Sperm Happy
Ohio courts rule that a man with multiple children by multiple women and doesn't support them can continue impregnating women at will.
As much as I hope this guy gets hit by a bus, I would argue that this should be included under the general heading of reproductive freedoms. It's sad but the people who test our freedoms often include degenerates.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Asteroid to Miss Earth
(We hope)
Another asteroid is in the neighborhood. People with tin-foil hats are already in the basement.
(We hope)
Another asteroid is in the neighborhood. People with tin-foil hats are already in the basement.
The Anne Rice Challenge
If you haven't heard by now, Anne Rice went ballistic over criticism of her latest novel and wrote a scathing commentary on Amazon.com (scroll down to the bottom).
You want to believe it ain't so but Anne talks about it at Annerice.com.
If you haven't heard by now, Anne Rice went ballistic over criticism of her latest novel and wrote a scathing commentary on Amazon.com (scroll down to the bottom).
You want to believe it ain't so but Anne talks about it at Annerice.com.
Handling Baby Birds
Another misconception via Snopes.
I worked at the zoo for a summer and people called all the time that their kids touched a baby bird. The standard response was "Leave it alone and keep your cat inside."
The zoo called a neighbor of my mom about putting a baby owl in the owl's nest in his yard. The parent owls accepted the new baby without a fuss.
I guess if there were any truth to this cowbirds would be extinct. And we could get rid of pigeons by spraying their nesting areas with dust with human scent.
Another misconception via Snopes.
I worked at the zoo for a summer and people called all the time that their kids touched a baby bird. The standard response was "Leave it alone and keep your cat inside."
The zoo called a neighbor of my mom about putting a baby owl in the owl's nest in his yard. The parent owls accepted the new baby without a fuss.
I guess if there were any truth to this cowbirds would be extinct. And we could get rid of pigeons by spraying their nesting areas with dust with human scent.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Graphic Novel Review
The Cincinnati Library has two graphic novels that you should read (better yet, buy them and give the artists some dough).
The one that has got the most press lately is Birth of a Nation. Written by Aaron McGruder (Boondocks) and Reginald Hudlin (House Party, Boomerang, Bebe's Kids, and other movies) and illustrated by Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn, a well-regarded graphic novel), Birth of a Nation was conceived as a movie chronicling the history of Blackland, the former municipality of East St. Louis.
After election fraud robs thousands of black citizens of their right to vote, a bumbling, conservative governor from Texas takes the White House. Outraged, the mayor of East St. Louis declares his independence from the U.S., establishing the nation of Blackland. James Brown is on the $100 bill, the national anthem is sung to the tune of the theme from "Good Times," and the flag is red, black, and green with Jesus in the center ("Hey, it was mostly old people at the Nation Time meetings. . .You know how old black folk feel about Jesus.")
Overall, it's a great book. The only problem I had with it is that it still feels like a movie, not a comic. It's about the length of a typical movie but could have been longer. The situations and visuals seem to be written for a movie. The degree of "outrageousness" seems perfect for a movie but aren't as extreme as a comic could take them. This doesn't make the story bad but I think it would have been much better on film.
The opposite of Birth of a Nation is American Splendor Presents Bob and Harv's Comics. The stories mainly cover the not-so-superheroic life of Harvey Pekar, a file clerk in Cleveland. Years before Seinfeld hit it big with a show about nothing, Pekar essentially did the same thing with his real life. The eternally strange R. Crumb provides the artwork—it's not as shocking as some of his underground stuff but it fits with Pekar's situations and story-telling. Some stories run four panels, others are several pages, but each one is its ideal length. The pacing, the presentation, the mesh of words and art all precisely fit the medium.
