Stop the Violence Already

Fight OUT Loud has put a video that makes it clear why the LGBT community is a group still under siege, the victims of hate crimes. Look at just a sample of crimes that made the news so far this year:



h/t Pam's Houseblend

What a Way to Get Stoned!

Doubters and yet, not really doubters

I found this interesting story posted on Wayne Besen's blog about an Israeli "researcher"Benny Shanon who thinks Moses was high on drugs when he met God. Or rather, Moses while present before and during the Wilderness Wanderings thought he met God but didn't because he was tripping on drugs. What I find comical about this explanation is this: the researcher doesn't doubt that Moses did the things written about him--he just doubts that he met God in the burning bush or on Mt. Sinai. He sounds more like one of the Israelites in the wandering bunch who hears Moses' claim and doesn't believe it.

You'd think if someone was going to doubt the Moses and Wilderness experience, they'd doubt the whole dang thing! Rather, Shanon wants to keep hold of his Jewish religion to the point where he'll accept its historicity but deny the supernatural in it. It's like having your cake and eating it too.

This is one troubling thing about a deconstructive approach to biblical religion (and one that I contend with in my own doubts): knowing what to keep, what to discard, and what to interpret. The challenge comes in when our "psuedo-intellect" makes us doubt part of a story but our faith is too afraid to 'go all the way'. Charles Spurgeon addresses this conundrum in his analogy of the slippery slope. Once you start down a path of doubt, you may inevitably careen out of control and stopping on a downward slope when you're faith has disengaged the breaks will be impossible to control. Okay, so he didn't say it exactly like that. But Spurgeon is right about one thing--when you start doubting or de-constructing, where do you stop? Unfortunately, I don't have the answer to this. I have found myself disengaging my breaks in a similar way that Shanon appears to be doing.

What I do know is that life is messy--theology is messy--and how we interpret it all is messy too. We want neat and nice corners and explanations where everything makes sense and seldom contradicts itself. In reality, one must often employ even more faith to remain consistent to one's continued ramifications of one's ideology than to the ideology, theology, or concept itself.

Personally, I have begun to engage my faith and theology in a way that I wouldn't have done 10 years ago: I have limits to what I'll deconstruct. Does this sound faithless? Perhaps, but it saves a world of hurt when I choose to disregard a loss of faith because I've careened my faith out of control on a slippery slope from deep faith to deep doubt. Let me give you an example: Here of late, I have set upon myself 'a faith truism' that the Trinity is not to be messed with (too much). While I may doubt how men and women of faith have interpreted this development, I hold to it in my prayer time, my sermons, and my conversation. While I may give permission to deconstruct at will--I'll be the first to defend it too. I do this because there are some things that need to remain constant in my faith and in my psuedo-systematic theology. There are other things I keep near and essential to my faith.. not many things mind you, but a few.

But then, in my self-righteousness I find myself thinking I am more honest that the guy who thinks Moses was stoned while talking to a burning bush. But am I? Perhaps me and Shanon ought to sit down and share what we have in common, before I go trashing what we don't.

Diebold Sanfu from the Onion News

American Idol

I love watching this show. Unfortunately I missed it the other night. After reading some blogs on the men's performance, this guy really stood out. With the internet being what it is, I found the contestant who is said to have had the best performance of the night (according to the blogs anyway). The contestant is David Archuleta and you can go here to click the button and hear the audio version of the song. You'll need to scroll down a bit to hear the John Lennon tune. I used to have the video of this performance in this post but YouTube pulled the video.

Who would've thought to have a jazzy rendition of John Lennon's Imagine? Archuleta's interpretation of Lennon's song is not only astounding but, dare I say better than Lennon's. Go listen to it and hear what I mean.

When CDs turn into a Beta Max

Here is an interesting report from the Los Angeles Times that said 48% of teenagers bought zero (n0ne) CDs in 2007 up from 38% in 2006. With iTunes leading the way most teenagers receive their music, it looks as though CDs may become like LPs and 8-track tapes. Now music is simply stored on one's computer and iPod. Connections to hook up one's iPod are on home stereos, automobile stereos, and portable sound systems. Heck, I have two iHome players, one at the office and one at home. I also have a Bose Wave Radio with a special input cord to plug into my iPod.

It sure makes for a simple stereo experience, with fewer cords and extra components hogging up those "home entertainment units". Perhaps now more people will ditch their O'Sullivan "put together" furniture for classier and nicer furniture in their living rooms. This is one decorative because it could possible be the end of CD players and other like-components (e.g., turntables, cassette players, and the like).

Another bonus is that now that CDs are going away, we're gonna need something to do with all those CDs we've bought in yesteryear. Perhaps its time for us to make art out of it, kind of like the way some folks did with their old AOL introductory installation CDs.

It's the Details that Reflect Proper Attitudes

I remember a conversation I had many years ago with a church member when I was the Student Minister at Scarsdale Congregational Church, in Scardsdale, NY. We were talking over coffee and I had just been hired, still in seminary, to do my Field Education placement with the church.

I had not yet joined the United Church of Christ and was still a Southern Baptist, who had transfered from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Having been at Union Theological Seminary in New York for one year, I was getting used to the importance of words, how they are said, and what impact they can have in conversation, from the pulpit, and spoken during the Pastoral Prayer time in worship.

The conversation between me and this church member revolved around my use of the pronoun 'Him' in reference to God. "What's the big deal," I asked, "You know I mean that God truly transcends gender and the masculine pronouns are how we've come to understand God. Besides, this is how the Bible references God." My fellow church member (and former denominational leader) explained that unless I am willing to better navigate the use of pronouns in my prayers, sermons, and conversations--how was she to know if I "really" believe what I say when I say that God transcends gender? In other words, she couldn't possible know. It is as if I am saying one thing to church members but in reality, mean something totally different. It's like the political candidates who say they are against NAFTA in Ohio but say they support it in Texas. In general they support its revisioning but given the audience, their response differs in the particulars.

