What is it about politicians on the campaign trail shooting racial slurs off at the mouth?
At a campaign rally in southwest Virginia on Friday, Virginia Senator George Allen repeatedly called a volunteer for Democrat James Webb "macaca." During the speech in Breaks, near the Kentucky border, Allen began by saying that he was "going to run this campaign on positive, constructive ideas" and then pointed at S.R. Sidarth in the crowd.
(sure didn't take him long to deviate from his campaign promise.)
"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," Allen said, as his supporters began to laugh. After saying that Webb was raising money in California with a "bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," Allen said, "Let's give a welcome to macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Allen then began talking about the "war on terror."
So, if that's the "real world of Virginia," more than the gay & lesbian community should be packing up and moving out.
Allen claimed he didn't know what the word means. What kind of state deserves a senator who slings words without knowing what they mean? And if he was lying and did know what the word meant, then... repeat the question.
Allen is considering a 2008 presidential run. Just what we need: another idiot.
WaPo has the story.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Meade, Kansas - rainblow flag update
Kids Confess To Hotel's Rainbow Flag Theft
From 365Gay.com
Two local boys have admitted to the theft of a rainbow flag that divided a town and led to a series of homophobic attacks on a town hotel.
Until this summer sleepy Meade, Kansas was known only as the home of the Dalton Gang Museum. Now it has the reputation of being a town where homophobia runs rampant.
It all began when the 12 year old grandson of J.R. and Robin Knight presented them with a colorful flag he'd picked up in California. Neither the boy nor his grandparents realized it was the universal symbol of gay pride.
There's something seriously wrong with people in that town! Diversity and tolerance training needed asap.
Related post:
Rainbow flag causes big problems for Kansas B&B.
From 365Gay.com
Two local boys have admitted to the theft of a rainbow flag that divided a town and led to a series of homophobic attacks on a town hotel.
Until this summer sleepy Meade, Kansas was known only as the home of the Dalton Gang Museum. Now it has the reputation of being a town where homophobia runs rampant.
It all began when the 12 year old grandson of J.R. and Robin Knight presented them with a colorful flag he'd picked up in California. Neither the boy nor his grandparents realized it was the universal symbol of gay pride.
There's something seriously wrong with people in that town! Diversity and tolerance training needed asap.
Related post:
Rainbow flag causes big problems for Kansas B&B.
This is Not a Fat Joke
The haves and the have nots: another way of looking at it.
Australian doctors are suggesting a fat tax to fight obesity in the nation -- the only country in which the obesity rate is growing faster in children than adults.
Here's a similar article in Forbes.
This is another American "export" that doesn't get the attention it deserves. As more developing nations adopt American ways of life and have access to American fast-food and other high-processed foods, the problem will worsen.
I don't believe that education alone is the way to fight the epidemic. As more people develop the busy lifestyles that fuel the desire for quick food on the go coupled with a decrease in exercise (i.e. sitting on front of the TV eating garbage) we need other incentives in place to combat the problem.
Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee was warning of the problems of obesity last year. It would have been nice if he'd stuck with that theme while testing the Iowa waters earlier this year for a likely presidential run instead of climbing aboard the gay-bashing bandwagon.
This is a serious problem that needs immediate attention. A tax on fast-foods and other "junk" foods high in fats would have an unfortunate financial impact on low-income people, but is that worse than the impact of childhood obesity extending into adulthood? Ideally, fast-food chains would offer healthier product lines. Whether they can be relied upon to do this voluntarily is doubtful.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Iowa State Fair Political Pig Trough
Political swine of all persuasions are descending upon the Iowa State Fair to pitch their wares to the "real people."
The Des Moines Register
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/NEWS/60814009/1001
has more on Indiana Senator Evan Bayh promoting his plan to increase the use of renewable fuels.
"We can produce America’s fuel right here in the Midwest – in Iowa and Indiana – relying on our farmers rather than Middle Eastern sheiks,” Bayh told a group of local and national reporters gathered in front of the cattle barn.
Speaking of bullshit, it might make more sense to make fuel from cow patties since most of the grain grown in this region is being used to raise cattle to satisfy our increasing demand for beef.
While ethanol fuel production for use in flex-fuel vehicles sounds like a positive step, that's all it is.... a step, and not a very effective one. This is not going to solve our dependency nor is it a "green" alternative given the amount of water necessary to grow these crops -- you cannot always count on rains in the midwest.
These presidential aspirants will have to get a little more realistic about our energy independence to convince me they are serious about this problem. Waltzing into Iowa with a boner for the farmers' corncobs isn't enough.
Say Anything has an interesting post on the topic with more links. Here's an excerpt:
Personally, I don't have any real bias toward ethanol. If it were legitimately cheaper to run my car on ethanol I'd use it. The problem is that ethanol isn't cheaper. It's less efficient and more expensive. And even when the government "buys down" the price of ethanol by handing out tax breaks and incentives it is still more expensive because we Americans have to pay those tax breaks anyway.
The Des Moines Register
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/NEWS/60814009/1001
has more on Indiana Senator Evan Bayh promoting his plan to increase the use of renewable fuels.
"We can produce America’s fuel right here in the Midwest – in Iowa and Indiana – relying on our farmers rather than Middle Eastern sheiks,” Bayh told a group of local and national reporters gathered in front of the cattle barn.
Speaking of bullshit, it might make more sense to make fuel from cow patties since most of the grain grown in this region is being used to raise cattle to satisfy our increasing demand for beef.
While ethanol fuel production for use in flex-fuel vehicles sounds like a positive step, that's all it is.... a step, and not a very effective one. This is not going to solve our dependency nor is it a "green" alternative given the amount of water necessary to grow these crops -- you cannot always count on rains in the midwest.
These presidential aspirants will have to get a little more realistic about our energy independence to convince me they are serious about this problem. Waltzing into Iowa with a boner for the farmers' corncobs isn't enough.
Say Anything has an interesting post on the topic with more links. Here's an excerpt:
Personally, I don't have any real bias toward ethanol. If it were legitimately cheaper to run my car on ethanol I'd use it. The problem is that ethanol isn't cheaper. It's less efficient and more expensive. And even when the government "buys down" the price of ethanol by handing out tax breaks and incentives it is still more expensive because we Americans have to pay those tax breaks anyway.
Happy Birthday David Crosby
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Long Time Gone (1977)
David Crosby is 65 today. What a great spine-tingling clip!
David Crosby is 65 today. What a great spine-tingling clip!
Monday Misc.
Bush Poll from CBS News, and the linked story is unlikely to give him a boost either.
How much longer must we be subjected to this ass?
And what will be the State of the Union when his worthlessness returns permanently to Crawford? I'm pissed off just thinking about how we'll be paying for his Secret Service protection for the rest of his life.
txrad and I were discussing this yesterday and perhaps the silver lining will be that Bush will hopefully do little or no globetrotting once out of office. He doesn't exactly strike us as the type who will be so inclined as to travel the world trying to make it a better place after spending 8 years ripping it to fucking shreds.
Blog-a-licious Notes:
Toast is off to Ireland. Return home safely! I’m just glad my butt isn’t getting on a plane right now!
And I’m quite sad to learn The Green Knight has pulled the blogplug. Hope to see you around various threads here, there, and yonder.
How much longer must we be subjected to this ass?
And what will be the State of the Union when his worthlessness returns permanently to Crawford? I'm pissed off just thinking about how we'll be paying for his Secret Service protection for the rest of his life.
txrad and I were discussing this yesterday and perhaps the silver lining will be that Bush will hopefully do little or no globetrotting once out of office. He doesn't exactly strike us as the type who will be so inclined as to travel the world trying to make it a better place after spending 8 years ripping it to fucking shreds.
Just our opinion. Guess it's a good thing I'm not planning on doing any major political blogging today. It could get nasty!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Blog-a-licious Notes:
Toast is off to Ireland. Return home safely! I’m just glad my butt isn’t getting on a plane right now!
And I’m quite sad to learn The Green Knight has pulled the blogplug. Hope to see you around various threads here, there, and yonder.
