tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215167662024-03-15T02:19:41.522-05:00Cause For ConcernGodless liberal, political, and religious snark, a call to activism, because America's leadership gives us Cause For Concern. Ooh, and bad words. And although you'll nary see a picture of me on the site, I'm a handsome man with a sweet ass. Be afeared.Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.comBlogger1635125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-24119692413607314852019-06-21T22:29:00.001-05:002019-06-21T22:29:02.760-05:00President Hannity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKKTfPfmhsrY_GIBAeNS7rUMmgwpq_-Zt9JLncgRXvN9TwhoSYToMdoM10qq8Ez56BoM5qBCCVCmbthy9TA5A3KgQVMd9OddTs46y8Zak5E05XPaGdyQxhkQQ0M0o0D7l6r80kA/s1600/DBBF20FE-0AAA-402B-988C-516867B8B598.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKKTfPfmhsrY_GIBAeNS7rUMmgwpq_-Zt9JLncgRXvN9TwhoSYToMdoM10qq8Ez56BoM5qBCCVCmbthy9TA5A3KgQVMd9OddTs46y8Zak5E05XPaGdyQxhkQQ0M0o0D7l6r80kA/s320/DBBF20FE-0AAA-402B-988C-516867B8B598.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
Sean Hannity is basically running the US government by proxy of an insecure, scandal-ridden monster. It has been obvious for ...oh, since Inauguration Day. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why is the mainstream media still hedging by Fox News as an influence when any human with a brain can read Trumps tweets and directly match the rhetoric and talking points with what is said by Sean Hannity, especially when it is commonly known that they share daily calls? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Is there a media blackout of reality here? Is there a secret op I don’t know about? Could someone in charge of a paper speak directly to this elephant in the room?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-43151558503808558442017-02-03T00:11:00.000-05:002017-02-03T00:11:46.189-05:00Rush Limbaugh Zoology - Groundhog Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfCTrTsgd3Ck-naHHjJAl6fq9wVX6Q4kiz_dp4wd0_p6peWenh5HrNytTl_Hmw2_tVIZJehdguuZ9tItzz9gZzU1UzRMV__E2QmXBbisMV24DMygRItlDiVhYEsL4j_hougvLnQ/s1600/limbaugh-hula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfCTrTsgd3Ck-naHHjJAl6fq9wVX6Q4kiz_dp4wd0_p6peWenh5HrNytTl_Hmw2_tVIZJehdguuZ9tItzz9gZzU1UzRMV__E2QmXBbisMV24DMygRItlDiVhYEsL4j_hougvLnQ/s320/limbaugh-hula.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
Today, the King of AM radio idiocy brought more ignorance to his listeners.<br />
<br />
Rush was pushing through his generalized generalizations and talking about how the liberal nature whackos were whining about Groundhog Day and how the groundhog was being abused, etc.<br />
<br />
And then he said "Did you know it's not even a groundhog? It's not even a groundhog! It's a marmot! Punxsutawney Phil is a fraud!"<br />
<br />
Note to Rush and all his listeners who are now dumber for hearing that: Marmot is the genus that encompasses multiple species (15) of groundhog (also known as a woodchuck, or whistlepig) and other rodents. Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog, which is a type of marmot.<br />
<br />
Ubiquitous conservative ignorance and a default dumbing-down of general scientific knowledge helps no one.Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-16770641111651534362016-06-27T16:15:00.001-05:002016-06-27T16:15:40.153-05:00Dealing With TelemarketersI got a call today from a crowded call center explaining in a thick, Indian accent, "Windows is alerting us you have several hacking events on your computer. I am calling to show and help you how to fix that."<br />
<br />
This is a common scam: Say "Windows," be exempt from the no call list as you're in Calcutta, and scare someone into buying a product or allowing them remotely into your system where they can make a damn mess. It is dangerous and targets, for the most part, elderly folks who can barely check their email. So fuck those callers.<br />
<br />
Me? I animatedly enjoyed the conversation, injecting many "oh yeah?" and "wow!" celebrations while making absolutely sure the very detailed instructions would not directly hurt me. She sent me to the Event Viewer and showed me common errors and warnings not important even enough to show up on my screen. I was very nice and very patient, and when she lied about what those warnings were and the dangers they presented, I asked her to "wait" when she gave me the next instruction, carefully cupped my hands around the mouthpiece, and in my best demon voice said: <br />
<blockquote><b>WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS SCARING AND HURTING OTHERS. STOP OR YOUR FAMILY WILL BE CURSED. STOP OR YOUR FAMILY WILL BE CURSED.</b></blockquote><br />
So... to much? What have you done to play with telemarketers?<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-13404772041093483912016-06-15T10:01:00.002-05:002016-06-15T10:01:33.232-05:00Tragedy in Orlando: Bars, Blame, and BullshitTrump says the Orlando shooter <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/06/13/3787964/trump-afghan-orlando-shooting/" target="_blank">was born in Afghan</a>, and revved up the media with a renewed dedication to keeping out the Muslim immigrants. Bullshit. This was a natural-born American man.<br />
<br />
<br />
Some people are calling for confiscation of weapons of anyone under investigation by the FBI or on the No Fly list. Bullshit. I'm liberal as hell, but that would be an insane infringement on rights, not to mention easily and often abused. Besides, after several interviews, the FBI cleared Omar Mateen and he was removed from the watch and no fly lists.<br />
<br />
<br />
[That said, holy shitballs did you see the piece Omar was packing?<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmpfet0A8HElKMddciLV2LzL_Ery31lZlNMhGppg7b84xv6zkP4nNTxJ2JbAQUqauB0hKEbrKpO9fQ8LA9x-dPvIIC6eN7l0YOQVc5JFJucnc4q1QkePODv0QP6ohDH79YGKqcA/s1600/sigmcx.jpg" alt="Sig Sauer MCX" /><br />
<i>Sig Sauer MCX</i><br />
<br />
<blockquote>SIG SAUER developed the MCX rifle for America’s special forces. Their goal: a firearm that’s as quiet as an MP5, as deadly as an AK-47, and more modular than anything ever designed. </blockquote><br />
So, uh, maybe <i>that</i> weapon shouldn't be commercially available.]<br />
<br />
<br />
Many, many conservatives are dredging the river again for the "Obama won't say Islamic Terrorism!" And that's bullshit. Obama is passive-aggressive trolling here. ISIS is all "Hey, we're The Islamic State!" and Obama grins and says "nope." He's not afraid to call it what it is, or catering to the PC crowd, he's refusing to give any legitimacy to ISIS by not recognizing what they are doing as Muslim in nature. Somehow, the conservative internet brigade that regularly incorporates mild invective with "The Democrat Party" and "Moslem" doesn't get that.<br />
<br />
And speaking of insane bullshit and anti-anything-Obama-says, a Missouri county has <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/14/3788497/cole-county-missouri-flag-orlando-shooting/" target="_blank">refused to fly their flags at half mast</a>. Grumble grumble Obama sucks. Hey, let's pull out the Flag Code and be dicks about a tragedy because Obama and gays.<br />
<br />
<br />