So today I am very keen to be as authentic as I can possible be. Whether in my sermons, my Pastoral Prayers, or in conversation, I am very careful of gender language. And, to keep me on the right path, I am even careful in my personal prayer time when the door is shut and I am alone with God. Even then, I am mindful of the words I pray.

In another example, the Washington Times, a conservative-run newspaper has issued some new changes it is making in its reporting. Here are those changes:

1) Clinton will be the headline word for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

2) Gay is approved for copy and preferred over homosexual, except in clinical references or references to sexual activity.

3) The quotation marks will come off gay marriage (preferred over homosexual marriage).

4) Moderate is approved, but centrist is still allowed.

5) We will use illegal immigrants, not illegal aliens.

As you can see, they are being mindful of the little things to ensure that what they say truly reflects their appreciation of diversity and of the diverse constituents who read their paper. Simply taking off the quotes around 'gay marriage' is a huge step--leaving the quotes around the two words only serves to reinforce the pejorative argument that the idea of gay marriage is not only illegitimate but also reinforces a charge from many conservative pundits and religious leaders that it's a charade used for political purposes.

One can see the correlation between the change of aliens to immigrants too--the former sounding like something so foreign that it must be regarded with immediate mistrust and the latter, more descriptive and thus more humanizing. The former turns people into a feeling of disconnect, the latter into a 'these are people we're talking about' discussion.

What we say does matter--as much as how we say it. Regardless where you stand on the issue of political correctness, admitting how our words affect our behavior is the first step in reminding us that many of the issues that affect us involve people--people just like, or only slightly different, than you and me.

h/t to Joe.My.God

Seasons of Love

Here is a song from the movie Rent, based on the Broadway musical.



See, it is amazing, right?

It's Almost Over

There are only a few experiences in my life that I can say with all honesty have transformed my life. Transformed is a big word and it has a lot of meaning wrapped up in it. So I am careful to limit identifying what those tranformative experiences are--lest one consider that one small thing may discount the rest.

So what has transformed me? Here is a brief list (there are others but I feel that some things need to remain private for my own well being).

1. My relationship with God, trusting in Jesus, and learning about God's Kingdom experience.

2. Coming out. I could write page after page on the benefit and experience of doing this--and perhaps I will some day soon.

3. Seeing the musical Rent, on Broadway (seven times).

You see, it's that last one that may cause some who haven't seen it to think I am being 'over the top', or have seen it but don't understand why it's so incredible to me. I have friends who've seen it and hated it. But for me, when I saw it and what it revealed to me utterly changed my life forever. Today I own the movie based on the Broadway hit starring the original cast members. I also own and have in my iPod the cast album of the show. It's messages of hope amid devastation rivet my soul in ways other life experiences have been unable to sustain.

PageOneQ has a great article on the impact of the show and how it's closing after 12 years. Reading the article, I was transported back to 1998 when I saw the show with wide-eyed amazement and felt again some of the emotions that I experienced then. And, it brought a tear to my eye too. Sure, I am sentimental. Still.. it was a great experience and I count myself fortunate to have been affected by it.

Joke of the Day: The Love Story of Ralph and Edna.

The love story of Ralph and Edna.

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want
them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all
they have.

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental
hospital. One day while they were walking past the
hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the
deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed
there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam
to the bottom and pulled him out.

When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's
heroic act she immediately ordered her to be
discharged from the hospital, as she now considered
her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna
the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad
news. The good news is you're being discharged, since
you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by
jumping in and saving the life of the person you love.
I have concluded that your act displays sound
mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the
bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved
him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there
to dry. How soon can I go home?'

h/t Siegfried

Great Quotes

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. - Voltaire (1694-1778)

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. - George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Nice Cartoon

Suicide Blog?

You know, it's weird right, the talk of suicide. I found a blog today about a woman who blogged about her last 90 days of life. I have no idea if its true, if she really went through with it, or if this is a stunt. Lord only knows the internet is full of folks who would 'play a game like this'... still, if its even slightly true, is reading her final thoughts too macabre to read? Is there a breach of ethics here or, is this like watching motorcar racing only to see the spectacular crashes?

If you've reconciled with your conscience as to whether or not you should even go there, go here to read the supposed "last 90 days of Jane's life".

What will be the Future? From a film in 1960

Things NOT to Get Your Sweetie

Here's a great post about what NOT to get your special someone for Valentine's Day. It's both hilarious and thoughtful, at least to me anyways. ;)

Here are some examples:

For Him:

1. Avoid soaps, lotions, potions, anything that smells like candy. Unless it's actually candy.

2. Flowers. He just doesn't understand why you would buy him something that he has to a) nurture and b) nurture. If you simply must, a cactus might pass--but remember, he wants a gift that can take care of itself.

3. Unfun tools. Yeah, he gets it. You want him to shovel the snow. Do not buy him a shovel to drive the point home. (Large noisemaking power tools excluded.)

For Her:

4. Homemade coupons. Whether they're for dish duty, garbage duty, dinner, or something else, she's not likely to be impressed. Did your high school girlfriend even use hers?

5. A gift certificate. Step it up with something a little more personal--unless it's for 300 dollars and you can't wait to take her to the store and shop. All. Day.

12. Any gift you once bought for an ex-girlfriend. She will find out--and punish you.

Gotta Love New York

h/t to Towleroad

Gifts for those who have everything...

You just have to purchase this mug that when a hot beverage is poured inside, turns all the states into blue states. What a day in paradise that would really be, right?

And, if you want a really special gifts, go here to purchase a mug that when hot beverages are poured inside, you can watch what happens to the Bill of Rights. You'll discover that many of them will fade away thanks to the Patriot Act.

