber conditions in the Middle East.
The world is a mess and there is no leadership from any quadrant. Everyone seems to be driven by their own personal agenda. And even the over-stretched US military can always manage to find time to dismiss another homo in the ranks:
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- and even if you don't, you'll be discharged anyway if they find reasonable suspicion. A decorated sergeant and Arabic language specialist was dismissed from the U.S. Army, though he says he never admitted being gay and his accuser was never identified.
Shit. Wake me when it's over.
Washington will fully support Israel's military actions until Hezbollah has been brought "under control." How long will that take and how many more innocent lives will be lost until "mission accomplished?"
Al Qaeda's No. 2 leader issued a worldwide call Thursday for Muslims to rise up in a holy war against Israel and join the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza until Islam reigns from "Spain to Iraq."
And in another absurd statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told Congress on Wednesday that his nation wants to play a role in Mideast stability. Very noble of him, but how about playing a role in Iraqi stability first, where 27 more were killed today? Makes sense to me!
The Iraqi Prime Minister's speech to Congress was opposed by a group of Democrats who called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) to rescind al-Maliki's invitation to address Congress, because of his condemnation of Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah.
Wait a minute. I thought it was the conservative Republican fundamentalists who were the primary protectors of the Judeo-Christian relationship. I'm so confused.
For The Association of South East Asian Nations conference in Malaysia this week, there will be no show tunes on the piano from Condi Rice. Perhaps some Brahms to reflect the
The world is a mess and there is no leadership from any quadrant. Everyone seems to be driven by their own personal agenda. And even the over-stretched US military can always manage to find time to dismiss another homo in the ranks:
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- and even if you don't, you'll be discharged anyway if they find reasonable suspicion. A decorated sergeant and Arabic language specialist was dismissed from the U.S. Army, though he says he never admitted being gay and his accuser was never identified.
Shit. Wake me when it's over.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Snake Dreams
First of all, I'm definitely NOT a snake person. I don't hate them, but I'd prefer they not hang around my yard. Since I have an outdoor cat who loves to catch all kinds of critters during the summer, I frequently find myself running out to save a lizard or occasionally a snake. I do enjoy holding lizards but it's a real struggle for me to rescue a snake and relocate it with my bare hands. Unlike lizards, snakes have this disgusting tendency to wrap around you and you can feel those strong muscles. Yuck!
Most of the snakes around here are non-venomous, mainly garter snakes. I try to maintain a non-violent, kill-free yard. A few years back, my cat had cornered a rather thick and ugly snake against a rock wall. It had a pattern I wasn't familiar with, and quite a large head. I couldn't determine whether it was venomous or not. What I can tell you is that the snake was a loud and obnoxious hisser and spitter and it was pissing me off. I didn't have time to run get my snake book and try to find out what kind of snake it was. What I did have time to do was grab the shovel and chop it into several pieces out of total fear that it was going to strike me or my cat.
What I wish I hadn't done was to come in the house afterwards to look it up in my snake guide. As it turned out, the snake (I can't remember what kind) was COMPLETELY harmless and used all that hissing action as a defense mechanism. To this day I feel horribly guilty for killing it.
Last year, while txrad was away visiting his family, I saw the cat jumping into the air in the backyard and my brain said "snake!" I went out and saw a young snake, maybe 9-12 inches long and about the diameter of a pencil, with red, black and yellow bands. "OH shit," I said to myself. I grabbed the cat, put him in the house, and got my snake guide out because I couldn't remember the damn Homeland Security color-coded warning system. The last thing I wanted to do was kill another harmless snake.
Lo and behold, it was red on yellow, the dreaded Texas coral snake. I ran back out with the hoe, not with the intent to kill it but to usher it out of the yard. The damn thing crawled under a rock instead so I flooded the area with the garden hose until the devil came out. He crawled under the gate to the driveway and was slithering towards the open garage door. When I tried to block him, he got downright hostile. It was flailing around on the ground with determination to enter the garage, so I brought down the "hoe of justice" upon his venomous head, then buried it. (The next morning I noticed something had dug it up, apparently to have a snack, but that's another story.)
I was freaking out because logic dictates: if there's a small coral snake here, there's probably more here, along with a big mama. I did in fact see another coral snake in the same location while walking out to get the morning paper a few months ago. But let me get to the point of this post because I'm digressing...
hat-tip to my mother who told me about this story on the phone.
Burmese python swallows electric blanket.
Surgery was required to save the 12-foot (3.5-meter) snake when it made a meal of a queen-size electric blanket, complete with electrical cord and control box, as seen in this July 19 photo. The blanket's wiring extended through about 8 feet (2.5 meters) of the the 60-pound (27-kilogram) reptile's digestive tract (inset).
I'm curious to know if they were able to continue using the electric blanket afterwards. And if that's not enough
slithering news for you, there's this woman in Germany who tried to mail a 5-foot albino python to someone she had sold the snake to over the internet, and something went amiss.
"Staff accepted the package and put it in the back of the office -- they had no idea what it was," said police spokesman Andreas Blum. "All of a sudden, they noticed that it started moving around and then saw a big snake wriggling out of it."
One of the postal workers in the western city of Mechernich, who was familiar with snakes, wrestled with it and locked it into another container, while her colleagues ran away.
"Wrestled with it" indeed. Bottom line, I am thankful the snakes in my yard are not quite of "wrestling" size. I am not going to wrestle with a snake. And frankly, I do not understand the appeal of snakes as pets. That's just me. To each his own.
Most of the snakes around here are non-venomous, mainly garter snakes. I try to maintain a non-violent, kill-free yard. A few years back, my cat had cornered a rather thick and ugly snake against a rock wall. It had a pattern I wasn't familiar with, and quite a large head. I couldn't determine whether it was venomous or not. What I can tell you is that the snake was a loud and obnoxious hisser and spitter and it was pissing me off. I didn't have time to run get my snake book and try to find out what kind of snake it was. What I did have time to do was grab the shovel and chop it into several pieces out of total fear that it was going to strike me or my cat.