This was a horrible tragedy, but the emerging story appears to be that American-born Omar Mateen was a very conflicted individual. He was Muslim with a hard homosexual lean. And he hated it, hated it in himself, and in that conflict found vindication for his hate in some radical online materials. He gave a shout-out to ISIS through 911, as a cry for help or attention or both. Of course, ISIS saw the carnage and was like "Ooh, yeah, that's all us, man! We totally had a part in that!"<br />
<br />
This is not about immigrants because Omar was born here. This is not about Islam because religion was a bystander to rage. This isn't about terrorism because it was not an act planned to create fear for an agenda. And this isn't about guns or laws because there is literally no rational policy or legislation that could have been in place that would have stopped this from happening.<br />
<br />
If anything, this is about the stigma and taboo our society still places on homosexuality. Despite a victory for same sex marriage, our society as a whole is still sopping with hate and fear and ignorance when it comes to the LGBT community. Perhaps if Omar felt comfortable in the world around him, felt at home with what was inside, a calm would have taken root instead of his ultimate decision. And that's the fault of his religion - most religions - and lingering ignorance and, in some way, every single one of us.<br />
<br />
Be peaceful.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-31739492771772738092016-06-01T10:00:00.001-05:002016-06-01T10:00:50.066-05:00Dr. Seuss's WifeHelen Palmer Geisel, the wife of the famous Dr. Seuss, had a bad run through a series of illnesses, including cancer. Dr. Seuss began a relationship with another woman, which broke Helen down even further. Distraught, she decided on an overdose of barbiturates. <br />
<br />
This is her suicide note:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Dear Ted, What has happened to us? I don't know. I feel myself in a spiral, going down down down, into a black hole from which there is no escape, no brightness. And loud in my ears from every side I hear, 'failure, failure, failure...' I love you so much ... I am too old and enmeshed in everything you do and are, that I cannot conceive of life without you ... My going will leave quite a rumor but you can say I was overworked and overwrought. Your reputation with your friends and fans will not be harmed ... Sometimes think of the fun we had all thru the years ...</blockquote><br />
I just found this out today an needed to share the despair it made blossom inside me.<br />
<br />
Although, as I am happy and in love, the very existence of that dedication and passion for someone can be seen as a celebration of the human spirit - if you ignore the horror of the situation. :/<br />
<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-35239297706231673022016-05-23T10:07:00.001-05:002016-05-23T10:07:35.914-05:00The Restroom Debacle: A Summary<a href="https://i.imgur.com/SD9JfEd.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/SD9JfEd.png" /></a><br />
<br />
The restroom debate continues, most recently with the response to the Departments of Justice and Education releasing guidelines instructing schools to treat transgender students according to their gender identity. The battlefield is not so much a warzone as it is wells of ignorance residing in the comments sections of conservative copypasta sites, a circle-jerk of OMGz.<br />
<br />
Since some of the newer talking points erupting from conservative megaphones is "Libs are creating this as a smokescreen" and "Why can't we just let people decide this city by city?" [Hannity for the latter], I thought it might be instructive to take a step back and see how this actually went down.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Charlotte, NC</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/U4pC2qG.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/U4pC2qG.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
On February 22nd, 2016, Charlotte's city council passed an ordinance (7-4) which expanded protections to the LGBT community, effectively treating sexual orientation and identity as a protected class within Charlotte. Yes, the transgender bathroom accommodation was a part of that, but only a small part. Much of the ordinance dealt with business practices and not being able to discriminate based on sexual orientation when it came to serving customers and in hiring practices.<br />
<br />
There was some news coverage of the ordinance, but it was generally quiet and passed under the radar. It was Charlotte's business.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>NC State Legislature</b><br />
<br />
On March 23rd, 2016, just days before Charlotte's ordinance went into effect, the North Carolina General Assembly called both houses back in for an emergency session. They opened the circus tents, piled in front of cameras, and explained why this needed to be done. It's for the children!<br />
<br />
NC conservatives took one piece of the Charlotte ordinance - allowing trans people to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify - and confounded it with perversion, pedophilia, and molestation to proudly build their straw man. They said and repeated something to the effect of: "This will allow any man to 'identify' as a woman and walk into a women's restroom for a peepshow whenever they like - and think of the children!"<br />
<br />
Of course, that's not anywhere near reality, either of what the Charlotte ordinance would have done or why the state had to stop it.<br />
<br />
They passed a law shutting down Charlotte's non-discrimination policies and forbidding any other municipalities from attempting to do so in the future, claiming it was a state issue.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Deptartment of Education</b><br />
<br />
On May 13th, 2016, The Departments of Justice and Education released guidelines stating transgender students could not be discriminated against, as it violates Title IX's provision prohibiting discrimination based on sex.<br />
<br />
This is still in it's beginning stages, but the Administration has said that schools blatantly violating the guidelines could see their federal funding dollars disappear.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Realities</b><br />
<br />
Pervs are going to perv. Period. They'll get caught sneaking a peak or hiding a camera, and the law will deal with them. Anyone thinking treating the trans community equally is going to suddenly make perverts realize this one new trick is naive and foolish - they're already dressing like women and getting caught in the act.<br />
<br />
Realistically, dozens of schools and municipalities have been doing this for years. Increase in perversions or problems? None. Actually, since Target's policy on restrooms emerged and DoE came out with their guidelines, there has been one large increase in behavior: creepy conservative men, sometimes in wigs, have loudly protested and wildly barged into women's restrooms to prove it could be done. As if there was previously a police officer or gender force field keeping them from being an asshole for their YouTube Channel.<br />
<br />