I've been a fan of Aaron McGruder for a while but avoided American Splendor up to this point (although I can't tell you why). I can't think of a better contemporary comic strip than Boondocks but American Splendor is a better comic. Birth of a Nation has a great story and I urge everyone to buy a copy if for no other reason than to piss off the tight-asses but it still feels like an adaptation of the greatest movie never made. Maybe if the book sells well enough, a Hollywood producer will take a chance on it. . . although as perfect as it is for film media, a studio would feel compelled to "improve" things. They did make a movie based on American Splendor but I doubt if anyone's got the inclination to give Birth of a Nation the treatment it deserves.
The Cincinnati Library has two graphic novels that you should read (better yet, buy them and give the artists some dough).
The one that has got the most press lately is Birth of a Nation. Written by Aaron McGruder (Boondocks) and Reginald Hudlin (House Party, Boomerang, Bebe's Kids, and other movies) and illustrated by Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn, a well-regarded graphic novel), Birth of a Nation was conceived as a movie chronicling the history of Blackland, the former municipality of East St. Louis.
After election fraud robs thousands of black citizens of their right to vote, a bumbling, conservative governor from Texas takes the White House. Outraged, the mayor of East St. Louis declares his independence from the U.S., establishing the nation of Blackland. James Brown is on the $100 bill, the national anthem is sung to the tune of the theme from "Good Times," and the flag is red, black, and green with Jesus in the center ("Hey, it was mostly old people at the Nation Time meetings. . .You know how old black folk feel about Jesus.")
Overall, it's a great book. The only problem I had with it is that it still feels like a movie, not a comic. It's about the length of a typical movie but could have been longer. The situations and visuals seem to be written for a movie. The degree of "outrageousness" seems perfect for a movie but aren't as extreme as a comic could take them. This doesn't make the story bad but I think it would have been much better on film.
The opposite of Birth of a Nation is American Splendor Presents Bob and Harv's Comics. The stories mainly cover the not-so-superheroic life of Harvey Pekar, a file clerk in Cleveland. Years before Seinfeld hit it big with a show about nothing, Pekar essentially did the same thing with his real life. The eternally strange R. Crumb provides the artwork—it's not as shocking as some of his underground stuff but it fits with Pekar's situations and story-telling. Some stories run four panels, others are several pages, but each one is its ideal length. The pacing, the presentation, the mesh of words and art all precisely fit the medium.
I've been a fan of Aaron McGruder for a while but avoided American Splendor up to this point (although I can't tell you why). I can't think of a better contemporary comic strip than Boondocks but American Splendor is a better comic. Birth of a Nation has a great story and I urge everyone to buy a copy if for no other reason than to piss off the tight-asses but it still feels like an adaptation of the greatest movie never made. Maybe if the book sells well enough, a Hollywood producer will take a chance on it. . . although as perfect as it is for film media, a studio would feel compelled to "improve" things. They did make a movie based on American Splendor but I doubt if anyone's got the inclination to give Birth of a Nation the treatment it deserves.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
"Glad You Can Handle Your High"
This might be another "Reefer Madness" hoax. Isn't munchies much more common?
This might be another "Reefer Madness" hoax. Isn't munchies much more common?
Prepositional Phrases
Anyone who writes long sentences runs the risk of inadvertently coming up with a confusing or misleading statement. "Bob pet the dog and then he jumped in his car." Does that sentence mean Bob or the dog jumped in the car? We can make an educated guess but perhaps a revision might be in order.
Teacher Sends Boy Home With Feces in Bag. So was boy sent home carrying the bag of feces or was the boy sent home in the dirty bag? Normally, a little confusion makes for a more interesting day but in this case, it's just gross.
Anyone who writes long sentences runs the risk of inadvertently coming up with a confusing or misleading statement. "Bob pet the dog and then he jumped in his car." Does that sentence mean Bob or the dog jumped in the car? We can make an educated guess but perhaps a revision might be in order.
Teacher Sends Boy Home With Feces in Bag. So was boy sent home carrying the bag of feces or was the boy sent home in the dirty bag? Normally, a little confusion makes for a more interesting day but in this case, it's just gross.
