Don't Say "Gay," Say "Homosexual""

I'm not sure why, but apparently evangelicals are literally anti-"gay": they don't even like the word. Instead, they prefer "homosexual." I don't really get it; but, then again, I don't really get how grown-ups can think that killing a Jew can expiate others' sins.

Christian news sources are notoriously shady, poorly run, intellectually bankrupt, and dishonest. Add hilariously incompetent:

Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials...

That would be Tyson Gay, whose name was sanitized from an AP article when redistributed by an American Family Association's news site.

I've said it many times: these people are precious.

Are We Sure Whedon Is Married To A Woman?

Cross-posted.

Best...Music...Video...Ever...

I've tried to post the video, but you can't. So click here and enjoy.

Imma [sic] do the things that I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think

Hail Weezer!

Can Anyone Spot Me 3 G's?

The R2-D2 projector may be the coolest nerd-gadget ever.

WALL-E News

NASA and Pixar/Disney have teamed up to encourage kids to learn about science and space.

And Disney is putting an interactive WALL-E in its parks that is just too cool.


Wall-E Spotted in LA! from Blink on Vimeo.

Finally, He Did Something Not Funny

"I've always admired gay humor," he said. "It's bittersweet, bitchy, to-the-point and honest. So that was already in me somewhere."

That's kudzu, y'all

Kudzu identified as potential bio-fuel feedstock

Excellent argument, & interesting information about Boumediene v. Bush

We all want to get the bad guys, but not at the price of an imperial presidency, & a Senate whose members base their opinions "not on independent fact-finding, but on a 2007 CNN report".

The majority opinion takes a longer view, and one that recognizes that our country has repeatedly come under threat while retaining its commitment to maintaining freedom. In the words of Justice Kennedy, "Officials charged with daily operational responsibility for our security may consider a judicial discourse on the history of the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 and like matters to be far removed from the Nation’s present, urgent concerns. Established legal doctrine, however, must be consulted for its teaching. Remote in time it may be; irrelevant to the present it is not. Security depends upon a sophisticated intelligence apparatus and the ability of our Armed Forces to act and to interdict. There are further considerations, however. Security subsists, too, in fidelity to freedom’s first principles. Chief among these are freedom from arbitrary and unlawful restraint and the personal liberty that is secured by adherence to the separation of powers. It is from these principles that the judicial authority to consider petitions for habeas corpus relief derives. Our opinion does not undermine the Executive’s powers as Commander in Chief. On the contrary, the exercise ofthose powers is vindicated, not eroded, when confirmed by the Judicial Branch. Within the Constitution’s separation-of-powers structure, few exercises of judicial power are as legitimate or as necessary as the responsibility to hear challenges to the authority of the Executive to imprison a person.

Read it all @ Counterterrorism Blog.

Demand, meet your supply

What happens in 'my America' when it becomes profitable to make alternative fuel: Scientists genetically modify bugs that eat waste and excrete crude oil.

A Silicon Valley scientist decides: "I was not angry since I came to France until this instant!" and then things get done. I'm in.

Cross-posted.

Happiness Incarnate

William Shatner covering Pulp's "Common People" mashed up with clips from the Star Trek cartoon. THIS is why I love the internet so:

Being a Tax-and-Spend, Cut-and-Runner would be better than this........

Do you think we could maybe start a neo-Jacksonian movement in the Democratic Party? 'Cause if this is all the GOP has to offer count me out.





Work on Texas GOP's platform stirs passions


09:02 AM CDT on Friday, June 13, 2008
By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON – Robert Hurt went to Washington and didn't like what he saw – nudity in the nation's capital. "Nude women, sculptured women," he told the state Republican platform committee, which sat in rapt attention.
Of all the evils in Washington that the Texas GOP took aim at this week, removing art with naked people from public view was high on the list for Mr. Hurt, a delegate from Kerrville.
"You don't have nude art on your front porch," he explained. "You possibly don't have nude art in your living rooms. So why is it important to have that in the common places of Washington, D.C.?"
Mr. Hurt offered statistics: He'd heard that 20 percent of the art in the National Gallery of Art is of nudes.
He offered detail: On Arlington Memorial Bridge overlooking the famed national cemetery, "there are two Lady Godivas, two women on horses with no shirt on and long hair."
Actually, they are classical sculptures about war – one called Valor, depicting a male equestrian and a female with a shield, and Sacrifice, a female accompanying the rider Mars.
The GOP platform will be presented today to the full convention. Like all platforms, it's a statement of principle and a political document to rally the troops.
In this, a presidential year, it advocates prayer in school, getting out of the United Nations, teaching intelligent design with evolution in science classes, repealing of the minimum wage, declaring illegal immigrants criminals and outlawing abortion with no exceptions.
"Hallelujah!" said a delegate who had urged strong anti-abortion language.
The platform calls homosexuality contrary to "the unchanging truths" ordained by God. It opposes gay marriage, civil unions and the custody of children by gays.
The party's own leaders aren't spared. There's a call to repeal the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, sponsored by the party's presidential nominee, and to oppose the Trans-Texas Corridor, the brainchild of Gov. Rick Perry.
Ridding Washington of naked art didn't make it. Neither did a complaint by a Kerr County delegate that her daughter was having trouble getting college scholarships.
"There are so many scholarships, if you are the right color," she said. "But for a white girl, who has good grades, you really have to look."
Glenn Sheblaton of Coppell, whose family fled communism, called for language to withdraw American troops from Iraq, saying, "You can't impose democracy from the barrel of a gun."
The committee disagreed.
"There is no substitute for victory!" the platform says in supporting the Bush administration's war on "radical Islamist terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries around the world."
Last week, the Texas Democratic Party decided not to call for a federal Department of Peace and Nonviolence in its platform for fear Republicans would use it against the party in the fall campaign.
In much the same way, Republican Bill Calhoun of Houston cautioned against calling affirmative action "simply racism disguised as social value." He said such language discourages blacks from joining the GOP.
The issue was debated in committee, principle vs. politics. In the end, strong language prevailed.
"That may not always be the best political strategy," platform committee chairman Kirk Overbey said Thursday. "But we're here to say we're sticking by our principles."

Early Predictions

McCain will take Alabama, but not by over 60% like Bush did.

I'll go further: he won't get over 55%. Furthermore, Obama will not hold fund-raisers here, like McCain will. Obama will hold huge rallies, forcing McCain to spend the money he doesn't have in a state he shouldn't have to.

Georgia will become a battlegroud state in the same way, only closer. McCain will take it, but it will be very, very close. Again, money he doesn't have.

Even if McCain wins overall, he will have a Congress powerful enough to enact real gridlock and oversight. I [heart] oversight. Last time I read the Constitution, it was what Congress is for...

But he won't win. Enough Republicans will vote for libertarian Bob Barr to foil the election.

I expect the debates to be interesting enough to turn off most Americans. That's a good thing too.

Finally, kegger at my place when our "elected" asshole gets into that stately Marine helicopter and gets the fuck out of my life. Don't let the door hit your lack of common decency on the way out, douche nozzle!

John McCain Is A Douche Bag

Really John? Could you cite me some chapters and verses in that bible of yours which directly and indisputably inspired the establishment of a democratic republic? Freedom of speech? No cruel and unusual punishment (snicker)? Any phrase of the constitution at all?

He's as intellectually and morally corrupt as his party, so at least he's consistent.

Money is not illegal!

The Supreme Court has ruled in two cases that having a lot of money and hiding it is not illegal, and that illegal activity does not make all the money one has illegal. The accused have rights! Who knew?
- LA Times