No GOProud at Next Year's CPAC

There is a surprise! Not really.

GOProud, the allegedly gay Republican organization whose involvement with the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference stirred up so much anger among the right-wing they are politely being asked to not come back.  GOProud's presence atthe conference was enough to make a few very large participants stay away.  Those include, Heritage Foundation, Concerned Women for America, Media Research Center and the hate group, Family Research Council.

Apparently the CPAC cannot afford to alienate these major players in their activities, so the gays get thrown under the Republican bus.  Again, I have to wonder why the hell a group who is plainly not welcome and whose very existence goes against some of the GOP platform planks calls itself Republican?  The degree of self-loathing of the GOProud folks is apparently limitless.  For example, GOProud volunteer Matt Hissey is quoted as saying, "I don't really like gay people."  Nice!

Lady Gaga at Grammys - Fabulous!

OK I officially renewed my Gay Card.  Lady Gaga at the Grammy's was amazing!

An New Day In Egypt

Hosni Mubarak finally has stepped down ad president of Egypt.  His 30 year dictatorial rule is over and I suspect we will never know all the details, but here is my hypothesis.

Yesterday, the military published a statement called "Communique #1" in which the stated that the protesters demands would be met.  This caused a wave of jubilation to flow through the millions gathered in public spaces in Cairo and Alexandria. The crowds cheered when they heard Mubarak would be making a TV appearance that evening, and everyone, including foreign diplomats and news-people assumed it would be his resignation speech.

The crowds fell silent as Mubarak began his speech, but that didn't last for long.  He began enumerating all the good things he did for his "children" and continued to assert that he would follow his own timeline and wait until September for the new elections.  Meanwhile he would turn some powers over to his Vice President. 

When it became clear that he was not stepping down, the crowd erupted in violent angry shouts.  They waved shoes in the air and tore down the TV screens in a hostile rage.  Luckily, they did not choose to march on the Presidential palace but dispersed, vowing to reassemble in the morning even stronger.

This morning news came that the military would stand behind the transition as planned and most people saw that as an ominous sign.  Finally came the surprising announcement that Mubarak had turned power to the military council and was leaving office along with his Vice President.

My suspicion is that the military council met with the president and explained the reality of the situation.  They had what I would call a "Come to Allah" meeting.  This new Egyptian military has been trained mostly by US forces, and unlike the old military who learned from the Russians, the new Egyptian army didn't want any part of harming their countrymen.  I suspect they told Mubarak he could leave peacefully and immediately, or be placed under arrest.

He chose to leave and the whole story of Egypt has now been set on a new path.  My hope is it will find a way toward democracy and peace.

Very Funny Commercial - Banned From TV

So I will admit I have done some pretty strange things in my life but never this odd.

Mubarak Is A Fool! Refuses To Step Down.

Crowds of hundreds of thousands gathered to hear the President of Egypt as he resigned, instead he spoke about his sacrifices for Egypt and hoe much he loved the people.  What he didn't say was that he is leaving.  He reiterated his intention to not run for reelection in September.  This is not what people expected and wanted.

A crowd who was joyous has turned into an angry mob.  In Alexandria protesters are heading toward the military base, in Cairo they are waving shoes in the air.  How will the army and police handle this is very much in question. 

Mubarak could have stepped down and ended this and instead he resisted and has set Egypt ablaze.  Sad times in Egypt.

Is Mubarak Leaning Tonight?

If reports are to be believed, the Egyptian military has taken charge of the situation and told the crowds in Tahrir Square, "All your demands will be met today."

This comes as a welcome surprise if it is true.  If not it will only serve to inflame already burning passion among Egyptians who want Mubarak gone.   Huffington Post has more.

Worst Argument Against Gay Marriage Ever

Robert Broadus Testimony on SB 116 against gay marriage in the Maryland legislature is perhaps the worst I have ever seen. He goes from Android Marriage to claiming that the stars in the flag represent Jesus. This guy is a real head case. Enjoy!

Great Super Bowl Parody - Apologies to My Jock Friends

Tosh.0 is one of my guilty pleasures.  Daniel Tosh did this parody of the Super Bowl commercial that is a hoot.  (Disclaimer:  As a fan of Woman's Pro Basketball myself, I find this hillarious and many of my lesbian friends do as well, so back off those with overly sensitive political correctness.)

Tosh.0
Tags: Tosh.0 Videos,Daniel Tosh,Web Redemption

Odd Shoes? Way Beyond Odd!

OK, these are so far over the top even Lady Gaga might balk at them. Apparently, some designers are vying to see just how stupid some of their customers are. Call it fashion and people will buy ANYTHING, no really.

After all, who wouldn't look better with goat hooves, especially when they are painted gold! 

You can bet some fool paid LOTS of cash for these.
As an art piece, OK, but as apparel? Oh come now!

Even worse here.

Crazy War Against Sharia Law in Texas & Other States

Texas is joining the fray in the "battle" against Sharia Law. Seems a few state legislators are afraid that somehow the Islamic holy laws are going to seep into Texas courts, so they are working on a bill to prevent the state from "enforcing, considering or applying a religious or cultural law".

State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) who is championing the bill needs to remember that just a few years ago Texas lawmakers wanted to have the ten commandments posted in every court room. Funny, I could swear that was a religious law?

Happy Birthday to the Father of Steampunk - Jules Verne

I recently went back and reread all the Jules Verne novels I loved as a child. Glad I did. Verne, who many call the "Father of Science Fiction" was more than a teller of tall tales. He based his stories on the available science at the time and then projected forward in the manner of a true futurist.

Verne was also quite clever in his skewering of society. He viewed Americans as born adventurers. He also had a less than kindly attitude toward the Germans, yet many of his protagonists are German. His works are far more involved than just fun stories for kids, they reflect the times he lived in and a deep insight into the character of humanity in general.

His 1963 unpublished novel "Paris in the 20th Century" was recently unearthed and published in 1992. It had been previously been considered lost. It's a good read and amazingly accurate in some predictions though much more bleak than his other works. Had the world developed as he envisioned it, we would all be living in a Steampunk universe.

Even Better Condom Commercial!

Unfortunately, this gem apparently never ran in Belgium where the condom company is located.

Great Condom Ad From Russia

From Joe My God.

Bush Cancels Swiss Trip - Fears Prosecution for Torture.

So our local glitterati, former President George W. Bush canceled plans for a trip to Switzerland.  Why?  Well seems a lot of folks there hold him accountable for illegal torture, unlike our country which seems to have conveniently forgotten he broke both US and international laws by authorizing water-boarding and more.  According to court documents, criminal complaints against Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva.

