Nonspecific

Today's many and varied subjects have absolutely no correlating element.

1. This past week has been Doppelganger Week on Facebook. The idea is that you post a profile pic of a celebrity you've been told you resemble. This is the pic I posted:

In the 7th grade, a friend of mine started calling me "Freddie", because, he said, I looked exactly like Freddie Prinze, Jr. One time, at a History Bowl conference, I wrote this on a name tag. Some girls (from this middle-of-nowhere, podunk town Skyline, MO) managed to become completely infatuated with me during said conference, and rode off in their school bus waving maniacally and yelling, "Bye FREDDIE!!!".

I laughed wickedly and waved back.

These are the celebrity matches I got from MyHeritage.com:

(I also got one for Kyra Sedwick :/)

We're going to start off with a comic (yay!), before delving into some more serious issues.

via XKCD

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2. More serious things:

via TheKnightWhoSaidNi@American_Asylum

This unfortunate fellow has decided that it is appropriate to impose legal sanctions on those who engage in homosexual behavior.

The post is from a radio show host named Bryan Fisher, called Focal Point, and is found on American Family Radio. The post is found on a website called Rightly Concerned: Cautiously Observing the Left, from the Right.

A few highlights from the letter, written to a viewer that expressed discontent with the allegation:

If you believe that what drug abusers need is to go into an effective detox program, then we should likewise put active homosexuals through an effective reparative therapy program.
[...]

The bottom line here is that, biblically, those "who practice homosexuality" should come under the purview of the law just as much as those who take people captive in order to sell them into slavery.

You express a belief in the Scriptures, and I trust your confidence in Scripture is not selective. If you believe all Scripture is inspired, then you are compelled to accept that legal sanctions may appropriately be applied to those who engage in homosexual behavior.

Thank you for contacting us, and I hope this response will help you think in a thorough and biblical way about this important social issue.

Clearly, these people are INSANE. *sigh*

And also, clearly, the United States is not made up entirely of people who "believe in the Scriptures", thank /deity/. I love that he is not only implying that being a homosexual is a criminal action/offense, but also that drug abusers are not worthy of detox programs. Oh, and by the way, homosexuals do not typically take captives and sell people into slavery; although in this man's case, I think we might make an exception.


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3. Well, at least, our President seems to have more sense than this man. A couple of snippets from the NYTimes:

Obama to Seek Sweeping Change in ‘No Child’ Law

The Obama administration is proposing a sweeping overhaul of President Bush’s signature education law, No Child Left Behind, and will call for broad changes in how schools are judged to be succeeding or failing, as well as for the elimination of the law’s 2014 deadline for bringing every American child to academic proficiency.

Hooray! It's certainly taken long enough to get that IDIOTIC No Child Left Behind Act fixed. Singer-songwriter Pink expressed it best in her song to fucktard GW, Dear Mr. President:

How can you say/

No child is left behind/

We're not dumb, and we're not blind/

They're all sitting in your cells/

While you pave the road to hell

U.S. Arms for Taiwan Send Beijing a Message

For the past year, China has adopted an increasingly muscular position toward the United States, berating American officials for the global economic crisis, stage-managing President Obama’s visit to China in November, refusing to back a tougher climate change agreement in Copenhagen and standing fast against American demands for tough new Security Council sanctions against Iran.

Now, the Obama administration has started to push back. In announcing an arms sales package to Taiwan worth $6 billion on Friday, the United States leveled a direct strike at the heart of the most sensitive diplomatic issue between the two countries since America affirmed the “one China” policy in 1972.

The arms package was doubly infuriating to Beijing coming [...] on the same day that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton publicly berated China for not taking a stronger position on holding Iran accountable for its nuclear program.

Ha! Eat it, Chinese government. Enough of your petty crap. I'm glad Google had the balls to call them on it. Now if only Obama and Hillary can find a way to free Tibet...
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4. That about does it for current events, so it's on to some recommendations:

(I am now going to shamelessly plug my friend's blogs, mostly because they shamelessly plug mine) 

Word Travels

This is my ex-roomie and bff Sarah's blog, where her frank humor, quick wit, and wickedly funny perspective is frequently on display.