Who are these funny and bright people who think of these things?!

$199 New Computers

I just thought this tech deal was too good to keep silent about. Sears has begun selling new Mirus computers for $299 with a $100 mail-in rebate. Here are the computer specs: Mirus Intel Celeron D 420-1.6Ghz 1GB RAM 80GB HD CDRW Freespire-Linux OS. It comes with a CD-RW optical drive, Speakers, Keyboard, Mouse, 56K Modem, Ethernet, and a 15-in-1 Memory Card Reader.

Of course, the operating system is a linux based and all the software is open source, still, it's a good deal for a cheap price if you're looking for either a second computer for the home or you want to escape the Microsoft madness.

Another Great Joke

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is Politics?"

Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way:

I am the head of the family, so call me The President. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.

Now think about that and see if it makes sense."

So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed.

The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, "Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now." The father says, "Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about."

The little boy replies, "The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit!!

Max Blumenthal Latest Video

This is a hilarious video recorded at a Young Republican's convention.



h/t Pam's House Blend

A Must-see Movie

Ain't It Fabulous?

Bless you my child...

Starbucks in New York City

A Wonderful Housewarming Gift

I love housewarming or just, 'thinking of you' gifts. I especially like do make them myself or, convert something I find in a fleamarket and make it extra special. In this vein, I found a blog post on how to make your own soap. It has all the necessary steps and the finished product can be dressed up nicely. The only thing missing from this recipe is the perfume you can add, such as cucumber or rose, which would have been a nice addition to this post. It's still a fab way to make an inexpensive gift.

Sad News: Heath Ledger Found Dead

by The Associated Press

Posted: January 22, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET
Updated 5:30 pm Et, 6:00 pm ET, 6:30 pm ET

(New York City) Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan apartment, naked in bed with sleeping pills nearby, police said. The Australian-born actor was 28.

It wasn't immediately clear if Ledger had committed suicide. He had an appointment for a massage at a residence in the tony neighborhood of SoHo, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said. A housekeeper who went to let him know the massage therapist had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

A large crowd of paparazzi and gawkers gathered outside the building on an upscale block. Ledger's body was still inside, and several police officers guarded the door.

The medical examiner's office planned an autopsy Wednesday, spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said.

While not a marquee movie star, Ledger was a respected, award-winning actor who chose his roles carefully rather than cashing in on his heartthrob looks. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as a gay cowboy in "Brokeback Mountain," where he met Michelle Williams, who played his wife in the film. The two had a daughter, Matilda, and lived together in Brooklyn until they split up last year.

Ledger most recently appeared in "I'm Not There," in which he played one of the many incarnations of Bob Dylan - as did Cate Blanchett, whose performance in that film earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday for best supporting actress.

Ledger had finished filming his role as the Joker this year in "The Dark Knight," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins."

He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball." He also played a heroin addict in the 2006 Australian film "Candy."

Before settling down with Williams, Ledger had relationships with actresses Heather Graham and Naomi Watts. He met Watts while working on "The Lords of Dogtown," a fictionalized version of a cult classic skateboarding documentary, in 2004.

Ledger was born in 1979 in Perth, in western Australia, to a mining engineer and a French teacher, and got his first acting role playing Peter Pan at age 10 at a local theater company. He began acting in independent films as a 16-year-old in Sydney and played a cyclist hoping to land a spot on an Olympic team in a 1996 television show, "Seat."

After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles at age 19 and co-starred opposite Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Offers for other teen flicks soon came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told the Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, `Come on, you have to eat.'"

His movie career caught on anyway, culminating with his Academy Award nomination opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback."

"Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan said earlier this month that Ledger's performance as the Joker would be wildly different than Jack Nicholson's memorable turn in 1989's "Batman."

"It was a very great challenge for Heath," Nolan said. "He's extremely original, extremely frightening, tremendously edgy. A very young character, a very anarchic presence that taps into a lot of our basic fears and panic."

Powerful Words Seldom Spoken

Here is one reason that I like Obama. He said,

For most of this country’s history, we in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays – on the job, in the schools, in our health care system, and in our criminal justice system.

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for president, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.

Can you think of a political candidate who speaks like this, besides Obama? You can read more of the story by going here.

h/t to The Daily Dish

"Quote Unquote"

"He should be remembered for his wonderful 1972 victory over Spassky, rather than the sad and prolonged end-game of his personal life." Quoted by Philip Hollywood, UK, responding to the news that famed chess master Bobby Fischer has died at age 64 from an unspecified illness.

Amazing Commercial

I actually wanted to post this on my church blog but, for the sake of a enigmatic phone call from a church member just moments ago, I think it wiser to post it here (on my personal blog). It's a commercial tackling the question of when politics and religion involve themselves in arenas where they shouldn't be.

And, it has Jack Kulgman in it.

She Just Doesn't Get It

"I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We’re the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs."

Said, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) to justify her conservative plan to give tax breaks to corporations — instead of working Americans — by arguing that people actually like working long hours.

Source: Think Progress

Saying something this incredulous is akin to saying something like, "What's the big deal, don't you know that women enjoy the attention of an abusive husband." Or, it's very similar to what Barbara Bush said of those who found shelter in the Houston Astrodome, "[they are] underprivileged anyway, so this is working well for them." Such a thoughtless remark of either woman is only reflective of their callous unconcern for poorer people.

I mean, come on already...no one wants to work two jobs and extra long hours!! Just even entertain such a notion only reveals an upper-crusted classism with no regard or compassion for those in a situation where they have to do it.

Danger! It's THEIR Fault!

I hate it when new reports spread a new threat and zero the blame on a scapegoat that others deem acceptable to blame. It's all a vicious cycle and continues at the expense of fear, shame, and 'them gays'.