Aw me so sad!

Al Jazeera Offices In Cairo Destroyed

According to a report from Al Jazeera, "Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo were attacked on Friday by 'gangs of thugs', according to a statement from the network. The office was burned, along with the equipment inside it."

This comes as the Egyptian government tries to crack down on news reporting.  American and European journalists have been beaten and assaulted over the past couple of days.  

Sarah Palin Branding Her Name

Sarah Palin and her brood have turned celebrity into a cottage industry.  Famous for far more than her 15 minutes, the failed VP candidate is filing to trademark her name and that of her daughter Bristol Palin.


Accoding to an article on Yahoo News:

Palin's paperwork was filed in November, shortly before the premiere of her TLC show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." Bristol Palin's application was filed in September, a few days before she began her own reality TV stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." The applications are still pending, amid several queries by the Patent office.

As a side note, here series like her governorship has already been canceled.   She may be trying to protect her "brand" but if recent success , or lack of it is any indicator, it isn't in much danger.  Maybe the CHinese will start doing Palin knock-offs?

Mona Lisa is a Man - Leonardo's Gay Lover!

I can hear the fundamentalists ranting now!  Look for the Mona Lisa to be removed from art history textbooks in Texas soon.  Why? Well, Silvano Vicenti, head of the National Historic Commission of Italy says that the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic portrait is most likely of his gay lover. 

Long thought to be a portrait of a local merchant's wife, the face bears more than a little resemblance to two other works by the master.  Both were modeled by his lover Gian Giacomo Caprotti.  The painting of John the Baptist and a drawing called "Angel Incarnate" both look to have the same face as Mona Lisa.

As the animation I created shows, it's pretty intriguing.  So, let the ranting begin!

Rolling Power Outages and The Super Bowl

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, mandated rolling power outages to reduce demand during peak periods, at least that was the story.  These lovely folks gave no warning, they just started cutting power.

Now comes word that critical services did not get cut, hospitals and emergency services, and the stadium in Arlington.  Say what?  Yup, DART riders got stranded as power to critical signaling devices was cut, hotel guests were stuck in dark elevators and stairwells, disabled people were stuck in their homes in the dark, but Jerry Frigging Jones and his stadium had all the power they needed.  God forbid football gets delayed!

So what the hell does the Super Bowl have that that you and I don't?  Apparently cutting power would be a security risk. That is the lame story anyway.

So finally the Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst gave us the real answer.  Cold weather knocked out about 50 of the 550 power plants in Texas and there also was an increase in demand.

"Lack of adequate winterization and preparation appear to be a major cause of the outages," he said in a statement. "This is unusually cold weather for Texas, but we obviously need to ensure that we are adequately prepared. That's why we will continue to work with state agencies and energy providers to find out where problems occurred and how to prevent them in the future."

So it comes down the the magic Genni of deregulation.  Companies bent on squeezing every penny from their investments didn't have a plan in place for cold weather.  Lovely!  Instead of buying power from other grids, they just force their problem on the state's citizens.  Meanwhile practice in the stadium goes on as planned.

We can all sleep more soundly, albeit more chilly with the power out, that football will still be played on Sunday.  Thank God!

Snow Day

So I ended up trapped at home yesterday, though having my partner there and two warm cats made things agreeable. Today was a different story. Temperatures here in Dallas have dropped into the teens, and therefore, very little of the ice has melted on local streets. Highways seem pretty passable if you are careful, but getting to them is a task for the US Figure Skating Team.

I managed to get my partner to the light rail station, since his office is walking distance that seemed like a good idea. Problem is, DART (our light rail) was being affected by the rolling power outages that Oncore has started, so the trains were an hour late. Nice cold wait on the elevated platform for him.

Meanwhile, I went to my office only to find they had closed for the day. At least I can get some work done uninterrupted this way. I have a warm office, lots of coffee and a working computer (which won't work at home for some reason. So, tonight, I will put on my best Johnny Weir outfit and skate over to my partner's coffee and pick him up for the slide home.

Did I say I hate cold weather?

Video From Egypt - Mubarak Can't Stop This! WATCH

If you ever questioned the power of the internet, watch this video and you will have a new found respect for the powerful medium it has become. The message from Egypt is still getting out and it's so powerful it gets me emotional. Watch and let me know what you think.

Saturday Night Live Fails - Trans Skit Downright Offensive

Saturday Night Live took a big step backwards in their faux-commercial for Estro-Maxx.  I understand it's live TV and sometimes skits win and others lose, but at least one of the writers should have known that not only is the bit not funny, it's downright offensive to trans people. 

Here's my beef.  Using trans people or gay men or lesbians or whoever in a comedy skit isn't a problem.  The problem comes when the sexual minority becomes the joke.  Trans people are not a punch line, and I can think of a dozen ways that skit could have been less offensive, but mostly it shouldn't have happened at all.

It would be like doing a comedy sketch where the punch line was that the character was Jewish.  Though there are great jokes about Jewish people, they are not the laugh-line.  So to SNL I say, grow up and start writing something genuinely funny instead of falling back on a cheap laugh that is just plain offensive.

Here is the sketch for those who are interested.

Carol Channing at 90!

It seems that older women in show business lead long lives and have seemingly unending careers.  Betty White's resurgent career is proof of that.  Now Carol Channing does an interview on her 90th birthday on dot429.com.
She is still a vibrant supporter of arts and music in public schools and a well acknowledged gay icon.

Check it out.

Egypt Tries to Shut Down Social Media

After watching the crowds in the streets on CNN and hearing about the various government buildings on fire, I would say Egypt is in full revolt.  Not surprising since the president there has allegedly been re-elected over 30 years. Nonsense, it's a dictatorship posing as a democracy, and though there are more freedoms than in some totalitarian countries, Egypt is still not a democracy. 

Meanwhile, the government is trying to stifle the revolt by shutting down the country's ISPs.  They are afraid of the communication and advantages offered by social media.

From an interview on Computer World: "Twitter, Facebook, and the Internet have made civil disobedience more efficient," said industry analyst Rebecca Wettemann from Nucleus Research. "The government is reacting to a civil problem by cutting one channel of communications, and there are always other ways."

The beauty of the internet and the web is the ability of information to reroute and it makes things very difficult to control.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the country's main opposition party seems to be behind much of the protests.  What this means for the future of Egypt is still unclear.  As this uprising plays out, it will behoove the United States to avoid getting embroiled in it.  I personally think Egypt should be governed by Egyptians.  My hope is that it won't become another radical fundamentalist nation like others in the middle-east. For LGBT Egyptians life is not rosy, I could only assume that under a fundamentalist Muslim regeim things would get a lot worse. 