This issue, for me, has really shown a blatant hypocrisy in yet another facet of the conservative facade. They're presenting a completely unrelated story - say, girl gets choked by pedo dude in bathroom - and then uses that as a reason for more laws and more restrictions. It's kind of like what conservatives say liberals do when it comes to gun control. In this case, zero legislation would have stopped this predator from following a little girl into a restroom to choke her. That's already illegal. Making up new laws that will harm the rights of others in order to make a show for morality and old-timey values doesn't help anyone.<br />
<br />
But the final reality of this issue and how it's playing out takes us back to where we started: Charlotte. Charlotte's ordinance was NOT just about bathrooms. Conservatives seized upon that because it could be exploited and blown large with misinformation and fear. The bigger picture is that conservatives are afraid of actual LGBT equality. Marriage was a big hurdle, and they see the avalanche. A federally-protected class is on its way, and when that happens, they will no longer be able to use the go-to excuse of religion to trump the rights of the LGBT community and justify discrimination.<br />
<br />
And when that day comes, it will be a good one indeed.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-45855343477699901832016-02-02T15:22:00.000-05:002016-02-02T15:22:31.685-05:00Limbaugh MathRush Limbaugh today said that Hillary won in Iowa because she won 6 coin tosses, and the odds of that is 7.5%<br />
<br />
Sean Hannity is polling his employees on the odds and screaming she stole it.<br />
<br />
(The odds of flipping either all heads or all tales in 6 consecutive tosses is 1.5625%.)<br />
<br />
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are morons.<br />
<br />
That is all.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-34624386609956474872016-01-29T15:57:00.001-05:002016-01-29T15:57:10.688-05:00Trump and the End of the Current Right WingI've never seen it before. Or heard it, I should say. I listen to local guy Brian Thomas, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and many others on a daily basis, and for the last few years, it's a very direct, right-wing talking point script: Obama bad, Hillary bad, America in ruins, Christian persecution, etc. I could hit Brian Thomas in the early morning and if I happened upon Limbaugh or Hannity at some time during the rest of the day, the talking points and formula was the same; they were literally getting all their material and opinions from the same websites like Drudge or National Review.<br />
<br />
It was incessant, predictable, and obvious. But then Trump joined the race, and I truly enjoy the madness that has followed. The script has changed. Every local show is looking for the angle and not quite sure where to go based on the differing views of the bigger names. And the RNC is going through the same mess. The convention is going to be a circus - and it's right here in Ohio.<br />
<br />
Here's a quick overview on the strange split in the AM talk show hosts' opinions.<br />
<br />
<strong>Brian Thomas</strong><br />
<br />
Brian leans a little nutty and grabs onto outlier talking points at times, but he's not hard to listen to. Brian is all conservative, and he is not in for Trump. An interaction on his show from yesterday tells it all:<br />
<br />
BT: You're on, go ahead<br />
<br />
Call: You're all backwards, man. You're just mad Trump's going to build a wall and send the bill to Mexico and fix America.<br />
<br />
BT: Well, that's you're opinion.<br />
<br />
Call: Yeah, you're all backwards.<br />
<br />
BT: I never addressed Trump on immigration except to ask about the logistics of it: how is he going to build a wall and get Mexico to foot the bill? I'm just looking for a substantial answer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Glenn Beck</strong><br />
<br />
Glenn's insufferable, sanctimonious, and awful at times, but can be entertaining, especially when he's dumping on Trump.<br />
<br />
Glenn, by his own report, has never endorsed a person for POTUS. He has now endorsed Ted Cruz because he not only doesn't like Trump, but he thinks Trump is outright dangerous for our country. He is now daily bringing out every awfulness about Trump, things I haven't even heard from liberal voices, and if he becomes the nominee, the Democratic Party has only to look at his archives for every dirty bit to attack him with.<br />
<br />
Today, he threw out a Hitler bone on unqualified but strong and feeding a need from the people.<br />
<br />
I have to say I kind of agree with Glenn Beck on this one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Rush Limbaugh</strong><br />
<br />
Dude's old, weak, and it scrambles my brains to listen. He spends just a little more time swearing he's not in the bag for Trump than he spends explaining how Trump is winning and he respects the guy. He also respects Cruz, and Rubio, and ...<br />
<br />
Limbaugh is on the fence so hard he has ass splinters. He doesn't want to offend anyone, will not commit, and wants to play nice and objective, but he's got a bit of a Trump bug if you listen for more than 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Sean Hannity</strong><br />
<br />
I honestly do not know how he speaks through 3 hours of radio and 1 hour of television every day with Trump's cock that far down his throat. <br />
<br />
Hannity is a goddamned Trump Worshiper. Church of Trump. If you could register Trump in the primaries, he'd jump on it. He's riding the Trump Train, the Trump Pony, and the Trump Wave all at once. He probably has Trump sheets and curtains and a Trump throw on his couch. <br />
<br />
I don't like Hannity. I don't even respect what he does in any way. I am embarrassed for him and his family. I don't know if Trump is paying him under the table, but the fawning and pawing and exaltation makes it a serious question, and his claims that he hasn't made up his mind between Trump and Cruz false on its face. <br />
<br />
Hannity is somehow an even sadder man than I thought possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
So that's the roundup. If you've heard any others mention Trump, feel free to comment. The man is a monster and he's made it this far.<br />
<br />
I'll be posting all next week on different aspects of this run and the terror of Trump. Next up? Trump the Bully<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-10657492733002959902015-10-05T19:52:00.002-05:002015-10-05T19:52:56.898-05:00Obama, Iraq, Twitter, and StupidOkay, let's do this again.<br />
<br />
Last night I saw a stupid tweet. I know, I know, they're ubiquitous. This one said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Obama's JV ISIS blows up ancient Arch of Triumph because... Obama. <a href="http://t.co/VIOvwR59S8">http://t.co/VIOvwR59S8</a> <a href="http://t.co/uFShjBFiXr">pic.twitter.com/uFShjBFiXr</a></p>— Rufus Kings ® ™ (@RufusKings1776) <a href="https://twitter.com/RufusKings1776/status/650831367970816000">October 5, 2015</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
I was feeling plucky and thought that maybe - maybe - if someone had just pointed out to him that he was wrong, then he would be enlightened. :P<br />
<br />
So, yes, stupid, but reminds me how ignorant America still is about Iraq. So let's review, shall we?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Getting Out of Iraq</b><br />
<br />
