Here in California it looks like the most contentious issue this election season isn’t Democrat v. Republican, but is instead whether gay men and women should have the right to marry. My stance on this is clear: marriage is for people in love, no matter what their gender.
Because of this, I actually consider it a non-issue as there are far more pressing concerns California and the world should be dealing with. Two men getting married isn’t going to put me out of a job, kill a handful of Iraqis or cause my parents house to be foreclosed on. It just isn’t that big of a deal and has little impact on the world at large. This is partly why I find the fact that so many religious groups are pouring money, resources and their concern into stopping gay marriage so laughable.
I mean, if we take a look at the bible it throws a lot of stuff the faithful should or should not do out there. Things you should do: love your mother and father, care for the sick, be meek, help those less fortunate, feed the hungry, keep Sunday sacred and so on. Things you shouldn’t do kill, steal, want what you do not have, worship other gods and so on.
So when it comes to asking “What Would Jesus Do?” about gay marriage, the answer seems to me to be very little. Why? Because he’d be too busy trying to bring peace to the Congo, protecting the innocent, housing homeless families, feeding the hungry, and so much more.
What would pierce the cold heart of a Catholic God more, two men finding happiness in marriage or the attacking, raping and killing of his believers in India ?
How about a little perspective people.
Anyway, here is some clickability: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-turtle31-2008oct31,0,6874328.story
BE FREE!!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I’ve been feeling out of sorts lately, a bit depressed, a bit afraid, restless and a bit worried about just about everything under the sun.
These feelings run through every aspect of my life: low pay, no roommate, lack of money, no prospect for a relationship, blah, blah, blah. I guess it could be identified as the classic-lower-middle-class-malaise that so many single people in their late twenties and early thirties find themselves in from time to time. Still, that doesn’t make me feel any better.
A few days ago when I joked with a friend about this feeling she told me that life wasn’t a race. After thinking about it for a bit, I have to say, no it is. Although I’m no longer measuring myself against others I am measuring myself against the passage of time.
For example, next year I’ll officially be on the downside of my thirties, which puts me at approximately halfway through the average man’s life span of 72. With my military stint and my struggle though college I began saving and investing late. Now my retirement and my investments are hemorrhaging funds, finances are so tight my savings has nearly vanished and I don’t want to attempt (I stress that in this economy) to leave a job I am still using for experience for a job that pays better. Because of this, I worry this financial instability will keep me in economic limbo and the stresses that accompany it for the rest of my life.
Damn, sometimes life is a bitch.
Here is some giggity: http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=21056@keye.dayport.com&navCatId=24
Giant Balls!!!
These feelings run through every aspect of my life: low pay, no roommate, lack of money, no prospect for a relationship, blah, blah, blah. I guess it could be identified as the classic-lower-middle-class-malaise that so many single people in their late twenties and early thirties find themselves in from time to time. Still, that doesn’t make me feel any better.
A few days ago when I joked with a friend about this feeling she told me that life wasn’t a race. After thinking about it for a bit, I have to say, no it is. Although I’m no longer measuring myself against others I am measuring myself against the passage of time.
For example, next year I’ll officially be on the downside of my thirties, which puts me at approximately halfway through the average man’s life span of 72. With my military stint and my struggle though college I began saving and investing late. Now my retirement and my investments are hemorrhaging funds, finances are so tight my savings has nearly vanished and I don’t want to attempt (I stress that in this economy) to leave a job I am still using for experience for a job that pays better. Because of this, I worry this financial instability will keep me in economic limbo and the stresses that accompany it for the rest of my life.
Damn, sometimes life is a bitch.
Here is some giggity: http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=21056@keye.dayport.com&navCatId=24
Giant Balls!!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
super-fabulistic-doublelicious-triple time-mega-fine
Okay, let’s veer a bit from politics and my warped sense of the world.
In my net surfing I came across a so called controversy about pictures of Venus Williams water surfing. Seems that some people out there are being a bit critical about her…shall we say…proportions.
ARE THEY FREAKING NUTS?!?!?! I have one word about these controversial photos: SUPER-FABULISTIC-DOUBLELICIOUS-TRIPLE TIME-MEGA-FINE!!!!!
And here is some giggity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xH0xorgUoI
I dare you to not laugh.
In my net surfing I came across a so called controversy about pictures of Venus Williams water surfing. Seems that some people out there are being a bit critical about her…shall we say…proportions.
ARE THEY FREAKING NUTS?!?!?! I have one word about these controversial photos: SUPER-FABULISTIC-DOUBLELICIOUS-TRIPLE TIME-MEGA-FINE!!!!!