Holocaust Remembrance Day

"Arbeit Macht Frei" -- "Work Sets You Free"

These words marked the entrance to the notorious concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland.  The camp was liberated by Soviet troops on Jan. 27, 1945, and today the date is marked as Holocaust Remembrance Day.

For those who might not remember, the Nazi's arrested and eventually exterminated millions of prisoners.  Best estimates are as follows:

5.1–6.0 million Jews, including 3.0–3.5 million Polish Jews
1.8 –1.9 million Gentile Poles
200,000–800,000 Roma & Sinti
200,000–300,000 people with disabilities
10,000–25,000 homosexual men
2,000 Jehovah's Witnesses

Gay men were marked with a pink triangle, now a symbol of gay liberation.  

It's a good time to remember this horror and make sure it never happens again.

Taco Bell = Beef? Maybe Not?

I was reminded of a scandal that broke years ago ion my home town of Dallas, Texas when a local Mexical food buffet was accused of serving dog food in their enchiladas.  Though it's hardly dog food, the ingredients in a Taco Bell taco look more like breakfast cereal than beef, and that's the issue.

According to a class-action lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in the Central District of California, the chain is serving a product that hardly qualifies as beef.  Only 36% of the taco filling is beef by volume with the rest being everything from oats to yeast and other ingredients including soy lecithin, etc.  Following are the "other" ingredients that make up the alleged beef:

1. Water
2. Isolated oat product
3. Salt
4. Chili pepper
5. Onion powder
6. Tomato powder
7. Oats (wheat)
8. Soy lecithin
9. Sugar
10. Spices
11. Maltodextrin (a polysaccharide that is absorbed as glucose)
12. Soybean oil (anti-dusting agent)
13. Garlic powder
14. Autolyzed yeast extract
15. Citric acid, caramel color
16. Cocoa powder
17. Silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)
18. Natural flavors
19. Yeast
20. Modified corn starch
21. Natural smoke flavor
22. Salt
23. Sodium phosphate
24. Less than 2% of beef broth
25. Potassium phosphate
26. Potassium lactate

Anderson Cooper Catches Michele Bachmann Lying About American History

Anderson Cooper explains the numerous lies told by Michele Bachmann in her rewriting of American History.

Will Doritos Air Gay Superbowl Ad?

That seems to be the question on many advertisers lips.  The TV spot which takes place in a sauna is rife with sexual innuendo and skin, but ultimately has a funny ending. For once the idea of the characters being gay is not used as a pejorative punchline.  Watch and you decide.  Personally I doubt if this will ever see network TV, but the buzz has already worked to Doritos advantage.

RIP Jack LaLanne

One of my earliest memories of Jack LeLanne was watching him in his form fitting gymnastic pants encouraging viewers to follow along for a stretching exercise.  He and his dog Happy were bopping along to an unseen organist who played along with his calisthenics.

LeLanne popularized exercise in the home and pioneered in the TV fitness genre long before Jane Fonda or anyone else.  Though his recommendations for health eating sometimes confused me, his enthusiasm was contagious.

I remember for his 70th birthday he was handcuffed and pulled a boatload of reporters from Alcatraz to San Francisco with his teeth. Though he got a lot of comedians ridiculing the act, it was pretty impressive.

LeLanne died at the age of 96 yesterday surrounded by his family watching a football game at his California home.

Justice Clarence Thomas Caught in Another Ethics Scandal

I have to wonder why this info came to light on a Friday.  The Friday "news dump" is in full swing as far as revelations of the financial impropriety of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.  By law Supreme Court Justices are required to give full disclosure of their spouse's income sources.  This is to prevent them from being unduly influenced by monitary considerations.

Well, Thomas has some explaining to do.  Between the years 2003 and 2007 his wife, Virginia Thomas earned $686,589 from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.  This income went unreported on his Supreme Court disclosure form and in fact Thomas lied by checking the "none" box on the form.

This clear violation of ethics comes on the heels of another ethical dilemma involving Thomas' fund raising activities with Charles Koch.  These problems show a clear conflict of interest especially when the court has just ruled on major corporate political fund raising issues.  The appearance and I would argue the "fact" is that Thomas and Scalia (also implicated in the Koch scandal) are in fact on the corporate payroll and should step down.  If not it would not be out of the question to impeach both justices.

HUD Proposes New Non-discrimination Rules Protecting LGBT Citizens

After a lackluster two years for LGBT folks, the Obama administration is finally delivering on some promises made during the campaign.  I applaud the passage of the DADT repeal and the provisions for LGBT partners in health care, and now comes this.  HUD, the Housing and Urban Development Secretary has proposed new rules that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in several of the federal agency's programs.  These include government backed mortgages and public housing.

No in case you are among those who figure this doesn't affect private sector housing, well think again.  Allow me to relate a story from my own experience regarding HUD. Quite a few years ago, I lived in a high-rise apartment on Turtle Creek, a pretty tony neighborhood to be sure here in Dallas.  My building was fr a time managed by HUD because the developers had defaulted on the financing and the government had backed the construction.

So for three years, I lived in high-rise splendor managed by HUD.  Luckily I never suffered any discrimination from the landlords, after all it was Turtle Creek and walking distance from the Gayborhood.  So, the point is HUD has some far reaching ties and this is a big deal towards anti-discrimination for LGBT Americans.

Keith Olbermann and MSNBC Split, Immediately!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tevatron Will Shut Down This Year

The Tevatron, the Fermi National Laboratory accelerator will shut down in September of this year due to lack of funds.  The accelerator located in Batavia, Ill. was funded by the Us Department of Energy and was racing to gather details of the elusive Higgs boson, the origin of mass in physics.  Now that task falls to the Large Hadron Collider in at CERN. 

Once again the US had dumped a valuable scientfic project because of budgets and politics.  First was the Super Colloder in Texas, a project characterized as "pork" by opponents of basic scientific research, and now the Tevatron.  As these landmark projects move to Europe and perhaps elsewhere, the US continues to lose its lead in scientific research.

Basic research, like the space program and partical physics have paid off in long range rewards in the past, it is a pity that short sighted politicians and the public can't see the benefits. So next time you glance at your digital watch or use your GPS or communicate on the internet, thank basic research.  Then go out and start learning Chinese so you can keep up with the rest of the world as we let our country fall behind.