Bush started it. Seriously, this is not a blaming thing; it was a good thing. Bush started the negotiations to get us the hell out. Why? Iraq wanted us out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>International Negotiations</b><br />
<br />
Barack Obama is not the only guy, and the US is NOT the only country, despite the idiocy of the talking points of the detractors.<br />
<br />
Long story short: Iraq said GTFO. ALL the countries said "Um, okay," with the US saying "Ummmmm, okay."<br />
<br />
So we left.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>BLAME OBAMA!</b><br />
<br />
Obama was there when we were leaving. To some detractors and morons, that means Obama pulled out of Iraq. Because the international pull-out resulted in a vacuum, many ignorant people resort to the information in the tweet. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Facts</b><br />
<br />
We were part of an international coalition. Iraq said GTFO. We did. IF we had stayed, we'd be basically invading a sovereign nation, and subject to the penalties of one nation invading another. We'd be not at war with insurgents, but the nation of Iraq itself - as well as any other nations who thought of or were aligned with the defense of Iraq.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Troll</b><br />
<br />
Rufus blocked me. I wasn't terrible, but I was rude. He (she?) ran away in the end. And this is what we deal with every day. Every day, ignorant awful spewmouths put forth the day's agenda and talking points. And then block you when you apply intelligence.<br />
<br />
That's a part of America that makes me sad. Every day.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-77226816647002390772015-09-08T16:55:00.000-05:002015-09-08T16:55:35.465-05:00Sean Hannity and the KY Debacle<img src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k39/SericeousBurden/blog/hannity-ass-clown.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Sean Hannity says Kim Davis is being persecuted because she's a Christian. Sean Hannity says Kim Davis is just practicing her freedom of religion. Sean Hannity says Kim Davis could just do something else and be fine.<br />
<br />
Sean Hannity is an assclown. Sean Hannity is WRONG on every count. Sean Hannity needs to stop making his listeners more ignorant.<br />
<br />
Kim Davis has a job. Kim Davis didn't do her job. Kim Davis stopped those under her from doing their jobs. All because of "religious freedom." <br />
<br />
Which is bullshit. "But she had a change in her job description!" Bullshit. Kim Davis has one job description: do your job as it pertains to the law. The law changed. Her job changed. If she doesn't like it, she can quit.<br />
<br />
Sean Hannity is catering to the lowest of the most ignorant of AM radio listeners. He regularly lets callers speak stupid to his audience and has more than once purposefully spread misinformation long after it was debunked. <br />
<br />
Sean Hannity is a cause for concern. Listen often. You'll hear the heartbeat of the crazy.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-44590263776847299932015-08-14T10:05:00.000-05:002015-08-14T13:27:34.008-05:00Black People Scary<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/armed-black-panthers-protest-sandra-bland-death-article-1.2324234" target="_blank">This article</a> showed up on my FB feed today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oGb-0tqMkd6r6Qr9jt1UsTC7x1CRyV91oWYRMEy9JAb9QxNTjRxwLWVPlSI1g4CIpqYZV5vrhnQsRPCvsr-k1i2KTGYaQlrkK35w-GoNuAz3zpBn3AsbDr4beeF36ADI2OXHNQ/s1600/black-panther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oGb-0tqMkd6r6Qr9jt1UsTC7x1CRyV91oWYRMEy9JAb9QxNTjRxwLWVPlSI1g4CIpqYZV5vrhnQsRPCvsr-k1i2KTGYaQlrkK35w-GoNuAz3zpBn3AsbDr4beeF36ADI2OXHNQ/s320/black-panther.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Dozens of heavily armed Black Panthers rallied at a Texas jail Wednesday to protest the jail cell death of Sandra Bland — and oinked their anger at police.<br />
...<br />
About 25 demonstrators led by the New Black Panther Party marched in the two-hour protest.</blockquote><br />
Well, shit, I guess that could be pretty intimidating. <br />
<br />
Wait..."About 25?" Okay, I suppose that technically is more than one dozen, though "dozens" brings up a much larger picture in my head.<br />
<br />
But "About 25?" Maybe they were jumbled about and a little unruly and therefore difficult to count. Maybe all the guns and other weaponry was getting in the way. Let's go to the video!<br />
<br />
<iframe width="425" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UZHFjxTsMx4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
The video shows what's really going on here. 13 Black Panthers, less than half with <em>a</em> firearm, were peacefully protesting without incident.<br />
<br />
<br />
Which shows what's really going on here. In a conservative rag, the only time you'll ever see an OVERestimation of how many African Americans are gathered for protest is reporting on the Black Panthers. This is a NY Daily News report using a Brietbart video, sensationalizing a story and outright lying about who was gathered and what they were carrying. <br />
<br />
Black People Scary. That's the conservative race card. The real story is the tragedy of Sandra Bland's death. But conservative media is more than happy to twist it into the subversive and disgusting narrative that white folks should be scared. There are radical blacks out there, toting weapons, probably coming to your neighborhood tomorrow. That is institutionalized, conservative racism. And nothing less.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-26246019790939454052015-06-29T18:40:00.000-05:002015-06-29T18:40:23.285-05:00Charleston Shoot: How Conservatives CopeThe conservative reaction to the black church shooting in Charleston has been an odd one. I'm used to "it's not a terrorist so it's a crazy person" defense of the singularity of the events despite the singularity of some of what they call terrorist events. But this is different.<br />
<br />
Dylan Roof walked into a church after a Bible study and killed nine people.<br />
<br />
If Roof had done this and claimed he was an atheist and hated the religious, that would take top billing. "Oh, the persecution! Religion isn't safe in America today!" If he had done this and was a Muslim, he would be an assumed terrorist and been taken very seriously if he'd said he did it to harm Christians in the name of Allah. "The outrage! Terrorism and Sharia Law is taking over America! Christians aren't safe!"<br />
<br />
But he took up a flag as his symbol and claimed he was a racist and his intent was to kill black people. He openly said racist things during the shooting. And we get instead lulz about flags killing people, outrage over stores ceasing to sell it, and Hannity saying it's not about race because "how can you take the words of a psychopath seriously?"<br />
<br />
Hay, we're not racists cause that guy's nuts and hey what about this innocent flag!?<br />
<br />
Why? Because whenever racism rears its ugly head, conservatives don't deal with it, don't discuss it. They blame everyone else like it wasn't them who farted. Fox had some goons on the other day saying it was the fault of the Democrats that this happened. Why? Democrats race-bait and Democrats were racist back in the day. (They conveniently forget basic history and that the racists in the Democratic Party went Republican about 60 years ago.) <br />