I Wanna Be Sedated -- part 2
I thought this was hilariously coincidental. I did a post last week with this title simply because I had the Ramones stuck in my head. Last night's episode of Entourage on HBO ended with Vince submitting this script to his manager:
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Poetry Slam Wrap-Up **Updated**
Shamanic with konagod & txrad at Antone's
August 10, 2006 * Poetry Slam
Here's an individual piece from Shamanic at Antone's on Thursday night. I think she's an old soul!
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Friday Pussy Blog - Tiger
Tiger puts on a very heavy winter coat. Last winter it was exceptionally thick and we didn't have a particularly cold winter. He's still trying to shed that big matted mess on his back. I call it his "Hair Handle" although he told me to stop trying to pick him up by his handle. In this photo it looks like another animal is riding on his back.
War on terror... ad infinitum
They need to come up with a new term for this war on terror for several reasons:
I'm sick of hearing about it, I'm sick of it being used as a tool for political gain, and more importantly, it can't be won. Does Bush really believe he can eliminate terror? Substitute the word evil if you are struggling with the idea.
Terrorism is rooted in some form of injustice and/or dissatisfaction, real or imagined. And it has been going on in some form or another since the dawn of man and will continue until mankind no longer exists.
If you want to break it down to a bare philosophical level, the eradication of all things evil would result in the eradication of all things good as well, to get yingy-yangy about it.
The eradication of evil is a myth perpetuated by those who know how to cleverly manipulate your fears for their own advantage. That advantage is often more power for them, less freedom for us.
Republicans and Democrats clashed over the war on terror on Thursday within hours of the disclosure of a thwarted terrorist plot in Britain, each side accusing the other of doing too little to deter the threat of attack.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said: "We must be on alert so that our nation does not suffer another attack like 9/11."
"As a result of mismanagement and the wrong funding priorities, we are not as safe as we should be," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada countered.
"I'd rather be talking about this than all of the other things that Congress hasn't done well," one Republican congressional aide told AFP on condition of anonymity because of possible reprisals.
"Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big," said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't "look as appealing" under the circumstances.
Shameless manipulaton.
There are other grotesque quotes out there from those seeking the government pacifier.
At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Kristin Reinke, of Champlin, Minn., complained to her husband, Mike Reinke, "I just threw out $34 worth of hand lotion."
He was sympathetic, but accepted the Transportation Security Administration's reasons for the ban. "What are you going to do?" he said. "I guess you have to be safe."
Here's one benefactor from the chaos:
"I can't imagine all the millions of dollars that the Colgate-Palmolives are going to reap from this," said a Denver resident, as he waited to pick up his luggage at Los Angeles International Airport. "The Dumpsters in Phoenix were filled with shampoo and toothpaste."
Here's a fact: we do suffer casualties far worse than 9/11 every year.
Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000-62,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year.
Source: California Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke. September 1997.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that in the US more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year.
FBI Crime Index figures: There were an estimated 15,517 murders in 2000.
The total number of people killed in highway crashes in 2001 was 42,116.
Incidents involving firearms killed 29,000 in the US in 2000.
Alcohol consumption was responsible for 68,000 deaths in the US in 2000. (not including alcohol-related car crashes).
The 9/11 attacks killed 2,976.
Soon, even the war in Iraq will have claimed more US lives than were lost on 9/11. (Some 50,000+ Iraqis have been killed during the occupation but that's not relevant to the point I'm making here.)We're all going to die of something sooner or later. Shit, no one wants to hear that.
That one day in history which, by the way, 30% of Americans can no longer remember the year, has created an environment of fear and an opportunity for exploitation resulting in fewer rights & freedoms and the trend is continuing.
Stop believing that our government or our politicians can safeguard our lives into our golden years. Their attempts come at a hefty price and I for one am unwilling to pay it.
I am not suggesting the attacks of 9/11 are an apples to apples comparison of all the other death statistics I have listed. However, when you think about the homicide rate, it's a very fine line indeed. With over 29,000 "firearm incidents" resulting in death in 2000, you'd think that would be the easiest to control. Just outlaw guns. Stop selling them and do a massive sweep to collect all guns. Even if homicide rates only dropped to 7,000, that's still twice as many lives saved annually as were lost on 9/11.
Oh, but that Constitution of the United States of America gets in the way again. Americans have a right to bear arms. The Bush Administration and its Republican supporters have no problems skirting around or ripping into other parts of the Constitution in the name of homeland security. But you won't see Republicans or Bush clammoring for stricter handgun controls, let alone a ban and round-up of weapons. Does that fact alone not tell you something about the priorities, and that perhaps, it's about more than merely our "safety?"
If 29,000+ unnecessary deaths each year is a price worth paying to maintain the Bill of Rights, then why the hell are we so willing to bend over and take it up the ass over the 9/11 casualties?
For starters, it's a national ego problem. We are willing to overlook murders of Americans by Americans. Few of us personally know anyone who was murdered. And we never really stop to think about the overall numbers and putting that in true perspective. 9/11 was an attack on our national identity (and quite well portrayed that way by the Bush Administration) by a group of outsiders who are not like us. They aren't Christian and they aren't lily-white. We had to "unite" to save ourselves from those overseas who hate our Democracy and seek to destroy our way of life, if I recall one of Bush's more colorful ways of portraying this new war.
I'm not advocating a return to the lax security measures that were in place prior to 9/11. However, there has to be an intelligent and sensible alternative to the current scenarios.
From the NY Times:
Despite knowing for years that liquid explosives posed a threat to airline safety, security agencies have made little progress in deploying technology that could help defend against such attacks, security experts say.
Since September 2001, the federal government has hired tens of thousands of government screeners and upgraded its metal detectors and X-ray machines. But most of the equipment is still oriented toward preventing a metallic gun or other easily identifiable weapon from being carried aboard; it cannot distinguish shampoo from an explosive.
Cathleen A. Berrick, director of the Government Accountability Office’s homeland security and justice division, told a Senate committee in February 2005 that the Transportation Security Administration, part of the Department of Homeland Security, redirected more than half of the $110 million it had for research and development in 2003 to pay for personnel costs of screeners, delaying research in areas including detecting liquid explosives. It has continued to redirect some research and development money, she said Thursday.
So, we have to pay for their ineptitude?
Why are Americans so willing to resign themselves to the ridiculously incompetent state of airline security as well as erosion of civil liberties in exchange for a sense of security?
One airline with flights from Britain to the US actually banned books from being carried on a plane. If I didn't know better, I'd believe authorities were trying to find a breaking point -- to see just how far they can go with herding us like cattle. Honestly, my breaking point was in 2001.
Kingsley Veal, 35, a geologist from England, said his Continental flight from London's Heathrow airport to San Francisco was "long and boring" because, under British flight restrictions, he couldn't bring any books or music on board. But he thought the no-carry-on policy should always be in effect.
“I think they’re doing just fine,” Ron Spangenberg, 69, of Jacksonville, Ill., said of the Bush administration. “This is a big deal. I don’t where the doubters are coming from, but apparently they don’t think we’re at war. We are at war.”
“I think the British are doing a fantastic job when it comes to terror,” another woman was quoted as saying. “But I’m proud of whoever it was that caught them. I think it’s great. But I do respect their secrecy to do their jobs, and I don’t mind if they have to listen to my phone to do their job.”
To this, I would reply: Fine. Bend over. Take it up the ass. Be bored on a long flight. Feel safe. I'll stay home trying to protect what little privacy and rights I still have.
Charlie Sexton : 38 today
Charlie Sexton - Beat's So Lonely
Local cutie Charlie Sexton is having a birthday!
Local cutie Charlie Sexton is having a birthday!
Thursday, August 10, 2006
I wanna be sedated.
Airlines are suddenly offering sales. Imagine. You may be delayed for hours, and you may have a long shopping list when you get to your destination, but a sale is a sale. Oh and you might get blown up and have no further need for liquids of any sort.
I'm not flying anywhere, so I might as well sit here and blog.