American_Asylum 

Because being gay and progressive in America can make you feel like you're in a nuthouse.

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5. And last, but not least, is this fun activity! (for up to 4 players, and appropriate for nearly no ages) from explosm.net:

 

Print it out & play with your friends*!  

*friends not included

wildcoyote

Glass Microbiology

For today's presentation, we have artist Luke Jerram, from  Bristol, UK.

Mr. Jerram is a remarkable fellow, and phenomenal artist. Here's why:
       (via Artist-A-Day) 

About the artist:

Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations, live arts projects and gifts. Since his professional career as an artist began in 1997 Luke has created a number of extraordinary art projects which excite and inspire people around him.

The above picture is a glass-blown model of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as HIV. HIV/AIDS directly affects the lives of over 1 million Americans, and approximately 33 million people on the planet; indirectly, it affects the lives of many millions more.

About Glass Microbiology: 

These transparent glass sculptures were created to contemplate the global impact of each disease and to consider how the artificial colouring of scientific imagery affects our understanding of phenomena. Jerram is exploring the tension between the artworks’ beauty and what they represent, their impact on humanity.

The sculptures were designed in consultation with virologists from the University of Bristol using a combination of different scientific photographs and models; they were made in collaboration with master glassblowers.

you can find Luke's website, and learn all about glass microbiology,  here.

So what does HIV look like? Here's a picture of a typical HIV retrovirus cell:

 Let's all use protection with our partners. It's really not that hard.



Hey, that big glass HIV looks just like this microscopic HIV! Neat-o, gang!



Seriously, for a minute. HIV is a big deal. It has become a social reality, but it is one that need not be. And it is up to everyone to make sure that these humbling numbers don't increase.

For everything you could ever want to know about HIV, click here. For the Wikipedia article, click <----there.

If you're not sure what I'm even talking about or maybe just want to brush up on your STD awareness, here's Top 10 HIV/AIDS Myths, to get you started.

Here's an interactive map from the folks at MSNBC:

The point is that, ultimately, the choice is in YOUR hands:

Wear protection. Get tested. Be safe. 

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Well, since that was all majorly depressing stuff,
I'm going to leave you today with this sickeningly cute video of a frolicsome baby elk.

I guess that's all for today.

wildcoyote

Intolerance

I'm going to start off today with a rant, which actually began yesterday:

My mom recently sent me an e-mail telling me to VEHEMENTLY BOYCOTT the supposed new USPS stamp commemorating a Muslim holiday, issued by Pres. Obama. It quite disrespectfully reminds people of all of the MUSLIM terrorist acts against the people of the United States, clearly insinuating that ALL MUSLIMS ARE HORRIBLE, EVIL PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO BLOW UP AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE.

My mother, typically, got extremely offended that I should insist that any group of religious nut-jubs are both capable and culpable of terrorist, genocidal acts of wanton hatred, including Christians ( and many would say, ESPECIALLY Christians). She promptly accused me of hypocrisy and blatant disrespect. And here's what I have to say to that:

People who BLOW UP other people ARE nut jobs, whether they do it in the name of patriotism, terrorism, or some religion (be it Christianity, Islam, or otherwise). Period.

Since I don't blow anyone up, or advocate the blowing-up of ANYONE, I don't really think that makes me a hypocrite.

Boycotting religious tolerance doesn't make you a better Christian, or a better person. I'm not trying to advocate what those select few terrorists did, or even defend it. THEY WERE CLEARLY EVIL PEOPLE. But that doesn't mean that ALL Muslims are, or that their religion is any more OR less bellicose than Christianity, Catholicism, Atheism, or heavy metal music. In fact, all of the Muslims and ex-Muslims that I know despise those terrorists nearly as much as you do; I'm sure when some whack-o Christian shuts people up in a church and burns it to the ground in the name of "piety", you are ashamed at that example of your chosen religion and beliefs. It is the same, and there is absolutely NO HARM in commemorating a Muslim holiday. Nobody is forcing you to celebrate it, no one is telling you to worship Allah. The have mosques and the Koran for that.

Like I said, if you don't like or want the stamp, don't buy one. No towel-headed Muslim has got a gun to your head.