What I wish I hadn't done was to come in the house afterwards to look it up in my snake guide. As it turned out, the snake (I can't remember what kind) was COMPLETELY harmless and used all that hissing action as a defense mechanism. To this day I feel horribly guilty for killing it.
Last year, while txrad was away visiting his family, I saw the cat jumping into the air in the backyard and my brain said "snake!" I went out and saw a young snake, maybe 9-12 inches long and about the diameter of a pencil, with red, black and yellow bands. "OH shit," I said to myself. I grabbed the cat, put him in the house, and got my snake guide out because I couldn't remember the damn Homeland Security color-coded warning system. The last thing I wanted to do was kill another harmless snake.
Lo and behold, it was red on yellow, the dreaded Texas coral snake. I ran back out with the hoe, not with the intent to kill it but to usher it out of the yard. The damn thing crawled under a rock instead so I flooded the area with the garden hose until the devil came out. He crawled under the gate to the driveway and was slithering towards the open garage door. When I tried to block him, he got downright hostile. It was flailing around on the ground with determination to enter the garage, so I brought down the "hoe of justice" upon his venomous head, then buried it. (The next morning I noticed something had dug it up, apparently to have a snack, but that's another story.)
I was freaking out because logic dictates: if there's a small coral snake here, there's probably more here, along with a big mama. I did in fact see another coral snake in the same location while walking out to get the morning paper a few months ago. But let me get to the point of this post because I'm digressing...
hat-tip to my mother who told me about this story on the phone.
Burmese python swallows electric blanket.
Surgery was required to save the 12-foot (3.5-meter) snake when it made a meal of a queen-size electric blanket, complete with electrical cord and control box, as seen in this July 19 photo. The blanket's wiring extended through about 8 feet (2.5 meters) of the the 60-pound (27-kilogram) reptile's digestive tract (inset).
I'm curious to know if they were able to continue using the electric blanket afterwards. And if that's not enough
slithering news for you, there's this woman in Germany who tried to mail a 5-foot albino python to someone she had sold the snake to over the internet, and something went amiss.
"Staff accepted the package and put it in the back of the office -- they had no idea what it was," said police spokesman Andreas Blum. "All of a sudden, they noticed that it started moving around and then saw a big snake wriggling out of it."
One of the postal workers in the western city of Mechernich, who was familiar with snakes, wrestled with it and locked it into another container, while her colleagues ran away.
"Wrestled with it" indeed. Bottom line, I am thankful the snakes in my yard are not quite of "wrestling" size. I am not going to wrestle with a snake. And frankly, I do not understand the appeal of snakes as pets. That's just me. To each his own.
he's so GAY!!!
Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space. I wonder if that was just his way of avoiding the issue.
Gay marriage ban upheld by courts in Washington
Not surpring, given the recent string of setbacks for LGBT equality, but intensely frustrating nonetheless based on the "logic" of the ruling. The ruling was 5-4.
The state argued that it has a legitimate interest in regulating relationships that produce children.
At the time I'm writing this I've only found a post of the subject at Pam's House Blend. Commenters are right on target in suggesting:
- the courts are actually not doing their jobs by allowing the holding majority to decide the rights of the tax-paying minority. whatever happened to equal protection under the law?
- Why don't we start suing to dissolve all these marriages that haven't produced children since that is the reason these decisions are citing. Obviously if a couple hasn't had children their marraige is a failure and no longer serving the state's interest.
- It is now time to go at this from a different direction. There should now be a push to limit what a marriage is as defined by recent ruling. A marraige is only valid and the benefits only become legal upon the production of a child and the child must be produced physically at the courthouse within a limited time period of the marraige license being issued. Divorce should be virtually impossible to obtain . All childless couples shall lose their benefits immediately.
Here is a portion of the dissenting opinion by Justice Mary E. Fairhurst:
The plurality and concurrence condone blatant discrimination against
Washington’s gay and lesbian citizens in the name of encouraging procreation,
marriage for individuals in relationships that result in children, and the
raising of children in homes headed by opposite-sex parents, while ignoring the
fact that denying same-sex couples the right to marry has no prospect of
furthering any of those interests.
With the proper issue in mind--whether denying same-sex couples the right
to marry will encourage procreation, marriage for individuals in relationships
that result in children, or child rearing in households headed by two
opposite-sex parents--I would hold that there is no rational basis for denying
same-sex couples the right to marry.
I would hold further that the right to marry the person of one’s choice is
a fundamental right, the denial of which has historically received heightened
scrutiny. It is error to artificially limit the inquiry, as the plurality and
concurrence do, to whether there is a fundamental right to same-sex marriage.
It is equally incorrect to limit the definition of the right to marry to
the right to marry a person of the opposite sex. Because the Defense of
Marriage Act’s (DOMA’s) denial of the right to marry to same-sex couples is not
rationally related to any asserted state interest, it is also not narrowly
tailored to any compelling state interest.
Again, the ruling just squeaked by 5-4. This issue is far from dead. Let the uproar begin.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Rainbow flag causes big problems for Kansas Bed & Breakfast
ahhh, there's no place like home... especially when home is Kansas...
“It's a rainbow flag - to some people it means friendship to some people it means gay pride," says J.R. Knight, owner of a southwestern Kansas B&B. But for Knight, it was just a souvenir from his 12-year-old son. Knight says the local Meade newspaper is trying to put him out of business and was frustrated when it ran an article about the flag and did not even bother to contact him regarding why he put it up. In fact, most people we spoke to in Meade said they didn’t even know what the flag meant until the article ran. But once word got around, the reaction was harsh.