I'm going to do 5 random thoughts:
1. My life feels like a Fellini film. Just pick one; it doesn't matter. 8 1/2. That works.
2. If I had a mud pit, I'd be playing in it.
3. I'm still queasy from watching Alton Brown eat and describe a brain sandwich on an episode of Feasting on Asphalt.
4. A night out at the Poetry Slam is what life should be like. People of all colors, all sexualities, all religions (or none), all coming together for the sake of art. And not a business suit in the bunch.
5. It's damn hot here. Damn hot.
I'm not flying anywhere, so I might as well sit here and blog.
I'm going to do 5 random thoughts:
1. My life feels like a Fellini film. Just pick one; it doesn't matter. 8 1/2. That works.
2. If I had a mud pit, I'd be playing in it.
3. I'm still queasy from watching Alton Brown eat and describe a brain sandwich on an episode of Feasting on Asphalt.
4. A night out at the Poetry Slam is what life should be like. People of all colors, all sexualities, all religions (or none), all coming together for the sake of art. And not a business suit in the bunch.
5. It's damn hot here. Damn hot.
Threat Level: Red
Yep, anyone should have seen this one coming. Lamont beats Lieberman in the primaries and the bullshit machine kicks into overdrive.
From the NewYork Times:
Republicans began a concerted effort to use Mr. Lieberman’s defeat to portray Democrats as weak on national defense, reprising a theme that they made central to the last two national campaigns.
The attacks came in searing remarks from, among others, Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee and Vice President Dick Cheney, who went so far as to suggest that the ouster of Mr. Lieberman might encourage “al Qaeda types.”
Well, apparently it did.. immediately.
The United States issued its highest terrorism alert for commercial flights from Britain and raised security on all domestic and international flights after a major terror plot was foiled in London. The Bush administration said the scheme was "suggestive of an al-Qaida plot."
The U.S. government banned all liquids and gels from flights, including toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, suntan lotion. (if you want to masturbate on a flight to relieve stress I guess you'll just have to use the dry method.)
Ironically, it was 7 years ago to this day that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
From the NewYork Times:
Republicans began a concerted effort to use Mr. Lieberman’s defeat to portray Democrats as weak on national defense, reprising a theme that they made central to the last two national campaigns.
The attacks came in searing remarks from, among others, Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee and Vice President Dick Cheney, who went so far as to suggest that the ouster of Mr. Lieberman might encourage “al Qaeda types.”
Well, apparently it did.. immediately.
The United States issued its highest terrorism alert for commercial flights from Britain and raised security on all domestic and international flights after a major terror plot was foiled in London. The Bush administration said the scheme was "suggestive of an al-Qaida plot."
The U.S. government banned all liquids and gels from flights, including toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, suntan lotion. (if you want to masturbate on a flight to relieve stress I guess you'll just have to use the dry method.)
Ironically, it was 7 years ago to this day that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Poetry Slam
Just a quick update:
We just returned from the first bout of the Poetry Slam -- with teams from five cities participating. Atlanta's "Art Amok" team is pictured here, with (from left to right): PhoenixYZ, Theresa Davis, and Shamanic, a Shakespeare's Sister contributing blogger, at the far right.
Tonight's winners were in this order: Austin, Detroit, Mesa, Atlanta, and Corpus Christi.
I'm thinking Austin got pre-loaded by a local crowd -- I'm not sure how judges are selected but I would have given first place to Detroit over Austin, although both were great. One of the judges gave someone on the Detroit team a pathetic 6.0 score which stood out from the other four judges which averaged in the 9 range. I'm sure that knocked Detroit down a notch, and quite unfairly. (some white woman needs her ass whupped!)
"Art Amok" will be in bout #28 Thursday night at 9:00 at Antone's downtown. We'll see ya there! And I'm going to try and get better pictures. I'm also going to improve my hydration -- it's HOT in Texas.
We just returned from the first bout of the Poetry Slam -- with teams from five cities participating. Atlanta's "Art Amok" team is pictured here, with (from left to right): PhoenixYZ, Theresa Davis, and Shamanic, a Shakespeare's Sister contributing blogger, at the far right.
Tonight's winners were in this order: Austin, Detroit, Mesa, Atlanta, and Corpus Christi.
I'm thinking Austin got pre-loaded by a local crowd -- I'm not sure how judges are selected but I would have given first place to Detroit over Austin, although both were great. One of the judges gave someone on the Detroit team a pathetic 6.0 score which stood out from the other four judges which averaged in the 9 range. I'm sure that knocked Detroit down a notch, and quite unfairly. (some white woman needs her ass whupped!)
"Art Amok" will be in bout #28 Thursday night at 9:00 at Antone's downtown. We'll see ya there! And I'm going to try and get better pictures. I'm also going to improve my hydration -- it's HOT in Texas.
Today feels like a Saturday...
...because we went out for a late lunch at Chuy’s for Tex-Mex and a potent margarita in order to avoid worrying about how to fit dinner into our busy schedule tonight. I was so stuffed I had to come home and take a nap.
At 7:00 we're going to the preliminary bout of the Poetry Slam finals which will be held this weekend.
During lunch we were seated next to a group of guys from some group, I'm guessing it was a Christian group since half of them were wearing shirts with this printed on the back:
Hungry for God?
Lord Give Us Some Dirty Feet
Something to that effect. I think this t-shirt is more appropriate for me:
I'm not sure what's up with the dirty foot festish, but as far as I could tell, they were all wearing shoes and socks. And all I was "hungry for" was the Veggie Combo and a big basket of chips & salsa.
Everytime I leave Chuy's, the first sentence out of my mouth is: "WHEEWWWW, I think I'm going to EXPLODE."
Will update later on the Poetry Slam....
At 7:00 we're going to the preliminary bout of the Poetry Slam finals which will be held this weekend.
During lunch we were seated next to a group of guys from some group, I'm guessing it was a Christian group since half of them were wearing shirts with this printed on the back:
Hungry for God?
Lord Give Us Some Dirty Feet
Something to that effect. I think this t-shirt is more appropriate for me:
I'm not sure what's up with the dirty foot festish, but as far as I could tell, they were all wearing shoes and socks. And all I was "hungry for" was the Veggie Combo and a big basket of chips & salsa.
Everytime I leave Chuy's, the first sentence out of my mouth is: "WHEEWWWW, I think I'm going to EXPLODE."
Will update later on the Poetry Slam....
Political parties trump political conviction
What's up with this? Bill Clinton embraced Joe Lieberman last week to show his support and now Hillary Clinton has sent a check to the Lamont campaign, according to C&L. Is Bill now a Lamont supporter as well?
I'm sorry, I must be stupid. I just don't get this. I supported Lamont before his primary victory. I didn't switch overnight because I'm a Democrat being yanked like a puppet by party hierarchy. If they believe Lieberman is philosophically the best choice, why switch, considering he intends to run as an independent?
This is but one of many unsavory and dishonest aspects of politics. Would the same have happened if Lamont was to the right of Lieberman on most issues? I'm just asking.
More thoughts.
I'm sorry, I must be stupid. I just don't get this. I supported Lamont before his primary victory. I didn't switch overnight because I'm a Democrat being yanked like a puppet by party hierarchy. If they believe Lieberman is philosophically the best choice, why switch, considering he intends to run as an independent?
This is but one of many unsavory and dishonest aspects of politics. Would the same have happened if Lamont was to the right of Lieberman on most issues? I'm just asking.
More thoughts.
Mother's Milk is best
I'm sure you remember this uproar from several days ago with irate readers who were offended by this magazine cover of a baby sucking a breast.
Yesterday afternoon I ran out to pick up a few groceries and heard an ad on the radio for the Mother’s Milk Bank in Austin seeking donations of breast milk from healthy women who have a surplus.
Being a gay man, there's a lot I don't know about women -- especially when it comes to breast milk. I'd never even pondered the concept of a woman donating unused milk to a "bank" to be distributed to women who, for whatever reason, cannot produce an adequate amount. Apparently there are only 7 such "milk banks" in the country, but what a great charitable donation!
I can't help but wonder what those offended readers of Baby Talk magazine and assorted breast-phobic fundamentalists would think about the radio ad I heard. The ad ran on KGSR which is (my opinion) a liberal radio station here in Austin.