The newest Danger Report seems to imply blame to all gay men for the spread of a drug resistant staph infection. In the report (you can read it here), gay folks who have the sex drives of wild dogs are blamed for giving to the general population a new virus that is untreatable with current medication. The report cites that it is probable and possible that gays are to blame and yet, everyone is treating this as fact and using it as one more excuse why we're all irresponsible and selfish.

Thanks God Pam Spalding's blog posted a clear response that addresses this issue correctly. It appears that his drug resistant staph infection has been going on for awhile and that hospitals are largely to blame for not addressing the situation caused by gay and straight folk alike. You can read another post from a different blog that also cries afoul.

Sure, such a legitimate response doesn't help the right-wing fundies proclaim to the masses, "You see, them gays are irresponsible and their lifestyle is deadly--so they don't deserve affirmation and spiritual support--all they care about is pleasing themselves at everyone else's expense." But that's what they're counting on--and to read the left-wing blogs, there are too few voices out there challenging the homophobic danger mantra currently in full swing.

Go here to read a more balanced medical response to the infection.

Great Comment, Scary Comment

First, here's the comment:

"What's wrong with having religious zealots run a government? Seems to be working well in Iran."

Now here's the scary comment:

Huckabee said:

"[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards," Huckabee said, referring to the need for a constitutional human life amendment and an amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman." (emphasis mine)

Go here for the post and the added comments (which are as good as the post)

Thank You Notes

Few things in life are as refined and appreciated (or can cause others to judge you severely for not doing) than Thank You Notes. And, the older one gets, the more it is expected. When a young person does it, everyone knows that a parent was standing over the child forcing them to write one.

So how do you go about saying just the right thing? Fortunately for us all, there is a website that offers just the right information, printable templates (for doing it on the cheap), recommendations for putting more financial effort into it, doing it yourself, as well as examples to for just the right occasion.

Go here for the Free Thank You Notes Samples.

And be sure to thank me. ;)

Interesting Movie Preview

Wanna Hear Something Funny?

I have been spending time now that the Christmas season is past writing 'thank you notes' to those in and around my church who gave me gifts over the holidays. Some folks gave me doggie treats for Maggie. Others made cookies. One gave me a nice candle and another person gave me a shirt. This week, I finished writing all my thank you notes and dropped them in the mailbox. All except one gift, that is. I had no idea who sent it.

Upon explaining my query to my secretary, she informed me: "Oh that, yeah, the funeral home sent it." I responded, "The funeral home sent me two boxes of red and white wine?!" Suddenly I felt like what my doctor (or senator) must feel like when pharmaceutical companies (or lobbying groups) give gifts of appreciation. A part of me is curious about this knowing that funeral homes make some of their money through the churches who recommend them to their dying church members. Another part of me said, "Woo-hoo!! I love wine!"

I actually haven't met the folks at funeral home located in the town south of me yet. I have met the funeral home folks in the town west of me. I should stop by. Perhaps I could drink an entire bottle first, stagger in, and say, "Daaaaang, it smells like someone died in here." Perhaps I shouldn't do that, I might not get anymore wine next year.

Who Knew They Could Fly?!

You may have already seen pictures like this, especially during Shark Week on television. Still, they are impressive, right? Go here to read the story.


And can you imagine what these guys were thinking when they saw looked around and realized, "You know, this business of me being out here with only a paddle or a surfboard is truly insane."

Ouch!

An Alternative to the Electoral College?!

It's about dang time already!!

Go here, read the article, and then run out into the street (looking both ways first, of course) and celebrate. From what this article says, if each individual state follows suit, it could very well take shape by this coming election (or next).

Back to NJ

I just recently returned from my fabulous vacation to Oklahoma. I haven't posted in awhile--and taking a break from it has been refreshing. While I have kept up with reading various blogs, not writing about something everyone is writing about made for a relaxing vacation.

Okay, so I am back now and want to post a superfluous post.

A couple of weeks ago, Jay and I picked up a box of Blow Pops from BJs (yeah, yeah, there is definitely a joke in there somewhere--but let me finish my story, ok?). You remember Blow Pops. They are the sucker with the gum inside. I love those things but one problem I have with them is that as I have grown older, I have also grown more impatient. I can lick through one of those things in about 4 minutes.

So, realizing I need more to lick, I went and purchased a few Super Blow Pops. In the event you haven't heard of these things, they are about 4 times the size of a regular Blow Pop. And let me tell you another thing, getting my mouth around the sucker causes my jaw to pop (I have TMJ in my jaw). So, being careful not to click my jaw has caused me to lick more slowly. And, given the huge size of the dang sucker, I just spent the last 20 minutes on one Super Blow Pop.

If you don't mind the sugar rush and the permanently stained blue tongue (okay, so it's not really permanent; it's just such a dark hue of blue, it looks like it will be), then go get yourself over to The Sugar Stand and pick up a box of blowpops for yourself (and it'll save you a trip to BJs and all those uncomfortable jokes people will make after you tell them you went there to buy a box of suckers).

The Top Ten Lists Begin

Don't you just love the end of the year when everyone comes up with a different Top Ten list about the year? Some of them are comical, others are spot on. Here are a sampling of those lists.

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and Iraq and everywhere like such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for us."

Lauren Upton, the South Carolina contestant in the Miss Teen America contest, when asked why one-fifth of Americans cannot find the U.S on a map

Go here to read the entire Top Ten Quotes of the Year.

h/t to Towleroad

Want to know the Top Ten folks who fell from grace this past year? By grace, I don't mean God's grace but our national graces. Think Don Imus and them steroidal athletes. Go here to watch a Yahoo video on it.