Local resident, Keith Klassen says the flag is a slap in the face to the conservative community of Meade. “To me it's just like running up a Nazi flag in a Jewish neighborhood. I can't walk into that establishment with that flag flying because to me that's saying that I support what the flag stands for and I don't," says Klassen.
KWCH Wichita has the story and video.
Meade, Kansas is southwest of Dodge City, and ironically, not far from the town of Liberal. The irony is the flag was never displayed as a symbol of gay pride but was a souvenir from a Wizard of Oz museum in Wamego, Kansas, west of Kansas City.
“It's a rainbow flag - to some people it means friendship to some people it means gay pride," says J.R. Knight, owner of a southwestern Kansas B&B. But for Knight, it was just a souvenir from his 12-year-old son. Knight says the local Meade newspaper is trying to put him out of business and was frustrated when it ran an article about the flag and did not even bother to contact him regarding why he put it up. In fact, most people we spoke to in Meade said they didn’t even know what the flag meant until the article ran. But once word got around, the reaction was harsh.
Local resident, Keith Klassen says the flag is a slap in the face to the conservative community of Meade. “To me it's just like running up a Nazi flag in a Jewish neighborhood. I can't walk into that establishment with that flag flying because to me that's saying that I support what the flag stands for and I don't," says Klassen.
KWCH Wichita has the story and video.
Meade, Kansas is southwest of Dodge City, and ironically, not far from the town of Liberal. The irony is the flag was never displayed as a symbol of gay pride but was a souvenir from a Wizard of Oz museum in Wamego, Kansas, west of Kansas City.
Local residents are on the verge of driving the B&B out of business due to their obsessive and irrational hatred. Perhaps they should target the Oz museum which is selling the flags.
How many more fucking backwater towns are out there?
The audacity of the FRC
The Family Research Council has commentary on the married lesbian couple in Massachusetts who are splitting up. If you are in the mood for some gross hypocrisy, read on....
Homosexuals are less likely to enter into long-term partnerships in the first place than are heterosexuals (less than half the homosexual couples in Massachusetts have bothered to "marry").
Nice how they put marry in quotes. Less than half ARE legally married. Get over it. And what business is it of the FRC to pass judgement on why the other half has not bothered to marry yet?
When they do have partners, those relationships are less likely to last for life. In addition, such relationships are less likely to be characterized by sexual fidelity. When people ask what harm same-sex "marriage" would do, this is a big part of the answer--it would undermine society's understanding that marriage is epitomized by commitment, fidelity, and permanence.
Yes, just as there's clearly only a minimal amount of infidelity in heterosexual marriages, and God knows, those marriages are sacred. Between 40% and 50% of heterosexual marriages in the US end in divorce. What's the point of society's "understanding" of what marriage supposedly epitomizes when it's blatantly a false delusion?
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance has some interesting, although dated, material.
Donald Hughes, author of The Divorce Reality, said: "In the churches, people have a superstitious view that Christianity will keep them from divorce, but they are subject to the same problems as everyone else, and they include a lack of relationship skills. ...Just being born again is not a rabbit's foot." Hughes claim that 90% of divorces among born-again couples occur after they have been "saved."
Divorce Magazine.com has a ton of statistics also.
Percentage of family households with children with only one parent in 1998:
27%
Likelihood of new marriages ending in divorce in 1997:
43%
Percentage of weddings which are remarriages for at least one partner in 1997:
43%
When will the FRC and other fundamentalists worry about their "own kind" and stop obsessing about private decisions of LGBTs related to the same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that supposedly is afforded to one and all?
Homosexuals are less likely to enter into long-term partnerships in the first place than are heterosexuals (less than half the homosexual couples in Massachusetts have bothered to "marry").
Nice how they put marry in quotes. Less than half ARE legally married. Get over it. And what business is it of the FRC to pass judgement on why the other half has not bothered to marry yet?
When they do have partners, those relationships are less likely to last for life. In addition, such relationships are less likely to be characterized by sexual fidelity. When people ask what harm same-sex "marriage" would do, this is a big part of the answer--it would undermine society's understanding that marriage is epitomized by commitment, fidelity, and permanence.
Yes, just as there's clearly only a minimal amount of infidelity in heterosexual marriages, and God knows, those marriages are sacred. Between 40% and 50% of heterosexual marriages in the US end in divorce. What's the point of society's "understanding" of what marriage supposedly epitomizes when it's blatantly a false delusion?
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance has some interesting, although dated, material.
Donald Hughes, author of The Divorce Reality, said: "In the churches, people have a superstitious view that Christianity will keep them from divorce, but they are subject to the same problems as everyone else, and they include a lack of relationship skills. ...Just being born again is not a rabbit's foot." Hughes claim that 90% of divorces among born-again couples occur after they have been "saved."
Divorce Magazine.com has a ton of statistics also.
Percentage of family households with children with only one parent in 1998:
27%
Likelihood of new marriages ending in divorce in 1997:
43%
Percentage of weddings which are remarriages for at least one partner in 1997:
43%
When will the FRC and other fundamentalists worry about their "own kind" and stop obsessing about private decisions of LGBTs related to the same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that supposedly is afforded to one and all?
Raspberry muffins are ready...
...hot & fresh out of the oven.
Before:
After:
It just amazes me how that happens. Help yourselves!
Before:
After:
It just amazes me how that happens. Help yourselves!
Battle of the Christians
Religious left gears up to face right counterpart
What took them so long?
"I join the ranks of those who are angry because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian," declared the Rev. Robin Meyers of the United Church of Christ in Oklahoma, who has written a new book, "Why the Christian Right is Wrong.
Freedom to Marry along with GLAAD and The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have joined with a number of civic, religious, labor and civils rights leaders to run full-page newspaper advertisements beginning today, and appearing from coast to coast, declaring their commitment to working toward equality for gay and lesbian families. The ads, titled "Marriage Matters," are appearing in 51 publications.