More Guns = More Gun Deaths, Duh!

I recently wandered through the Violence Policy Center's web site and it is an eye opener when it comes to gun-related violence.  I support the Second Amendment but I also feel there are way too many guns floating around our country.  I have been a gun owner in the past, so if any NRA folks read this and flame me, get over it!

I am a strong advocate of gun control.  Here's why:

In states where gun ownership is lowest, gun deaths are lowest.  Pretty easy equation and yet too many folks just can't make this connection, so here is a simple chart to give you the idea in sound figures.

States with the Five Highest Gun Death Rates				States with the Five Lowest Gun Death Rates
Rank	State	Household Gun Ownership	Gun Death Rate per 100,000	Rank	State	Household Gun Ownership	Gun Death Rate per 100,000
1	Louisiana	45.6 percent	19.87	50	Hawaii	9.7 percent	2.82
2	Mississippi	54.3 percent	18.32	49	Rhode Island	13.3 percent	3.51
3	Alaska	60.6 percent	17.62	48	Massachusetts	12.8 percent	3.63
4	Alabama	57.2 percent	17.55	47	Connecticut	16.2 percent	4.27
5	Nevada	31.5 percent	16.21	46	New York	18.1 percent	5.07

Note from the VPC: The VPC defined states with "weak" gun laws as those that add little or nothing to federal restrictions and have permissive laws governing the open or concealed carrying of firearms in public. States with "strong" gun laws were defined as those that add significant state regulation in addition to federal law, such as restricting access to particularly hazardous types of firearms (for example, assault weapons), setting minimum safety standards for firearms and/or requiring a permit to purchase a firearm, and restrictive laws governing the open and concealed carrying of firearms in public. State gun ownership rates were obtained from the September 2005 Pediatrics article “Prevalence of Household Firearms and Firearm-Storage Practices in the 50 States and the District of Columbia: Findings From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002,” which is the most up-to-date, comprehensive source for state gun ownership rates.

So now, let's see...less guns means less death, sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

Toowoomba Flood Video - Amazing Footage

For those who aren't aware of the devastation floods in Australia, take a look at this footage of a small creek turning into a roaring rapids in just a few minutes, washing away dozens of cars. We often forget that tragic events lie this happen in developed nations as well as third-world countries.

The videographer posted this link for donations for Queensland relief efforts.
Queensland Government Appeal at: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Come on folks it's "Queensland" for Pete's sake, donate!

"Creeping Threat of Sharia Law" - Louie Gohmert

Rep Louie Gohmert - Sharia Hunter!

So in another case of political theater, much like the bogus repeal of health care reform, we have Louie Gohmert, a Texas Representative, a Republican and a certifiable idiot.  Not to be outdone by Oklahoma, Gohmert wants hearing in the House on the "creeping threat of Sharia law".  In November, Oklahoma became the first state to ban the threat of Sharia law, though no cases exist where it has been used as precedence and it has no legal standing in the US or any state.

Gohmert is using the new found strength of the GOP in the House to waste taxpayer money and valuable legislative time by holding hearings on non-existent threats.  Way to go Louie!

Next he will want to have hearings on the insidious pollution of our precious bodily fluids.  Life is imitating art.

Jon Stewart Reads Palin's Beads

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Anderson Cooper Puts Dr. Laura on "Ridiculist"

Dr. Laura now blames CNN for the problems she had using the "n" word.  Ah, another public figure claiming to be a victim of their own fame.  Oy!

Vatican Letter Called "Smoking Gun" in Pedophile Priest Scandals

A letter from the Vatican in 1997 997 cautioned Ireland's Catholic bishops not to report all suspected child-abuse cases to police.  Victims groups are already calling it "the smoking gun" in the connection between the Church in Rome and the abuse scandal.

According to a report in Huffington Post the letter documents the Vatican's rejection of a 1996 Irish church initiative to begin helping police identify pedophile priests. The document could have very far reaching implications.

"The letter is of huge international significance, because it shows that the Vatican's intention is to prevent reporting of abuse to criminal authorities. And if that instruction applied here, it applied everywhere," said Colm O'Gorman, director of the Irish chapter of human rights watchdog Amnesty International.

 Joelle Casteix, a director of U.S. advocacy group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, described the letter as "the smoking gun we've been looking for."

More here.

New Hospital Visitation Rules Go Into Effect For LGBT Patients!

Today, the new rules prohibiting hospitals from discriminating against visitors based on sexual orientation and gender identity went into effect.  Though a quiet change, it represents a big deal to LGBT families who have previously been discriminated against in these settings.

Last year President Obama issued the directive including this statement, “Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides — whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay,” to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department in April.

It's a big deal and should not be overlooked as a major promise fulfilled by the administration.

Tea Party Jumps In With Big Earmarks Of Their Own

After squawking about "earmarks" the Tea Party folks jumped into the Washington Pork Barrel with both feet.  Tea Party Caucus members requested more than $1 billion in earmarks in the 2010 fiscal year.  Though head Tea Bagger, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn did not request any earmarks, her colleagues in the caucus managed to squeeze in 764 earmarks valued at $1,049,783,150.

So next time you hear someone complain about "earmarks", show them it's not a Democratic exclusive, the Republican Party has long been steeped in the same kinds of earmarks as the Dems.  Now that's some kettle of tea!

Miss Arkansas and Her Dummies

The annual Miss America pageant has fallen from grace because of slipping ratings and a general unease with the whole event. No matter what you say, you just can't beat the talent competition. The new Miss Arkansas for 2011 is a ventriloquist and how can you beat that for a classic weird variety act?

NOTE:  I erroneously reported that she had won Miss America, Miss Nebraska won the title.

Apologies to Jay Johnson.

It's Martin Luther King Day

Though my office is still working today, I always take a moment to reflect on the Martin Luther King legacy. 

One of my favorite documents of this period in our history is the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".  Particularly resonating is this passage:

"But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . ." So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."

 The entire text of the letter is here.

Fallwell's University Pushes "Gay Cure" Classes on iTunes

The "good" folks at Liberty University's iTunesU have posted "Healthy Sexuality, Homosexuality: the healing journey of personal redemption."  Once again the far-right is trying to wrap a "gay cure" in the guise of science.  It's not happening.

The alleged science in this case is the same debunked junk that has been used over and over by the fundamentalists.  Now it's in a slick video format you can download and watch on your iPod.  The ghost of Jerry Falwell lives on.  Thanks to "Good as You" for the find!

Reince Priebus Now The Face of The GOP - And He's White!