And here is some giggity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xH0xorgUoI
I dare you to not laugh.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Bizarro World
Sorry I haven’t updated in a while. With the roommate out, helping the parents and being a lazy ass it can get a little hectic.
So at a recent McCain campaign rally the crowd became so worked up when the Senator mentioned Obama they started yelling “traitor” and “terrorist.” McCain did the decent thing and condemned such talk but holy shit! People are losing their freaking minds.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen people lose their heads like they have during the run-up to this election. I’ve seen and heard so many hypocritical, ridiculous and insane things I’m starting to wonder if I’ve stepped into some sort of Bizarro world.
Below are just a few examples of what I’m talking about:
NPR had an old lady on the other day who said she was a life long Democrat who has never considered herself racist, but she’s not sure she’s going to vote Democrat this time because Obama would put “his people” first.
And who can forget the Republicans who’ve lambasted Obama for not having enough experience and then embracing Palin.
Or the Republicans who’ve lambasted Obama for not having enough experience even though they voted George W. Bush into office.
Then there was the female Democrats who are so upset about Clinton not being named the Democratic candidate they're voting for the McCain/Palin ticket.
We also have the evangelical females who believe a woman’s place is in the home caring for children but are championing Palin.
And there are the masses at MCain campaign events booing government regulation, when McCain says that deregulation is partly to blame for the country’s housing crisis and subsequent economic downturn.
There are also the Hilary Clinton critics who told her to stop whining about her media coverage but are sick of the liberal media’s coverage of Governor Sarah Palin. On the same page, we can’t forget the Palin critics telling her to stop crying about the media coverage when they cried about the coverage of Clinton .
We also have all the crazy things each candidate has said, like John McCain saying the economy is “fundamentally sound” and Obama saying the surge of troops in Iraq is not working. (Again I would highly recommend that everyone research the truth in each candidate’s words by hitting up PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org.)
Still, I think the oddest thing I’ve seen is the independently produced Hilary Clinton campaign video: Hilary for You and Me. This, in my opinion, is why she was not chosen as the Democratic candidate. Through no fault of her own, I believe this video actually will cause people who see her in the street to run up and punch her in the face.
The video above is enough giggity for today.
So at a recent McCain campaign rally the crowd became so worked up when the Senator mentioned Obama they started yelling “traitor” and “terrorist.” McCain did the decent thing and condemned such talk but holy shit! People are losing their freaking minds.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen people lose their heads like they have during the run-up to this election. I’ve seen and heard so many hypocritical, ridiculous and insane things I’m starting to wonder if I’ve stepped into some sort of Bizarro world.
Below are just a few examples of what I’m talking about:
NPR had an old lady on the other day who said she was a life long Democrat who has never considered herself racist, but she’s not sure she’s going to vote Democrat this time because Obama would put “his people” first.
And who can forget the Republicans who’ve lambasted Obama for not having enough experience and then embracing Palin.
Or the Republicans who’ve lambasted Obama for not having enough experience even though they voted George W. Bush into office.
Then there was the female Democrats who are so upset about Clinton not being named the Democratic candidate they're voting for the McCain/Palin ticket.
We also have the evangelical females who believe a woman’s place is in the home caring for children but are championing Palin.
And there are the masses at MCain campaign events booing government regulation, when McCain says that deregulation is partly to blame for the country’s housing crisis and subsequent economic downturn.
There are also the Hilary Clinton critics who told her to stop whining about her media coverage but are sick of the liberal media’s coverage of Governor Sarah Palin. On the same page, we can’t forget the Palin critics telling her to stop crying about the media coverage when they cried about the coverage of Clinton .
We also have all the crazy things each candidate has said, like John McCain saying the economy is “fundamentally sound” and Obama saying the surge of troops in Iraq is not working. (Again I would highly recommend that everyone research the truth in each candidate’s words by hitting up PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org.)
Still, I think the oddest thing I’ve seen is the independently produced Hilary Clinton campaign video: Hilary for You and Me. This, in my opinion, is why she was not chosen as the Democratic candidate. Through no fault of her own, I believe this video actually will cause people who see her in the street to run up and punch her in the face.
The video above is enough giggity for today.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Room for Rent
I’ve evicted my roommate for her failure to pay rent on time so I am again looking to rent out a room.
If you know a responsible, relatively clean and stable person who might be interested please pass this along to them.
The room is located in a 2 bedroom 2 bath Victorian near the corner of 17th and O Street. It’s a prime location within walking distance of numerous restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Safeway is 4 blocks away. The light rail 3 blocks and with a bike you can get to Downtown Plaza in 10 minutes.