It's a nice ad. I saw it in today's New York Times, and I was happy to see photographs of actual couples along with details on how long each couple had been together. The idea of putting this in newspapers is a good one to get the faces and the message in front of those who are appalled by it for no other reason than blind ignorance or outright hatred (often masked of course by religion).
Without a doubt, there will be some interesting letters to the editors of the papers in which these ads appear. You can bet on it.
What took them so long?
"I join the ranks of those who are angry because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian," declared the Rev. Robin Meyers of the United Church of Christ in Oklahoma, who has written a new book, "Why the Christian Right is Wrong.
Freedom to Marry along with GLAAD and The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have joined with a number of civic, religious, labor and civils rights leaders to run full-page newspaper advertisements beginning today, and appearing from coast to coast, declaring their commitment to working toward equality for gay and lesbian families. The ads, titled "Marriage Matters," are appearing in 51 publications.
It's a nice ad. I saw it in today's New York Times, and I was happy to see photographs of actual couples along with details on how long each couple had been together. The idea of putting this in newspapers is a good one to get the faces and the message in front of those who are appalled by it for no other reason than blind ignorance or outright hatred (often masked of course by religion).
Without a doubt, there will be some interesting letters to the editors of the papers in which these ads appear. You can bet on it.
a little poetry to start the day...
Before I tread worldly waters in search of sustenance, I am in the mood to share some poetry.
This is from Charles Baudelaire who was born in Paris in 1821. He died in 1867 at age 46.
GIANTESS
When Nature once in lustful hot undress
Conceived gargantuan offspring, then would I
Have loved to live near a young giantess,
Like a voluptuous cat at a queen's feet.
To see her body flower with her desire
And freely spread out in its dreadful play,
Guess if her heart concealed some heavy fire
Whose humid smokes would swim upon her eye.
To feel at leisure her stupendous shapes,
Crawl on the cliffs of her enormous knees,
And, when in summer the unhealthy suns
Have stretched her out across the plains, fatigued,
Sleep in the shadows of her breasts at ease
Like a small hamlet at a mountain's base.
----------------------------------------
copied from The Flowers of Evil.
This is from Charles Baudelaire who was born in Paris in 1821. He died in 1867 at age 46.
GIANTESS
When Nature once in lustful hot undress
Conceived gargantuan offspring, then would I
Have loved to live near a young giantess,
Like a voluptuous cat at a queen's feet.
To see her body flower with her desire
And freely spread out in its dreadful play,
Guess if her heart concealed some heavy fire
Whose humid smokes would swim upon her eye.
To feel at leisure her stupendous shapes,
Crawl on the cliffs of her enormous knees,
And, when in summer the unhealthy suns
Have stretched her out across the plains, fatigued,
Sleep in the shadows of her breasts at ease
Like a small hamlet at a mountain's base.
----------------------------------------
copied from The Flowers of Evil.
Monday, July 24, 2006
sue the bastard!
Hell yeah It's about time...
Arlen Specter will have a bill ready by the end of the week allowing Congress to sue Bush in federal court.
"We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will...authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president's acts declared unconstitutional," Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said on the Senate floor.
Specter's announcement came the same day that an American Bar Association task force concluded that by attaching conditions to legislation, the president has sidestepped his constitutional duty to either sign a bill, veto it, or take no action.
Gas prices at all-time high
The national average for self-serve regular stood at
$3.0150 a gallon.
I am still amazed at the amount of traffic on the streets here. I have calculated the cost of driving to most of my favorite destinations and as a result we have sharply curtailed our intake of Indian food since all the good restaurants are 18-22 miles north of our house.
For us to drive out for a $20 Indian meal, we would have to tack on about $6.00 for fuel cost! For someone in an SUV, that would probably be an extra $10.00 or more. I really don't know how people do it unless they are reducing other expenses. And we don't even have a commute to work.
Pity the folks who are stuck working for minimum wage and have long commutes. Of course we can't seem to get a hike in the minimum wage but Congress can vote themselves raises.
Urrrrgghhh!
$3.0150 a gallon.
I am still amazed at the amount of traffic on the streets here. I have calculated the cost of driving to most of my favorite destinations and as a result we have sharply curtailed our intake of Indian food since all the good restaurants are 18-22 miles north of our house.
For us to drive out for a $20 Indian meal, we would have to tack on about $6.00 for fuel cost! For someone in an SUV, that would probably be an extra $10.00 or more. I really don't know how people do it unless they are reducing other expenses. And we don't even have a commute to work.
Pity the folks who are stuck working for minimum wage and have long commutes. Of course we can't seem to get a hike in the minimum wage but Congress can vote themselves raises.
Urrrrgghhh!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
One thing I miss about Los Angeles
Besides friends, there's not much else I miss about Los Angeles except these trucks:
Soulforce March in Colorado Springs
Hundreds of people from the LGBT community participated in the Soulforce march today to the headquarters of Focus on the Family to protest the "disinformation campaign" aimed at gays.
Focus on the Family rolled out their token "ex-lesbian" as a spokesperson spewing the same predictable rubbish...
Focus defends its statements. Although it did not attempt to engage any of the protestors in discussion the organization had spokespeople on hand to present its views to the media.
One of them, Melissa Fryrear, said she is a "former lesbian who found a way out" and is now a "gender issues analyst" at FOF.
"We don't believe that marriage should be redefined, we believe that children are raised best in the home of their mother and father," said Fryrear.
And she accused Soulforce of trying to push its agenda on her organization.
"They seem to be very intolerant of our positions and our ideals and what we believe," she said.
Excerpts are from 365gay.
Focus on the Family rolled out their token "ex-lesbian" as a spokesperson spewing the same predictable rubbish...
