Florida Fails to Pass Bestiality Law - Open Season for Sex with Animals!

And I thought Texas had a lock on stupid!  Oh heck no!

The lovely folks in Florida, the same legislators that had time to make it a crime for same sex couples to marry missed a little loophole that lets people legally have sex with animals.  Yup, all you bestiality fans, Florida is the place!

Legislators didn't want to debate the bill that actually would make having sex with animals a crime for fear they would be seen as wasting time.  There are a whole lot of sheep in Florida who sure wish they could vote!
Sorry, but that joke was just to easy.

Stock Market Rollercoasters and Other Thrill Rides

Yesterday's heart stopping stock market dive left several investors and market gurus in a total panic.  When I saw it I suspected it was a glitch and didn't get too excited and now it looks like I was right.  Even though the NYSE first denied that the problem was computer-based, it turns out it might have been.

There is a "safety net" built into the trading program of the market that should have stopped a panic and instead it triggered one.  As best I can understand the big casino that is Wall Street here's what may have happened.

Proctor & Gamble stock dropped close to 10% mid afternoon.  That drop triggered what is known as a "circuit breaker" that is designed to pause trading so things don't go south.  That pause lasted for only 80 seconds when trade opened up again on other exchanges.  That coupled with a mini-panic about Greece put the Dow off about 200 points.  It put lots of people in the mood to sell, and more specifically the computer trading programs.

When these programs saw noting to sell on the NYSE, they switched to other exchanges and found the pause looked like there were no bids for the paused stocks.  The programs are set to bid 1 penny more than the last price, and they interpreted this as 0.  Bingo!  Stocks suddenly sell for pennies and everyone dives off a cliff.

Like I said, it is only how I understand it, but there has to be some truth in it because NASDAQ is canceling almost 300 trades though there are losers in the mess.

This whole thing firms up my belief that Wall Street is a really badly rigged casino where "whales" get the deals and everyone else gets a raw deal.  Heck in Vegas, the big money might get more perks, but the rules of the table don't change for anyone.  My portfolio, if I had one would include lots of money on Craps, at least in that game you can get true odds!

Peter LaBarbera Hates - The Southern Poverty Law Center

If you have never heard of the Southern Poverty Law Center, you should.  They play a vital part in protecting your freedoms and specifically tracking groups that would infringe on them.  For years the SPLC has kept a list of hate groups.  These include blatant ones like the Ku Klux Klan to the more subtle ones like Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. That last group lead by the infamous Peter LaBarbara spreads venom regarding LGBT people at a furious rate.  Their "reports" are often cited by other fringe hate groups like the Family Research Council and their like.

LaBarbera is not happy being on that list and so is trying furiously to discredit the SPLC.  Apparently in one of their briefs they confused LaBarbera with Paul Cameron the psychologist expelled from the American Psychological Association for refusing to cooperate in their investigation of how Cameron was distorting other researchers work. 

That confusion aside, LaBarbera frequently has quoted Cameron and they are both cut from the same homophobic cloth.  Pam's House Blend has more.

Meanwhile, take a look at the SPLC Hate Map.  You will notice that my state, The Great State of Texas, seems to have more hate groups than any other.  Whoopee!  We're number one!

Rekers and His Rentboy - Photos

If I was looking for a "smoking gun" in the case of rabid anti-gay activist George Rekers, the photo in this story would pretty much be it.  If you have been following this sad story Rekers, who hired a gay male escort for a "getaway" claimed the young man was only along to help with his baggage.  This pic shows Rekers and his escort in the airport.  Rekers is clearly toting the baggage!

I think he has a lot more emotional baggage to deal with than luggage.  Time you came out and stopped bashing your brothers and sisters George!

Man Who First Alerted NY Police Was Muslim

In the fog of media babble and the various spin machines spewing talking points about the failed car bomb attempt one small but very important fact is being ignored by the media.  The man who first reported the suspicious events in Times Square to police was...(drum roll) a Muslim!

Aliou Niasse, a Senagalese immigrant who sells photos in Times Square to tourists was the first to report the smoking car that contained the failed bomb.  He contacted a nearby vendor to call 911 since he was afraid his English wasn't understandable enough.  According to an article in the UK’s Times Online, Aliou who is originally from Senegal has been a vendor in Times Square for about eight years.

So while some in the media are slapping the "Islamic" or "Muslim" label on the alleged terrorist, they neglect to use the same label for the hero.  Figures!

¡Cinco de Mayo!

Many years ago while my family and I were visiting friends in Puebla, Mexico, our hosts took us on a tour of the city's historic central district.  There, the cathedral still stands that stood watch over Mexican troops who defeated the French in 1862.  That date is celebrated in Puebla, but few other places in Mexico.

Here in the US we often think of Cinco de Mayo as Mexican Independence Day, but that is not the case.  September 16, 1810 when Father Hidalgo cried out the "Grito de Dolores" is considered the true Mexican Independence Day. I know this because it is the birthday of my favorite aunt who has shared a life long love of Mexico with me.

Cinco de Mayo really took off in California in the 1860s and of course in the 20th Century as the unofficial celebration of Mexican heritage and especially Mexican beer and food.  So, happy Cinco de Mayo and don't eat to many molotes de cuitlacoche!

Far Right Baptist Minister Hires Rent Boy!

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Lesbian Country Singer? You Betcha!

Country crooner Chely Wright has come out.  As her memoirs are about  to be published, the 39-year old singer took the step out of the closet and says things couldn't be more magical.

More here.

GOP Florida State Senator Watches Porn During Session

Must be boring to be a state senator from Florida, nothing to do but debate how to control a woman's body.  Passing bills that force women seeking abortions to pay out of pocket for an ultrasound to show them their fetus.

Meanwhile the Republican Senator Michael Bennett watched porn on his laptop.  No really and here is a video to prove it!



Think Progress notes that to his credit Bennett voted against the bill. Maybe watching porn makes you more progressive?

Note Regarding the Phelps Posting

OK, I have been getting a lot of replies to my post about the Phelps cult and here is the deal. If you want to spew bile and venom, please have the cajones to use your name. I will not post ANY annonymous comments from this day forward.

If you want to debate Biblical inerrancy,  you need to find another forum.  I will be happy to discuss the scriptures with a same rational person, but using "sword verses" is not allowed here.  However, to those delightful people who sent me so many hateful remarks about my being an "abomination" check Leviticus and let me know when you can fulfill all the requirements there.

Come on people, you can be Christian and still have the ability to think rationally!

Enough said.

Lady Gaga - "Telephone" - The Afghan Remix!

I love our troops!  Lady Gaga goes to war!