It comes as no surprise to me that the GOPs experiment with inclusion has ended a factious chairmanship of Michael Steele.  Steele's election during the year Barack Obama was running for President seemed to me an obvious attempt at tokenism and apparently most of the GOP power-brokers agreed.

Steele's term was marred with controversy from the start and his interview in GQ only added fule to the flames.  Steele offered the statement that abortion is "absolutely... an individual choice".  That won him the ire of the far right and often during his tenure he made news because of his gaffes and off message positions.

Now the Republican National Committee has elected Reince Priebus as party chair to lead the debt-ridden party organization through the 2012 election cycle.  Aside from an unpronounceable name, Priebus is much more what I would expect from the GOP.  White, conservative and an attorney.  It should be interesting to see if he can dig the GOP out of the red.

TSA Worker Sentenced to Prison for Planting Malware in Screening Computer Network

In the continuing theater that is the Transportation Safety Administration screening procedures comes this dandy little tidbit.  Douglas Duchak, an employee at the TSA’s Colorado Springs Operations Center, was convicted of planting what has been described as a "logic bomb" or malware in the data base of the system used to screen airline passengers.

Security records show that Mr. Duchak, after learning he was being terminated in 2009, entered the facility late at night and injected the code into the database.  Luckily the program was found by other workers before it activated and scrambled records. 


Now do you feel safer?  One guy with a thumb drive and a few lines of code could have screwed up the whole nation's system for screening passengers, or worse, he could have changed a couple of critical records that might have changed the "no-fly" list. 


Perhaps the TSA might learn that when they are terminating someone, pay them for 2 weeks, but don't let them hang around, especially if they work in a sensitive area. 

How About a Nice Steaming Bowl of Naga Viper Chili?

Apologies to the advertising folks who coined that question for Wolf Brand Chili, but it had to be asked.  The elusive title of hottest pepper looks like it is going to the Naga Viper, and judging by its rating on the Scoville scale, 1,359,000, it's will never be an ingredient in my chili con carne.

The Naga Viper edged out the Bhut Jolokia as the hottest chili pepper on Earth by 357,696 SHUs (Scoville Heat Units)!  That's one incendiary pepper.  The Scoville scale for those not in the know is a measure of the amount of capsaicin in a pepper.  A Bell pepper or sweet pepper rates a zero while a jalepeno rates between 2000 - 8000.  Now you understand why this pepper is so amazing!

The pepper was cultivated and invented by Gerald Fowler, owner of the Chilli Pepper Company.

Margaret Whiting - Jazz Singer and Wife of Jack Wrangler Dies

Margaret Whitings voice was crystal clear. Her duet with Johnny Mercer, "Baby it's Cold Outside" stayed on the Billboard charts for 19 weeks in 1949.  Later in life she appeared on TV on variety and music shows with stars from Red Skelton to Nat King Cole.  She continued her career in the 1960s in cabaret and night clubs as well as in touring productions of Broadway shows.

Whiting is best known to baby boomers as the woman who married gay porn star Jack Wrangler.  22 years younger than her they made an unlikely pair, but their marriage lasted 15 years until Wrangler died of emphysema in 2009. She wrote about their relationship in an autobiography, “It Might as Well Be Spring”.

Ms. Whiting died in Englewood, N.J. She was 86.

Just in Case You Are Wondering, This Guy is Not Related

A guy named Charles Turner Habermann has been making threats against Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott.  Habermann lives in Palm Springs and is absolutely no relation to me, that I know of.  So, just in case you are wondering....He's NOT!  One more wacko that is not in my family tree, what a relief!

Enough Violence!

OK, I have officially had it from politicians and pundits, myself included.  So much crap has been flying around from the right and the left in the wake of the Arizona shootings there seems to be no point in trying to speak in softer tones.  Palin is unrepentant and even used the term Blood Libel, which is a not so veiled anti-Semitic dig whether she realizes it or not.

From now on I will try my best to ignore the wackos and people advocating violence in future posts. That kind of discourse has no place here or anywhere.

So, sorry for the past activities that might have fed into that craziness.  Just not going to do it anymore.

That said, there are lots of political, spiritual and sexual topics that don't include crazy talk and most especially guns.  Sound like I am fed up with it, yup you betcha!

Arizona Republican Resign In Wake of Threats From Tea Party Blogs

It seems that Arizona Republicans are understanding the meaning of the Proverb "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind".  The Tea Party folks in Arizona have been energized by the tragic shootings and instead of toning it down, have stepped it up.

Arizona Republican Legislative District chairman Anthony Miller, has announced his resignation.  He cites repeated threats and Internet blog posts by some local members with Tea Party ties made him worry about his family’s safety. 

"I wasn't going to resign but decided to quit after what happened Saturday," Miller said in a quote to AZCentral.com. "I love the Republican Party but I don't want to take a bullet for anyone."

According to a post on AZCentral.com:

The newly-elected Dist. 20 Republican secretary, Sophia Johnson of Ahwatukee, first vice chairman Roger Dickinson of Tempe and Jeff Kolb, the former district spokesman from Ahwatukee, also quit. "This singular focus on 'getting' Anthony (Miller) was one of the main reasons I chose to resign," Kolb said in an e-mail to another party activist. Kolb confirmed the contents of the e-mail to the Republic.

Assault Rifle Seller Engraves "You Lie" On Automatic Weapons

So much for civil discourse, at least in South Carolina.  There a gun manufacturer is making commemorative assault rifle components with the words, "you lie" etched in the lower receivers.  The limited edition assault rifles are commemorating Republican Representative Joe Wilson's infamous heckle of President Obama during an address to Congress.

The gun manufacturer issued the following "promotional" statement:

"Palmetto State Armory would like to honor our esteemed congressman Joe Wilson with the release of our new 'You Lie' AR-15 lower receiver.... Only 999 of these will be produced, get yours before they are gone!"

I would expect if the inscription had been in Arabic with something like "Allah is Great" the manufacturer and all employees would be in Guantanamo already.  Why are these kind of not-so-veiled threats legal?  Where is the Secret Service on this?

Note: The statement which appeared on the company's web site is now mysteriously missing.  I wonder if someone from Washington might have had a word with them about their crazy idea?

Gun Sales Soar After Arizona Shooting

I guess I should not be surprised by this but according to Bloomberg News Glock Sales have surged.

"After a Glock-wielding gunman killed six people at a Tucson shopping center on Jan. 8, Greg Wolff, the owner of two Arizona gun shops, told his manager to get ready for a stampede of new customers.

