I'm not talking about their religion, I'm talking about their politics.  The fascinating thing is that it essentially becomes a religion to be a Republican in and of itself.

I'll start this off by saying, I'm not going to sit here and bash religion.  Because that is not the point of this post.  And I consider myself to be a spiritual person, and I am somewhat religious in my own way. I acknowledge that my beliefs have little to nothing in the way of evidence, and I'm comfortable with that.  I think that one of the few rights we have in this short life on Earth is the right to the answer of "why are we here?", even if it can't be substantiated. That said, I am a firm believer in keeping religion out of politics.  It has been abused countless times throughout history, and to the extreme detriment of religious credibility.

Ok now that that sappy stuff is out of the way.  I am going to target Republicans, because their political philosophy is sold as fact, but the only way it stands up to scrutiny is through a religious lense of excluding things you don't like, and including things you do.

There is this guy at work, who is the biggest Republican ever.  He at times calls himself an independent (because it's unfashionable to call yourself a Republican), but he essentially walks in lock-step with the Republican party.  To talk to him about politics, is to step into an alternate universe.   A world which is very different from the one that I, and probably most other people see.

In his world, there is one news station (FOX) that is telling the truth, the rest are clever propaganda machines put on this earth to subvert Republican philosophy (whatever that actually is).  Meanwhile, FOX, because it says it is "fair and balanced", it is.  Nothing more needs be said, any criticism toward FOX amounts to proof  that they are right.  Or something.  So it is simply off the table to take this station from these people.  They cling to it like "their guns, their religion, and their antipathies" (hah!).

This party is good at smearing.  After talking to this guy it was clear that he has spent hours, reading smear blogs that Republicans make.  Ironically, he doesn't seem to have much to say in the way of "issues", it's always about "who did what, when, and where."  This guy knows more "dirty facts" about politicians (true or not) than most of us will ever come close to knowing.  Who knows how many are simply made up on blogs, probably most of them from what he says.  But it is simply amazing the sheer volume of what he claims to know about politicians.  It's all negative.  It's all about Democrats, none of it is about Republicans.

Apparently, Republicans are perfect beings who do not deserve to have their lives put under the microscope, despite many facts that say otherwise.  But anyway, if you see a smear on the news (one like the Ayers thing that happened when Obama was eight years old) this guy doesn't just know about the smear.  He knows all the things the "news" won't tell you.  And it's all complete made up garbage with "blogs" as proof.  I tell you, there is nothing these people won't believe ,if it supports their views.  There is nothing they won't exclude, if it does not.

In their mind, they are still at war with John Kerry.  John Kerry of all people.  Sadly, there is no rest for the weary.  There is no acquittal for someone who dared run against them, so he is satan's minion for life.  I've heard them call John Kerry a "coward" and a "traitor" fairly recently.  Both of these are simply baseless allegations.  The coward thing especially, because Kerry volunteered to do the most dangerous naval duty there was, which is swift boats on a river in Vietnam.  There is nothing you can do before or after that, that would make you a coward. The traitor thing is an extreme exaggeration, but actually at least has the seed of a thought process to it.  Basically Kerry attempted to "negotiate" with North Vietnamese and that is against the law.  So he broke the law, he put his nose where it didn't belong, and he acted above his paygrade as a civilian.  But that doesn't make him a traitor.  He wasn't helping the enemy, he was trying to put an end to the fighting.  Huge difference, that.  Peace can certainly be patriotic.  I won't discount that the man broke the law, but I will say without a doubt that he had good intentions.  Just like hippies, they have good intentions, but they smell funny.

So why the extreme divergence from reality?  Well if you think back to Republicans, their bread and butter (or so they claim) is military and security issues.  So when it turned out that Kerry had real combat experience, and Dubya's experience was limited to doing coke and showing up for weekend warrior-pilot duty in the continental US, they could not have this.  How could they run on "military power", when Kerry simply outclassed Bush as a warrior.  The solution:  smear Kerry until he is simply unrecognizable. It's sad how they would turn on our own veterans, and even turn them against each other, like vicious jackals.  Kerry was not quick on his feet, he wasn't good verbally at responding to attacks.  But one thing is for sure, he wasn't a coward.

But I digress, I tried talking to this guy about social policies, and I found it impossible.  There was literally nothing I could mention in a casual setting without the conversation reverting to "communism", or "socialism", or "marxism."  All these "ism's" are apparently anything and everything that Republicans are not in favor of.  I found that we could not analyze a single subject by itself.  There was no doing that.  Everything was linked to "socialism" in one way or another.  As soon as we started discussing civil rights, freedoms, or financial issues, he would bounce all over the place and land on "socialism."  Quite literally, you cannot make progress talking to this guy.  Nothing was "negotiable."  He even went as far as to mention the "black panthers."  Really?  The black panthers?  I hadn't heard about them since the early 90s.  But in this "republican land" they are some kind of real threat, apparently.  I guess they made some kind of revival because Obama is black.  Obama is black, therefore the black panthers are making a comeback, pass it on to your friends.  That's not far from how the Republican religion works.

At one point, I even conceded that both parties (at their core) want what is best for the country; they just go about it differently.  He refused.  He quite literally would not cave in to that neutral ground.  "No, political parties want to change our country. "  But don't both candidates want change?  (I should've asked him this but didn't think of it until later).

So the other day I sent him an email, playing somewhat of a one sided game to see how far he would hold his "beliefs."  He frequently made Democrats out to be communists by something like "6 degrees to communism" game.  "Democrats are progressives which are really Socialists which are really Communists."  So I used that logic in my email.  I said "Bill Clinton is a progressive, which is really a socialist, which is really a communist."  "And if Bill Clinton is a commie ,then why does he have a 65% approval rating at the end of his term?  One that is higher than any other President since world war II... why would Americans approve of a 'commie' in such a profound way?

His response?