Eat Steak; Stop Farting
Yes, my veins may be clogged, but at least my output from the nether-regions is relatively low. Cecil Adams explains all.
Yes, my veins may be clogged, but at least my output from the nether-regions is relatively low. Cecil Adams explains all.
Homophobic Idiot Boycotts P&G
I'd read about local boycott led by Phil Burress but now Donald Wildmon, the abject idiot who accused Mighty Mouse of using cocaine (seriously) is in on the act.
I'm buying a cartload of Pringles on my way home.
I'd read about local boycott led by Phil Burress but now Donald Wildmon, the abject idiot who accused Mighty Mouse of using cocaine (seriously) is in on the act.
I'm buying a cartload of Pringles on my way home.
God Loves Lesbians
Covington provided a link to a racist, homophobic nut. I'd imagine that anyone reading this will agree that all views expressed are idiotic but there's one that's completely without basis--the notion that the Bible condemns "women laying down with women."
I can't recite the Bible forward and back but the concept of "gays and lesbians" is not found there. Yes, there are many references to "Sodomites" and "men who lay down with men," but, despite the nut case's claim, there is no corresponding "women who lay down with women." (Paul's letter to Romans, Chapter 1, verse 26, condemns women who lust for women but every Christian denomination other than the Shakers see a difference between lust, love, and sex.) In Biblical times, same sex relations between women was not viewed the same way as it was between men.
This isn't because the Bible forgot about women and sexuality (understatement of the year). Biblical law doesn't neglect women when it comes to dress, behavior, family duties, or virtually anything else but lesbianism is not addressed. Leviticus even sets down more severe punishments for women committing acts of bestiality than for similarly perverted men (with women, the human and animal are both killed; with men, they let the sheep off with a warning...seriously).
The belief that the Bible forbids "same sex" relations is entirely modern, as is the idea that lesbians are the same as gay men. (If King Solomon wasn't able to satisfy all his 600 wives, the ones left over could do what they pleased. Is there a man among us who, given 600 wives, would forbid girl on girl action? I can believe the parting of the Red Sea but even my credibility has its limits.)
Some hard-line Christians will argue that Greek and Hebrews words that have been understood as "male homosexual" for centuries, should now be translated "male and female." There is no linguistic, anthropological, or theological basis for this reading. In fact this flies in the face of their own protests again gender-neutral Bibles that include phrases like "sons and daughters of Christ" and "Brothers and sisters in faith."
Many liberal theologians argue that the Bible doesn't even condemn homosexual men--rival religions sometimes engaged in ritualistic sex between men (the Manson family did the same thing). The Bible verses against "sodomy" could be viewed as forbidding other types of worship, not the behavior itself. I have a hard time accepting this but it is a possibility. Bible-based condemnation of lesbians is not.
Whenever I argue this point, I ask "If you believe God is male and that He can see everything, how can you expect him not to love lesbians?"
I never get a straight answer.
Covington provided a link to a racist, homophobic nut. I'd imagine that anyone reading this will agree that all views expressed are idiotic but there's one that's completely without basis--the notion that the Bible condemns "women laying down with women."
I can't recite the Bible forward and back but the concept of "gays and lesbians" is not found there. Yes, there are many references to "Sodomites" and "men who lay down with men," but, despite the nut case's claim, there is no corresponding "women who lay down with women." (Paul's letter to Romans, Chapter 1, verse 26, condemns women who lust for women but every Christian denomination other than the Shakers see a difference between lust, love, and sex.) In Biblical times, same sex relations between women was not viewed the same way as it was between men.
This isn't because the Bible forgot about women and sexuality (understatement of the year). Biblical law doesn't neglect women when it comes to dress, behavior, family duties, or virtually anything else but lesbianism is not addressed. Leviticus even sets down more severe punishments for women committing acts of bestiality than for similarly perverted men (with women, the human and animal are both killed; with men, they let the sheep off with a warning...seriously).