Back in the mid-80s when I was messing around with various drugs, I recall an episode when I had an idea. There was cheese from cows, goats and sheep. Why not human breast milk? That memory flashed through my mind yesterday after I heard the radio ad.
Now that 2 decades have passed and you can google anything for information, I found some interesting info this morning.
One woman tried making paneer* from her own breast milk and failed, claiming the protein content isn't high enough to cause the milk to curdle.
"I didn't know a thing about dairy farming," says Ross Marker, Hooterville Farms' founder. "Hell, I didn't know a damn thing about anything! But the solution was right there, bouncing in front of my face every night!"
You can read more in the LaLa Times article.
OK, so it's a spoof. I was falling for it.
Yesterday afternoon I ran out to pick up a few groceries and heard an ad on the radio for the Mother’s Milk Bank in Austin seeking donations of breast milk from healthy women who have a surplus.
Being a gay man, there's a lot I don't know about women -- especially when it comes to breast milk. I'd never even pondered the concept of a woman donating unused milk to a "bank" to be distributed to women who, for whatever reason, cannot produce an adequate amount. Apparently there are only 7 such "milk banks" in the country, but what a great charitable donation!
I can't help but wonder what those offended readers of Baby Talk magazine and assorted breast-phobic fundamentalists would think about the radio ad I heard. The ad ran on KGSR which is (my opinion) a liberal radio station here in Austin.
Back in the mid-80s when I was messing around with various drugs, I recall an episode when I had an idea. There was cheese from cows, goats and sheep. Why not human breast milk? That memory flashed through my mind yesterday after I heard the radio ad.
Now that 2 decades have passed and you can google anything for information, I found some interesting info this morning.
One woman tried making paneer* from her own breast milk and failed, claiming the protein content isn't high enough to cause the milk to curdle.
*The link I placed wouldn't work so try this: http://www.indrani.net/index.php?q=2006/03/breast_milk_cheese
"I didn't know a thing about dairy farming," says Ross Marker, Hooterville Farms' founder. "Hell, I didn't know a damn thing about anything! But the solution was right there, bouncing in front of my face every night!"
You can read more in the LaLa Times article.
OK, so it's a spoof. I was falling for it.
Aimee Mann -- 46 today
Til Tuesday - Voices Carry
I first saw Aimee Mann in Boston in 1981 while taking some college classes at Harvard Summer School.
She and her band, called "The Young Snakes," were playing some dark dive bar to a sparse crowd.
After their set, the band retreated to a booth in a corner for some drinks. I wanted to go over and say hi and tell her how much I enjoyed the set and what talent she had. Damn shyness got in the way again.
I still have one of their songs on a Modern Method compilation album released by local radio station WBCN. Damn fine radio station that one was!
Happy Birthday Aimee.
I first saw Aimee Mann in Boston in 1981 while taking some college classes at Harvard Summer School.
She and her band, called "The Young Snakes," were playing some dark dive bar to a sparse crowd.
After their set, the band retreated to a booth in a corner for some drinks. I wanted to go over and say hi and tell her how much I enjoyed the set and what talent she had. Damn shyness got in the way again.
I still have one of their songs on a Modern Method compilation album released by local radio station WBCN. Damn fine radio station that one was!
Happy Birthday Aimee.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Why? Because there's still time to sway a voter?
Joe Lieberman:
"I'm concerned that our Web site is knocked out on the day of the primary, you'd assume it wasn't any casual observer."
Joe, the primary is today. Voting is already in progress. Why don't you just take a chill pill and wait for the results? Joe was suggesting that the Ned Lamont campaign was responsible for hacking his website.
DailyKos noted:
They are paying $15/month for hosting at a place called MyHostCamp, with a bandwidth limit of 10GB. MyHostCamp is currently down, along with all their clients.
Here's the deal -- you get what you pay for. My hosting bill is now over $7K per month. A smaller site doesn't need that much bandwidth, but if you're paying $15 because your $12 million campaign is too freakin' cheap to pay for quality hosting, then don't go blaming your opponent when your shitty service goes out.
Kos has more.
"I'm concerned that our Web site is knocked out on the day of the primary, you'd assume it wasn't any casual observer."
Joe, the primary is today. Voting is already in progress. Why don't you just take a chill pill and wait for the results? Joe was suggesting that the Ned Lamont campaign was responsible for hacking his website.
DailyKos noted:
They are paying $15/month for hosting at a place called MyHostCamp, with a bandwidth limit of 10GB. MyHostCamp is currently down, along with all their clients.
Here's the deal -- you get what you pay for. My hosting bill is now over $7K per month. A smaller site doesn't need that much bandwidth, but if you're paying $15 because your $12 million campaign is too freakin' cheap to pay for quality hosting, then don't go blaming your opponent when your shitty service goes out.
Kos has more.
The Edge turns 45 today..
I'm sure this was the US tour when I saw U2 in Kansas City at an old theatre. I was standing front and center. I reached up to touch Bono thinking maybe I'd get a quick handshake. He grabbed my arm at the elbow and his sweaty hand slid down to my fingertips.
Here's video of The Edge with U2 performing on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow Show" in 1981. The interview comes after the song. Damn they were young!
I'm a lunatic.
After last night's intoxicating revelry, bizarre music-mix, and my positively insane commentary on another blog which I shall not mention by name, the blame seems obvious in retrospect. I've been so unaware of lunar activities I had no idea until I visited one of the newest adds on my blogroll: Revolutions Per Minute. Check out what another Austin blogger RPM has to say.
The State of the Red State Radio Rodeo
It happened to Loretta Lynn-- supposedly she had more banned songs than anyone in the history of country music. And it happened to k.d. lang. Despite recording some phenomenal country CDs which I continue to place on the pedestal of top 50 country recordings ever, she was never accepted by the country music radio establishment or by Nashville. And in 1992 she was an out lesbian -- like we had to wait until then to know for sure! And then add a card-carrying vegetarian label on that big-boned gal from southern Alberta's cattle country, and you've got the recipe for red-state ostracism.
It seems country music performers, especially women, are meant to conform and keep their mouths shut except to sing. It you want country radio to love you, then behave yourself.
The Dixie Chicks are literally taking the long way. Slow sales of concert tickets in several obvious "red" cities have resulted in concert cancellations. Many country music program directors and their radio listeners can't seem to let go of their "freedom fries" mentality and just get over it. Not surprisingly, most of the slow ticket sales are in the south and midwest -- "forgive and forget" just isn't in Jim Bob and Sue Ellen's vocabulary.
Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Knoxville are among 14 cities no longer on the original schedule released in May, according to a revised itinerary posted Thursday on the Dixie Chick's web site.
Other shows, including Nashville, Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, have been pushed back to later dates.
Several Canadian cities have been added in place of the dropped US shows. Smart thinking by those Chicks. Screw the country radio establishment. Rock on, ladies.
It seems country music performers, especially women, are meant to conform and keep their mouths shut except to sing. It you want country radio to love you, then behave yourself.
The Dixie Chicks are literally taking the long way. Slow sales of concert tickets in several obvious "red" cities have resulted in concert cancellations. Many country music program directors and their radio listeners can't seem to let go of their "freedom fries" mentality and just get over it. Not surprisingly, most of the slow ticket sales are in the south and midwest -- "forgive and forget" just isn't in Jim Bob and Sue Ellen's vocabulary.
Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Knoxville are among 14 cities no longer on the original schedule released in May, according to a revised itinerary posted Thursday on the Dixie Chick's web site.
Other shows, including Nashville, Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, have been pushed back to later dates.
Several Canadian cities have been added in place of the dropped US shows. Smart thinking by those Chicks. Screw the country radio establishment. Rock on, ladies.
The Beauty of a Garden
I was about to have a shitfit last night, and we don't need one of those. I sent txrad out for groceries yesterday afternoon because I was too busy with work. I totally forgot to add onions to the list.