"Approval ratings?  Those only measure like 1000 people."  He had just discounted Presidential approval ratings in their entirety, because they made a Democrat look good.  How does anyone who wasn't living underground in a cave somewhere, doubt that Clinton was a popular president?  Does the Republican party have no integrity?  None at all, none to give credit where it is due?  It is downright frightening, how these people create their own reality, that consists only of things they want to see, and none of the things they don't.

This is ultimately a potential danger to our soceity.  You can't reason with these people.  These people think Obama's birth certificate is fake, even though it's posted on his site.  Well first they claimed "Obama won't show his birth certificate", then Obama released it on his website (this is months ago).  now they claim that the one on his site is fake.  If God himself came down from the heavens, and said "Look you are all wrong, Obama is not a Muslim, he was born in Hawaii, and his association with Ayers was a work relationship that no one reasonable could fault him for."  They would all say "no, that's wrong", and reference their blogs.

Speaking of God, Republicans think that they are the only "true Christians."  They quite literally think that God has a political party, because that party lays "claim" to God.  It's not a coincidence that that same party uses God as an excuse to do things.  Bush said that God told him to attack Iraq, in more or less those words.  He wasn't claiming God for the heck of it, God was going to be a key part of his justification for the invasion of Iraq.  I'm so glad he cleared that up for us.  Can we perhaps, get a transcript of Bush's conversation with God, so we can decide for ourselves if it is legitimate?  I fear that these types of things will only continue to happen under McCain.

You know, Democrats could do all of this.  They could create their own alternate realty.  But they just are too concerned with reality.  They are worried about problems facing our country and planet, that cannot be ignored.  Pretending they aren't there will not make them go away.  Democrats could dig up every minute bit of history on McCain, and sure enough find boatloads of people like Ayers that McCain is loosely associated with.  They could play the "you can't disprove my baseless accusation" game.  But they won't, because they are genuinely concerned with the issues.  Well, you'll always find some people on both sides firing shots that are out of sync with their candidates message, but the Democrat candidates themselves don't smear.  They don't slime.  Republican candidates, both McCain and Palin, have made very dirty, mud slinging, foul smelling attacks.  Then amazingly, McCain's wife came out and said "Obama is running the dirtiest campaign in history."  Simply mind boggling.  These people make up their own reality as they go.

Being a Republican is itself a religion.  They are becoming less and less reasonable, but the worst part is that their "religion" is tied directly to their control of the government.  So that is a bit distressing.

I miss the old Republicans who didn't lie, cheat, and question the patriotism of anyone that stood in their way to power.

I can only hope ths new pseudo religion does not "convert" all of them.

People of all ages were there.  Young and old.  All nationalities.  The church was a great big modern Catholic church.  The architecture was simple, open and airy.  Not much adornment.   The priest was from India, which I thought was quite unusual.  His heavily accented English was difficult to understand at some points.  He also was a young man and you could see that this death affected him as they weren't so far apart in age.  

The first thing that struck me about the service was the slideshow.  The slides of Luis growing up against the background of Regge music.  It gave you a glimpse into his true spirit.  You could tell each song had been a favorite of his.   Looking at his pictures, you could see the beautiful child full of life that he had been.  Full of love and laughter.  Full of joy and devoted to family.  You couldn't quite get your head around the fact that equaled the coffin that sat before you.

His Father broke my heart.  He and his band got up to play for his son and he sang.  They performed 3 songs.  Whilst his father doesn't have the best voice that I have ever heard, the love that was put into the music had everyone there sobbing.  Every word coming from this man's broken soul.  It was beautiful, haunting, and overwhelming all at the same time.

The first song.. was "To Love Somebody"  I liked Clay Aiken's version of this song because of its passion.  

The second song .. was "Let it be"  Im also going to do another American Idol.. Brooke White because of its softness.

The third song they sang, I was sobbing so hard, I could barely stand to hear it.  I think they had a hard time singing it too.

There was a beautiful poem written by a family friend, and a eulogy given by his best friend as well as his young cousin who is about 14 years old.  Both made your heart ache for their suffering and loss.

More than the pain on the faces of his mother and father, was the grief etched into the beautiful face of his sister.  She looked so lost.  It was horrible.  They were very close.  

The father reminded us all bravely not to think about the way Luis died, but how he lived each day he was here on this earth.  To the fullest!  We should all remember to do that.

My heart goes out to that family right now.  This boy will be missed.  But like the song says.. "But I know there will be no more tears in heaven".

I bet you feel like a damn fool right now.

I digress; sadly, it is I that feels like the damn fool this evening dear reader. Why, for some reason I actually believed that ABC would air the video at the beginning of 20/20. What a moron I was, clearly Barbara Walters was to smart to do that. She knows nobody would willingly watch her senile ass these days, nobody would put themselves though that agony intentionally; they have to be lured in, like a mouse to the trap with a fragment of cheese.

To get to that piece of tempting cheese, I had to weather Barbra Walter’s interview with Christie Brinkley’s ex-husband, Peter Cook. We all know he cheated, we all know he engaged in cyber sex, why he gets a 20/20 segment devoted to him really boggles my mind. If we devoted a twenty minute to every male in this country that has whacked it on webcam, we’d have enough material to air from now until Armageddon. Same as when Clay Aiken got the cover of People Magazine for coming out as a homosexual. I haven’t even commented on it because it was the absolute dumbest story ever, the article was such a waste of space. Like anybody really gasped as they grabbed the magazine in a checkout aisle, exclaiming to the masses “I had no idea!” Everybody fucking knew. If you didn’t, you’re most likely still waiting for the article in National Geographic to reassure you that the earth is still round.

Alas, we must steer back on track as I am quite off topic at this point.