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On a happier note, I have a pretty boy to turn your thoughts away from such unpleasantries :)

This is actor Sean Maher, probably most famous to date for his role as Doctor/Refugee Simon Tamm on Joss Whedon's (post-DVD sales) hit show Firefly and the subsequent movie that came out of it, Serenity.

 

Come on. How cute is he?!

Ok, now we've also got the gay out of the way for today.

On to some recommendations for your entertainment via a friend in my Anthropology program:

This music website's design and style strongly resembles MySpace Music, only without the hideous MySpace part. One can log in, create a customized music profile, and JamBase does the rest. It will tell you when shows come to within a certain radius of your present location, gives you all the skinny on new and upcoming bands selected with your personal music tastes in mind, and all the 411 on festivals, concerts, tickets, venues, albums, releases, and much more. So go check it out! The only downfall is that it is powered by Lala.com, a "free" music player (but only if you create an account with Lala, which requires a credit card. :/ )

She also recommended this movie:

Which I have yet to see, but it's Jim Jarmusch, so it must be solid gold.

Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
Jim Jarmusch

And last, but not least, is this treasure from PZ @ Pharyngula:

It's an Enteroctopus zealandicus, commonly called a Giant Octopus. This one is just a larva.

Cute!

Yeah, that's all for today.

wildcoyote

Issues

Today's post is going to focus on current social and political issues; it will also include a daily quote and a beautiful man. Let's begin with a few of my favorite quotes from Obama's State of the Union addy last week:

"We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again. That is why, even as it cuts back on the programs we don’t need, the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education."

WIN! Sustainable energy is where it's at, baby!


"I know there are people who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence for climate change..."

...he also knows that they're friggin' tards, and he's going to go ahead making sensible global climate policy anyway. :D


"Democrats: We have the largest majority in decades. People expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills."

Liberals unite!


"Even as we prosecute two wars, we are also confronting perhaps the greatest danger to the American people – the threat of nuclear weapons. I have embraced the vision of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan through a strategy that reverses the spread of these weapons, and seeks a world without them. To reduce our stockpiles and launchers, while ensuring our deterrent, the United States and Russia are completing negotiations on the farthest-reaching arms control treaty in nearly two decades. And at April's Nuclear Security Summit, we will bring forty-four nations together behind a clear goal: securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years, so that they never fall into the hands of terrorists."

Or you know, fall into the hands of ANYONE. Nuclear weapons are the worst invention man has yet to devise; it IS absolutely the greatest danger to Americans, humanity, and all life on planet Earth.


"This budget builds on these reforms. It includes an historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. It’s a commitment that’s paid for in part by efficiencies in our system that are long overdue."

System = Inefficient + Unaffordable. Solution = Non-existent. Let's put your money where your mouth is, Mr. President.


"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it.

We must continually renew this promise. My administration has a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination. We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate."

This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."

BOUT DAMN TIME. (I will elaborate on this subject below!)


"And let's tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years –- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no... one should go broke because they chose to go to college."

Meanwhile, we rack up thousands of dollars in debt to pay for college... as we desperately hope that maybe 1/10th of these programs will get jostled around through the bipartisan cluster-fuck known as the United States bureaucracy, and make it through looking even REMOTELY like what it did when it went in.

I plan on narrowly escaping to Canada to evade my unpaid obligations... EX-PAT ALL THE WAY!

"But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places; that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of Americans who are anything but ordinary."

"In words and deeds, we are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun. For we know that America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America. We cannot shun the negotiating table, nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm. We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand."

I am finally excited about to be a part of a country I can be proud of, if at least in our intentions, values, and genuine effort. Let's make this beautiful dream an American reality!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That speech was certainly a figment of magnificence. A few things to go along with it:

Pentagon plan on 'don't ask, don't tell' ready for Congress

 from CNN.com

 Defense Secretary Robert Gates will unveil the Pentagon's plan to prepare for repealing the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" law regarding gay soldiers at a committee hearing Tuesday, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Gates will discuss options for more "humanely" implementing the current ban, for example, according to a senior Pentagon official. The secretary asked his general counsel's office for options six months ago including how to possibly not expel personnel whose homosexuality is revealed by third parties, the source said.