Monday night is pizza night (so is Wednesday and Friday). I went in the kitchen and opened the pantry door only to find an empty onion container. Damn! What to do. I can't make a pizza without onions! And I've been known to pout, moan, whine and/or throw things when my dinner menu is forced to make an unexpected turn.
txrad was in the process of calming me down by saying "it's all right." Then suddenly he had an idea. We went out to the "garden" which currently consists of nothing but dead tomato plants. He knew right where to dig under the soil, and within seconds had pulled out these 3 bulbs. They were originally planted in the early spring as green onions and never picked. A very hot late spring killed off the tops but left the deliciously sweet bulbs well preserved for months.
Problem solved. Never underestimate the power of soil. They cleaned up nicely too!
Monday, August 07, 2006
The Evolution of Konagod
Imagine my delight to see on my TTLB hit counter today that I managed to finally evolve from an "insignificant microbe" to a "crunchy crustacean."
Watch those claws. I do pinch. Keep me out of boiling water and we'll all get along.
Watch those claws. I do pinch. Keep me out of boiling water and we'll all get along.
Sexual lyrics causing teens to do the big nasty..
What about the rest of us though?
Teens whose iPods are full of music with raunchy, sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs, according to this study.
Songs depicting men as "sex-driven studs," women as sex objects and with explicit references to sex acts are more likely to trigger early sexual behavior than those where sexual references are more veiled and relationships appear more committed, the study found.
I'm STILL a "sex-driven stud" so apparently once the songs are implanted, you are cursed for life.
Wait until they discover this latest accessory for the iPod!
Teens whose iPods are full of music with raunchy, sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs, according to this study.
Songs depicting men as "sex-driven studs," women as sex objects and with explicit references to sex acts are more likely to trigger early sexual behavior than those where sexual references are more veiled and relationships appear more committed, the study found.
I'm STILL a "sex-driven stud" so apparently once the songs are implanted, you are cursed for life.
Wait until they discover this latest accessory for the iPod!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
a Mish-Mash of Whatever
I've been rather busy at work for a Monday... will throw this out until I have time to do another post...
Pissed Off Cabbie has a photo post called "Special Olympics of Driving." Not very "PC" but there are funny shots of awkward situations and we all hope these people will stay the hell away from us on the road.
Several items relevant to the gay communinity in the news today as well:
It seems a lot of gay couples in northern Virginia are packing up and moving to DC or Maryland ahead of an amendment to the Virginia state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and possibly be used to void domestic partner benefits.
One same-sex couple, Beth Lower and Kati Towle, said they chose to move out of Arlington when Towle became pregnant and a lawyer told them not to have the child in Virginia.
At least they don't have far to move. Pity us folks in Texas and elsewhere, surrounded by oceans of red voters. It would be a LONG move for us.
Pam’s House Blend has great commentary on this topic with additional links as well.
Over across the big pond, a German court ruled on Monday that an Iranian lesbian cannot be deported because she risks a death sentence based on her sexuality.
And this tidbid would be funny IF it weren't so damned sad. It's so hot in Iraq, a soldier thought he saw a Wal-Mart off in the distant desert. That's not my ideal mirage, but under those conditions I suppose you take what you can get.
125 degrees is not uncommon in areas of Iraq, with temps at night still hovering above 100. Tomorrow's forecast in Baghdad is for a high of 117. Ick.
Pissed Off Cabbie has a photo post called "Special Olympics of Driving." Not very "PC" but there are funny shots of awkward situations and we all hope these people will stay the hell away from us on the road.
Several items relevant to the gay communinity in the news today as well:
It seems a lot of gay couples in northern Virginia are packing up and moving to DC or Maryland ahead of an amendment to the Virginia state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and possibly be used to void domestic partner benefits.
One same-sex couple, Beth Lower and Kati Towle, said they chose to move out of Arlington when Towle became pregnant and a lawyer told them not to have the child in Virginia.
At least they don't have far to move. Pity us folks in Texas and elsewhere, surrounded by oceans of red voters. It would be a LONG move for us.
Pam’s House Blend has great commentary on this topic with additional links as well.
Over across the big pond, a German court ruled on Monday that an Iranian lesbian cannot be deported because she risks a death sentence based on her sexuality.
And this tidbid would be funny IF it weren't so damned sad. It's so hot in Iraq, a soldier thought he saw a Wal-Mart off in the distant desert. That's not my ideal mirage, but under those conditions I suppose you take what you can get.
125 degrees is not uncommon in areas of Iraq, with temps at night still hovering above 100. Tomorrow's forecast in Baghdad is for a high of 117. Ick.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Gimme a pig's foot and a bottle of beer..
Feasting on Asphalt is the new Alton Brown series on Food TV.
This is a brilliant non-series. Someone has got to Youtube this shit.
Fucking Irish People. You can't trust anyone born on an island.
And why the fuck did FashionRocks come with my Architectural Digest?
Are negores making inroads into our high-end style?
And by the way, I'm part negro and part Irish. I was responsible for the term Black Irish.
USA Today had an interesting opinion piece published Friday on the demise of black cowboys echoing in baseball.
Though the traditional Western movies failed to include them, 25% of cowboys in the Old West were African-American, according to Philip Durham and Everett Jones in their book, The Negro Cowboys.
Hmm, just one more thing I never learned in school. Chalk it right up there with Black Indians.
Kitty Cloud Taylor and her sister of the Ute
It happened that life crossed Africans and Native Americans together into one circle.
This was in April, 1502, when the first Africans kidnapped were brought to Hispanola to serve as slaves. Some escaped and somewhere inland on Santo Dominico life birthed the first circle of Black Indians.
Some black Indians have a dual ancestry of African and Native American bloodlines. Others are black people who have lived with Native Americans and maintain their cultural-ceremonial traditions.
The link to africanamericans.com has links to other resources concerning this interesting facet of American history.
This is a brilliant non-series. Someone has got to Youtube this shit.
Fucking Irish People. You can't trust anyone born on an island.
And why the fuck did FashionRocks come with my Architectural Digest?
Are negores making inroads into our high-end style?
And by the way, I'm part negro and part Irish. I was responsible for the term Black Irish.
USA Today had an interesting opinion piece published Friday on the demise of black cowboys echoing in baseball.
Though the traditional Western movies failed to include them, 25% of cowboys in the Old West were African-American, according to Philip Durham and Everett Jones in their book, The Negro Cowboys.
Hmm, just one more thing I never learned in school. Chalk it right up there with Black Indians.
Kitty Cloud Taylor and her sister of the Ute
It happened that life crossed Africans and Native Americans together into one circle.
This was in April, 1502, when the first Africans kidnapped were brought to Hispanola to serve as slaves. Some escaped and somewhere inland on Santo Dominico life birthed the first circle of Black Indians.
Some black Indians have a dual ancestry of African and Native American bloodlines. Others are black people who have lived with Native Americans and maintain their cultural-ceremonial traditions.
The link to africanamericans.com has links to other resources concerning this interesting facet of American history.
The Book Meme
OK, it's Saturday afternoon and 99 degrees out so what else would I be doing?
A big "fuck you" goes out to litbrit, The Minstrel Boy and David at Quaker Agitator, all of whom dragged me into this kicking and screaming.
I guess I should be flattered that someone would think I'm literary. I don't think I've read a book of fiction since the 1980s. My current reading is pretty much limited to the New York Times and the liner notes from CDs. However, if I apply myself I can probably fake my way through it.
Here goes:
1. One book that has changed your life: “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free Society” by Peter McWilliams. This book changed my life by really simplifying it. I learned to stop agonizing over right vs. wrong. If two consensual adults want to do it, and it harms no one else, it’s none of my fucking business.
2. One book you have read more than once: God, this is tough. It’s enough for me to read a book once! I may have read “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan more than once. And I’d be very surprised if I didn’t read “Does It Matter: Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality” by Alan Watts at least twice. In fact I’d like to read that one again now that I have it out on the desk.
3. One book you would want on a Desert Island: Well now. That question is tough because I have no way of knowing what the conditions are going to be on this island. Will I have shelter? Will I have my partner or be totally alone on this island? If I’m alone and going to be there forever, I’d probably want “The Norton Anthology of Literature By Women.” With more than 2,400 pages, that would keep me occupied awhile. I might also want my World Atlas just so I can see the places I can no longer visit.
On 2nd thought, screw those; I'd rather have this one.