Call me a prude, but every time I heard Barbra Walter’s say the word ‘masturbate’, a little piece of my soul died; and I didn’t have much of one to start with. There was a good five minute discussion on the subject where she said the word, god only knows how many times. It got to the point where I really felt it was almost unnecessary, she was just saying it because I think, despite acting like a professional journalist, she still thinks it’s a funny word.

I suffered though that, then an editorial about the youth of the nation voting. John Stossel questioning that, as the majority of youth in this nation are complete bonehead morons, is it wise they should even vote? The general conclusion seemed to be no, voting should be left to the wise, trusting them to make good decisions. I would totally agree with this, if the same policy also applied to those running for public office. If you only want intelligent voters casting their ballots, I say they should only be casting them for intelligent nominees. If that was the case, I think its safe to say we could eliminate a good deal of people running this year, and about half of them elected in 2004. Until intelligence is mandated on both sides, I say let the voter booths and ballot boxes become a clusterfuck of idiocracy. Surely, you cannot expect every one of legal voting age to be well informed, exhibiting intellect and independent thought, can you? When most have come through the public school system, a system of No Child Left Behind that was enacted by, I’m sorry, who was that again? What does one expect?

FINALLY, after much agony, the premier of Miss Spear’s new video sparkled across the screen into my retinas. It was the feeling of all things pleasurable at once, orgasmic bliss filled my body. “Oh Britney” the thought ran through my mind, “those Nay Sayers, oh those who said nay, that your career was over, that you would never make a comeback, oh how wrong they were! How wrong they were.”

Because, when you’re debuting your new video at the end of 20/20, you know your career has nowhere to go but up…

- Michael

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw3o3y77MaA

Just how do they figure, that in the land of the free we "have" to vote for them or they will threaten our candidates?  How does that even strike anyone as remotely what this country stands for?  You can't threaten your opponents in America.  This isn't Russia.  This isn't China.  This isn't Mexico.

Allow me to remind the Republicans that this election is an election of the people, and not a test of who has more thugs at their rallies.

The Republicans will no doubt, vow not to know the person who yelled this.  Even though the crowd was chanting "terrorist" over and over while it happened.  But can they divorce themselves from this issue?  I think not.  The kind of emotions they stir up by accusing their opponent of being in league with terrorists is downright dangerous, and they know exactly what they are doing.  They aren't particularly concerned with the truth, whatever promises to help their campaign is the only requirement.

If this sounds familiar it's because McCarthy did the same thing in the 50s with "communism."  Apparently if you don't vote Republican you are either a communist or a terrorist.  And while there has never been any proof produced to substantiate these types of claims, the people who hear it fume with rage over a complete fabrication.  It's politics at its dirtiest.  It's like me claiming McCain had a gay orgy in a restroom, it's worse actually.  There is no concrete way to disprove it, and if I really stuck to my guns the rumor (false as it is) could spread.  But it's just not in me to make up lies like that.

Anyway, behind Palin were the ugliest collection of angry and unsophisticated faces I have probably ever seen.  These are people who will believe anything and everything you tell them about the candidate that they don't want to win.  And they will stir themselves into a foaming rage in the process.  Which makes them potentially dangerous to the public.

If this were Germany in the 1940s, this group of people would go and burn libraries and universities after the rally.  Educated people would run for their lives as they rampaged through the streets looking for someone to dump their imaginary anger issues on.

I will concede that, if any piece of rhetoric is ever overused, it is a comparison between something and Nazi Germany.  To say it's been overdone, is like saying the universe is big.  A huge understatement.  But even so,  we learned horrible things about ourselves during that dark time.  We learned that people, when whipped into a frenzy of propaganda, are capable of anything.  Anything at all.  It's a mob mentality, there is no jury, no judge, just pure unbridled rage.

What's scarier is, they use the same flavor of rhetoric as they used so many decades ago across the ocean.  Back then the infamous Nazi party "shouted down" their opponents as "communists", and "bolsheviks", which most of the time simply wasn't a true accusation.  But it didn't stop them.  The crowds grew and grew, eager to destroy this "threat" to their way of life.  In reality, these were just run of the mill politicians who made the unfortunate mistake of running against Hitler.   But to the mob, they were communists, or even terrorists..  It wasn't long before Hitler's opponents were simply massacred. And after that he came for the educated people because they (as always) are a threat to tyranny.

When I was a kid I did not know how people could stand by and let their country be taken over by this "movement."  As an adult, it became clear how lucky we were as a developing nation not to be sucked into these types of issues.  In 2008, after all we've learned, they're still using the same rhetoric that was so dangerous.  They're whipping crowds into a frenzy with accusations of "terrorist" instead of addressing the issues.

As many bad leaders have taught the world, it's much easier to shout down your opponents with accusations than to compete with their ideas.  Why we are taking this low road in 2008 is simply beyond my comprehension as an American.  It's almost as if we stopped progressing in 2001 and started regressing backwards.

I couldn't be happier for Clay.  No matter what he was paid, it was obviously not an easy decision, and his love for his child is endearing (if you haven't watched the above Good Morning America interview, I highly encourage doing so).  I mean, if you were someone with any degree of gaydar, it would be a lie to say that you had never at least suspected Aiken's sexuality, given years of ambiguous answers to questions on the incessant rumors, lack of beard/girlfriend (which many other Hollywood types feel the need to employ) and any other number of factors. But there's no word other than naive to describe those who at once claim to not be homophobic while also claiming that Aiken's choice to make the announcement was somehow made less valid by our perception of its transparency. Below are excerpts from some comments posted on a friend's uploaded photo of the People cover:

ROFLLLLLLL . NO WAY! Clay is gay? *gasp* how could this ever be? ... i think its hilarious he even bothered to make an announcement of it ... timing isn't his forte im guessing? ... What a bitch! lol.