<br />
But when a racist psychopath is NOT in the news? Fox is rife with commentary in racist code on "urban," "freeloaders," "Obamaphones," "welfare queens," the abundance of black-on-white crimes, and the need to drug test those on public assistance. <br />
<br />
And what was our shooter mumbling about when he was filling people with bullets? Blacks raping whites and the free ride they get in our country.<br />
<br />
I wonder where he heard that.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-30219460423371016372015-06-26T16:41:00.000-05:002015-06-26T16:41:49.412-05:00SCOTUS Legalizes Gay Marriage Nationwide - Hannity!I would like to congratulate all of my friends and their friends and everyone else in this nation who has struggled so long against an antiquated system of discrimination. Also: I'm available to solemnize weddings if you're nearby!<br />
<br />
Even Sean Hannity inadvertently got in on the celebration via iHeartRadio. LOL.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKU2hT0sQ2-YMNvF7IytBUiFjqNakTKsYRHkbqZElwVEigGmppUT9nfc8lIWFLSM1elD1KZ9UZ_RRqeLPUecbsh4hJ0qKvd__X7g-8KdwDXeEb1bxvapPwXJUTHsfxs7_HkTjTw/s1600/hannity-gay.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKU2hT0sQ2-YMNvF7IytBUiFjqNakTKsYRHkbqZElwVEigGmppUT9nfc8lIWFLSM1elD1KZ9UZ_RRqeLPUecbsh4hJ0qKvd__X7g-8KdwDXeEb1bxvapPwXJUTHsfxs7_HkTjTw/s1600/hannity-gay.jpg" /></a>Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-2477549007730224142015-04-28T08:32:00.001-05:002015-04-28T08:32:48.967-05:00President Obama at the White House Correspondents DinnerIf you have not seen President Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner, do yourself a favor and take a look. It's Obama at his funniest and sharpest. And it's mostly funny because it's so absolutely raw, taking the shots he wants under the guise of comedy. :D<br />
<br />
<iframe width="425" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oi86E5GgawY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-6504237800333671292015-04-21T21:35:00.000-05:002015-04-21T21:35:58.289-05:00Fantastic Four TrailerFantastic Four trailer. The movie has been poo-poo'd, but looks pretty damn good. The last one stunk. What do you think?<br />
<br />
<iframe width="425" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rRoD28-WgU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-86371009183391619612015-04-16T20:32:00.000-05:002015-04-16T20:44:28.845-05:00Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens - Trailer #2End of this trailer I wept like a little girl. I have never felt so much joy and excitement for a movie in my life.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="425" height="239" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ngElkyQ6Rhs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Enjoy! (and full-screen that video ferchrissakes!)<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-67274612471893122922015-04-15T15:03:00.000-05:002015-04-15T15:04:17.142-05:00Marco Rubio ...or Is He?Here's a picture of Marco Rubio, Florida Senator who is aiming for the Republican nomination in the race to the White House.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAL3cAILEy8ZKg6kIXrgGbPwavnFPW276th6adqrULxXFKUU8gNAzduw4v11Vsl4ri1WPAC_yw9jk-MeqHWm95hBv4O_LOAMBQo-DSG5AKFxRWZwpATaOhT-j3k7V3pFDt7ZiwA/s1600/rubio.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAL3cAILEy8ZKg6kIXrgGbPwavnFPW276th6adqrULxXFKUU8gNAzduw4v11Vsl4ri1WPAC_yw9jk-MeqHWm95hBv4O_LOAMBQo-DSG5AKFxRWZwpATaOhT-j3k7V3pFDt7ZiwA/s1600/rubio.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Here's a picture of Michael Weatherly, known for his work as Dinozzo on NCIS.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04FhSffKwTzeUicHsNTOnrWoislKTSJJCu3W_t2yecZ4MpKrTxAAsEPILS4Gy_PUy0t2Mz7lx8k-_ig0uTQytz9tX70x2I__itjO2v8y0LEOr7XRhsws7_ubp2bOnlyA7gOYhDg/s1600/weatherly.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04FhSffKwTzeUicHsNTOnrWoislKTSJJCu3W_t2yecZ4MpKrTxAAsEPILS4Gy_PUy0t2Mz7lx8k-_ig0uTQytz9tX70x2I__itjO2v8y0LEOr7XRhsws7_ubp2bOnlyA7gOYhDg/s1600/weatherly.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Here's a picture of Timothy Olyphant, known for his work on Hitman, Live Free or Die Hard, and Justified.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXjsa-EkDT1c0WsC5g-5D1NOExcTY9P39iNTXNwstrh5CTjSdEzA4Lq2Bsq0slBxq95HdQ-T4goWE0Vq_VXtgBZ-Gb9qCFE84FXSmewms1CTsqURVmlAT4QmFGNsVFoe0NJK2iw/s1600/olyphant.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXjsa-EkDT1c0WsC5g-5D1NOExcTY9P39iNTXNwstrh5CTjSdEzA4Lq2Bsq0slBxq95HdQ-T4goWE0Vq_VXtgBZ-Gb9qCFE84FXSmewms1CTsqURVmlAT4QmFGNsVFoe0NJK2iw/s1600/olyphant.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
So how can a guy look so much like two well-versed, attractive, and just downright cool actors - and still be such a douche?<br />
<br />
ALSO: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZSa70pN8Xtm0cTyRLXhYWx5Itql1bwzKsNtB_0zv12nDaY9apkZLaH9o6u3bbpfcptGppmCTe58-jUnvPAg2s4_ooRFohTZMVfiJNVsnJJyLlCx54WlZZ0Rynw4-VhSJm2rsSA/s1600/rubiologo.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZSa70pN8Xtm0cTyRLXhYWx5Itql1bwzKsNtB_0zv12nDaY9apkZLaH9o6u3bbpfcptGppmCTe58-jUnvPAg2s4_ooRFohTZMVfiJNVsnJJyLlCx54WlZZ0Rynw4-VhSJm2rsSA/s1600/rubiologo.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Christ, Rubio, what is that? You're dotting the "i" with our nation? What sort of self-aggrandizement symbolism are we supposed to pull from that? <br />
<br />
And what the hell did you do to Alaska and Hawaii!?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-34868201128790889402015-04-14T18:16:00.001-05:002015-04-14T18:31:20.800-05:00ABC World News Tonight: The iPhone Struggle is Real<a href="http://i.imgur.com/m5wrCaI.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/m5wrCaI.jpg" width="425" height="202" /></a><br />
<br />
I've just had ABC World News Tonight on in the background as I prep dinner. <br />
<br />
David Muir was passing on the news that Obama was removing Cuba from the list of supporters of terrorism and added this bit:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>And some of the reporting during our time there has shown us that there are children who have never even seen an iPhone</blockquote><br />
I'm sorry, what?<br />
<br />
As of two years ago, Cuba was still exhibiting symptoms of the crushing of rights in the forms of exile and political prisoners. When the fuck did kids getting to play with an Apple device become the measure of ...anything?<br />
<br />
Is this a sign of our own entitlement society? A complete and utter lack of understanding of what really is "poor" or "disadvantaged?" Maybe ABC should do a focus piece on sub-Saharan Africa and the poverty and blight and starvation that happens there every day and has for ...ever?<br />
<br />
Mind blown.Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-76407157220600970902015-04-02T13:18:00.001-05:002015-04-03T10:14:28.547-05:00Indiana is for Bigots. And Handouts. But NOT Gay Wedding Pizza Catering.Anyone who has been paying any attention is aware of Indiana's new Religious Freedom law and all the hullabaloo it has created. The governor is under fire, legislature is frantically trying to rewrite the law, and businesses and organizations and even whole states are boycotting the Hoosier state.<br />