4. One book that made you laugh: “Napalm & Silly Putty” by George Carlin. Who wouldn’t laugh at lines like this: “Why was brown excluded from the rainbow? And where did indigo come from? I was taught there were three primary colors and three secondary colors. What’s with this indigo shit?
5. One book you wish you had written: “Flowers and Their Messages” by The Mother. It’s basically like a dictionary of over 800 flowers and their spiritual significance. “Trumpet bush: Higher Mind. Its superiority consists in its capacity to open the door to the Divine Light.”
6. One book you wish had never been written: Probably the one that hasn't been written, if it ever is: President George W. Bush's Memoirs.
7. One book that made you cry: “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton. She is just so eloquent – her writing is such beautiful art.
8. One book you are currently reading: "Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness" by Robert Thurman (Uma's daddy!).
9. One book you've been meaning to read: “The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light – Mythology, Sexuality & the Origins of Culture” by William Irwin Thompson. This was a textbook in my History of Women in Witchcraft class I took as an elective history course back in the mid-80s. At the time I found the book to be just too deep for me.
10. One book you wish everybody would read: “Close to the Knives – A Memoir of Disintegration” by David Wojnarowicz. As William S. Burroughs said, “Pick up his book and listen.”
11. Now tag five people . . No way. I don’t even know 5 people. How about the first 5 people who show up here who haven’t already participated. Just leave your names in the comments. There is one I'd like to name: Holly Capote -- a writer herself, so that would be interesting!
WHEW! Now that I've finished this and have all these books out on my desk, I feel pretty damn good. I was kidding about the "fuck you" comment. I haven't had a "homework assignment" in eons and it's good to get yourself stretched a bit occasionally. This was a tiring exercise and I feel like the guy below in the photo of the day!
A big "fuck you" goes out to litbrit, The Minstrel Boy and David at Quaker Agitator, all of whom dragged me into this kicking and screaming.
I guess I should be flattered that someone would think I'm literary. I don't think I've read a book of fiction since the 1980s. My current reading is pretty much limited to the New York Times and the liner notes from CDs. However, if I apply myself I can probably fake my way through it.
Here goes:
1. One book that has changed your life: “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free Society” by Peter McWilliams. This book changed my life by really simplifying it. I learned to stop agonizing over right vs. wrong. If two consensual adults want to do it, and it harms no one else, it’s none of my fucking business.
2. One book you have read more than once: God, this is tough. It’s enough for me to read a book once! I may have read “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan more than once. And I’d be very surprised if I didn’t read “Does It Matter: Essays on Man’s Relation to Materiality” by Alan Watts at least twice. In fact I’d like to read that one again now that I have it out on the desk.
3. One book you would want on a Desert Island: Well now. That question is tough because I have no way of knowing what the conditions are going to be on this island. Will I have shelter? Will I have my partner or be totally alone on this island? If I’m alone and going to be there forever, I’d probably want “The Norton Anthology of Literature By Women.” With more than 2,400 pages, that would keep me occupied awhile. I might also want my World Atlas just so I can see the places I can no longer visit.
On 2nd thought, screw those; I'd rather have this one.
4. One book that made you laugh: “Napalm & Silly Putty” by George Carlin. Who wouldn’t laugh at lines like this: “Why was brown excluded from the rainbow? And where did indigo come from? I was taught there were three primary colors and three secondary colors. What’s with this indigo shit?
5. One book you wish you had written: “Flowers and Their Messages” by The Mother. It’s basically like a dictionary of over 800 flowers and their spiritual significance. “Trumpet bush: Higher Mind. Its superiority consists in its capacity to open the door to the Divine Light.”
6. One book you wish had never been written: Probably the one that hasn't been written, if it ever is: President George W. Bush's Memoirs.
7. One book that made you cry: “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton. She is just so eloquent – her writing is such beautiful art.
8. One book you are currently reading: "Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness" by Robert Thurman (Uma's daddy!).
9. One book you've been meaning to read: “The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light – Mythology, Sexuality & the Origins of Culture” by William Irwin Thompson. This was a textbook in my History of Women in Witchcraft class I took as an elective history course back in the mid-80s. At the time I found the book to be just too deep for me.
10. One book you wish everybody would read: “Close to the Knives – A Memoir of Disintegration” by David Wojnarowicz. As William S. Burroughs said, “Pick up his book and listen.”
11. Now tag five people . . No way. I don’t even know 5 people. How about the first 5 people who show up here who haven’t already participated. Just leave your names in the comments. There is one I'd like to name: Holly Capote -- a writer herself, so that would be interesting!
WHEW! Now that I've finished this and have all these books out on my desk, I feel pretty damn good. I was kidding about the "fuck you" comment. I haven't had a "homework assignment" in eons and it's good to get yourself stretched a bit occasionally. This was a tiring exercise and I feel like the guy below in the photo of the day!
A pill for the red states
Finally, there's hope for the millions of Fox News viewers, homo-obsessed fundamentalists, right-wing old white male politicians, and pretty much the entire state of Kansas... (OK, I'll be fair... more than half of it.)
An "anti-stupidity pill" has been developed in Germany. It's about damn time!
But... who do we test it on first? The list is long.
An "anti-stupidity pill" has been developed in Germany. It's about damn time!
But... who do we test it on first? The list is long.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Be a Clown for Christ
I shit you not.
Don't fret: National Clown Week will be over soon enough and we can all resume our boring lives. In the meantime I felt it my duty to inform you of the Clown Ministry Handbook. Anyone up for some gospel clowning?
"Arguably, The book on clown ministry. An excellent resource on gospel clowning (it's not focusing intently on creating make-up or other "clown" activities, but rather how the clown becomes a gospel clown). An excellent resource with several skits as well as interviews with several gospel clowns across the country."
I rate it
on a 5-clown scale.
put those puppies down you sick freak!
Don't fret: National Clown Week will be over soon enough and we can all resume our boring lives. In the meantime I felt it my duty to inform you of the Clown Ministry Handbook. Anyone up for some gospel clowning?
"Arguably, The book on clown ministry. An excellent resource on gospel clowning (it's not focusing intently on creating make-up or other "clown" activities, but rather how the clown becomes a gospel clown). An excellent resource with several skits as well as interviews with several gospel clowns across the country."
I rate it
on a 5-clown scale.put those puppies down you sick freak!
Shut the F Up
Doesn't he have a state to manage?
*Little Rock recorded its 40th homicide of the year Thursday — one shy of the 41 slayings in the city for all of 2005.
But forget about the excessively high homicide rate--there are more pressing issues requiring his attention outside the state.
asshattery details here
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has become the second out-of-state governor to tell South Carolinians to support a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and quite possibly domestic partner benefits.
Speaking at an event in Columbia, South Carolina called a "Celebration of Classic Marriage" Huckabee called on voters to show that "marriage still means something."
Oh, so the new term is "Classic" marriage? I can't keep up anymore. I'm also way behind on the latest trends.... I'm still having "classic gay sex" with an adult....
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote of the Day:
"The newest thing in Chicago, it's becoming a trend, and you're gonna find this hard to believe...[gay] sex with infants."Renew America leader Guy Adams.
*Little Rock recorded its 40th homicide of the year Thursday — one shy of the 41 slayings in the city for all of 2005.
But forget about the excessively high homicide rate--there are more pressing issues requiring his attention outside the state.
asshattery details here
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has become the second out-of-state governor to tell South Carolinians to support a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and quite possibly domestic partner benefits.
Speaking at an event in Columbia, South Carolina called a "Celebration of Classic Marriage" Huckabee called on voters to show that "marriage still means something."
Oh, so the new term is "Classic" marriage? I can't keep up anymore. I'm also way behind on the latest trends.... I'm still having "classic gay sex" with an adult....
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote of the Day:
"The newest thing in Chicago, it's becoming a trend, and you're gonna find this hard to believe...[gay] sex with infants."Renew America leader Guy Adams.
Friday Pussy Blog
Tater Tot at konagod's blogging station - moments ago.
And Rebecca sent the latest from her sweet Gus. "How sweet is this boy?" she asked.