Wolff was right. Instead of hurting sales, the massacre had the $499 semi-automatic pistols -- popular with police, sport shooters and gangsters -- flying out the doors of his Glockmeister stores in Mesa and Phoenix."

Oh joy!  More guns, that's the answer to violence!  (For the irony impared, I am being sarcastic here.)

Jon Stewart Reacts to Arizona Shootings - Insightful Video

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Arizona Shootings Reaction
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Two Assassinations, Two Gay Heroes

By now most folks have hear of the heroic actions of intern, Daniel Hernandez and his acts that may have saved Congresswoman Giffords life.  By now most people also know he was gay.  That is not the story today, the heroism is and that tells me a lot about how far we have come. 

35 years ago another gay man, Oliver Sipple saved the life of President Gerald Ford during an assassination attempt and for his heroism he got estranged from his family and controversy. The LA Times has the stories of both Hernandez and Sipple here.

Tom Delay Headed to the Big House

Former Republican power broker and House Majority LeaderTom Delay was sentenced to 3 years in prison for his role in the scam to funnel campaign money illegally to candidates in 2002.

According to a story in Huffington Post:

Senior Judge Pat Priest sentenced him to the three-year term on the conspiracy charge. He also sentenced him to five years in prison on the money laundering charge but allowed DeLay to accept 10 years of probation instead of more prison time.

I hope this will send a message to all politicians they cannot play fast and loose with the rules...oh yeah, they changed to rules! Now corporations can fill candidates pockets without breaking the law!  Does this all sound like some kind of weird alter-universe? 

Palin Aide Falsely Claims Cross-Hairs on Map Were Not Bullseyes.

Apparently being duplicitous is standard operating procedure for Republicans.  Sarah Palin's aids are now saying that the cross-hairs on the infamous bullseye map on her website were never intended to be gun sights.  If you believe that, they have a failed Governor to sell you.

The statement runs absolutely counter to Palin herself.  Gun toting Mama Grizzlie made a statement on her twitter account saying, "Don't retreat, RELOAD!"  and on her Facebook page she boasted of defeating 18 of the 20 members on her "bullseye" list.  I think the intent was pretty clear, and if you don't get it you might just be in need of remedial reading classes.

Furthermore, if the Bullseye Map was so innocent, why was it removed immediately after the shooting in Arizona? Frankly, I am surprised Sarah didn't post a "Mission Accomplished" banner on her homepage.

Am I being unfair?  Not the least.  The kind of fiery rhetoric being used by Palin and her ilk is a quick way to drum up a frenzy in a rally, but she is playing with fire.  I have stated this before and will again, SHE IS PLAYING WITH FIRE.

Now innocent people are being burned because of right-wing rhetoric and rabble-rousing. I am reminded of a truism I learned years ago, many people are unable to understand irony and in many cases metaphors.  These are the same people who insist on a "literal" reading if the Bible, so why should we expect any more nuanced understanding of political speeches.  When they hear "target" they think "shoot".

Though a vast majority of conservatives in this country would never pick up a gun to do something this crazy, there are unstable folks who will.  Those people may not have a particularly well developed ideology, but are easily moved by strong emotionally charged language and need very little catalyst to go into action.  When politicians begin tossing around gun metaphors you can be sure someone will take them literally and act out.

Giffords Shooting Incited by Sarah Palin?

The kind of loud mouthed irresponsible rhetoric that has been vomited from folks like Sarah Palin and Glen Beck needs to end.  This graphic appears on Palin's web site and the cross-hairs are an unmistakable death threat.  She needs to be arrested and prosecuted for inciting violence.

Now Representative Giffords has been shot in the head along with bystanders and members of her staff.  How else can we interpret this event?

Marty Kaplan at Huffington Post has an opinion.

Muslims Protect Christians in Egypt

After the bombing of a Coptic Christian Church in Egypt, the last thing the terrorists expected were the events of Christmas Eve (Coptic Christmas - Thursday night).  Many people in the Muslim community came together to protect Coptic churches around the country and act as "human shileds" against any possible attacks.  Even the sons of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak showed up to help out.

From Ahram Online:

“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural center distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.

“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”

In the days following the brutal attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead on New Year’ eve, solidarity between Muslims and Copts has seen an unprecedented peak. Millions of Egyptians changed their Facebook profile pictures to the image of a cross within a crescent – the symbol of an “Egypt for All”. Around the city, banners went up calling for unity, and depicting mosques and churches, crosses and crescents, together as one.

Border Fence - Billions to Build, Seconds to Climb Over!

While cruising around YouTube I found this gem.  It shows our multi-billion dollar border fence.  This structure, though very neat and impressive is easily conquered by two teenage girls in less than 18 seconds.  This shows the downright lame brained "build a wall" approach to border security is useless.

I understand this won't matter to the Tea Party or anyone else eager to use jingoistic talking points, but the proof is in the video, the fence was a boondoggle and made a whole lot of money for contractors and did absolutely nothing!

Bill O'Reilly & David Silverman Are Both Idiots.

The video that is making the viral rounds now with Bill O'Reilly and David Silverman, president of the American Atheist Group is getting a lot of play because both of these loudmouths can't seem to understand that the tides are caused by the gravitational effects of the moon (that is a very short version. My problem with the whole thing is this:

First, Bill O'Reilly as a spokesman and apologist for religion is like having Soupy Sales as the defender of genteel humor. He is not anyone who I would want defending my faith, and as a Christian I find him annoying and pretty much an example of how NOT to be a Christian.

Second, Silverman is an equally incompetent spokesperson for any kind of rational atheism. If he can't even defend the "tides" statement, he needs to find someone who can. Additionally, he like many who profess atheism seem to thing science negates religion. Science only negates those who profess biblical literalism, and that is a straw-man argument.

If you can stand almost 10 minutes of blathering ignorance on both sides, watch the clip below.

2 Days Into New GOP Controlled House & They Are Already Breaking Promises!

I rarely get too excited about the Republican Party lying, but this one is amazingly bold.  Only a couple of days into their control of the House and they are breaking three of their key promises.  And Fox News?  They are, not surprisingly, silent about this. 