Focus defends its statements. Although it did not attempt to engage any of the protestors in discussion the organization had spokespeople on hand to present its views to the media.
One of them, Melissa Fryrear, said she is a "former lesbian who found a way out" and is now a "gender issues analyst" at FOF.
"We don't believe that marriage should be redefined, we believe that children are raised best in the home of their mother and father," said Fryrear.
And she accused Soulforce of trying to push its agenda on her organization.
"They seem to be very intolerant of our positions and our ideals and what we believe," she said.
Excerpts are from 365gay.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Horny for the Quintessential Jew
God, I love hilarious sponsored links. A week or so ago I posted about one I'd seen while doing a search: "Katyusha rockets, whatever you're looking for you can get it on ebay."
Today, while searching Technorati I ran across this one:
"Struggling with masturbation? Jesus Christ wants to help you."
Today, while searching Technorati I ran across this one:
"Struggling with masturbation? Jesus Christ wants to help you."
The fact that I was searching the word "masturbation" is irrelevant. But imagine my shock to learn that Jesus can not only join in, but can actually help. I now find myself wanting to spread the word, as well as my seed.
Actually, I've never needed any help at all with masturbation. Been doing it at least 35 years and haven't had a problem with it yet. In fact, it gets better with age. But the idea of someone helping me with it does allow my mind to run rampant with various exciting scenarios.
It certainly couldn't be considered cheating or infidelity with Jesus involved. Anyone else, yeah, but with Jesus you get the added benefit of immediate forgiveness and eternal salvation (not to mention a potentially hands-free wadshot).
And then, overcome with guilty thoughts regardless, I began wondering what txrad might think about a 3-way. I'm kind of into those long-haired dudes; two of them at once gets the heart racing. However, I was wondering if Jesus would mind showing up without the crown of thorns. Those could have a tendency to get in the way of certain things with the lights out. And the point is to blow a load, not bleed to death.
So I swallowed real hard and clicked the link.
Damn, damn, DAMN! Turns out, my 35 years of experience counts for nothing except to make me a professional sinner. And I've gone limp. Those holes in his palms would have been a major distraction anyway.
Glorious July Day
After peaking at 102 today, it's now thundering and overcast and the temperature is right on the verge of dropping below 80! And the rain has begun. What a relief!
Clerks II gets a big thumbs down from Focus on the Family
Endless amusement can be had reading movie reviews at the Focus on the Family website.
It would be impossible (and pointless) to detail here the endless crude sexual dialogue and content in Clerks II. Conversations throughout the film include multiple, very crude slang words for both the male and female anatomy and all manner of sexual activities, including anal sex, oral sex, homosexuality and bestiality.
The word "c--k" seems to be a favorite of Smith, used in discussions of sex, insults about homosexuality and one crude drawing. One of the movie's recurring themes involves whether it's ever OK to "go a-- to mouth," a subject that comes up when the 33-year-old Randal is describing how ready 17-year-old girls are these days to engage in all manner of sexual activity.
The film manages to be inappropriate for mature audiences based purely on hard-core dialogue, subject matter and, well, scenes of bestiality.
So, I'm guessing Clerks II is a must-see! One has to wonder though why anyone at Focus on the Family would enjoy reviewing films which are deemed so inappropriate.
More slamming of nasty gays
It just doesn't stop:
WorldPride Parade cancelled in Jerusalem.
Feds leave it up to Tennessee to solve cross-burning at gay home.
And add Latvia to the long list of places where NOT to go on summer vacation.
Dozens of gays, barred from holding a pride parade, were attacked by a right wing mob at a church in the Latvian capital on Saturday as police looked on but did nothing to stop the attacks.
Homobigot presidential wanna-be Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney issued an executive order Friday abolishing the state's 14-year old governor's commission on gay and lesbian youth.
Had enough yet? There'll be more later I'm sure. The day is still young and there's no shortage of hate.
WorldPride Parade cancelled in Jerusalem.
Feds leave it up to Tennessee to solve cross-burning at gay home.
And add Latvia to the long list of places where NOT to go on summer vacation.
Dozens of gays, barred from holding a pride parade, were attacked by a right wing mob at a church in the Latvian capital on Saturday as police looked on but did nothing to stop the attacks.
Homobigot presidential wanna-be Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney issued an executive order Friday abolishing the state's 14-year old governor's commission on gay and lesbian youth.
Had enough yet? There'll be more later I'm sure. The day is still young and there's no shortage of hate.
Top 50 Gay & Lesbian Films
365gay has released the poll results of the Top 50 Gay and Lesbian films and #1 on the list:
Many of the films I haven't seen, including Brokeback so I guess I'll be loading up the Netflix queue! Must say I'm disappointed to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch only making it to #26. Damn fine film that it is.
Episcopal Bishop in Arkansas Gives "Green Light" to Gay Unions
It's always nice to wake up and be able to find some good news out there in the world.
The following excerpts are from the front-page story in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
The Episcopal bishop of Arkansas has given the green light to congregations that want to explore offering blessing ceremonies for gay couples and has notified clergymen in the diocese that some congregations are ready to do that.
One of them is St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in west Little Rock, which is to have a blessing ceremony for a couple in September. In addition, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville has invited same sex couples to consider exploring such a ceremony.
“The Episcopal Church continues to be in the forefront of the effort to assure that gay and lesbian persons are made welcome in our churches and are afforded equal treatment by society at-large,” starts the 428-word letter by Arkansas’ bishop, the Right Rev. Larry Maze.
The Rev. Ed Wills of St. Michael’s in Little Rock said a couple has been going through the same counseling process he uses for couples planning marriage. They have a tentative date in September for their blessing service, which would make them the first in Arkansas to have an Episcopal service of blessing.