Here are a scattering of more lists.
1. The Top Ten stories you missed this past year.
2. The Top Ten under-reported stories this past year.
3. The Top Ten list of ways the Federal Government enslaves you.
4. The Top Ten most dangerous college courses.
5. The Top Ten book recommendations for the year.
6. The Top Ten advances in Science over the past 50 years.
7. The Top Ten fastest cars in the world.
8. The Top Ten worst logos for the year. This one is hilarious.
9. The Top Ten stupid criminals of 2007.
10. The Top Ten most anticipated movie trailers for the next 12 months.

Morning Wrap Up

I have been reading several posts this morning and figured I'd share a few of what I've read.

Here are some "secrets" about men that is both an enjoyable read and so true. To me, this cuts across orientations. Go here to read about the Don't-Tell-the-Wife Secrets.

What is the most expensive drink you can order at Starbucks? One man found out when he received a coupon to get any drink he wanted. But to get the most expensive drink with the most 'add-on's, he had to be tricky. Go here to read that post. It is actually pretty funny.

Lifehacker has a collection of the most popular free webApps. I went through this list and downloaded a great .pdf reader that loads in like, one second. Funny thing though, I have most of what is on the list already. Check out the list and download what you want.

If you live in a place where you get a lot of freezing rain and ice, here is a homemade de-icer recipe you can use on your car windshields.

Here is a kick-butt video clip from a surveillance camera showing a woman defending herself from a purse-snatcher.

Archbishop Rowan Williams says the Nativity story is simply a 'legend'. Go here to read the post and most importantly, read the comments sections of this post.

Why Nice Guys Finish Last ...

... because they are creepy and insecure. Well, at least this is the rationale behind a particularly well-written post from a woman who thinks nice guys are losers.

I have always thought of myself as " a nice guy". It is for that reason I found this post interesting. While I didn't read much of myself in it, I did find some things worth contemplating and re-evaluating.

There are particular days when I want to recapture a sense of self-worth by opening up a can of redneck and yell nasty colloquialisms at those who really tick me off. What other ways are there to capture (or recapture) one's sense of self and well-being?

Seriously though, we all need to face the reality that when it comes to love and other relationships, we must love ourselves first before we can expect to love others in a way that honors them. Otherwise, we'll meet the wrong persons who'll abuse us and we'll never find the intimacy and respect we deserve.

The Melting Pot of America

One of the reasons I enjoyed living in New York City for 10 years was the fact that it truly represents the idea of a melting pot, where different cultures, races, peoples live, work, and play together in some kind of harmony. Anyone who has friends usually has one of each nationality as well as from different nations. Being and living in such an environment truly makes one feel metropolitan and ultra cool.

So it is so unfortunate when you hear of the reality that not everyone thinks NYC's melting pot is such a good idea. I found this video about a couple of Jewish kids being attacked by Christians yelling, "You killed Jesus!" Fortunately a man from a different faith stepped in and may have prevented a disaster. Unfortunately for him, he got the beat up too.

Crazy.

Midweek Wanderings

If you have a few minutes to spare and enjoy reading other people's comments (calling all blogreaders) then here is a fun site where readers of Craigslist nominate their favorite posts on the site. It is called 'best-of-craigslist" and I find myself there often. Having the juvenile humor that I do, I usually laugh at the inappropriate stuff. But you can find a lot of surprisingly funny stuff.

A guy writes to Amazon's customer service about not winning a chance to purchase a $1000 laptop for $299. He writes a humorous email, not intending to be mean but instead playful. As a result, he gets a playful response.

Remember the playgrounds of your youth? Before the "safe" playgrounds of post-sued schools and parks, there were junglegyms, slides, and monkey bars. A poster writes about his favorite playgrounds and finds that nothing lasts forever.

The Event

A new movie is coming out shortly about a gay man who dies of AIDS and the story about his life as it unfolds to the people who surrounded him. It stars Olympia Dukakis and from this preview, it looks like it'll be a tear-jerker.

Huckabee's Viewpoint

This past week, I've read where former Southern Baptist preacher and Governor of Arkansas and now a Presidential contender made the following statement about AIDS in 1992:

"It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents," he said then.

I've been reading the various posts around the Internet and am rather shocked that I have not read one post about what troubles me with his statement. I am most concerned with his belief that the AIDS virus, to him, is a "genuine plague". When one things of plagues, images from Israel's slavery by the Egyptians in the book of Exodus and Charleton Heston's performance in the Ten Commandments. Plagues. Locusts, water turning to blood, the firstborn child in a family dies. Plagues. That which God delivers upon humanity as either punishment or something that is meant to "wake them up" or simply to reveal who God is to those who do not know.

Sure, there are other plagues that have existed since the notorious ones in the Old Testament. We've had the Bubonic Plague. We've also had mass illness of the colds and flus that has wiped about hundreds of thousands of people. And, to get technical, the definition of a plague is a virus spread by rodents. But no one believes that AIDS is caused by wayward rats--no, the image of a plague is "God induced" and it's to this allusion that causes me concern.

In Huckabee's mind, AIDS is (and continues to be) a plague. That "continues to be" part is evident in his refusal to backdown from his 1992 confession. He still believes those who had AIDS should have been quarantined, isolated, moved from here and put over there (lest a person would actually have to look at someone dying). He believed and believes that instead of allowing those with AIDS to confront medical and religious establishments and demand action and accountability, that they should have been treated as a medical crisis and be damned with who those who actually contracted the disease.

Today he still isn't sorry for making that statement; instead he hides behind his historical revisionist memory that at that time, no one knew anything about the disease. When in fact, by 1992 the medical establishment knew quite well what it was and what it did and how it was spread. Instead of simply apologizing for making such a discriminatory statement masked in the guise of religion, he actually continues to believe he said nothing wrong. Does this mean he thinks AIDS patients should continue to be quarantined today? Does this mean AIDS continues to be God's plague upon gay men?

