In other news, Dubya plans to ROLL BACK protections on endangered species before he leaves office next month. One more "fuck you" to the world, I guess. Seems Dubya subscribes to a "The Sun revolves around ME" kind of worldview.
The Democratic Nat'l Conv starts today. Obama picked Joe Biden, a safe and experienced candidate. Lots of folks wonder why he didn't pick Hillary. Simple -- she and Bill would have struggled with Obama for power every day. It would have been a messy joke of an Administration. Granted, we are pretty used to that. But if such things can be avoided, then they should.
Check out this dumb kid and his attempt at weightlifting!
*So says Paul Westerberg.
I'm really surprised that I even bothered to blog about this, as one of the issues I've claimed to be really bored of is the whole creationism vs. evolution thing. Basically I, along with I think many other rational people, are just really tired of responding to people who are clearly trying to pass off religious belief as science. The Institute for Creation Research was trying to get the State of Texas to approve their master's degree in science education. Luckily, commissioners in our state have better sense than to approve something like that.
I used to have the patience to discuss this issue with people, and with the intent of being "tolerant," hold off on calling creationists "stupid." Please don't get me wrong--I am certainly not saying religion and faith are stupid, anymore than any other kind of philosophical inquiry is stupid. I feel that those are very valid pursuits for humankind, just as much as science is; and as much as one field may inspire and influence the other, most people understand that faith and the scientific method are not the same thing. Even those that dip their feet into both pools, such as myself, understand that they are two different kinds of pursuits. Including creationism in science education would be about as productive for humanity as trying to convince porpoises that they should really stop all that silly swimming around already, since they're mammals with lungs and all, so they should be on land.It's true -- Project Runway is moving to the Lifetime network. Geez, why don't those Weinstein bitches just come to my house and put their lit Virginia Slims out in my eye themselves?
Jacobi is fed up with how stupid we Americans are. I can't say I disagree. I personally feel dumber every day. I've actually started doing crossword puzzles at night and listening to Beethoven in the car to get my brain back on some kind of gray matter exercise schedule. I don't ever want to be an inspiration for such a book the way these 2 guys were:
Wow. I don't know what to say except that I can't say I didn't see this coming. We have an idiot for a president who was elected because people thought he'd be cool to have a beer with even though he's a recovering alcoholic. (Don't forget the man has stated shamelessly that in addition to not drinking he does not read newspapers.) We don't teach kids how to think in school anymore, only how to pass standardized tests. (Gee, thanks, No Child Left Behind...) We all watch TV and surf the internet when we're not cut off from community listening to our iPods sucking down coffee and applying our makeup in the car.At that moment, Ms. Jacoby said, “I decided to write this book.” "
Look -- I'm certainly not saying that I'm smarter or better than everyone else; however, I do like to think I could pass a high school-level geography exam or discuss recent history in a way that shows I have a grasp on major world events. I'm not the only person who likes to have what i want when I want it. (Usually right now.) However, I also know that nothing comes easy, nothing is free.
It's hard to remember that when 400,000 results arrive in a split second for my google search or my dinner is ready in 2 minutes thanks to the microwave. I no longer have to write checks or find a pay-phone or go to the physical bookstore or handwrite letters to friends. I can do things so quickly now that it's a wonder anything ever got done before the 21st century.
My point, and I do have one, is that appreciation for hard work is nil these days. You have to be bigger, better, stronger or the world will run you over. Of course you have to work your ass off to score such a life or just rack up enough credit card debt to sustain a 3rd-world country. At the same time you are spoon-fed celebrity gossip, government propaganda, and fear-factor style "nightly news" that fills the remainder of your attention span which sucks that stuff up like a sponge. You're so stressed out from keeping up with the goddamned Joneses that you actually welcome such bullshit.
Why? Because it's easy. It's now the norm to let others do your thinking for you. Don't know where Iran is? Who cares! Don't know who the president of Mexico is? Why bother? Can't do simple multiplication? No worries! Someone or something will do it for you. Just rest your pretty head, have a coke, worry about how Britney's doing, and put a 'Mericun flag on the front of your house. Jesus will be back soon and you can nap for eternity on a dainty white cloud.
This drunk got stuck in a chimney during Oktoberfest! Bah!
This chick wore a "fake bomb" to the airport, saying it was "art."
Wow, even the chodes at MIT are stupid. And that blonde birdsnest ain't gonna make you look less crazy darlin.
Check out the image ABC chose to post with a story about a controversial Massachusettes rape case. Great choice, right?
Here's the text of the comment I left:
Hey ABC --- what's with the tacky photo accompanying this story? Sure, this story may have a very sensationalist bent (look at the many reactions!) but putting a "steamy" picture of a couple in bed next to a story about rape is poor judgement and even poorer journalism. I get it that internet reporting is image-dependent; however, this choice was an extremely bad one.