The following excerpts are from the front-page story in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
The Episcopal bishop of Arkansas has given the green light to congregations that want to explore offering blessing ceremonies for gay couples and has notified clergymen in the diocese that some congregations are ready to do that.
One of them is St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in west Little Rock, which is to have a blessing ceremony for a couple in September. In addition, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville has invited same sex couples to consider exploring such a ceremony.
“The Episcopal Church continues to be in the forefront of the effort to assure that gay and lesbian persons are made welcome in our churches and are afforded equal treatment by society at-large,” starts the 428-word letter by Arkansas’ bishop, the Right Rev. Larry Maze.
The Rev. Ed Wills of St. Michael’s in Little Rock said a couple has been going through the same counseling process he uses for couples planning marriage. They have a tentative date in September for their blessing service, which would make them the first in Arkansas to have an Episcopal service of blessing.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Friday Fucking Fun Dude!
The Big Lebowski - The Fucking Short Version
if you don't like the F word, fucking go man.
if you don't like the F word, fucking go man.
Tony Snow gets Headroomed
Contributed by Rebecca:
OK. In the spirit of beloved old scinece fiction T.V., notice how much Max and Tony Snow look like each other. Now that's scary.
Personally, Rebecca, I think Arnold is a prime contender for the position. Or Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich von Trapp) from the Sound of Music. It's that whole Austrian thing going on.
OK. In the spirit of beloved old scinece fiction T.V., notice how much Max and Tony Snow look like each other. Now that's scary.
Personally, Rebecca, I think Arnold is a prime contender for the position. Or Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich von Trapp) from the Sound of Music. It's that whole Austrian thing going on.
You want lime and salt with that shot?
An impossibly upmarket brand of tequila -- 100 percent blue Agave lovingly aged for six years and sold in a limited edition platinum bottle with fancy artwork on the label -- went on sale in Mexico on Thursday night for $225,000 a bottle.
This is outrageous. My advice would be, for anyone who can drop about a quarter of a million on a bottle of tequila, give $224,975 to the poor, and spend the remaining $25 on a bottle of Tres Mujeres Reposado. The artwork isn't fancy, the bottle isn't platinum, but who gives a shit. It's 100% blue Agave and tastes great.
Where I live, the sales tax would be $18,562.50. Jesus H. Christ.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Gays accused of discrimination in Provincetown
Well, surprise, surprise! I don't condone any discrimination, but let's see, there's 4 or 5 major gay meccas in the US, Provincetown being one of them, and everyone knows this. If you have a problem with homos, stay the fuck out of Provincetown. (and Key West, West Hollywood, San Francisco, and... please... AUSTIN, TEXAS!) I'm not planning a vacation to
Laredo or Tupelo. Think about where you're going folks!
Provincetown, New England's summer gay capital, is facing a rise in harassment and discrimination. But this time it's straight people who say they are being ridiculed as "breeders" and "baby makers."
Police Chief Ted Meyer said straight people complained of being called "breeders" over the July Fourth holiday weekend, and that in one serious incident a man was charged with assaulting a woman who signed a petition to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, the only state where it is legal.
Equally troubling, he said, Jamaican workers in Provincetown say they have been the target of racial slurs.
Here's my advice: leave race out of it. That's not the issue here. Attitudes are the issue and there are better ways of dealing with it. Like this:
Steve Bowersock, 35, an artist who owns the Bowersock Gallery on the town's main Commercial Street, admits he sometimes discriminates against straight people he finds offensive.
"If there's a straight couple and I hear them in the background going 'oh fags', I'm like 'hello, where the hell do you think you are?' So in turn I get mad," he said.
"If I see someone nervous like a big butch guy, and you can just tell he's a redneck, I'll grab my partner and I'll kiss him. It's not being mean, but 'hello you're in our town'."
After the past few weeks of getting screwed right and left (but "without any lovin' " as my grandmother used to say), the queer community is obviously going to be uptight. I sure as hell am. But let's not become that which we despise most. We are better than that. Just be open and be yourself: If the tourists are comfortable, they'll stay, if they aren't, let 'em leave. But don't harrass. We don't want that attitude from the thousands of other "straight meccas" in which we live our daily lives.
Bush Speaks to NAACP
Tough crowd for a stand-up comic:
Acknowledging that racism still "lingers" in America, Bush said, "It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart. And I understand that many African-Americans distrust my political party."
Yeah, and a fair amount of us white folks too.
has he been drinking again?
For five years in a row, Bush has declined invitations to address the NAACP convention. This year, he said yes. He was introduced by NAACP head Bruce Gordon...
...which is a hell of a lot easier for him to pronounce than Kweisi Mfume.
Acknowledging that racism still "lingers" in America, Bush said, "It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart. And I understand that many African-Americans distrust my political party."
Yeah, and a fair amount of us white folks too.
has he been drinking again?
For five years in a row, Bush has declined invitations to address the NAACP convention. This year, he said yes. He was introduced by NAACP head Bruce Gordon...
...which is a hell of a lot easier for him to pronounce than Kweisi Mfume.
What are little boys made of?
I've had this theory for some time now that President Bush is morphing into Dr. Roger Corby, the android and former lover of Nurse Chapel (in his pre-android days) from the orignial Star Trek episode, What Are Little Girls Made Of .
This is not the precise image of Corby I was looking for. If I recall, it's during the dramatic moment where Dr. Corby, after having some of his faulty wiring exposed thanks to ripped skin, realizes he is losing his ex-bride-to-be who wishes to have no part of his sick & twisted robotic sex, nor to remain any longer in the presence of his perverted android concubine.
His brow furrows during a close-up shot as he pleads with the good nurse to give him another crack at it. Those of you who have seen the episode as many times as I have, you'll get the joke. The rest of you can rightly assume I've gone off the deep-end today.