<br />
(If anyone is not aware, Indiana's law is NOT the same as the federal or other state laws conservatives are comparing it to. It was written with the aid of anti-LGBT lobbyists who have been very clear of the intent of the law and can be seen standing behind the governor during the signing of the law.)<br />
<br />
But aside from all the fallout taking place around the state, the story of Memories Pizza in the small town of Walkerton (pop. 2,247) in Northern Indiana caught my attention.<br />
<br />
There's not a whole lot of people in Walkerton, so Memories Pizza isn't a huge business. But somehow they thought it a good idea to speak out to the media and publicly state that they would never cater a gay wedding with their pizza. Nevermind that no gay couple would ever cater a wedding with pizza or that Memories had never been part of such a request: they wanted to make it clear that because Jesus they would never be a part of this wildly hypothetical homosexual situation.<br />
<br />
Cue the Justisplosion!<br />
<br />
We start with the fuse being lit by this little story. People were just aching to see if anything would come of the law the way it was being framed and there it was in one happy little sound bite. It went viral.<br />
<br />
To the Yelp! <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/memories-pizza-walkerton" target="_blank">Yelp was the first to fall</a>. I think they had 2 reviews before the story. Now they have hundreds of 1-stars. Likewise they were lambasted in comments on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MemoriesPizza" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. <br />
<br />
And because they hadn't secured their domain name, someone else bought it and populated it <a href="http://memoriespizza.com/" target="_blank">with a message not to discriminate</a>.<br />
<br />
And then things reportedly got a little out of hand. Apparently they were receiving so many critical phone calls and even some threats, the owner <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2015/04/01/memories-pizza-closes-indiana-deny-service-gay-wedding/" target="_blank">decided to temporarily close</a>.<br />
<br />
And at that point, I'm a little sad for them.<br />
<br />
There's no excusing ignorance or bigotry, but the owner did clarify he welcomed anyone into the restaurant, just didn't want to take part in a gay wedding. I'll give him a bit of a pass on that. It was stupid to make a spectacle out of himself, but it's also stupid that there were so many phone calls and threats by people going too far that he had to shut down.<br />
<br />
However, a funny thing happened on the way to shutting down. <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/MemoriesPizza" target="_blank">They started a GoFundMe page</a>. And that's where the backlash to the backlash is living right now. As of this morning, they'd pulled in about $30,000. But then Glenn Beck plugged the hell out of the page on his radio show. As of this writing, they have pulled in over $190,000 in less than 24 hours. And since they keep bumping up their goal, it appears they're quite comfortable with the insane handout.<br />
<br />
More than anything, this is an interesting societal proxy war on norms in the age of a 24-hour news cycle and unlimited interconnectedness. Bigotry will not be tolerated by much of our society, so when that one gopher head pops up in a hightened atmosphere of sensitivity, all of Yelp and Facebook and phones come down upon it. A way to counter the counter comes along. Some jump in to support. Some call that support "anti-bullying" but most are anti-liberal, anti-gay, anti-tech, right wing media brainwashed about the details, or all of the above.<br />
<br />
Indiana rewriting the law is not going to solve the problem, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. Eventually LGBT will become a federally protected class, and then the real discussion of where one person's right to discriminate bumps into another person's right to be treated equally. Or at least we would if real discussions were possible in this environment of highly-polarized, highly-politicized, feigned persecution and bigotry wrapped in religion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE:</b> As of 11am EST 4/3: Yesterday's plug by Glenn Beck was followed by Rush Limbaugh then Sean Hannity. Hannity had the owner on his Fox show last night. The fund is at about $540,000.Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-72691376043405311272015-03-13T18:42:00.002-05:002015-03-13T18:45:04.456-05:00Art in the Form of Honey on Naked BodiesNSFW. Naked people covered in honey. So obviously NSFW in an arty way. No, really - this is truly art. I love this.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="450" height="253" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0wVRClZhYxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(<i>P.S.: 4 days in a row? I'm baaaack! I feel all tingly!</i>)Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-76313045802435789932015-03-12T20:47:00.000-05:002015-03-12T20:47:20.593-05:00Gonna Need Some Van Murals to Properly Claim Comeback, No?America! Fuck yeah!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/wJwZFVt.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/wJwZFVt.jpg" /></a>Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-75249250406308464882015-03-11T15:00:00.000-05:002015-03-11T15:00:02.320-05:00Pat Robertson's Gay Boy KissFile this under schadenfreude.<br />
<br />
The right wing is all abuzz about teh gayz again. Okay, fine, they never stop - one would think they had some kind of fixation on the homosexual lifestyle.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2015/03/04/abc-familys-the-fosters-airs-youngest-ever-gay-kiss-between-two-13-year-old-boys/" target="_blank">This time</a> the youngest gay kiss on teevee EVAR has just happened, and OMG it was a kiss and it was two boys and they are 13! Good thing I didn't kiss a girl until I was 18 and consenting. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/mzoeDTZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/mzoeDTZ.jpg" /></a><br />
<i>OMG, teh gayz are kissing!</i><br />
<br />
The irony, the schadenfreude, comes with the origins of this kiss.<br />
<br />
The Family Channel was founded by Pat Robertson. Yes, that Pat Robertson. He founded the channel as a Christian Broadcasting Network channel in 1977. It became the first basic cable channel to be transmitted via satellite from launch. In 1988, it incorporated the word "Family," going to The CBN Family Channel, settling on The Family Channel in 1990. In 1998, it was sold to Rupert Murdoch and FOX, with the one caveat: not keep it pure, not keep it Christian, but keep airing The 700 Club. Robertson made out like a bandit as the channel was purchased for $3.3 billion. After that, Fox Family was sold to ABC. ABC Family now regularly airs Harry Potter witchcraft marathons and, recently, a gay kid kiss.<br />
<br />
So Pat Robertson, the man who claims natural disasters are created by the existence of homosexuality itself, turned over a solid values-programming channel for raw greed and spawned what is today the youngest gay kiss on cable television.<br />
<br />
Hehe. Total schadenfreude.<br />
