Orwellian Decision

"I feel it's a blow to families," he said. "It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children's medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us."

Court appointed attorney Philip Elbert after a judge ordered a teenager to receive chemotherapy even though the teenager and his parents have chosen not to have it based on their religious beliefs.

Thinking of Closing this Blog

You know, I have been posting things on this blog for years now. I have had such a groovy affinity to it and have loved having a place where I can vent politically. Even though it's also caused me some pain (ne: when the search committee at my present church discovered and actually read older posts on here).

In another way, closing this blog may make me feel as if I'd be leaving a dear friend, saying goodbye too soon. I have enjoyed the comments, the debates, and the exchange of ideas. And yet, most of those things haven't happened in a long while. Blogging on here has lost a part of its charm and it's not as new and exciting as it once was.

Now that I am on Facebook, I find I have a place to vent or be fabulously political, if the mood hits. So, I have been thinking it's time to shut this thing down. I still have another blog (a church one) that'll keep me online and posting my thoughts and 'brain droppings' from time to time.

I'll make a decision soon, one way or the other.

Sweet Cheeks

Traditional Values Coalition: Dishonest or Dumb

I found this video on a friend's Facebook page and really deserves your viewing.

New Harry Potter Trailer

Holy Cow, this is incredible! You gotta see this trailer. I am psyched about this upcoming movie.



By the way, this trailer has one preview and another with behind the scenes commentary, so keep watching after the commercial at the end of the first trailer.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

h/t Kenneth in the (212)

Making Sense of the Teabagging

I've been trying to understand the 'tea-bagging' phenom that's been happening all week. From my best guess, it's meant as a demonstration against Obama's proposed budget attempt to invigorate the economy through spending. While Obama is doing something akin to FDR who tried to reinvigorate America through the WPA and other building projects, many folks either don't remember that or think such an effort is patriotically unAmerican. Interestingly, while much money has been spent trying to reinvigorate Wall Street, those concerned feel that spending money on other projects may be detrimental to the health of our destabilized economy. Many fear such an attempt is akin to Socialization, something that is meant to sound Marxist (I guess) and not for patriotic Americans.

So, protests have risen up to challenge money being poured into State's pockets to provide more jobs, building projects, and social service agencies by using the early Colonies' Tea Party as an illustration of their protest.

Personally, I am amazed by the protests because they don't make any sense. However, I am also amazed by how the Republican 'trickle down economy' has been so ingrained in the mindsets of the poor, that they're willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. It's fine to pump trillions of dollars into Wall Street, but not for middle America. Put money in the coffers of those who ripped off America, but don't put a dime into programs that'll put people back to work. In so many ways, such a mindset is truly mindbloggling to me.

And what's more, even some of the tea-bagging protestors are a bit clueless as to why their protesting. One wonders if they're just angry that Obama won the election.

A Familiar Critique

I just now stumbled upon this cartoon and thought it appropriate to the conversation.

Vermont is so COOL!

I have had a rather busy day today. All told, I have put together two worship services (Maundy Thursday and finalized Easter), have gone to the bank, bought a belt at K-Mart, and stopped off at H&R Block to do my taxes. I am now back at work having more things to get done.

I went online after I returned to my office and discovered the headlines that Vermont has passed gay marriage by over-riding Gov. Douglas' veto to become the 4th state to allow gay marriage. I am so excited I can hardly sit still. This is wonderful news as New Jersey is set to vote on gay marriage this year (hopefully) and perhaps even New York by next year. It does make a heart swell with pride that gay marriage in the East has become a reality for so many. As I type this, I am looking at Jay's picture on my desk knowing that one day he and I will be able to get married too.

Anyways, I also logged onto Facebook to read my friends' reaction to the news. Just about all of them are as ecstatic as I am. One in particular had a funny post that I am going to post here. I may have posted this already in ages past (because it looks familiar) but am going to post it again for its funny irony.

10 reasons NOT to have Gay Marriage

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 marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

6) 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.

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

8) 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.

9) 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.

10) 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.

h/t to Margaret Aymer Oget on Facebook for the joke

Jay Brannan has a New One

One of my fav all time new singers has a new video out. I just love his brash, tell it like it is, music. This one is titled, Can't Have It All. I hope you enjoy it.



h/t towleroad

Lord Take this Away

From Andrew Sullivan's Blog:

I went through this myself - being gay and Christian and struggling to reconcile the two. It is never easy, but the voices of gay Christians, especially the young, are changing the world and the church in ways that, in my view, Jesus would embrace and rejoice in. Here's a trailer from an upcoming DVD you can buy here, "Through My Eyes." Even those orthodox Christians who refuse to compromise on Biblical literalism would, I think, benefit from listening to the experiences and testimony of the people they are actually talking about:

Gay Pride 2009

This video was recently released commemorating the 40th anniversary of Stonewall and honoring gay pride. It's a history of gay rights since then.

Bear Pole Dance

The Dan Band does Single Ladies

By now, you've prolly seen a ton of YouTube videos on Beyonce's Single Ladies. Some are hilarious, others are embarrassingly horrid. Still, it's a lot of fun, right? Below could be one of the best copycats of the song done by a mechanic and two communters. I simply loved it.




Go here to see another interpretation of it. Here another. Or here to see the Lady herself.

How the Economic Meltdown will Now Affect You

Summing Up What I Couldn't Believe I Heard

Some more Obscure Chuck Norris Facts

I don't know what it is about Texas and Oklahoma's love for all things Chuck Norris. It could be he kicks butt wonderfully well, that he was a world karate champion for a looooooong time, or because he's also a vocal and recognized Christian celebrity and is a regular contributer to World Net Daily, a Christian fundamentalist news source. Still, a friend posted on his Facebook page these interesting and obscure facts about ol' Chuck and found them hilarious. I hope you do too (even if he's scary conservative).

1. If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
2. There is no “ctrl” button on Chuck Norris’s computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
3. Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.
4. Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird
5. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
6. Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
7. “Chuck Norris has volunteered to remain on earth after the Rapture; he will spend his time fighting the Anti-Christ.”
8. Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
9. Chuck Norris can hit you so hard that he can actually alter your DNA. Decades from now your descendants will occasionally clutch their heads and yell "What The Hell was That?"
10. When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris.

You can read more amazing "facts" by checking out Chuck Norris Facts.

A Very Interestingly Insightful Interview with Frank Schaeffer

Former Evangelist Frank Schaeffer and Author of Crazy for God Smashes Religious Right, Republicans & Rush Limbaugh on CNN's D.L. Hughley - 03/07/09

Milk Outta My Nose

For whatever reason, I laughed out loud at this cartoon. And, I know this isn't nearly as funny for the folks affected by Citibank. It does make me wonder, however, if I'll be able to get out of paying back my school loans (which are through Citibank) if something happens to them. Ahh, the moral conundrums I face.

Go here to see the cartoon at the Town Called Dobson website.

Christian Bashing?

Seriously, there are some Christians who are appropriating this term, once used by gay, lesbian, and transgender persons who've been physically attacked and put in the hospital. They use it to mean that people don't like them or are criticizing them. We use it to when we've been attacked. Check out this video and see if being Christian-bashed is the same as being gay-bashed.



h/t the bilerico project