"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. Economy Grew at Fastest Pace in 6 Years Last Quarter
from NYTimes.com:

The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in more than six years at the end of 2009, even as businesses resisted hiring and continued to do more with less.

The broadest measure of economic activity, gross domestic product, expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, after a 2.2 percent increase the previous quarter.

The economy grew at an annualized rate of 5.7% in the quarter, faster than expected, but economists still worried about the sluggish job market.

and of course, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't bring up Scott Roeder's trial?

Talks With District Attorney Nola Foulston on the Scott Roeder Trial and Verdict

from CNN.com

A record verdict, taking only 37 minutes, was pronounced by a unanimous jury that Scott Roeder was guilty of premeditated murder and terrorism.

I really like what the prosecutor had to say, and I wish I could embed the video. Click the link above to redirect to the CNN.com video of this interview. Here's an excerpt:

"There was an elephant in the room. And it was our position that you couldn't really try the case, although it was not actually about the nature of abortion or abortion procedures, that abortion was one of the underlying reasons, is the reason that George Tiller was killed. And as a consequence we needed only to bring in that information that would go ahead and lead to motive. It has been a very divisive issue in our country, and people are still in great conflict. But truly, this was not about a woman's right to choose. This was really about Scott Roeder's choices, and the choices that he made."

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Well, at least it looks like we're getting somewhere. It's a start, people. It's a start. :)

wildcoyote

Innovation

While updating my profile pic for my snazzy new blog layout, Blogger said to me, "Fetching profile photo..."
And I thought, "Why, thank you, Blogger!"

I'm obviously amused easily.

And speaking of amusing, here's some pics and stories from a couple of typical e-mails from my mother:

Email #1: A ridiculous, clearly forwarded message chain
Su: Fwd: Bad-ass mule
(# of copies of each picture attached to the email: 4. Don't worry, I won't make you look at them all 4 separate times.)

Here's how the story supposedly goes:
Some couple is out horseback riding in Montana (like you do), their faithful dogs playfully keeping pace as they trot along the countryside. A mountain lion, which has been "cautiously" stalking the party decided to make a run after one of the pooches. Unfortunately, it was not counting on the waiting ATTACK DONKEY!!! that proceeded to thoroughly mutilate the clearly desperate animal. Pics below (in order of ATTACK DONKEY battle plan):

I think that the most interesting part is that the man had a high-powered rifle, his wife had a camera, and this psuedo-psychotic mule "killed" the tiger with his bare hooves. Hm.

Email #2: Two slightly mundane pictures of a bunch of deer grazing in along a strip of powerlines running through a forest, blocking the way for an afternoon of snow-death-machine-mobiling.

The caption reads, "I know a way to clear that trail up!!", and I can just hear the redneck drawl on those words.

Needless to say, growing up was interesting. I vividly recall my step-brother's T-shirt that read:

There's a place for all God's creatures (this was on the front--complete with a giant male deer, or buck, as they're known 'round these parts) 
and on the back it went on:
Right next to the potatoes and gravy. Ai, Dios mio.
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Now that's out of the way, let's get down to business. I have some neat-o artwork by one very talented Nick Gentry from my old haunt London, UK. 

visit Nick's website right here!

 Of his art, Nick says,

"Each floppy disk used in the paintings has a history and story of its own. It represents the increasing pace of the modern life cycle, where objects are created, used and disposed of quicker than ever. To challenge this notion, as these personal artefacts of life are cast aside, the obsolete are now given new life and a renewed purpose by using them as a medium for art."

Man, I remember floppy disks... I used to have colored ones, (you know the kind I'm talking about)  and back then I thought I was THE MAN! 'cause I had me some multi-colored, 4 mb floppy disks.

Hellz yeah!
But seriously... what happened to floppy disks? Where did they all go when CDs and DVDs took over?

Probably to wherever 8-tracks and VHS tapes

 are comfortably spending their senility retirement.

Kudos to Nick Gentry for an interesting and well-executed idea!
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In completely un-related news, Space Shuttle Endeavor is set for launch in February. The mission mainly concerns the transport of the last US piece of the International Space Station.