Today's featured article is May Day. Apparently, "The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in justin traina's and jared palmer's sex life, as in the Celtic celebration of Beltane, and the Walpurgis Night of the Germanic countries." (See paragraph 7, first sentence.)
See what happens when you let just anybody edit your online encyclopedia? I wonder how long this ridiculous entry will last?
...why weren't the librarians babysitting my children at the public library? Whah! I'm a parent who doesn't get it that the public library is just that: PUBLIC. As in, it's for EVERYONE, not just school-aged children dropped off to do homework and wreak havoc at the local library.
The father is asking for damages: $10,000 per kid(!). Apparently his children are having "sleepless nights." I'll bet they are, but not for the reasons he thinks!
My favorite part of the article? Oh, definitely this quote by the boy's father:
"Any effort to reinstate the book will be met with legal action and protests from the Christian community."Right. I'd bet you just about anything he's got a nice stash of so-called lesbian porn on his hard drive at home. Perhaps he wants the $20 grand so he can buy more?
Texas State Senator Dan Patrick (R) of Houston has proposed a bill to (get this!) pay Texas women $500 to give their newborn up for adoption instead of having an abortion. Klassy guy. Below is the letter I sent to his office on this topic. You other Texans out there can write to him too, if you are so inclined. These crazed religious-right wackos in office need to be told that their zany schemes to sell babies are just that: insane.
"I do not reside in the distict you represent; however, I am compelled to write to you about Senate Bill 1567. I am saddened and sickened that you have put forth such a bill, which, if enacted, would pay Texan women a measly $500.00 to give up their parental rights to their newborn child as an adoption "incentive." This bill is both insulting and demeaning to women. It also puts a tiny price tag on the tiniest of our citizens: newborns. Let Texan women decide what happens to their own bodies. Abortion is legal in this country and dangling $500 in front of the faces of women who may be poor, in a bad relationship, or in some other situation where having a child may not be the right choice for them is wrong."
I was out enjoying dinner with friends Wednesday night, so I did not watch this week's episode of America's Next Top Model. Come to find out (via Feministing) that this week's challenge was for the contestants to be "beautiful corpses" via a "CSI"-style photoshoot.
To echo many of the comments made on Feministing, WTF, Tyra?!
An open statement to Tyra Banks:
Trya, I know you're a ditzy but fun-loving showbiz-crazed gal, but for god's sake, what is wrong with you? It's one thing to herd this gaggle of naive model-wannabes through the hoops of your show; but to glorify violence against women is completely sick and utterly reprehensible.
I've watched all 7 "cycles" of your show, but will watch no more. That's it, it's over. I put up with your and the other judges' comments about the "fat" size 8 girls, comments about the ethnic attributes of some of the girls (see our banner), and the objectification of your willing contestants, all in the name of entertaining television; however, when you have 19- and 20-year old young women painted with bruises and fake blood, their eyes rolled back in their heads and their legs splayed, all in the name of selling fashion, you're sending a very powerful message about the disposability of not only the contestants, but women in general, to viewers.
I get it that the girls are competing (hence, the "knifed by a model" etc themes of the shoot). But I have to say murder is not sexy. Never has been, never will be. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Sincerely,
Tiny Robot
The archbishop deacon of Trinidad & Tobago says Elton John's mere presence on the islands could turn everyone gay. (And I thought I had superpowers!) I think the archbishop needs to get out more. That island livin' is frying his gray matter.
Nikki suggested the idea of a collective list of songs for W's iPod. As you submit comments, I'll update the list on this post. I'd put this on my own blog, but my family might suggest a bunch of praise songs. The President's iPod Playlist:
Rev. Ted has been "healed" of the homosexuality that led him to cheat on his wife and buy crystal meth (but, of course, not use it). Part of me feels bad for the guy. He obviously has no idea what he's doing. The other part of me just thinks he's an idiot who got what he deserved.
Now that he's had a few weeks of brainwashing therapy, he's supposedly been un-gayed. His old friends don't want him back, especially since his actions have tainted their wacky little church. His new friend (like the rest of us) is amazed at how quickly Haggard has changed.
I find it interesting that the Colorado Springs Fox affliate mentions only that Haggard is leaving, not that he's been "cured". I mean, if the Tedster can be cured in a matter of weeks, surely gays everywhere can be reprogrammed within a matter of months! Oh, and that silly little matter of drugs, well, that's no big deal, right?
Lawrence: No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.
--Office SpaceDr. Rick Dagless: As I turned the corner, I felt muscular and compact - like corned beef.
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