Without going into an argument that challenges the notions of who gets the disease and who doesn't, and without articulating a religious notion that God gives diseases to men and women as a sign of punishment and retribution, one has to wonder how a nation could elect a President who views diseases as God's punishment. But you know, he probably doesn't think that heart disease is God's punishment on those who have poor diatary practices. He probably doesn't think that certain cancers are God's punishment for smoking and sexual promiscuity (although he might!). His rhetoric may be popular among the fundamentalist Christians who think that the feminist movement is really about making young women into witches and lesbians (as the late Pat Robertson suggested). Is that the camp he wants to be in? Will the next storm in Florida or the ice storm in Oklahoma represent God's displeasure at the porn shops along I-35?

When a President is less concerned about the real issues that affect and cause harm and more about religious doomsayers, then he or she cannot offer a solution that actually addresses a workable solution. This is one danger of scapegoating someone whereas the problem is not addressed and solutions get presented that fail to confront the real problem. If you think AIDS is God's punishment on the homosexual, will you be less inclined to search for a cure? Will you create measures and policy that offers a way that other homosexuals from getting the disease? Or, will you preach on a stump that contracting AIDS is what sinners deserve?

One of President Reagan's biggest criticisms during the beginning of the AIDS crisis has been interpreted to say if he hadn't thought this was only a "gay disease" then more would have been done sooner to protect others from contracting it. When AIDS was first diagnosed, you can understand why the many AIDS activists challenged the original name for the disease: GRID: Gay-related Immunodeficiency Disease. When a person realizes this isn't just a gay disease, then you move outside of your stereotypes and into an arena of better solutions. It is believed that Reagan thought this was only a gay problem and he didn't need to get involved. As a result, the disease spread.

Huckabee and others might argue that the best solution to this problem should have been quarantine, but others know that the disease laid dormant for years and years before the first person died of it. Those who do know better appear to pander to those who scapegoat for their particular political issues and religious messages of God's condemnation--and as a result, don't do a damn thing while the disease spreads.

I believe Huckabee's continued position on AIDS and its care demonstrates that he cannot be trusted in the future to tackle and handle new crises and dangers to America without believing that the next catastrophe will be God's punishment upon a sinful America. We might have worried that Ted Haggard had George Bush's ear--how scarier would it be if the Rev. Fred Phelps has Huckabee's ear!?

World AIDS Day, December 1, 2007

In 2007, you'd be surprised how much some people do not know about HIV/AIDS. If this is you, take time out of your day and read up on what it is, what it does, and how folks are trying to help those who have it and prevent others from getting it.

Go here to begin your journey.

You have GOT to be Kidding?!

A post from Think Progress reveals the depths of depravity our government has stooped. The military is demanding from injured military veterans, that their signing bonuses be returned because they were injured in the war in Iraq!

Read the comments to this brief story for a better worded response to such a demand.

25 Skills Everyone Should Know

A couple of nights ago I was commenting to a childhood friend who now lives in Idaho that I would love to have someone I knew who was particularly handy at fixing things. Well, actually...I didn't say it exactly like that. I said, "I'd sure love to find me a rent-a-lesbian because I have so many things around the parsonage that I'd like to fix and look nice.

Honestly I didn't mean this to be an insult--truth be told, most of the lesbians I know are better-than-me fix-it persons. So you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this great post about the 25 Skills Everyone Should Know. Okay, so that isn't exactly the title of that post. The title is more sexist: 25 Skills Every Man Should Know. It could very well also read: 25 Skills Every Gay Man Should Know.

Truthfully, this is a good starting point for me. If I can master these tasks, then I'll better understand exactly what said-fix-it person will be telling me as I am directed to fix things, lay a patio, or take the stains out of my rug.

What, Me Greedy?!

Greed is so NOT the term for the new adsense advertising I have now installed on this blog. It is more like, if you'll give me free money for my posts, then "Heck yeah!!" I have been reading a few stories about folks making money by simply including Google's Adsense advertisements on one's blog. This morning, the Today Show featured stories of retirees making a decent subsidized income from Google. Google's ad rep even explained that in the last year, they gave away what sounded like $2 trillion dollars--but that can't be, right? My ears hear crazy things before my morning coffee washes away the last visages from my dreams.

Still, if they had said, $2 billion or $2 million, both would be fine with me.

So yeah, now I have Google ads on this site. One stream of ads runs at the top of the posts. Another ad box is at the bottom of my left pane that allows you to search Google. I'll let you know if I receive a whopping paycheck from Google.

A Whole Lott of Loving Goin' On

Trent Lott's sudden resignation has everyone all in a fluster. Why is he leaving his office with so much time left? One report has him leaving early before Congress votes to rewrite lobbying laws that mandates how long a politician has to wait, upon leaving any political office, to become a lobbyist. Leaving now would allow him to become a high paid lobbyist as soon as he resigns. Otherwise, he'll need to wait several years.

Another report.. ahem.. has him leaving for another reason. A Washington DC magazine is about to release proof that Lott has been engaging in extra-curricular activities with a particular Washington DC gay rent boy. Rumor has it that this is the big secret Larry Flynt has been talking about for the last couple of months--a secret so big that it'll shake the Republican party to it's core.

If the second scenario is true, and I have no idea one way or the other, then Mr. Lott is in for a real hailstorm given his staunch stand against any lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender issue. Go here to read his horrendous voting record on such issues.

Go here to read one post about Lott's possible rent boy connection. Go here to read another one. This story is like a brush fire in the hills of California. Within a couple of hours, it'll consume the Internet I'm sure.

h/t to 365gay.com, towleroad, queerty, and big head dc.

The Challenge of Original Content

You know, blogging is an interesting experience. As I think about what to post, I realize I have two choices: blog what others are blogging about or, writing something original (or as commentary to relevant news happenings).