This article found here!


According to CNN:

NASA plans to retire its space shuttles Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis later this year.

The space agency has been looking for places, such as museums, to house the shuttles after they are retired.
Space Shuttle Discovery will be transferred to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

 Apparently, NASA is also ending its shuttle program entirely. :(

It also appears that the magnificent Steve Jobs has done it again, just when we all had decided our newly-obsolete Apple products might just be good enough to do the job and fulfill the status quo:

the iPad

It is nigh unto perfection, of course, and you don't know how you ever possibly lived without it before now. At least, that seems to be the marketing strategy.

It has a very cool interface, lots of handy apps, is light, portable, and features a mega-bitchin' high-def touch screen, complete with on-screen keyboard, which magically appears just when you need it.

The drawbacks: it has virtually no memory, the loading speed of videos, music, etc. is still dependent on 3G network speed--and oh yeah, you still have to PAY (out the nose) for that 3G service plan...

Ah well. I think it's just best to sit back and watch Steve take over the world, $1 in net profits at a time.

Yep. I believe in .

wildcoyote

NEWs

NEW look. NEW fonts. NEW(er) blog!*some restrictions may apply, see detail for complete offers

I did some re-designing, some layout work, added a pinch of user friendliness and some JT eccentricity, and after about 2 days of teaching myself CSS and HTML codes, I bring you: The Modern Synthesis!

Just trying to keep up with the times, mate.

Today's topics are some odds and ends that I acquired while learning aforementioned code, and other bits of important news. I also have a positively *magical* music video for you to watch today! I am shamelessly (and without pay, I might add) going to promote this band until they come to St. Louis in April. Yay!

First, I'm starting with another quote, and a picture, just to put you in the right mood:

Be thou the rainbow in
the storms of life.
The evening beam that
smiles the clouds away,
and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.
            - Lord Byron



Ok. Now that bit of faggotry is out of the way, let's move on to Obama's State of the Union address. According to NYTimes.com:

President Obama used his first State of the Union address to try to convince Americans he was focused on issues that concern them most: jobs and the economy.

Well, yes, I am in fact concerned about that the most; yet, I have faith that the CIC's got the right people working on the best solution they can think of. I don't, however, think that bipartisanship is going to allow for anything to get done about it rationally and efficiently. I also don't think we're going to be enjoying an era of enormous prosperity in America any time soon. Sorry to be so hopeful but America is not the major world power anymore--thank /deity/. The truth is, United Statesians, we're going to have to lower our standards a little bit for a while, because some other countries are vying for control now, too; we can no longer marginalize the rest of the world and get away with it.





Why, Mr. President, you handsome devil, you!

 
CNN (along with an as-ever resolute and tired-looking Obama and smiling Joe Biden) is more optimistic:

Obama: 'Strengthen our union once more'

I think it will always be as it always has been, and will continue to be long after we are gone; people will continue to worry about their money, the world they live in, and base judgments on such matters by how well they feel they live their lives.

Obama also addressed something that has needed changing for a very long time: getting rid of that stupid Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. If gays, lesbians, and transgenders want to serve their country, sexual orientation makes a pretty LAME excuse for turning them away. Just think, all those gay/lesbian soldiers will need tons less vacation time because they'll have all their boys/girls already with them!

One thing is for sure, America, it is a brand new day, and come rain, sun, or snow, we'll shoulder the burden and carry on just as we've always done. ☮
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Okayyy, so I promised you a music vid. Here it is!

 Yeasayer: Ambling Alp

 this lovely video was brought to you by Pitchfork.tv

Oh, they're so good I may just have to post another one, sometime this week! They'll be in St. Louis at the Gargoyle (WashU's student-run venue) on April 26th... and I will be there.

I'll think I'll leave with this today, titled Children's Fantasy, via xkcd:

wildcoyote

keew eht fo siort-a-eganem ysatnaF

ledom hcnerF egatniV
:erfdoG nimajneB 
saP essaL ne'S 

+

snavE sirhC sinodA-syawla nA

=

♂:

etoyocdliw

Quotation

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.


Martin Luther King, Jr.