These comments are exasperating, almost more so than the comments by Aiken's many right-wing middle-aged female "fans" expressing disdain for being "misled" by the singer. When Aiken announced his sexuality, he opened the giant box of paradox facing queer entertainers today. By coming out, he risked losing thousands of fans, promotional deals and has forever -- for better or worse -- altered his career path and faced thousands of criticisms ringing of the familiar "why do you gaaays have to rub it in our face?" If he had remained closeted, he would have forever known that he was not being fully honest. He would forever be a caricature of what record labels and publicists wanted him to be in order to sell records, and would likely have faced struggles to build a positive self-image as a human being.

As trite as it might sound -- and I can't believe I'm even saying it -- but figures in the public eye have feelings, too. Often growing up in front of casting directors, agents and the public, many have probably have not had the opportunity to learn more well-adjusted means of dealing with feelings like internalized homophobia and low self-esteem. Money and fame simply do not buy happiness. And who are we to criticize anyone's decision to come out and acknowledge any piece of their identity puzzle, whether it be their sexuality or anything else?

Just take a look at the story of 23-year-old Korean actor Kim Ji-Ho, who committed suicide earlier this week. Kim hung himself at his home in Seoul. When he had announced that he was gay, he faced public scrutiny and a destroyed career. His suicide note read, "I'm lonely and in a difficult situation. Please cremate my body." This was the fourth such suicide in South Korea this month.

As much as it may be trivialized by tabloid rags covering Aiken, Lindsay Lohan's trysts with Samanatha Ronson or the gay rumor du jour, we need to realize that these issues still hold a lot of significance for many, many individuals in our ever-diversifying and global community. Coming out, as well as discrimination, is a never-ending process. For some it is empowering, for others, a constant struggle. For many, it is a matter of life or death. Above all, it is an experience that cannot and should not be generalized or patronized.

National Coming Out Day is two days away, this Saturday, October 11. Take the opportunity to go and do something that makes you feel good for being you, and tell someone you hold dear how much you appreciate them being them.

And never forget to smile.

Das Interview findet Ihr hier: www.popeater.com

David erzählt, wie American Idol-Gewinnerin (2007) Jordin Sparks ihn inspiriert, dass er findet, dass das Privatleben auch von bekannten Leuten niemanden etwas angeht und man deren Privatsphäre respektieren sollte (z.B. im Falle von Clay Aiken) und dass er David Cook's neue Single liebt.

Außerdem erzählt er von der Arbeit an seinem Album, und erklärt, dass er zwar keinen "Schwarm" hat, aber es da ein paar Leute gibt, die er gerne näher kennenlernen würde. Fan-Foren hingegen meidet David - Fanfiction über ihn selbst macht ihm ein wenig Angst. (kann es ihm nicht abdenken! *lach* Anm. d. Red.)

Danach gefragt, was er tun würde, wenn er Präsident wäre, antwortet David, dass er sich um die verarmten Regionen in den USA kümmern würde.

"Man denkt immer an die Länder der dritten Welt, aber was viele Amerikaner nicht realizieren ist, dass wir derartige Probleme vor der eigenen Haustüre haben. Es wäre klasse, wenn man in diese Regionen gehen und den Menschen dort helfen könnte, ein besseres Leben zu führen."

Weiterhin erzählt David, dass er zu jung zum Wählen ist, er seinen High-School-Abschlussball verpasst hat und gerne einen College-Abschluss machen würde, wenn er denn die Zeit dafür hätte. Nach seinen Spanisch-Kenntnisses gefragt, erklärt David, dass er zwar nicht besonders toll Spanisch spricht, aber sich mit seiner Grossmutter, die nicht besonders firm in Englisch ist, auf Spanisch unterhält. Er würde auch gerne ein Album in Spanisch aufnehmen, als Hommage an Honduras, die Heimat seiner Mutter Lupe, dessen Kultur sein Leben sehr beeinflusste.

Auf die Frage, wovor er sich am meisten fürchte, antwortet David: "Vor der Verantwortung, die Erwartungen (der Fans) zu erfüllen. Man möchte das Beste für seine Fans und auch für seine Familie geben. Ich möchte niemanden enttäuschen. Das ist meine größte Sorge, jemanden zu enttäuschen. Aber es wird immer jemanden geben, der nicht mit dem zufrieden ist, was man tut. Was Phobien angeht... ich habe eine Abneigung gegen Spritzen. Sicher könnte ich das überwinden, aber ich verabscheue die Dinger einfach."

Marriage is about procreation. To be sure, God made male and female for the purpose of the two creating an emotional and spiritual whole; man and woman must ‘meet’ before mating; they are first companions, then lovers. As we have seen, gender complementarity is essential for the two to become one, psychologically-speaking.

But mating remains the main reason behind man for woman and woman for man. The image of God is essentially creative. Procreation is the result of gender complementarity. “The union of opposites is the only possible way procreation is realized.”

Here we discover one of the ways that God’s image in humanity reflects the Creator. Joined as one-flesh, male and female possess that quality of creation—the capacity to engender new life. One of the ways that we actively manifest His image on earth is in ‘co-creating’ new image-bearers!

Only male and female can create new life. Neither two men together, nor two women, can create new life. David Blankenhorn, reflecting on the children of gay parents, writes incisively: “Every child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents. Every single one.”

Some gays and lesbians will go to great lengths to awkwardly create families for themselves. American Idol winner Clay Aiken sired a child (in vitro) with his 50-year-old female manager. He declared his homosexuality publicly after the child’s birth—his ‘first act as a father.’ When asked how the child would be raised, he declared: “It’s really going to be a tossed salad of different options.” Tossed salad indeed.

Marriage unites male and female; marriage provides the context for mating. That state-recognized, legal contract needs to be binding precisely because of what is at stake: the well-being of children.

Blankenhorn again writes: “Marriage is a gift that society bestows upon its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood—biological, social, and legal—into one pro-child form: the married couple.”

So marriage has power: it unites male and female psychologically for the sake of procreation. We marry to reproduce. The binding commitment of marriage then provides the ground for the next and far more challenging phase of marriage—the raising of kids.