For a time, I was posting cool things from other bloggers (with appropriate citations). But then, as I read my daily blogs (using Google's Blog Reader), I found that a lot of the posts I was reading were being told over and again by other bloggers. Sometimes its maddening to read the exact same story, or see the same photos, or reveal the same news (e.g., some GOP lawmaker was caught yet again doing something pervy).

Some of the best bloggers I've noticed are the ones who post original content and yet, so many other folks 'copy and paste' their stuff into their own blogs. A few of my favorite bloggers are Pam's House Blend, Joe.My.God, Lifehacker, Towleroad, and The Daily Dish. If you read these blogs, you'll find so many others in this particular blogging genre copying one another's blogs (yes, I know that Lifehacker isn't of the same genre, but they are just as copied as everyone else). And, yes, I've done my share of that too.

To be fair, these bloggers are different than the average blogger. They blog full-time, every day, every week. And, they profit from their blogging (some including Towleroad) do this full time and make full time pay. Go here for a great interview of Andy Towleroad. Some bloggers are even earning 6 and 7 figure incomes. Talk about a great home business, right?

So what is the average blogger to do? I am thinking the average blogger mixes things up: posts comments about news events, links to other blogs the interesting stories (and yet, does this infrequently as they can), posts things they like, and tries to have some fun with it.

I guess this post is more about 'dude, lighten up, it's just a blog,' sort of post. Rather than lamenting the lack of many original postings (like my own), blogging is supposed to be fun AND, its something everyone and anyone can do. It's that last part that I like so much: we don't need to plop down a lot of money to get into the blogging craze (as say you would if you wanted to get into say, yaughting or golf.)

And who knows, maybe you'll get fired from your job and have some extra time of your hands--and then whalahh! You have a blog, you post every day of every week, build a readership, and then advertisers advertise on your blog, and you become filthy rich. You'll become the new J.K. Rowling of the blog world.

To use a line in the New York Daily News' Gossip Column, "Only in America, kids. Only in America."

Monday Morning Game

Q. What do all these men have in common?

A. They are all Men who look like old lesbians!

You can see more pics and submit your own at the appropriately titled blog called Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians.*

* Disclaimer. If you're a queer activist or lesbian who can kick my butt, please don't do it. I really am a nice guy. Or, to help me not get into trouble, let me remind you that imitation is the highest compliment.

LOL! Video

This video is from a Chinese television show. What an incredibly funny practical joke!

Asperger's Syndrome

Autism and Asperger's Syndrome affects a lot more people than you think esp if you live anywhere East of the Mississippi, for some reason. To help us understand this psychological condition, there is a book written by John Elder Robison titled, Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's.

As an aside, Robison happens to be Augusten Burrough's brother. Mentioned briefly in Burrough's Running with Scissors, this book goes into greater detail about Asperger's as well as his insanely dysfunctional upbringing and those who completely misunderstood his condition for so long.

For an introduction to the book from Burrough's, check out this video. It's actually very funny, as you might expect.

Here are some written reviews of the book:

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Robison's thoughtful and thoroughly memorable account of living with Asperger's syndrome is assured of media attention (and sales) due in part to his brother Augusten Burroughs's brief but fascinating description of Robison in Running with Scissors. But Robison's story is much more fully detailed in this moving memoir, beginning with his painful childhood, his abusive alcoholic father and his mentally disturbed mother. Robison describes how from nursery school on he could not communicate effectively with others, something his brain is not wired to do, since kids with Asperger's don't recognize common social cues and body language or facial expressions. Failing in junior high, Robison was encouraged by some audiovisual teachers to fix their broken equipment, and he discovered a more comfortable world of machines and circuits, of muted colors, soft light, and mechanical perfection. This led to jobs (and many hilarious events) in worlds where strange behavior is seen as normal: developing intricate rocket-shooting guitars for the rock band Kiss and computerized toys for the Milton Bradley company. Finally, at age 40, while Robison was running a successful business repairing high-end cars, a therapist correctly diagnosed him as having Asperger's. In the end, Robison succeeds in his goal of helping those who are struggling to grow up or live with Asperger's to see how it is not a disease but a way of being that needs no cure except understanding and encouragement from others. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* If one looked at only Robison's impish sense of humor (he once ordered a blow-up sex doll to be delivered to his junior-high-school teacher—at school), or his success as a classic-car restorer, it might be impossible to believe he has the high-functioning form of autism spectrum disorder called Asperger's syndrome. Clues abound, however, in his account of a youth encompassing serious inability to make and keep friends; early genius at pyrotechnics, electronics, and math; and pet names such as Poodle for his dog and Snort and Varmint for his baby brother. Much later, he calls his wife Unit Two. It is easy to recognize these telltale traits today, but Robison went undiagnosed until he was 40. In the 1960s, he was variously labeled lazy, weird, and, worse, sociopathic. Consequently, his childhood memories too often read like a kid's worst nightmares. Not only did his parents fail to understand the root of his socialization problems but they were also virtually as dysfunctional as the pair Augusten Burroughs portrays in Running with Scissors (2002). 'Nough said? Not nearly. Robison's memoir is must reading for its unblinking (as only an Aspergian can) glimpse into the life of a person who had to wait decades for the medical community to catch up with him.

Word Gay is Just Too Narrow Sometimes

You've read of a few of my other postings about my discomfort with the way in which the general public tends to lump anyone who has sex with someone of the same sex as gay. We read of folks like Larry Craig that his toe-tapping in the men's room means that he's really gay and the love he has for his wife and adopted children have all been a sham.

But as most of us also know, sexuality is a spectrum and has always been so. It includes totally gay, totally straight, and a whole lot of 'in th middle'. When someone like George Michael explains, "Being gay isn't about who you can 'get it up for'", to Richard Curtis' declaration that, "I am not gay!", one can easily see that the conversation is much broader than 'this or that'.