It's me, Christine... Roger... I'm in here!
is it real or is it Memorex?
Happy Birthday Emma Peel
Although I would have known this when I get around to reading today's paper, I must do the hat-tip to David at http://quakeragitator.blogspot.com/
Diana Rigg turns 68 today. Yikes!
I was around 6 years old the first time I ever saw the Avengers and was hooked.
Diana Rigg turns 68 today. Yikes!
I was around 6 years old the first time I ever saw the Avengers and was hooked.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The art of shoving God down your throat
Here's a doozy from the "I'm-too-stupid-to-think-for-myself-so-brainwash-me" department.
Donald Wildmon of the Tupelo-based American Family Association is now pushing to have In God We Trust posters put in every classroom.
American Family Association has launched a national campaign to place before our children a copy of the official motto of the United States. It is our hope that this poster will be a reminder of the historical centrality of God in the life of ourtheocracy republic.
In a time when many are working to remove any acknowledgement of God from our public life, these words are legally sound, since they were officially adopted by Congress in 1956.
Oh yeah 1956 was such a very good year. The era of American enlightenment if I recall.
01/30/1956 - Martin Luther King Jr's home bombed
02/06/1956 - U of Alabama refuses admission to Autherine Lucy (because he's black)
04/23/1956 - US Supreme court ends race segregation on buses
05/02/1956 - US Methodist church disallows race separation
07/21/1956 - US performs atmospheric nuclear Test at Enwetak
07/30/1956 - US motto "In God We Trust" authorized
08/30/1956 - White mob prevents enrollment of blacks at Mansfield HS, Texas
Donald Wildmon of the Tupelo-based American Family Association is now pushing to have In God We Trust posters put in every classroom.
American Family Association has launched a national campaign to place before our children a copy of the official motto of the United States. It is our hope that this poster will be a reminder of the historical centrality of God in the life of our
In a time when many are working to remove any acknowledgement of God from our public life, these words are legally sound, since they were officially adopted by Congress in 1956.
Oh yeah 1956 was such a very good year. The era of American enlightenment if I recall.
01/30/1956 - Martin Luther King Jr's home bombed
02/06/1956 - U of Alabama refuses admission to Autherine Lucy (because he's black)
04/23/1956 - US Supreme court ends race segregation on buses
05/02/1956 - US Methodist church disallows race separation
07/21/1956 - US performs atmospheric nuclear Test at Enwetak
07/30/1956 - US motto "In God We Trust" authorized
08/30/1956 - White mob prevents enrollment of blacks at Mansfield HS, Texas
Infrastructure: Who Needs It Anyway...
Not surprisingly, the US and the European Union are at odds over Israel's offensive in Lebanon.
From the linked AP story:
The Europeans fear mounting civilian casualties will play into the hands of militants and weaken Lebanon's democratically elected government. The Bush administration, while
Israel is betting that its campaign will deliver a decisive blow not only to Hezbollah, but to radical Islamic forces throughout the region. So far, though, the widespread Israeli air strikes appear to have only increased the credibility and popularity of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah in the Middle East.
Well, let's see. Shortages of food, water and medical supplies are being reported in Lebanon. At least 400,000 people have been displaced from their homes during the conflict. Close to 300 Lebanese have been killed with 1,000 or more wounded, most of them innocent civilians and many children.
I'll place my bet with the Europeans. And just when you thought you'd either seen or heard everything, I'm here to shatter that notion:
Those damn anti-Semites!
From Reuters: A group of Hassidic Jews who do not believe the state of Israel should exist attempt to burn an Israeli flag during a protest rally in support of Lebanon, outside the Israeli consulate in New York, July 18, 2006. The group attends many protest events and speaks out in the community against the actions of Israel. Police stopped them from burning the flag.
American Values Agenda
How much more shit is on this damned "agenda" and when do they move on to something legitimately productive?
The pledge protection act, expected to pass over mainly Democratic opposition, is part of the House GOP's "American values agenda" that House Speaker Dennis Hastert said would "defend America's founding principles."
I doth protest.
The pledge protection act, expected to pass over mainly Democratic opposition, is part of the House GOP's "American values agenda" that House Speaker Dennis Hastert said would "defend America's founding principles."
I doth protest.
Stem Cell Research gets the Bush veto finger
Fresh off the trail of G8 buffoonary, the Clown-in-Chief has vetoed the stem cell research bill as expected.
Bush said legislation easing limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research "crosses a moral boundary" and is wrong.
A moral boundary was crossed, but it was crossed by his daddy who didn't put a condom on his schlong the night he and Barbs did the big nasty and conceived this obnoxious warthog.
This presidency has hit a new regressive low today.
"This bill would support the taking of innocent human life of the hope of finding medical benefits for others," Bush said at a White House event where he was surrounded by 18 families who "adopted" frozen embryos not used by other couples, and then used those leftover embryos to have children, also referred to as "snowflake" families.
Of course Senator Brownback of Kansas weighed in with one of his prized intellectual gems: "We're talking about fragile early human life. It should be treated as sacred."
...And once you're born, FUCK YOU!
A jackhole photo op on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday
Is this week over yet??
Laredo lesbians told to "get inside or get arrested"
Zimbabwe ... Laredo... what's the difference?
Apparently, lesbians are not allowed to touch each other in public in Laredo, Texas. The cops in the Mexican border town have their hands full with lawless lesbians in plain view of the public.
365 gay has more.
Here's a snippet from the Laredo Morning Times
The complainant filed the report last Friday evening, claiming she was harassed while holding her partner “in a nonsexual way” outside the Vitos gay bar at the intersection of Market and Springfield.
“We were working out some difficulties and we were not being very affectionate at all,” the complainant said. She explained the two were in a parking lot adjacent to the gay bar.
“It was obvious we were lesbians because we had our arms around each other’s waists and talking,” she said.