Honor marriage for the good of all, especially children. Vote YES on Proposition 8.

“God, we honor You for entrusting to men and women the awesome task of representing You in the creation of new life. Let us honor You by honoring the fruit of our one-flesh union. Help us see how we honor little ones when we honor marriage.”

Paris Bennett (Season 6) had a baby. She named it Egypt. She's only 20. She's also releasing a Christmas album, which I really don't understand, because I thought people only released Christmas albums if they could sell other albums. If American Idol stays on the air for the next 16 years, I'm sure this kid will be raised for the sole purpose of being on the show. Seriously, this chick better announce the Chicken Little as the baby daddy because she's not even relevant on this shit blog.

Elliott Yamin releases a Christmas album, last-year's Target-exclusive My Kind of Holiday but with extra tracks. For some reason, I like Yamin. I really liked his mother, too. Mama Yamin was the Debbie Phelps of American Idol moms. But now I'm kind confused because I thought Yamin was Jewish.

Clay Aiken. Still likes peen.

Taylor Hicks turned 32. Happy birthday, Tay-Tay. In honor of this special occasion, I am desperately trying to forget the horrific Taylor Hicks slash I recently read on the interweb.

Coretta Scott Mercado blogged more nonsense which, as per usual, veered from the realms of positive thinking into delusional rantings about mythical stardom.

Kristy Lee Cook, a girl I truly want to hate because she symbolizes so much of what I think is wrong in this world, puts out a halfway decent song and I am forced still only want to hate her. I also have the overwhelming desire to see her be the Nomi Malone to Kellie Pickler's Cristal Connors and push that useless moron down the proverbial country-blond-Idol-alsoran stairs.

Stoner J sent out a MySpace bulletin promising one of those Date Night videos. And then he delivered 24 hours later, ensuring his legions of Crazy Castrofans would go on living a few more weeks. He also endorses the Obama-Biden ticket, which is hopefully an effort to alienate the most loony of his devoted fans. Wait. I was just kidding. He says he needs to go watch it so he can figure out who he is voting for. I really just want him to go smoke a blunt and watch Harold & Kumar.

Of course, one girl ignored his "views" on our country's political future and commented on what REALLY matters:

well if everyone got there wish Jason you'd be the father of millions of babies LOL, cuz I think all the women including me want to have babies with you :)

A rumor is going around that Kimberly Caldwell and David Cook are cohabitating. Cooktards freak out, not stopping to think that maybe it is indeed, just an unverified rumor...or perhaps he is too busy to find a place while trying to finish an album and just really likes banging her.

Greasy Constantine is employed in an off-Broadway show called Rock of Ages. Unlike most theatrical performances, this Tony & Tina-esque musical is doing 2 weeks of previews and giving out both free tickets and free faux-lighters.  Con Frauen have been converging on NYC to see this 80s-themed extravaganza, which might actually be fun because the show encourages continuous drinking and features pole dancing. Of course, there had better be a fully-stocked bar and nearly-nude ladies dancing on poles if you're forced to watch Greasy Constantine on stage for 2+ hours...especially when you read some of his fans' favorite show moments thus far:

OK, I seriously have a protest *sticks out tongue* because I was sitting about 10 rows back in center orchestra I didn’t get to see Constantine in his red plaid boxers, the flashlight shadows him (I knew he came out but I didn’t understand, Will comes much further onstage……and, I’d much rather be seeing Constantine’s sexy legs *g*)….I want some better lighting in that part of the show for sure cuz….. I love love LOVE red plaid boxers, lol.

Some Con Frauen have even made the latest Rock of Ages propaganda video, which capitalizes not only on crazy Con Frau lusting, but also people's inherent desire to be filmed...especially when completely and utterly knackered. Meanwhile, ON BROADWAY, Ace Young continues to bring in the big bucks for Grease and boast the most amazing abdominal region this side of Marky Mark and McConaghay. (Thanks to Just Jared for the photo)

In other news, the economy is fucked and there was a Presidential Debate this evening. Which means you should have more important things on your mind than former American Idol contestants!

WINNERS (this is good)

Ryan Reynolds. Dude, I have to hand it to you.  You somehow managed to bag a 23-year old (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) megastar as your lawfully-wedded wife.  She is more famous than you, has more money than you, is a big proponent for polygamy, and just did a threesome scene with Penelope Cruz.  She even beat Marisa Miller, I said MARISA MILLER, in the Elite 8 of the Bigger Dance.  I don't even care that she is a shitty singer or that she likes SpongeBob.  Hey man, you remember when she was in the music video for Mandy Moore's first single, Candy?  No?  I don't either, but who gives a fuck, she has DSLs.  Now let's take a look at a brief filmography for the both of you:

• Scarlett:  The Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation, Match Point

• Ryan:  The Amityville Horror, Just Friends, Blade: Trinity

Wow man, you are looking good there.  She has done movies that garnered critical acclaim; you did one which had a character named Dusty Dinkleman.  But seriously, if you would have gone through with marrying Alanis Morisette I would have condemned you to a life of solitude in the Himalayas with only eucalyptus nectar to sustain yourself on.  I can do that.

David Duchovny. Hey man, I heard you completed sex rehab.  Congrats.  What do they do in there to mute your libido and desensitize you from coitus?  Show you repeated images of things that are not arousing?  I can only imagine how unaesthetic that must be.  Sort of like looking at an issue of something that is the reverse of Maxim.  Maybe Redbook.  Hey that would be a cool new position, the Reverse Maxim. I don't know what it would be, but I'm sure it would look kind of like a helicopt....oops, sorry.  Forgot I wasn't supposed to talk about those kind of things with you.  I find it funny that when you have a lot of sex it's called an "addiction."  When I do it's called "fucking awesome."

Anyone who went to the Sigur Ros show at Benaroya Hall.  Unreal.