The belief that the Bible forbids "same sex" relations is entirely modern, as is the idea that lesbians are the same as gay men. (If King Solomon wasn't able to satisfy all his 600 wives, the ones left over could do what they pleased. Is there a man among us who, given 600 wives, would forbid girl on girl action? I can believe the parting of the Red Sea but even my credibility has its limits.)
Some hard-line Christians will argue that Greek and Hebrews words that have been understood as "male homosexual" for centuries, should now be translated "male and female." There is no linguistic, anthropological, or theological basis for this reading. In fact this flies in the face of their own protests again gender-neutral Bibles that include phrases like "sons and daughters of Christ" and "Brothers and sisters in faith."
Many liberal theologians argue that the Bible doesn't even condemn homosexual men--rival religions sometimes engaged in ritualistic sex between men (the Manson family did the same thing). The Bible verses against "sodomy" could be viewed as forbidding other types of worship, not the behavior itself. I have a hard time accepting this but it is a possibility. Bible-based condemnation of lesbians is not.
Whenever I argue this point, I ask "If you believe God is male and that He can see everything, how can you expect him not to love lesbians?"
I never get a straight answer.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
The Latest Smear
The only reliable thing about this is the line "Don't trust this message for the truth."
The only reliable thing about this is the line "Don't trust this message for the truth."
Succumb to Evil
I am now legally required to vote for Bush. I got rid of the old car and now own a 1999 Grand Cherokee. I am part of the problem.
After reading Blaise's post on the Covington blog, I got to thinking that gas pumps should have monitor screens next to them and every time you draw a new gallon a face of a dead soldier should pop up.
It drives much better than my old car but I'd feel better about owning an SUV before September 11.
I am now legally required to vote for Bush. I got rid of the old car and now own a 1999 Grand Cherokee. I am part of the problem.
After reading Blaise's post on the Covington blog, I got to thinking that gas pumps should have monitor screens next to them and every time you draw a new gallon a face of a dead soldier should pop up.
It drives much better than my old car but I'd feel better about owning an SUV before September 11.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Scorpion Queen
Where do people find the time? I'd like to spend a few months in a cage with a million scorpions but I just can't fit it in my schedule.
Where do people find the time? I'd like to spend a few months in a cage with a million scorpions but I just can't fit it in my schedule.
Class Called on Account of Ghost
I wish I hadn't seen this. Now I'll be tempted for the rest of the year.
I wish I hadn't seen this. Now I'll be tempted for the rest of the year.
Great White Still Swimming
This looks like the same story as a few days ago. No new information but at least this seems like it's still alive.
This looks like the same story as a few days ago. No new information but at least this seems like it's still alive.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Free Lobsters
No! Don't eat them! I meant "free" as in "let go!" Stop! Stop, you barbarians!
I have no problems with England banning fox hunting and would like to see stronger laws protecting wildlife, pets, and livestock. However, I'm not sure how you avoid the slippery slope when it comes to lobsters. Lobsters are too close to roaches for me to even consider worrying about them (and I'm sure some nut would call me a murderer for stepping on a roach).
The Arrogant Worms' song "Carrot Juice is Murder" begs the question that if we deem the life of a bug to be sacred, how can we thoughtlessly slaughter innocent vegetables? "Don't think that they don't have feelings/Just 'cuz a radish can't scream!"
No! Don't eat them! I meant "free" as in "let go!" Stop! Stop, you barbarians!
I have no problems with England banning fox hunting and would like to see stronger laws protecting wildlife, pets, and livestock. However, I'm not sure how you avoid the slippery slope when it comes to lobsters. Lobsters are too close to roaches for me to even consider worrying about them (and I'm sure some nut would call me a murderer for stepping on a roach).
The Arrogant Worms' song "Carrot Juice is Murder" begs the question that if we deem the life of a bug to be sacred, how can we thoughtlessly slaughter innocent vegetables? "Don't think that they don't have feelings/Just 'cuz a radish can't scream!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)