The complainant said two police officers approached them in a police unit and got on the loudspeaker to demand that they go inside the club.
Apparently, lesbians are not allowed to touch each other in public in Laredo, Texas. The cops in the Mexican border town have their hands full with lawless lesbians in plain view of the public.
365 gay has more.
Here's a snippet from the Laredo Morning Times
The complainant filed the report last Friday evening, claiming she was harassed while holding her partner “in a nonsexual way” outside the Vitos gay bar at the intersection of Market and Springfield.
“We were working out some difficulties and we were not being very affectionate at all,” the complainant said. She explained the two were in a parking lot adjacent to the gay bar.
“It was obvious we were lesbians because we had our arms around each other’s waists and talking,” she said.
The complainant said two police officers approached them in a police unit and got on the loudspeaker to demand that they go inside the club.
Have no fear: order has been restored thanks to the bravery of these cops and the streets of Laredo are safe again from lesbian anarchy.
Oh, by the way, there are other crime problems in Laredo worth noting.
Per capita crime rate comparison of Laredo and New York:
Asshole cops get none of these:
Keith Richards seeking pardon from Arkansas Gov.
This is one bizarre story. I actually remember hearing the news on the radio when this happened.
July 5, 1975, was the day Richards and fellow Stones bandmate Ron Wood ended up in Fordyce driving from Memphis to Dallas along back roads to see the countryside. After eating, the Stones, accompanied by a security guard and a fan along for the ride (hmmm, groupie?), were stopped by Fordyce police. Richards was driving. He bent over to adjust the radio and the car swerved, getting the attention of officers. Officers reported they smelled a marijuana-like odor and ordered the Stones to City Hall.
Richards has filed a clemency application with Governor Mike Huckabee, asking for the governor's pardon.
Under employment, he’s listed as “self employed — guitarist, Rolling Stones.” His health is described as “excellent” and the application says “no” as to whether he’s ever been confined in a mental hospital. Questions about drug and alcohol use are also left blank.
Huckabee, who calls himself a big fan of Richards, is expected to sign the pardon.
July 5, 1975, was the day Richards and fellow Stones bandmate Ron Wood ended up in Fordyce driving from Memphis to Dallas along back roads to see the countryside. After eating, the Stones, accompanied by a security guard and a fan along for the ride (hmmm, groupie?), were stopped by Fordyce police. Richards was driving. He bent over to adjust the radio and the car swerved, getting the attention of officers. Officers reported they smelled a marijuana-like odor and ordered the Stones to City Hall.
Richards has filed a clemency application with Governor Mike Huckabee, asking for the governor's pardon.
Under employment, he’s listed as “self employed — guitarist, Rolling Stones.” His health is described as “excellent” and the application says “no” as to whether he’s ever been confined in a mental hospital. Questions about drug and alcohol use are also left blank.
Huckabee, who calls himself a big fan of Richards, is expected to sign the pardon.
Ralph Reed defeated
The poster boy for the Christian right has gotten an ass-whuppin' in his first run for office in Georgia.
In the race for Lt. Governor, Reed was defeated by Georgia state senator Casey Cagle 56% to 44%.
Sweet!
In the race for Lt. Governor, Reed was defeated by Georgia state senator Casey Cagle 56% to 44%.
Sweet!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Congressional crapwipe
House fails by 47 votes to push the gay marriage ban amendment forward. Still, the vote was 236 in favor of this BS and 187 against.
The Traditional Values Coalition said it was a "good thing for traditional marriage" that the measure was unlikely to pass because it wasn't clear enough in ruling out civil unions between gays.
The amendment was sponsored by the lovely Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) Be sure and send her your kindest regards. BITCH!
meanwhile....
the Senate will not even get enough votes in support of stem cell research to override a Bush veto.
"It is immoral to destroy the youngest of human lives for research purposes," said Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan).
Here are those rug-rat wanna bes he's referring to.
Photo credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison
The American "Values" Agenda
Our House of Representatives is hard at work today and the White House is frothing at the mouth in support of this crap.
Meanwhile, check this out at DailyKos.
"This is what domestic partnership gets you."
Meanwhile, check this out at DailyKos.
"This is what domestic partnership gets you."
Monday, July 17, 2006
Ahhh, the 80s
Kajagoogoo
This is why God invented youtube... when bloggers are busy or at a loss for words, just roll something out for your pleasure..
I thought these guys were hot (oh come on, it was 20+ years ago) although I hated the song. No one in the band was gay anyway, I'm sure.... right?
This is why God invented youtube... when bloggers are busy or at a loss for words, just roll something out for your pleasure..
I thought these guys were hot (oh come on, it was 20+ years ago) although I hated the song. No one in the band was gay anyway, I'm sure.... right?
Busy Monday - Not much blog time
Damn. I hate days like this. I've been bogged down in accounting work since starting work this morning. Had a very productive day but absolutely NO time for blogging or reading other blogs. I may preserve my energy for Tuesday's damn-near-guaranteed rant on the House vote on gay marriage.
I may not get any blogging done tonight because I have a rock-solid feeling I'm going to have a repeat of Saturday night.
I'm sure news and blogs are chock full of the Middle East situation so I'm going to leave that one alone for today. Just from scanning news headlines it sounds like perhaps... things might be softening up. We'll see.
When all else fails, let's just talk about the weather. In Austin, 101 yesterday, 102 today. Perfect tequila-drinking weather!
I may not get any blogging done tonight because I have a rock-solid feeling I'm going to have a repeat of Saturday night.
I'm sure news and blogs are chock full of the Middle East situation so I'm going to leave that one alone for today. Just from scanning news headlines it sounds like perhaps... things might be softening up. We'll see.
When all else fails, let's just talk about the weather. In Austin, 101 yesterday, 102 today. Perfect tequila-drinking weather!