Anyone who went short prior to 9/19 or has option straddle positions. You are smart.... and everyone else is crying. A lot.

People who eat $5 footlongs. There is a new sandwich!!!!!!  The Chicken Pizziola!!!!!!!!

Bars who held my credit card this weekend. You win. You always do.

LOSERS (this is bad)

Washington Huskies football and Seattle Seahawks football. This is getting ridiculous.  The Huskies can't do things they teach you in Pop Warner, and the Seahawks can't do things they teach you in high school.  I can't tell if the Huskies are trying to emulate the Seahawks, or if the Seahawks are trying to emulate the Huskies.  Thank god for being able to drink in parking lots because there is nothing else redeeming about these "contests."  We are like the goddamn team in hit movie Gridiron Gang starring The Rock before they get good. And that is bad.

The Sex in the City movie.  I haven't seen it, but what a waste of fucking time.

Clay Aiken.  Took you long enough.

Pledges. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

People who go to Oregon. Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Also, if anyone went to the Santogold show on Saturday, can you tell me how it was?  I was playing World of Warcraft in my basement and didn't make it to the show.  Damn wizards and flying dragons....

Currently listening to:  We Are Scientists - After Hours

anyway life has been so happening... my first hockey game was on Saturday and we won! yay! not like I actually contributed much, except for falling a million times... a nd then we went to the corn maze (back to Rantoul!!) at the reindeer ranch. it was so funny haha we got a work out running through the corn.

and last last weekend me and J-friend joined the CU internationals to go to The Great Pumpkin Patch and it was really cute haha so much so that I thought I'd be lame if I went home without a pumpkin so I bought one and that made me even lame-r. and before that we visited an Amish home which was really interesting, it was quite an eye-opener. often read about the Amish-this, Amish-that... finally got to meet Amish people first hand. they are pretty modern, if you're actually wondering.

and then, I was really heartbroken when Clay Aiken 'admitted' to being gay. I don't believe it... the very same day I got the news we'd just studied about false memories in psyc250 and yes so I believe that whichever therapist that Clay had been seeing for his depression had implanted false memories/beliefs in his mind that he was gay... they just wanted him to match people's speculations. look at how much the media screwed him up in 5 years. so tragic!

and I have to go to practice in an hour's time. so exciting. I love being on the ice hmm

I'm kinda sleepy

Let’s look at the facts.  People are not happy with their leadership.  The last 8 years have been crap, and we’ve grown accustomed to it.  The odd thing is, recently Republicans have stopped denying it.  Now that elections are at stake, they are agreeing that the last 8 years are bad.

Despite nonstop rhetoric to the contrary for the last 8 years.  Despite years of resistance, and claims of “Liberal media bias” they have finally seen the light.  Or have they?  More on that later but let’s look at the start of the change…

And so it happened.  Sometime in the last month or so McCain has flip flopped from “everything’s fine” to “I’m Mr. McChange.”

Wait, change?  McCain?  I thought everything was fine?  I thought Obama was an uninformed alarmist?  I thought Obama was the Obamessiah? Now you’re saying you want change?  Well as much as I want to endlessly rant about your breath taking “flip-flop” at the final stretch of the election, I’m at least a little uplifted that Republicans are interested in change.  I guess as Democrats one of our faults is that we are too fair to our opponents.

But I spoke to soon.  It’s a farce.  McCain keeps saying “Americans can’t stand their congress.”

Wait, wait, wait, wait.  Hold up.  “Congress?”  Who said anything about congress? What what what?  Are you really expecting to slip into our brains like a computer hacker, and replace the object of our discontent with another?  No, no, no Mr. McCain, that is not going to work.   I/we never said congress was our problem.  It’s the whole “Bush / Cheney” thing.  remember?  Remember the whole “with us or against us?”  “WMDs”, that whole “fall in line with your President or you’re a turrist/terrorist/whatever”?  Remember all that?  We surely have not forgotten.  Congress?  Who?  I doubt 95% of the people on the street can name a single member of congress (any member of congress!)  And you’re trying to tell them that they “hate congress”?

I beg to differ.  George Bush is a household name.  And for good reason.  The discontent is directed squarely at his administration.  This whole “congress” bait and switch is completely artificial and not supported by or endorsed by reality.  Yet right now there are numerous Republican politicians talking nonstop about how America “can’t stand congress.”

Who the hell said that?  Bush is the leader they/we/I cannot stand.  Do you really think that people are dumb enough to fall for this “switcharoo” of grievances?  Not only are you attempting (poorly I might add) to ripoff Obama’s change campaign, but you are attempting to convince America that they really “hate congress.”  It’s no coincidence that Democrats have a slim lead in congress, and that they are the target of McCain’s bait and switch.  Even though they have been in a virtual war with the man who really has taken problem causing to a new level.

Every Republican is doing this.  All the Republican talk shows too.  “America is tired of our congress.”  Who the hell said that?  It’s as if they all got together and said “we are going to change reality by repeating something until it becomes true.”  It’s psychological conditioning, and they are all hoping it will work.  What about Dubya?  Buck Fush?  No more years?  Four more wars?  WMDs?  The war on “turr”?  How can they possibly deny the reality of the last 8 years?  Congress (the one they want to blame) has only been in office since January of 2007.  Surely, and I mean, surely they are not suggesting that people were “content” before 2007 and everything has fallen apart in the last 1 year and a half?

Do they think Americans are that dumb?

I think you missed the point McCain.  We don't want to "change.. congress."  We want Republicans out of the White House. That is the only correct interpretation of change, anything else is more of the same.

PS

Even the current congress has a shaky lead if any.  Democrats control the house, but in the Senate, it's an undeniable tie.  The tie breaker is the "Independent" named Joseph Lieberman.  The pro-Iraq, "bomb Iran" freakshow that is working on McCain's campaign, while calling himself an independent.  And yet we hate this congress because it's a "Democrat congress."