From the Center for American Progress:

Republicans have already walked back three key promises they touted up through the end of 111th Congress:

– Open Amendment Process Now Closed: Republicans have long complained that Democrats “abused their power in bypassing regular debate” by ignoring “the open rule” which “allows for nearly unlimited amendments and debate.” After a victorious November election, GOP leaders promised “to treat the Democratic minority far differently” by ensuring an open rules process. After all, they had included it in their “Pledge to America.” But now, with their first legislation to repeal the health care law, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is suggesting the GOP will skip the open rule to avoid potentially embarrassing Democratic amendments. The excuse? It’s a “straightforward document” of a “two-page, straight repeal” so “there’s nothing to amend.” According to Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), “there’s no ability” to have open rules because “if you want to have an up-or-down vote, this is how you have to do it. And that is what our pledge was: an up-or-down vote.” Despite demanding the same of the Democrats last year, Republicans now think “some things you don’t need a hearing on.” In response to backlash over his backtrack, Boehner said, “I promised a more open process. I didn’t promise that every single bill was going to be an open bill.”
–$100 Billion Spending Cuts Now “Hypothetical”: Confidently touting their “Pledge to America,” Boehner and his Young Gun squadron reiterated the promise that they’d “save $100 billion dollars in the first year.” Just yesterday, Cantor told reporters that Republicans will soon “spell out” the cuts to obtain that number. But, according to Republican aides, that promise is more “hypothetical” than literal and the actual number “is about HALF the original estimate.” When asked by how much, Ryan said “I can’t tell you by what amount.” When Fox News pressed Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) about GOP waffling, Pence said anyone who focuses on the $100 billion figure is just “number crunching” and trying to “parse words.”
–Public Access Committee Attendance Now Unfair: In the name of transparency, the initial rule package the House GOP proposed included a provision to make committee attendance public. But (fittingly) “behind closed doors” in the House GOP conference meeting yesterday night, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) stripped the provision. The excuse? Committees have to stop scheduling hearings at the same time first. Also, “some GOP lawmakers were concerned about getting slammed for missing hearings when they may have extenuating circumstances.” “That’s not a matter of transparency. It’s a matter of inherent unfairness,” Gohmert said.

New "Gentlemens" Club Causes Uproar at DFW Airport

It's always funny to hear protestations about strip clubs.  Arlington tried to block one by keeping them from getting a liquor license, so the club opened without serving liquor and had fully nude dancers!  Surprise Arlington.
Now DFW is all up in arms about the new club.

Grow up people, it's a strip club and they are going to be with us forever.

Utah Considers Dropping 12th Grade To Fix Budget

Gosh, I certainly hope the Texas Legislature doesn't start reading the news.  If they do, they might read about Utah, where in order to fix the state budget there actually is a serious proposal to drop the 12th grade from state high schools!

Heck, who needs more than an 11th grade education anyway?  Besides, rich folks will still be able to educate their kids in private schools, so this will only hurt the "under-class".  Those kids should be getting jobs by 17 anyway and stop being a burden to society. Bah Humbug!

If history tells me anything, it is that the Texas Legislature is second to none when it comes to lame-brained ideas, so look for this to be floated soon.  Meanwhile, keep an eye on Perry and the legislature to find more ways to funnel money into big business and away from the public good.

Homeless Man With the Golden Voice May Have Landed a Job!

I have worked in radio in the dim past and the truth is often that the man or woman behind the voice looks nothing like you would imagine.  Thus is the case of a Columbus, Ohio man named Ted Williams.  Homeless, but 2 years sober he was standing by a freeway "auditioning" for any kind of radio or TV gig he could find while panhandling.  His voice and appearance on the internet may have indeed landed him a job.

Word on the street is the Cleveland Cavaliers have offered him a job as an announcer.  When you watch the video you will hear why!

Republicans Read the Constitution - Finally!

In a move that is pure political theater, the Republican members of the House will read the Constitution on the floor of the chamber.  Of course this is to show that they are "behind the constitution" and the Democrats are not.  After much wrangling the Democrats were invited to join in.

My question is this, "when the Republicans get to that part in the Bill of Rights about, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." I wonder if they will choke?  These are the same politicians who have falsely claimed that America is a "Christian nation".  Our founding fathers must be rolling in their deist graves!

The good thing is for many of the new lawmakers this will be the first time they have ever actually read the document.

Another Texan Cleared by DNA Evidence

It took 30 years but finally, even after parole Cornelius Dupree wanted his name cleared of a crime he didn't commit. Accused and convicted of kidnapping, rape and robbery, State District Judge Don Adams declared Cornelius Dupree "free to go".  His family and friends cheered.

Dupree got a 75 year sentence even after the rape victim and her companion misidentified him in a lineup.  The Texas justice system has a history of pushing convictions even without sufficient evidence and the recent developments in DNA mapping have served to exonerate numerous wrongly convicted people. 

Though the ruling comes 30 years too late for Dupree, it's a good thing his name has been cleared.  The man deserves massive restitution!

Republicans Threaten to Defund Food Safety

It amazes me how little the Republican Party actually cares about Americans and their safety.  First the threaten to kill the health care reform measures and now the want to defund the Food Safety Bill before it is even signed.

The bill will provide more inspectors and will actually create new jobs as it makes our food supply safer.  It is a deficit neutral bill, which means it raises fees to offset its cost.  What's not to like?  Safer food and more jobs and no additional deficit. 

Ah, but that's not enough for the new Republicans.  They want to block any advances the Obama administration makes so when 2012 rolls around they can gloat at the inability of the Democrats to do anything.  In reality it is the GOP who has tried again and again to block EVERYTHING!

And as far as food safety goes, well how about this? (from the Center for American Progress)

"At the moment, one out of six Americans suffers from a food-borne illness every year, with 128,000 of those resulting in hospitalization. Ultimately, 3,000 people die from food-borne illness each year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The law gives the FDA the ability to force recalls, which it currently is barred from doing, and do more to inspect food coming into the country."

Again, what is not to like?

Anne Francis Dies at 80

The woman who shared the screen with Robbie the Robot in the 1950's Si-Fi classic Forbidden Planet has died.  Anne Francis, an actress whose career spanned both TV and motion pictures was a former child model and radio actress.  She got her first role with Mickey Rooney in the MGM film "Summer Holiday" and moved into television during its infancy.

Her biggest TV role was her series "Honey West" where she played a female private eye.  Surprisingly one of her most memorable roles was in a Twilight Zone episode where she played a department store mannequin who came to life.

Personally, I will always remember her as Altair, the daughter of Walter Pidgeon in Forbidden Planet. One of the other stars of that movie, Leslie Nielson died in late 2010.  I can hear the Theramin music now!