The answer is clearly obvious.
And Rebecca sent the latest from her sweet Gus. "How sweet is this boy?" she asked.
The answer is clearly obvious.
"Your Butt Ain't Made for That!"
What happens when you take a highly-strung black lesbian, remove her from the comfortable confines of her environment, and put her in a place where a long-overdue rant is encouraged?
"it's all about sucking dick and taking it in the ass"
Savor every word.
It's Friday...the bloody week is almost over. Let's get on with it....
"it's all about sucking dick and taking it in the ass"
Savor every word.
It's Friday...the bloody week is almost over. Let's get on with it....
Thursday, August 03, 2006
National Clown Week
I had to think of some way to mention National Clown Week: August 1-7.
When I did a search of "clown week" in Google, one of the results was Shakespeare's Sister. That figures.
Commandment #3 from The Seven Clown Commandments:
I will not drink any alcoholic beverage prior to any clown appearances. I will abstain from drinking alcoholic beverage while in makeup and clown costume. I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady, neither molesting nor interfering with other acts, events, spectators, or individuals.
Update: Someone came and doctored the photo.... hmmm... Rebecca
When I did a search of "clown week" in Google, one of the results was Shakespeare's Sister. That figures.
Commandment #3 from The Seven Clown Commandments:
I will not drink any alcoholic beverage prior to any clown appearances. I will abstain from drinking alcoholic beverage while in makeup and clown costume. I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady, neither molesting nor interfering with other acts, events, spectators, or individuals.
Update: Someone came and doctored the photo.... hmmm... Rebecca
oh shit
Everyone having a good day?
Mideast Conflict: Off the Wires
U.S. generals warn of civil war in Iraq AP - 37 minutes ago
Hizbollah offers Israel end to rocket attacks Reuters - 51 minutes ago
Hezbollah rockets kill 8 in Israel AP - 53 minutes ago
Israeli push into Gaza kills 8 people AP - 58 minutes ago
Syria promises to use all its influence on Hezbollah: Moratinos AFP - 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Israel launches new airstrikes on Beirut AP - 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Captured Israeli soldier's wife pleads for US help Reuters - 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
The battle to assemble international force for Lebanon AFP - 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Nasrallah is a bad name to have in Lebanon, youngster finds AFP - 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
Hizbollah kills 10 in deadliest day for Israel Reuters - 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
US ready to work through weekend for Lebanon resolution AFP - 2 hours, 25 minutes ago
Israel battles Hezbollah spin machine AFP - 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Hizbollah says wants Israeli pullout for ceasefire Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 1:40 PM ET
US hopes for UN vote on Mideast fighting end by Friday Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 1:39 PM ET
Eight Palestinians killed as Israel presses Gaza offensive AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:37 PM ET
Ahmadinejad says Lebanon solution is 'end of Zionist regime' AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:33 PM ET
Muslim nations demand Israeli ceasefire AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:13 PM ET
Hizbollah kills 11 Israelis Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 12:45 PM ET
Heavy bombing halts rescue work in south Lebanon Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 12:34 PM ET
France circulates a revised resolution AP - Thu Aug 3, 12:22 PM ET
Lebanese displaced hang on as aid trickles in Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 11:14 AM ET
Ahmadinejad: Destroy Israel, end crisis AP - Thu Aug 3, 10:49 AM ET
Buried by bomb, mother saved lives in Qana Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 10:24 AM ET
Blair signals no objection to Israel arms flights Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 9:54 AM ET
Mideast Conflict: Off the Wires
U.S. generals warn of civil war in Iraq AP - 37 minutes ago
Hizbollah offers Israel end to rocket attacks Reuters - 51 minutes ago
Hezbollah rockets kill 8 in Israel AP - 53 minutes ago
Israeli push into Gaza kills 8 people AP - 58 minutes ago
Syria promises to use all its influence on Hezbollah: Moratinos AFP - 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Israel launches new airstrikes on Beirut AP - 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Captured Israeli soldier's wife pleads for US help Reuters - 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
The battle to assemble international force for Lebanon AFP - 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Nasrallah is a bad name to have in Lebanon, youngster finds AFP - 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
Hizbollah kills 10 in deadliest day for Israel Reuters - 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
US ready to work through weekend for Lebanon resolution AFP - 2 hours, 25 minutes ago
Israel battles Hezbollah spin machine AFP - 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Hizbollah says wants Israeli pullout for ceasefire Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 1:40 PM ET
US hopes for UN vote on Mideast fighting end by Friday Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 1:39 PM ET
Eight Palestinians killed as Israel presses Gaza offensive AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:37 PM ET
Ahmadinejad says Lebanon solution is 'end of Zionist regime' AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:33 PM ET
Muslim nations demand Israeli ceasefire AFP - Thu Aug 3, 1:13 PM ET
Hizbollah kills 11 Israelis Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 12:45 PM ET
Heavy bombing halts rescue work in south Lebanon Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 12:34 PM ET
France circulates a revised resolution AP - Thu Aug 3, 12:22 PM ET
Lebanese displaced hang on as aid trickles in Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 11:14 AM ET
Ahmadinejad: Destroy Israel, end crisis AP - Thu Aug 3, 10:49 AM ET
Buried by bomb, mother saved lives in Qana Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 10:24 AM ET
Blair signals no objection to Israel arms flights Reuters - Thu Aug 3, 9:54 AM ET
HBO Alert: A "must see" documentary
Spike Lee has a 4-hour documentary on Hurricane Katrina which will debut for two hours on HBO on Aug. 21 at 9 p.m., and the last two hours will be shown on Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. It will also be shown in its entirety at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29, the anniversary of the hurricane.
“When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” also features one of my favorite trumpeters, Terence Blanchard, who wrote the score as well.
I have a hunch this is going to be riveting. Mark your calendars.
What happened in New Orleans was a criminal act, a tragic backhanded slap to poor, black or politically insignificant people.
--Spike Lee
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Clean Colons must not be "family-friendly"
Here comes the part of the show where you get to learn a little bit more about how konagod earns a living (or not the way business currently stands).
I share something in common with Darrin Stephens, one of my childhood idols on Bewitched: txrad and I are in the advertising business. That's where the similarities end. Unfortunately, I am not married to a witch (or a warlock) and I'm in the unglamorous world of infomercial advertising and other "direct-response" advertising.
We place campaigns on television stations around the US. I'm always getting emails regarding mundane station policies, such as where payments are to be sent, tape formats, deadlines, etc. etc.
Today I received an email regarding a new policy at WXIX, the Fox-affiliate in Cincinnati:
WXIX CANNOT air any type of colon cleanser show during the day and night. They can only air it in the overnights. Please please make note of this. These shows include dual action cleanse, almighty cleanse, DAC great falls and Evolve 2. Some of your titles are tricky so if you know it is a colon cleanse show please do not allocate it to WXIX during regular hours.
If we all follow their policies then everything should run smoothly. (emphasis mine)
Despite the fact that a clean colon contributes to overall health and wellness, that's apparently not enough to overcome the obvious: it's just too connected to the asshole to be suitable for family exposure.
I just do not understand idiotic station management. It's beyond idiotic, it's some warped adolescent mentality. Colon cancer is very common: 2nd only to lung cancer. One of my aunts died from it. But let's not broadcast anything about it during "family time" -- wouldn't want to inadvertently cause someone to even think about their assholes and what lurks further up the trail.
If you don't know why cleansing is so important, I will provide you with a link to a photo of the type of build-up that the standard American diet can produce in the colon. Be forewarned: it's gross.
click here
The combination of environmental toxins, an unhealthy diet and parasites poses a grave danger to humans. “In fact, parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history”, reported National Geographic in its award-winning documentary, The Body Snatchers.
Now... go flush yourselves out.
I share something in common with Darrin Stephens, one of my childhood idols on Bewitched: txrad and I are in the advertising business. That's where the similarities end. Unfortunately, I am not married to a witch (or a warlock) and I'm in the unglamorous world of infomercial advertising and other "direct-response" advertising.
We place campaigns on television stations around the US. I'm always getting emails regarding mundane station policies, such as where payments are to be sent, tape formats, deadlines, etc. etc.