Esse é o Clay Aiken, que jurava até o nascimento do filho que não era, mas todo mundo ja sabia que ele senta! Participou de alguma das mil edições do American Idol e era xoxado até pelo Simon. Que achamos que era em fato uma atração né não Simon?

Para ler ouvindo:

http://vagalume.uol.com.br/todo-torto/cowboy-viado.html

( Mals não colocar o video - tô no job e aqui e youyube é boqueado =/)

Iran.

When I was thirty eight years old, I was informed my father had AIDS. I discovered that he had had a secret life for decades. Once having learned this, much of his misery, his desperate drinking, and his fear and anger began to make sense. My father sobered up in his later years, went to a psychiatrist who convinced him homosexuality was normal, and died of AIDS in the late 1980s. He was in a coma the last three days, and I hold to the hope that Christ came to him. 

While I hadn’t known about my father’s secret sin, he never knew about mine. In the early 1990s, I traveled to New York, prepared to fully commit myself to a lifestyle I never did feel right about. I could not seem to escape it. It was a demonic dimension of drag queens, transsexual bars, and drug and alcohol drenched nightclubs. While I am not purposely trying to provoke anyone, neither am I going to deny there is something very strong and very evil behind our nation’s ever-escalating celebration of sexual perversion.

The Lord in His mercy sent a Christian couple to the shelter where I was staying. They knew exactly what I was up to, and ministered powerfully to me. For years the Lord helped me as I fought this thing.

Until now, I have given my testimony and told how the Lord delivered me from being addicted to alcohol, heroin, and life on the streets. I have always been ashamed of the sexual sin that I have committed, and the enemy has used this as a weapon. So I have stayed silent, fearing rejection from my fellow believers.

My wife has waited patiently for me. “Hurry up,” she says, “let’s get on with it.” There is hope in Christ, and she is not ashamed. Time is short—and how times have changed. People are growing up being told that any kind of sexual sin is perfectly normal. Homosexuality and other offenses unto God are celebrated. We are truly in the time spoken about in Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

As His people, there must be no backing down. Homosexuality is sin, and all the sit-coms and pro-gay movies in the world cannot change that. Sin is sin, and it is appalling how some Christians ignore unmarried heterosexuals who attend church but blatantly live together. Know anybody like this? 

Despite the world’s celebration of homosexuality, many do not want to be in such bondage. Here are some blunt but very encouraging words. According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

I don’t have all the answers. But I know the One who does.

For me, this debate was just another snooze fest. If I had to pick a winner, I would say it was a tie between "Boom Boom" Palin and Joltin' Joe Biden. However, the loser by a landslide was Gwen Ifill. She was absolutely horrible. First, she couldn't get a coherent question out of her mouth. Even when she asked something partially comprehensible, it was the same boilerplate questions that these candidates have been answering since day one. "What to you think of the war in Iraq?" Really? That's the best you could do? Maybe Gwen was spending to much time writing her Obama book.

The only question I wanted to hear was this:

"How in God's name did you people come up with the brilliant idea to add another 100+ billion to the already 700 billion dollar bailout? Do you not answer your phones or check your e-mails? The American people already said, "Oh, hell no!!!" to the first bailout yet you added even more money. How is that even possible?"

Now, I realize that Biden is much too cagey to answer such a question and Sarah had already said early on she did not have to answer the questions she was asked. This was peculiar because it lead to comments like this:

Moderator: Governor, what do you think about the changes in bankruptcy and mortgage issues.

Palin: Let me tell ya somethin' about energy, don't cha know.

WTF? I think the rules do actually say you are supposed to answer the questions you are being asked. Still, how can you get mad at her? She is just so damned adorable! And I love hearing her stories about Alaska. I would have liked to hear why she is ok having pork added for her state in the latest bailout proposal but screw the details. 

And what about Joe "cheshire cat smile" Biden? Joe, you have been in politics for over 30 years but all you kept talking about was 3 pieces of legislation that you created. I am not math major but I think that comes out to about one good idea every 10 years. No wonder politicians will sell their souls to get that job. A bit of advice. Tone down that sh** eating grin you love to flash all of the time. Plus, there's no crying in politics! Sarah made you cry you little candy a**.

So, after a lot of hoopla, the debate was much ado about nothing. In retrospect, I should have just muted the whole thing so I could fully drink in the beauty of Sarah Palin. I don't know if you caught it but I think Sarah actually winked at me! Here is the proof:

Yeah baby! I am not going to lie. I think I may have felt a rustling in my nether regions when she did that. (Of course, it might have also just been gas. Hard to tell when you're old). I was also pleased to see that the non-sexist camera people were out in full force and took this non-sexist photo of Sarah:

 All I can say is, "Wow!" Let me say this. If you are a man and don't vote for Sarah then we need to pray the gay right out of you. (We can do it while we are doing the "pray the gay out of Clay" chant).

Despite our problems, you have to admit that America is still the most awesomest place in the world!

Anyway, while we were in Best Buy, I turned in my Ipod to the Geek Squad to be fixed, for the fourth time. I have discovered that the Geek Squad are not actually a team of technology savvy geeks. They are just nerds with very minimal customer service skills and a lot of gel in their hair. They are not really that helpful.

I am not helpful either. Especially when my mother tells me that she wants the new album by the artist that she calls "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" 

Who?

In order to help Karen, the employee that was trying to help my mom, who knew who he was, but couldn't think of the name either, I listed off every single person that I could think of that had come from American Idol. Clay Aiken, Rubben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Anastasia and just for kicks I threw in Justin but I felt like that was going to far. All of which I knew were not "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" It occurred to me later that naming Simon or Paula would have been funnier. They did not get the joke. Maybe I should have said Randy Jackson?