<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-8555630148685066492015-03-10T19:15:00.002-05:002015-03-10T19:15:58.980-05:00Catholic Answers, Catholic LiesAs I've mentioned before, I enjoy spending time in the car listening to right wing and religious AM talk radio. It keeps me informed about what's happening in circles to which I don't belong, fires me up, gets me thinking, and serves as fodder for this blog.<br />
<br />
This weekend I was in a museum looking at some illuminated texts and remembered a rather poignant piece of radio I'd dismissed from a couple weeks ago.<br />
<br />
During <a href="http://www.catholic.com/radio/shows/open-forum-for-non-catholics-28218" target="_blank">this episode</a> of Catholic Answers, they were doing a "Non-Catholic Open Forum" where they specifically ask the audience to let just Non-Catholics to call with their questions. The show is generally a doctrine-splain-o-thon with some highlights in either caller ignorance or odd interpretation, but this one was cringe-worthy, and it wasn't the caller's fault this time.<br />
<br />
Patrick Coffin with Bishop James Conley were hosting and "Henry in Kansas" came on with this question:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Why the Church wasn't doing anything to stop the slaughter of the Native Americans over here? Because of that we lost a lot of knowledge, a lot of books, codices and all that.<br />
<br />
(Question is doctored/paraphrased on the linked page.)</blockquote><br />
Patrick Coffin replied:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Before we change to second gear, Henry, Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1300s and the technology of written material didn't exist in the New World, so I'm not sure what books were there to destroy - since there weren't any books.</blockquote><br />
WHAT THE EVER-LOVING FUCK!?<br />
<br />
Henry comes back with the very factual and calm response that Aztecs and others recorded their knowledge in pictographs and other writings and Patrick dismisses him with "I'm not sure that's true, Henry."<br />
<br />
First off, the printing press was developed by Gutenberg about 1450. <br />
<br />
Secondly, the words that came out of Patrick Coffin's mouth - besides the random date pick - were drivel of the most ignorant sort. Not only is there "written material" that we have records of tracing back over 5000 years, but to say that there were no books before the printing press discounts the over 1400 years of hand-written Biblical material that serve as the very basis of his religion!<br />
<br />
Arrrrgh!<br />
<br />
So for anyone who listens to Catholic Answers Live for clarifications on specific Church doctrine as it exists today, you should be in the clear. But if Patrick Coffin or any other apologists start making mention of history or dates or happenings outside the codification of the Bible, you might want to vet those "facts." <br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-90968938491112448182015-02-11T10:59:00.000-05:002015-02-11T10:59:04.255-05:00Teh Gayz Driving Conservatives CrazypantsOn Monday, the Supreme Court decided not to delay same sex marriage in Alabama, and conservatives are flipping their shit.<br />
<br />
The huge flip-out is brought to you in part by Justice Clarence "Pubes on a Coke" Thomas. In his <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/10/us/justice-thomass-dissent-hints-of-supreme-courts-intentions-on-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0" target="_blank">dissent on the Alabama case</a>, he may have dropped a hint that SCOTUS is going to lean pro-LGBT in upcoming rulings.<br />
<br />
In just two days, Alabama has turned into a disaster. SCOTUS struck down the state's ban, meaning immediately same-sex couples can get married. But Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was all "Hell naw, not in my 'Bama!" and ordered probate judges to ignore the highest court in the land and NOT offer marriage licenses. Some are complying and some are defying that order. And now <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/alabama-woman-arrested-after-trying-perform-same-sex-marriage">a woman has been arrested for officiating</a> a same sex marriage. Wut? <br />
<br />
The walls of bigotry continue to fall, and it couldn't happen at a faster pace. Hell, even Nebraska took their lumps and decided they <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/nebraska-recognizes-same-sex-marriage-by-accident-114924.html">loved guns more than they hated gays</a> and by proxy recognized same sex marriage.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean the anachronistic creepers aren't going down kicking and screaming. Sam Brownbeck, governor of Kansas, took a break from dealing with the budget nightmare he created to <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/02/10/sam_brownbacks_latest_outrage_governor_strips_lgbt_state_employees_of_non_discrimination_protections/">issue an executive order</a> removing LGBT from the state's protected class list. Because sometimes slashing pensions and cutting education needs to be punctuated with an announcement to the nation of "Don't worry folks, Kansas still hates fags."<br />
<br />
And now we even see congress getting in on the action. Ted Cruz, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/politics/ted-cruz-canada-citizenship/">recent ex-Canadian</a> and potential presidential candidate, has re-introduced the <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/ted-cruz-gay-marriage-115095.html">State Marriage Defense Act</a> which would require the federal government to defer to state law in deciding if people are married or not. This is, on its face, insane: imagine getting legally married in Alabama and receiving all the normal state and federal tax benefits and then moving to Ohio with your job and suddenly you're not married, lose all protections, and can't even visit your partner in the hospital. It'll never make it to Obama's desk. But Teddy's aiming for the White House and doesn't want anyone thinking he's okay with them queers.<br />
<br />
We are living in a monumental time. SCOTUS will be deciding if the Constitution <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-cases-114336.html">guarantees the right for same sex couples to marry by June</a>, and based on Thomas's hint, it's going to change the law federally. It is going to be a sight to behold, and finally give me a chance to officiate same-sex marriages here in Ohio (or Indiana, or Kentucky).<br />
<br />
Let's just hope that the sullied character of the bigots desperately grasping at straws and straw men don't do too much damage in their sad attempt to keep hold of a time long past its expiration date.<br />
Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21516766.post-14997082960688097192015-01-28T00:34:00.000-05:002015-01-28T00:34:02.706-05:00Everything You Need to Know About "American Sniper"I saw American Sniper this weekend. This is a quagmire wrapped in a clusterfuck, cream-filled with a shitstorm of feels, mostly because people can't separate the different aspects of the conversation. Some include: Rogen's comments, Moore's comments, accuracy of the film, quality of the film, themes of the film, Kyle's hyperbole, legitimacy of critiquing a veteran, and legitimacy of the Iraq war.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, most critic detractors pack it all into a lazy box of stupid and say things like "no liberal can claim to support the military" or "LOL Moore's crew are all fat tards" or "you are an idiot traitor of America!" (Things I've read online in the last three days.)<br />