Today I received an email regarding a new policy at WXIX, the Fox-affiliate in Cincinnati:
WXIX CANNOT air any type of colon cleanser show during the day and night. They can only air it in the overnights. Please please make note of this. These shows include dual action cleanse, almighty cleanse, DAC great falls and Evolve 2. Some of your titles are tricky so if you know it is a colon cleanse show please do not allocate it to WXIX during regular hours.
If we all follow their policies then everything should run smoothly. (emphasis mine)
Despite the fact that a clean colon contributes to overall health and wellness, that's apparently not enough to overcome the obvious: it's just too connected to the asshole to be suitable for family exposure.
I just do not understand idiotic station management. It's beyond idiotic, it's some warped adolescent mentality. Colon cancer is very common: 2nd only to lung cancer. One of my aunts died from it. But let's not broadcast anything about it during "family time" -- wouldn't want to inadvertently cause someone to even think about their assholes and what lurks further up the trail.
If you don't know why cleansing is so important, I will provide you with a link to a photo of the type of build-up that the standard American diet can produce in the colon. Be forewarned: it's gross.
click here
The combination of environmental toxins, an unhealthy diet and parasites poses a grave danger to humans. “In fact, parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history”, reported National Geographic in its award-winning documentary, The Body Snatchers.
Now... go flush yourselves out.
Help Wanted: Experienced Exorcists Needed ASAP
The Coming American Theocracy
This offers you a glimpse into American life under a theocracy of evangelicals. Watch this!
The country is going mad.
This offers you a glimpse into American life under a theocracy of evangelicals. Watch this!
The country is going mad.
The spreading teenage boy menace
I'm almost afraid to drive these days for fear of an underage boy jumping into my car and forcing me to perform sex acts.
Please give your prayers and sympathies to the minister of education at Austin's Great Hills Baptist Church.
Jerry Dale Carver, 51, was arrested Monday at his home and charged with sexual assault of a child in connection with the July 25 incident. The second-degree felony carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.
Carver told police that the teenager got into his vehicle willingly and initiated sexual contact with him, an arrest affidavit said.
Poor guy. I guess he didn't know that his church probably frowns on same sex activities of that nature, and that a 15-year-old can get you an extended stay in the Big House.
The Great Hills Baptist Church has had a prior incident as well:
Carver's arrest marks the second time that a leader at the 5,000-member Northwest Austin church has been accused of sexually assaulting a teen. In 1999, youth minister Charles Richard "Rick" Willits was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy he met at church. Willits is eligible for parole in April, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Does this church serve a dual purpose of spreading the gospel and functioning as a teenage boy meat market? I'll bet baptisms are a blast.
"OK, boy, you're up next. Strip down to those clean white undies and prepare to go down."
This latest sanctimonious church news comes right on the heels of another, in Johnson City, Texas just west of Austin.
Four monks pleaded not guilty to charges alleging a boy was sexually assaulted at a Texas monastery that draws thousands of visitors every year.
The four monks, plus another serving a 10-year prison sentence for indecency with a minor, were charged after a young man claimed he had been assaulted at the monastery beginning in 1993, when he was a teenager. Oatman said another accuser has come forward, and others could follow.
It's quite clear we have an epidemic of teenage boys causing all kinds of sexual mayhem in religious circles. May I suggest a fatwa be declared requiring all boys to cover themselves with a boy-burqa until the age of 18.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Our Presidential Primaries are Bullshit
Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with the way our presidential primaries are conducted here?
Why should New Hampshire, 95% white, get to set the stage for the most powerful political office in the world (well, until recently).
This pissing contest between New Hampshire and other states to be "first" is outrageously undemocratic. So many states have primaries several weeks or months after the first few states, and by the time the vast majority of Americans have an opportunity to vote, some of the most ideal candidates have already dropped out due to the whims and fancies of the smallest fraction of American voters.
But it's an effective way for a corrupt political party to control outcomes by allowing several weeks of media manipulation to place a halo on some candidates and rip others to shreds.
It's sooooo American.
I wouldn't mind having several cluster (or "super") primaries each consisting of states with varied demographics and each primary cluster being relatively balanced with the others. That would be fair. But our current method of selecting nominees is complete and total bullshit.
Why should New Hampshire, 95% white, get to set the stage for the most powerful political office in the world (well, until recently).
This pissing contest between New Hampshire and other states to be "first" is outrageously undemocratic. So many states have primaries several weeks or months after the first few states, and by the time the vast majority of Americans have an opportunity to vote, some of the most ideal candidates have already dropped out due to the whims and fancies of the smallest fraction of American voters.
But it's an effective way for a corrupt political party to control outcomes by allowing several weeks of media manipulation to place a halo on some candidates and rip others to shreds.
It's sooooo American.
I wouldn't mind having several cluster (or "super") primaries each consisting of states with varied demographics and each primary cluster being relatively balanced with the others. That would be fair. But our current method of selecting nominees is complete and total bullshit.
Another one bites the dust
I've only been blogging for just over 2 months now. The thing that amazes me the most is not the amount of effort that is required to keep the blogmentum going, although it's significant. I'll confess: there are good days and there are days where I just do not want to think about serious issues at all, or I have creative constipation.
What really blows me away is the effort required to maintain the sidebar, and specifically, the blogroll! I see lots of blogs with a blogroll a mile long... with dozens if not hundreds of blogs listed. I try to keep mine short -- blogs that I personally find interesting and like to visit at least once a week if not daily, depending on my workload.
In the short time I've been blogging I've had to remove at least 3 or 4 that suddenly died. And today I've learned of another one: Jason Sizemore's ”The Brutal Truth”. I liked his blog because the rant factor could be off-the-scale sometimes.
Rest in peace, TBT. And hope to see Sizemore commenting occasionally on some blogs although given his aversion to 56k dial-up, that may not be likely.
What really blows me away is the effort required to maintain the sidebar, and specifically, the blogroll! I see lots of blogs with a blogroll a mile long... with dozens if not hundreds of blogs listed. I try to keep mine short -- blogs that I personally find interesting and like to visit at least once a week if not daily, depending on my workload.
In the short time I've been blogging I've had to remove at least 3 or 4 that suddenly died. And today I've learned of another one: Jason Sizemore's ”The Brutal Truth”. I liked his blog because the rant factor could be off-the-scale sometimes.
Rest in peace, TBT. And hope to see Sizemore commenting occasionally on some blogs although given his aversion to 56k dial-up, that may not be likely.
Bush fit as a fiddle
President Bush is a "little upset" about gaining an extra 5 pounds.
After a nearly four-hour physical exam, Bush's doctors on Tuesday pronounced him in good health and "fit for duty," the White House said.
Well, damn good news. After 5 years though I'm still confused about what his "duty" is.
After a nearly four-hour physical exam, Bush's doctors on Tuesday pronounced him in good health and "fit for duty," the White House said.
Well, damn good news. After 5 years though I'm still confused about what his "duty" is.
Pentecostal Madness
In Newport, Ark., a preacher's wife was arrested after she pulled a gun on her husband because she allegedly was upset over text messages he had sent to a member of a church youth group.
Crazy gun-waving is always good for stirring up the congregation.
Her husband was quoted as saying: “She’s not crazy; she got upset."
She was brandishing a fullyloaded, six-shot .357-caliber handgun. That's a notch or two higher than "upset" in my opinion.
Tammy Estes, 44, was angered by numerous text messages her husband had sent to an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old female, who are members of the church’s youth group.
Crazy gun-waving is always good for stirring up the congregation.
Her husband was quoted as saying: “She’s not crazy; she got upset."
She was brandishing a fullyloaded, six-shot .357-caliber handgun. That's a notch or two higher than "upset" in my opinion.
Tammy Estes, 44, was angered by numerous text messages her husband had sent to an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old female, who are members of the church’s youth group.
Cuba: The Next Hot Spot
The ill-health of Cuban leader Fidel Castro has caught the watchful eyes of the Bush Administration. Get ready for more fun and games!
The State Department declined comment, but the United States has been open about the fact it is prepared to go to some lengths to ensure that the communist system Castro created goes out with him.
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