So the three of us were at a loss for the name of "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" and my mother said that we should ask one of the "young" people because they would know, and I thought, Well shit, I am officially out of touch because even though I am sure that I would not want to listen to "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?" I should probably know his name, or at least who he is. You know like be able to picture him in my head but I know nothing about it at all... whatsoever, nothing, nada, never did.

The skinny, brace faced teenage girl at the register was my mother's chosen "young" person to bestow the pop-knowledge that we pop-seeked. Here is the exchange that took place:

Mom: Excuse me, what is the name of "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box?"

Girl: I don't know

Mom: You don't know? What's wrong with you?

Girl: What's wrong with me? I don't watch American Idol

Me: Hmmm? (eyeing her suspiciously)

Mom: What's wrong with American Idol?

Girl: I don't have time to watch any T.V. I have school and I work thirty hours a week and I have a boyfriend that I have to spend time with.

Me: He makes you spend time with him? 

Girl: Yeah

Me: Hmmm? (eyeing her suspiciously)

Girl: He works thirty hours a week too.

Me: But does he know who "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box" is?

Girl: No

The rest of our brief interaction was a typical customer/employee exchange with maybe, a subtext of irritation but I am not sure. There is always a slight malaise when I am out with my mother, I just can never tell where it's coming from. It's like being under the florescent lights at Wal-Mart for too long.

Borders did not have any of the books I wanted. Neither did Barnes & Noble. I guess that is a good thing. My Ipod will be in the shop for the next four to six weeks, again. I still don't know who "the guy from American Idol who does the beat box" is? But my mother did get the sixth season of Monk on DVD. That quirky OCD detective, Isn't Tony Shalhoub fun!

(Disclaimer: At no point in the "excursion" did the writer feel that he was cooler or better in anyway for his lack of knowledge or not lack of knowledge of... the long running television show American Idol.)

Thanks to Joel for the alert Like a Funeral... Ray Boltz had been happily married 33 years with 4 children. With help from PROZAC, Ray wants to revive his career. So, one morning, he declares ...
God didn't make Adam & Eve, He created Adam & Steve!
Raymond later trots off to his local homosexual Metropolitan 'Church'. Don't be seduced!! There IS help for those wanting to resist this form of Political Correctness ==> EXODUS

KEY CHANGES
from Gospel singer Ray Boltz shares coming out journey - Washington Blade queer magazine)

Joey DiGuglielmo [Not a Planetshakers Pastor!!]
September 12, 2008

Ray Boltz wanted to do something nice.

He’d visited the mostly gay Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis and liked Rev. Jeff Miner, so he decided to give him a copy of his 1997 holiday recording, “A Christmas Album.”

It was one of 16 albums Boltz, 55, recorded during a nearly 20-year recording career that saw the Muncie, Ind., native become one of the better-known singer/songwriters in Contemporary Christian Music, a genre born out of the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s that made singers like Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman superstars in religious music with occasional excursions into mainstream pop culture.

Boltz, with about 4.5 million LPs, cassettes and CDs sold, never made a splash outside of Christian circles but he never really tried. With a handful of RIAA Gold-certified albums, three Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and a string of 12 No. 1 hits on Christian radio, Boltz is a household name in evangelical circles. “Thank You,” (music) a sentimental song about a dream in which a Christian thanks the Sunday school teacher who led him to embrace Christ, is his signature song. It was the GMA song of the year in 1990 and has become a staple of Christian funerals. Other Boltz trademarks are “Watch the Lamb,” “The Anchor Holds” & “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb (Godtubevideo, location - Colosseum)”

Boltz brought the Christmas CD with him to MCC-Indianapolis on that cold, sunny December 2007 day and slipped it to Miner on his way out with a note taped to it on which he’d jotted his e-mail address.

Ostensibly it was an innocuous thing to do, but for Boltz it was a big step. It eventually led to him opening up to Miner, one of the first times anybody outside Boltz’s circle of family and friends knew his long-kept secret: Ray Boltz is gay.

“I didn’t make a big deal of it,” Boltz says during a 90-minute phone interview from his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “But I was trembling. I’d kind of had two identities since I moved to Florida where I kind of had this other life and I’d never merged the two lives. This was the first time I was taking my old life as Ray Boltz, the gospel singer, and merging it with my new life. Emotionally it was kind of a big deal to think about that.”

Ray Boltz was tired of living a lie.

He’d gotten to a point nearly three years before where he couldn’t continue down the road his life had gone.

His 33-year marriage to ex-wife Carol was, he says, largely a happy one. It produced four children — three daughters and a son who are now between 22 and 32 — but family life and going through the motions of being straight had grown so wearying to Boltz, he was in a serious depression, had been in therapy for years, was on Prozac and other anti-depressants and had been, for a time, suicidal.

“I thought I hid it really well,” he says. “I didn’t know people could see what I was going through, the darkness and the struggle. After I came out to my family, one of my daughters said she was afraid to walk in my bedroom because she was afraid she’d find me — that I’d done something to myself. And I didn’t even know they’d picked it up.”

The Boltz family remembers Dec. 26, 2004 for two reasons: the tsunami in the Indian Ocean but also the tsunami that their husband and father unleashed when he told them what had been bothering him for so many years.

. . .

Further info ==>

Ray Boltz (Wikipedia) Ray Boltz (Christian Music history)

Ray Boltz Official WebSite

Entertaining Ray Boltz video - location Botswana (Godtube)

CCM veteran Ray Boltz comes out (Sept 17 2008, Belief.net)

Another hit against us (Sept 17 2008, Russell Korets's Weblog)

Ray Boltz to lead 'Our Family Matters' gay conference (Sept 23 2008, Belief.net)

Gay Christian Movement WATCH

Another thing about Clay is that he is a Broadway star. Yes, star. He sells out Spamalot shows in NYC. People go to see him perform. I can't knock him for that. But I can make fun of him for having a horrendous haircut. Clay, didn't the stylist from Idol teach you anything about hair products?