Trial

For those of us who give a damn about this whole gay marriage business, this site is keeping up with the ongoing Prop 8 trial as it unfolds via "LiveBlogging". It is organized and maintained by Courage Campaign.

Prop 8 Trial Tracker

In related news, Columbia University professor Ilan H. Meyer, testified in the trial last Thursday that gays and lesbians were more likely to suffer from mental disorders than heterosexuals because of discrimination.

Proposition 8 sent "a message that gay relationships are not respected, that they are of secondary value if they are of any value at all," Meyer said. He also said the 2008 measure made the public statement that it was OK "to designate gay people as a different class of people in terms of their intimate relationships."

The article comes from the L.A. Times, and can be found by clicking right here.

That's all I've got for today.

wildcoyote

Ouch. Double Ouch.

Two bits of highly disheartening current news:

Author of Uganda's Gay Execution Bill to Attend Prayer Breakfast With Obama

via American_Asylum

...No, you read it correctly. This excerpt from the original article @ pinknews:

"David Bahati, the MP who authored Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill, is expected to attend a prayer breakfast with US president Barack Obama...

The breakfast is organised by The Fellowship – a secretive conservative Christian organisation which is also known as The Family. Its members include politicians, religious leaders and corporate executives.

Bahati may be asked to speak at the event, which will also be attended by Congress members and Cabinet secretaries. Previous speakers have included Tony Blair, Bono and Mother Theresa."

I suppose our dear President has every reason to attend the little soiree, if for nothing else but to placate the right. I'm sure it will be filled with various religious dignitaries, all arriving in their Rolls Royce and Lexus (paid for by that infamous 10% tithe to God). However, I certainly hope that the rest of the free f*cking world has the balls to call this tyrant on his hate-mongering; it grieves me to see our fearless Leader inadvertently condoning such hideous prejudice (which would ultimately result in genocide).

The second ouch:

Christian Group Sending Boxloads of Solar-Powered Digital Bibles to Haiti

via Pharyngula

Again, you read it correctly.

Called the "Proclaimer," the audio Bible delivers "digital quality" and is designed for "poor and illiterate people", the Faith Comes By Hearing group said.

According to their website, the Proclaimer is "self-powered and can play the Bible in the jungle, desert or ... even on the moon!"

Because nothing helps you while you're trapped under tons of rubble like the Word of God... I'm sure that the bottled water and non-perishable food items will seem totally useless compared to these.

:fghjsoiasp dgfhwpj adksrpkjfgipaerw gfiuvasdhFvjkasdgh;l asdf[oifqO"IHFwhhv 'ahvbhaoIU H39UQRBJ;ASDVU G3QR0[4 r5 9pywqtokgnsadv08 -9yq3orhrgj;asg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(this is me having a keyboard hissy-fit/conniption because some people, aka these nut-job Christians, are just plain STUPID.)

Unfortunately, that's all for today. Try not to cry yourself to sleep over these shining examples of humanity at its best.

wildcoyote

FYE

A few films I've been recently enjoying immensely:







Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg

Dune (1984)
David Lynch

Factory Girl (2006)
Biopic of 60's fashion model and underground film star Edie Sedgwick, protege of Andy Warhol

Jurassic Park (1993)
Also Steven Spielberg

Twister (1996)
Yeah, you know you loved it, too.

The Man With Two Brains (1983)
Totally Steve Martin's funniest movie.

And to end with, I'm giving a recommendation for the video game my lovely roommate and I have been playing incessantly for the entire 3-day weekend:




Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Wii)

It's a remake of everything you loved about the original Tomb Raider game, re-vamped for the 360 degree experience of the Nintendo Wii console. Plus, Lara gets some bitchin' new moves, outfits, and a set of archaeological tools to play with (as if her skin-tight clothes, huge bazongas, thigh-strap pistol holsters, and wanton destruction and looting of invaluable artifacts and temples weren't enough to make every man salivate...)

For a very objective review of the game, click here!)





I suppose that's about it for today!

wildcoyote

Transparency

...Seems to be the newest trend of the current political ideology these days. It's all about accountability, I suppose; the American public "deserves" to be aware of its government's proceedings and procedures. After all, we're a democracy, no?