Obama Signs Zadroga Bill Into Law

It took the haranguing by comedian Jon Stewart, but the Republicans blocking the "James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act" finally relented and the bill to help first responders to the 9/11 disaster passed Congress before the recess.  President Obama signed the bill into law yesterday in Hawaii.  His statement follows:

"I was honored to sign the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to ensure that rescue and recovery workers, residents, students, and others suffering from health consequences related to the World Trade Center disaster have access to the medical monitoring and treatment they need.  We will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who risked their lives to save others. I believe this is a critical step for those who continue to bear the physical scars of those attacks."

Makes you wonder why any member of Congress, Republican or Democrat would block this bill.  I guess the GOP values subsidies for Billionaires over doing what is right for the people who gave so much during a national emergency.

Blackbirds Fall From Sky - End Times?

OK, though it sounds pretty strange the rain of dead birds that fell on Beebe, Arkansas may not be so strange.  As a weather watcher and storm chaser, I was watching the radar as quite a few nasty supercells moved over northwestern Arkansas on Friday.  Storms crossed much of the rest of the state for most of the day on New Year's Eve.  It isn't out of the realm of possibility that the flock of birds ended up being pulled into a thunderstorm updraft and then pummeled to death with hail stones. Wildlife experts suspect lightning might have played a role.

Either way it's not the end times.  I looked at the radar and the four horsemen were not showing up anywhere in North America.  Stranger things have fallen from the sky, like these frogs raining down in the UK.

Famous Faces We Lost in 2010

Nothing makes me aware of my own mortality like these year end "who we lost" montages.  This year the names are almost all people I grew up watching on TV or in the movies as well as even a few sports figures I actually followed. I guess it puts things in perspective to watch these and helps me realize how fleeting our lives are and how important every day is.

Somber thoughts for a New Years Eve? Not really, since the joy and effect of these famous folks still lives on in our memories.

Geraldine Hoff Doyle - WWII Icon Dies

If you ever saw the poster of the determined woman making a fist with the words, "We can do it" above her, might know her as Rosie the Riveter.  She was not Rosie, but she was Geraldine Hoff Doyle who at 17 worked in the war effort.  She operated a metal stamping machine and inspired the poster.

She died today at 86 from age related causes.  Her image still inspires young women today as it was resurected during the early days of the Feminist movement,  Ironically, she only worked in the factory for a few weeks injuring her hand and leaving the job.

L.A. Times has more.

Earth from the Edge of the Solar System

The blue dot near the right of the photo is Earth.
Photo taken by Voyager 1990 (NASA)

My friend Lex tweeted this story from Discovery News.  It has this picture and a quote from Carl Sagan that is worth considering at the turn of this New Year.

"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of particular interest. But for us, it's different. Look again at that dot. [...] On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."

The Real Gay Agenda

Barney Frank shares the REAL gay agenda. (Thanks to The Dallas Voice for finding this clip!)

GOP Still Making Sausage With PORK - Senator Shelby Stuff $500M Into Useless Program

As I long expected, the Republicans who wailed and bemoaned the pork of Washington during the campaign are still bringing home the bacon.  Case in point: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) who stuffed a $500 million provision into the 2011 budget.  It was for NASA spending on the Ares I rocket program.  Now, I am a fan of NASA and at first blush this sounds fine, except that NASA doesn't want or need it.  They had scrapped the program, but Shelby's pork deal continues to fund two contractors,  Lockheed Martin and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) both in the Senators home state of Alabama.

When it's election time, the GOP will squeal about pork, but once the votes have been counted they wallow back to the trough.

Next Time Someone Protests the DADT Repeal, Tell Them This True Story

Though Gerald Ford only served a short time as president, he managed to make at least one enemy.  Sara Jane Moore. On Sept. 22, 1975, she approached the President with a revolver in her purse. As she reached in and drew it out, a quick thinking former Marine and Vietnam Vet named Billy Sipple lunged at her and grabbed her hand, deflecting the shot that could have killed Gerald Ford.

What does this have to do with DADT repeal? Well, Billy Sipple was gay.

It is a sad story what happened to him after that. Though he received a letter of thanks from the President, Sipple's life spiraled downward. News stories about his heroism included his sexual orientation, and his family who hadn't known previously reacted badly. That turn of events haunted Sipple for the rest of his life.

He died alone in his apartment in San Francisco with half-gallon bottles of bourbon and 7-Up nearby in 1989.

So next time someone starts going off about how unfit LGBT service members are, tell them about the heroics of Billy Stipple, a Marine who was discharged as "undesirable" because he was gay.

FBI Files Reveal Much About LGBT History & Oppression

On July 4 1967, a group of gay men and lesbians from the Mattachine Society picketed Independence Hall in Philadelphia. They handed out leaflets that, in-part, bore these words which still ring true today.

The Declaration of Independence says: “All men are created equal.”
But in no walk of life, and in none of his dealings, whether with his fellow citizens or with his governments (Federal, state or local) is the homosexual American citizen treated as equal to others; he is always placed in a status of inferiority. Systematically and unrelentingly, he is placed into and kept in the category of second-class citizen….

The Declaration of Independence says: “All men are endowed with certain unalienable Rights – among these are – the pursuit of Happiness.”
But the homosexual American citizen, upon savage penalty of law, and upon pain of loss of livelihood and other severe disadvantage, is denied proper pursuit of harmless happiness open to other citizens.

This hand typed and mimeographed document contains much more and is part of the FBI files recently declassified and available online here. Though the government’s surveillance was despicable, the preservation of documents reflecting the history of LGBT struggles in America is a good thing. Without these files much of this would be lost. It is worth your time to download and read some of this.

Happily, several of these grievances have been addressed in recent years. The Supreme Court decision of Lawrence vs. Texas did a lot to change things. Most recently, the repeal of DADT has given new hope to LGBT activists that the long march toward freedom may be nearing its goal. As we approach the New Year, take a few moments to read some of these documents and consider how far we have come. They look at how far we still must go to achieve full citizenship in our own country.

What Would Christmas Be Without Charlie Brown?

Not a great edit, but still fun.  Enjoy.

Beware the Bizarre World of the Bisexuals

Found this on Joe My God.  Wonderful instructional video!

Maine Tea Party Governor Elect Already Corrupt - Hires Own Daughter - Nepotism?

In a startlingly and blatantly corrupt move the Tea Party backed Governor elect of Maine, Paul LePage (Republican), has hired his own daughter as an assistant to the tune of $41,000 per year. This from a man who pledged to surround himself with "the best and the brightest" and to "avoid political cronyism.”

So at first glance, the "Tea Party" looks like the same old Republican political machine.  In the words of the song by The Who,  "meet the new boss, same as the old boss."  So much for "we won't be fooled again!"  Thank you Pete Townshend.