Dan Savage wrote an interesting article (you can read it, but it's kinda 'earthy', if by earthy I mean he doesn't mince his words) about a new term to describe folks like Curtis, who might not actually be gay at all but according to sexologists, he may very well be "autogynephilia" (I had to copy and paste the word, I just couldn't spell the dang thing). If this is so, there may be a closer connection to being transgender than gay.

And so the conversation continues--what does it mean to be gay? I know several guys who "experimented as youths" but ended up realizing that they weren't really gay; they are married now, with kids, and living fulfilling lives. To be honest, I think many youths are not homosexual or heterosexual, they are 'try-sexual', they'll try anything. Wouldn't it be great if all our hormones ravaged us like they did when we were kids--then again, we'd prolly never get anything done. ;)

Here is another example of what I mean: The handsome fella I am dating now is from India. In his youth, "experimentation" was encouraged by adults as boys played with boys. As the boys turn to teenagers, and teenagers turn to adults, it is expected that the young adults will stop playing with each other and marry a woman (a pre-arranged woman, but a woman nonetheless). Many do and go on to live fulfilling lives never again "playing as they did as children". But a few do not. My fella is one of them. For his childhood friends, he has had to remove himself completely from them and his family--for even the sexually relaxed expectations of children give way to strict mores of sexuality that are often not as easily defined.

You see, the spectrum of sexuality isn't as clear cut as many would like to imagine. And for folks like Curtis and Craig, the disgust of their actions have more to do with their hypocrisy than their particular actions (although Craig really should find a better venue, in my opinion, than an airport toilet). Hypocrisy is when said politicians condemn gay, lesbian, and transgender folk in matters of law and proclamation while secretly engaging in that very same activity. You can't have it both ways--or rather, you shouldn't have it both ways. In reality, many folks do have it both ways and that isn't fair to those of us who don't have secret lives but choose instead to live openly (and courageously, depending upon where you live). We shouldn't be condemned by the very men and women who could be helping us--who instead become our biggest oppressors.

What we all need to realize is this: sexuality isn't a clear cut thing for some. For others, it is. And we shouldn't be condemned by the very people who are too busy hiding their own acts of sexuality at the expense of everyone else's. Instead, we should realize that the human condition is vast and broad and that society should be a big enough tent to welcome everyone, regardless of their differences or a threat to the existence of one over the other. As long as what we do respects and values the other, then I say, "Come on in, we've got plenty of room for you."

15 Days and Counting!!

I think I may be one of those few folks who just loves the Christmas holiday season. Mind you, when I lived in Manhattan, I quickly grew tired of the season, what with all the pre-Christmas shopping, ads, and commercialization. Now that I live in an actual house though, my opinions about Christmas have changed entirely.

I can't wait for Friday, November 23 for two reasons: 1. Black Friday sales. 2. I get to decorate the house for Christmas. I'll post my joys about Black Friday in another post. This post is about the No. 2--boy, do I love to decorate for Christmas.

Last year, I gathered myself for a trip to the dollar store (you'd be amazed at the deals you can find there that don't cost an arm and a leg). Actually practically everything I bought for the Christmas decorations came from the Dollar Store, the sales rack at K-mart, and a trip to Kirkland's (a discount home store).

If you are smart and careful, you can decorate your entire house for Christmas (assuming you already have a tree) for under $25. See, while I do remain against the commercialization of Christmas, I am in favor of decorating to the hilt!!

Last year, I did up the house and front porch. I had fake garland ($5.00) on my fireplace mantel surrounded by candles (given as gifts from various dinners I've thrown). I put up a fake Christmas tree in my living room (I am allergic to real/live Christmas trees). I put up red ribbons (3 at $1.00 ea) on my porch railing. I had individual artificial candles in my windows (3 at $1.00 ea). My place screamed Christmas every day and I listened to Christmas music on my stereo and piped through my computer on Pandora (free).

This year, I may do all the above again with a few changes. I want to repaint my fireplace a deep velvet red, (it's pink right now because of a mixed up understanding with the paint store and my originally intended salmon color). The pink actually accents my mahogany furniture nicely however, I am thinking it's time for a change and what better time to do that than during the Christmas season. I am also going to put red swaths of fabric on my curtain rods.

And, I want to put up more things on my mantle to include: a wooden Merry Christmas decoration, the old garland, a Christmasy picture, I'll try and have something nice and cheap from The Christmas Shoppe (right now I have a modern interpretation of the Lord's Supper, a gift from my last congregation), and two lanterns I saw at Target the other day.

Besides the Christmas tree indoors, I am going to put a fake silver tree that I purchased from UrbanOutfitters on the front porch decorated with small and cute ornaments. I'll put back up the red ribbons on the porch railing and might also string lights on the railing--I have found anything that I like just yet. Ideally I want these Christmas lights I saw somewhere (I can't remember where) that are solar-powered thus not having to run a power cord through my window on the porch.

I'll also put Chrismasy decorations throughout the house. And, to help make the Christmas spirit ring even truer, I'll have an open-house Christmas party for the church.

I just love this kind of decorating. My Thanksgiving decorations were fun too and the place looks and feels very fall-like. Although I think it's past time to discard the pumpkins. They are starting to turn. Yuck.

This is a Cool Video

Sure, I may look as if I have little to do today, but I am working smarter, not harder. Take this video for example, I am giving my mind a rest while looking at something stimulating. Have a look and see if you're not stimulated. (Wait--what?)

Don't you just love Sarcasm?

Here is a top-10 list of reasons that being gay is un-American.

(1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

(2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

(3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

(4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

(5) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

(6) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

(7) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

(8) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

(9) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

(10) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

Hat tip to QueerTwoCents.

New Poster

This poster is part of England's educational way to stop the bullying of gay kids in school. What a dramatically honest and simple message.

Hat tip to QueerTwoCents.