Well, sort of. We're actually a bureaucracy, and democracy has very little to do with it. However, I agree that most issues of importance to the American public should acquire the public availability that they deserve. It keeps our attention focused where it should be (as opposed to the hideous debasement of culture that is trash television and prime-time programming), it allows for an informed body of American citizens, and it keeps our lawmakers, executives, and judiciary accountable.

Why do I bring this up, you ask? Well, the answer is probably glaringly apparent if you know anything about me (or this blog). The battle over the broadcasting and publicity of the Proposition 8 trial is the hottest current issue this last week--excluding the clusterfuck in Haiti-- and on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court (divided along its usual conservative-liberal lines) banned the broadcast of the Proposition 8 trial now unfolding in the federal courthouse in San Fransisco, CA, putting a swift end to Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's planned experiment to post the proceedings on his court's Web site through YouTube.

I am still not sure where I stand on the the issue. Howard Mintz of MercuryNews.com has a nice snippet concerning the decision (want to read the article? Click here!):

While the ruling stressed that it was not "expressing any view on whether such trials should be broadcast," it signaled the Supreme Court is not quite ready to embrace cameras in the federal courts, which traditionally have forbid them. The majority concluded that Walker did not follow proper procedures that would have allowed a change in federal court rules to permit cameras in the trial and that the broadcast threatened toharm the fair trial rights of Prop. 8's defenders.

So, whether or not such publicity could be "harmful" to the participants in the trial, it is a fact that one must follow proper court procedure--even when one is a District Court judge.

Concerning the issue that is on trial, however, I most certainly have taken a side. For example, let's examine this gem of a statement in the latest fund-raising letter by Brian Brown, Executive Director of the National Organization for Marriage (that same organization who put out those sad, yet laughable, ads in April):

[...] There's a topline message here about this trial even many informed voters don't yet realized: It's not about California, it's about the whole country. Gay-marriage advocates are in federal court arguing for a federal constitutional right to gay marriage that would trump not only Prop 8, but the laws of 45 other states, including the 30 other states where the people have passed state constitutional marriage amendments.

That's right, the Constitution drafted by our Founding Fathers contains a right to gay marriage--in their twisted view. This is judicial activism on steroids, and a flagrant disrespect for civility, common sense, and democracy.

Gay-marriage advocates believe they have a right to win. They think you and I don't count.

Well, he is right about 4 things:

1. It's not about California. It IS about the whole country.
2. This decision would, in fact, trump the laws of 45 other states, including 30 other states where the people have passed state constitutional marriage amendments (which, unfortunately, includes my own Missouri). Thankfully.
3. The Constitution drafted by our Founding Fathers contains a right to gay marriage. Just as it contains a right for blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Mormons, morons, disabled people, and just about anyone else to marriage to whomever they so choose.
If you, dear Reader, would like to know exactly where this is written and why such equality is implicit to every American tax-paying citizen, please feel free to email me at jt.wild.coyote@gmail.com.
4. Gay marriage advocates believe we have a right to win. YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT WE DO.

Listen. We (I am speaking here on behalf of the entire GLBT and same-sex marriage advocate community) don't think you and your heinous, dogmatic, discriminatory, prejudiced beliefs don't count. We just think that you're ridiculous and tyrannical.

Alright, bleeding liberals. Let's buckle down and win this thing: it's been dragging out for too damn long already.

wildcoyote

Satire

Are you ready for this? I don't think so.

Proposition 8: The Musical

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

Fabulous. :D


Also, if you've never experienced these films, I highly suggest them:

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

The Ninth Gate

Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

Enemy Mine (1985)

Clash of the Titans (1981)

I also went to spend some Christmas gift-card (the ultimate I've-no-idea-what-the-hell-to-get-you and I-don't-care-enough-to-actually-shop-for!-something gift...) money at B&N, which means new books! Here's what I bought:

• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
• Dante's Inferno
• Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
• Selected Essays, Lectures, and Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson
• The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London
• Maya Angelou: Poems
• The Alchemist and Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho
• Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Here's what I passed up:

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• Bonsai for Beginners
• Milton's Paradise Lost
• Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
• The I-Ching (or Book of Changes)
• Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Yup. That about does it for today.

wildcoyote