<br />
So let's break this all down and make sure we understand the differences between the pieces parts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>American Sniper as a Movie</strong><br />
<br />
SPOILERS!<br />
<br />
American Sniper was a little short on development. I think Clint Eastwood got a little too ambitious in trying to cram all that graham and still have room for the honey. The husband-wife relationship was rushed. We never see real development in their pairing beyond what we might have seen in a flashback. The inter-war bits of their lives were almost filler as we watched him go from tour to tour.<br />
<br />
The war bits were more vivid, more fleshed out, but still rushed. We saw tough choices, partial relationships, and even a moment with Kyle's brother that showed war as disheartening.<br />
<br />
And when he came home, Kyle's regeneration was pinned down to a couple scenes. Then he was happy. Then he died. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Sloppy Filmmaking</i><br />
<br />
Aside from the stuffing mentioned above, there are a couple sloppy mentions:<br />
<br />
After tour three, Kyle's wife says "If you go back, we won't be here when you return." HUGE words. But a hug and it's all good and he's off?<br />
<br />
The Butcher and the Sniper: Tour two and three were based on finding "The Butcher" so they could find the "bad" sniper. Fail both time. But then four was the money shot on the sniper and The Butcher was ...where? Nothing. <br />
<br />
Ring switch: Kyle wore 3 different wedding rings throughout the movie: a small silver one right after his wedding, a small gold one during his service, and a large silver one after discharge. Why?<br />
<br />
Fucking fake baby. Really? For a blockbuster movie? <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2015/01/why-american-sniper-used-a-creepy-fake-baby.html">Producers noted Baby #1 had a fever and #2 didn't show</a>. You're Hollywood. Only two babies in Hollywood? No, Cooper gets no props for acting with a plastic baby; Eastwood gets shit on for putting him in that position. WTF?<br />
<br />
Texas: In this scene, we're moving to Texas. Not really mentioned where we lived when not at war before, but now we're in Texas because ...that's where Kyle dies?<br />
<br />
Final scene: A SEAL sniper who is a complete expert on the use of firearms walks through the living room with what very much looks like a real revolver. He shushes the kids and walks into the kitchen where he not only points the gun at his wife but cocks it. In play. This is either stupid or a commentary on how socilization of veterans makes them forget everything; either way, it's wrong. And then they focus on him putting the cocked gun on the cabinet. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun">Chekhov's Gun, anyone?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Themes in the Film</b><br />
<br />
America protects freedom. Patriots protect freedom. War can be misdirected. War can tear families apart. War can ruin families. Patriots can crash. War hurts people. America is great. Recovery is difficult. War makes PTSD. We need to help ALL our veterans. Hero is a word. Hero is forever. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kyle's Hyperbole</b><br />
<br />
This doesn't really hit the movie (other than it's based on the book he wrote), but <a href="http://mpmacting.com/blog/2014/7/19/truth-justice-and-the-curious-case-of-chris-kyle">Chris Kyle is a known a proven fabulist.</a> That means he lied and made up stories. Take it for what you will. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Rogen's Comments</b><br />
<br />
Seth Rogen said <a href="https://twitter.com/Sethrogen/status/556890149674434560">American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds.</a> Rogen was making a goofy comment about how American Sniper was ...idunno... a little hyperbolic? A little hero worship? <br />
<br />
Ignore everything anyone says about how it was like a Nazi Propaganda film. That's ignorant talking point bullshit. They probably never saw the movie, let alone the movie in the movie. Here it is:<br />
<br />
<iframe width="425" height="239" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/upcyEnwi8Lk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
So Rogen jokingly said this Hollywood movie about a real person was a little "kill all the bad guys" like the movie-in-movie he's referencing. Funny. But why is that bad or crazy? How was it not in jest? Conservatives =/= humor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Moore's Comments</b><br />
<br />
Michael Moore tweeted <a href="https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/556914094406926336">My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse</a>. <br />
<br />
Moore's own uncle was killed by a sniper. His family (and probably fam military friends) put that in his head. He said it. And in return, I've heard nothing about how his family suffered or how his uncle was a hero. Instead, we get jokes about how fat he is and is stupid. <br />
<br />
Way to honor a fallen soldier, military folks. If you attack his retelling and/or his weight, you know nothing of honor. But enjoy you LOLz.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Eastwood</b><br />
<br />
Maybe: Eastwood saw this as a modern day western, a tale of guns. He didn't give a shit about the real life. The Kyle backstory was chattel to give him a baby. The man in almost-white is hunting the man in perpetual black. The parity moment is when the man in black picks up the phone to leave his apparent wife with the baby. They are the same. If Kyle were born in Syria, he very well could have been his own nemesis. Khaki and black, good and bad, the long con, the long war, with long guns, and the long shot that ended it. Swing a bunch of American flags at the end and beg for an Oscar.<br />
<br />
The man spoke to a chair for over ten minutes. Why is that weird?<br />
<br />
Nah, speculation ended: <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/clint-eastwood-american-sniper-anti-war">Eastwood came out and called the movie anit-war.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Fin</b><br />
<br />
I think snipers are necessary ...but I shouldn't have to agree to that to defend my personal patriotism. I don't think the movie was bad because it was about Chris Kyle. I think that movie was average because of how it was made. I know (proven by a court of law) that Chris Kyle made up stories. Mentioning that does not make me a terrorist or communist. Criticizing what people do in the name of questionable war does not make them against the people who have to fight that war. <br />
<br />
There is a difference between respecting the troops and respecting the war. Too many people don't get that. And the war hero and war worship that comes from simple minds who like little boxes is disrespecting every man and woman who put their lives on the line for this bullshit.<br />
<br />
Any questions?Ricky Shambleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09507937845795960725noreply@blogger.com2