There is a garage, a storage area, a backyard, a large porch, a washer and dryer and a dishwasher.
The total rent is $1250 + utilities which run around $100. I’m renting out the smaller of the two bedrooms with its full bath and a walk-in closet for $550 plus half of the utilities.
Garages downtown go for about $65 to $100 a month so if the renter has any interest in parking their car in the garage we can work something out.
The room will be available October 15.
If you know a responsible, relatively clean and stable person who might be interested please pass this along to them.
The room is located in a 2 bedroom 2 bath Victorian near the corner of 17th and O Street. It’s a prime location within walking distance of numerous restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Safeway is 4 blocks away. The light rail 3 blocks and with a bike you can get to Downtown Plaza in 10 minutes.
There is a garage, a storage area, a backyard, a large porch, a washer and dryer and a dishwasher.
The total rent is $1250 + utilities which run around $100. I’m renting out the smaller of the two bedrooms with its full bath and a walk-in closet for $550 plus half of the utilities.
Garages downtown go for about $65 to $100 a month so if the renter has any interest in parking their car in the garage we can work something out.
The room will be available October 15.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Faith in the will of God
So I read an interesting article in the LA Times today. The gist of it was that Evangelical Christians are battling over whether it’s appropriate for Governor Sarah Palin to be a politician, specifically vice-president. It is their belief that women should be subservient to men (i.e. the household and children are considered their realm), and they base this belief off their faith in the bible.
I try to base my beliefs on logic and experience so it’s hard for me to believe that others are content to live by “faith,” a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. However, what’s even harder for me to believe is when the “faithful” buck their belief to get something they want.
“"It's probably presumptuous of us to figure out how she is going to balance all of this," said Pat Ennis, a Placerita congregant who heads the home economics department at The Master's College, a Christian institution in Santa Clarita. "The most important thing is that she can do it in God's strength."”
What? So as long as it can be done in God’s strength it’s okay?
I just finished “Escape,” a book written by and about Carolyn Jessop, a woman who grew up in the fundamentalist Mormon cult now associated with the Yearning For Zion polygamist compound and its psychotic leader Warren Jeffs. The men who ran this group continually used the same argument to justify the transgressions they made against the very religion they based their entire life around.
“Umm, do I have a TV? I guess I do. It must be the will of God.”
“Did I just drink a beer? Well, yes I did. It must be the will of God.”
“Sorry your son is sick, but I can’t allow you to take him to the hospital, because his sickness is God punishing you for not pleasing me.”“Whoops, I just married three 14-year-old girls. It must be the will of God.”
Reading this book really pissed me off. I guess I shouldn’t take it out on Fundamentalist Christian Southern California women, but I see the same ridiculousness in their actions that I saw in the world of the FLDS. Sure, the FLDS and Jeffs were abusive, torturous and just plain evil but it’s only a hop, skip and a jump to get to the same place when you live your life based on faith and the threat of burning in hell.
I’m too pissed off to have a smile, feel good clickity today so enjoy looking at my big fat belly: http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.p.henry/09MatherMudRun092708?authkey=FDr2fWIQaj8#
I try to base my beliefs on logic and experience so it’s hard for me to believe that others are content to live by “faith,” a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. However, what’s even harder for me to believe is when the “faithful” buck their belief to get something they want.
“"It's probably presumptuous of us to figure out how she is going to balance all of this," said Pat Ennis, a Placerita congregant who heads the home economics department at The Master's College, a Christian institution in Santa Clarita. "The most important thing is that she can do it in God's strength."”
What? So as long as it can be done in God’s strength it’s okay?
I just finished “Escape,” a book written by and about Carolyn Jessop, a woman who grew up in the fundamentalist Mormon cult now associated with the Yearning For Zion polygamist compound and its psychotic leader Warren Jeffs. The men who ran this group continually used the same argument to justify the transgressions they made against the very religion they based their entire life around.
“Umm, do I have a TV? I guess I do. It must be the will of God.”
“Did I just drink a beer? Well, yes I did. It must be the will of God.”
“Sorry your son is sick, but I can’t allow you to take him to the hospital, because his sickness is God punishing you for not pleasing me.”“Whoops, I just married three 14-year-old girls. It must be the will of God.”
Reading this book really pissed me off. I guess I shouldn’t take it out on Fundamentalist Christian Southern California women, but I see the same ridiculousness in their actions that I saw in the world of the FLDS. Sure, the FLDS and Jeffs were abusive, torturous and just plain evil but it’s only a hop, skip and a jump to get to the same place when you live your life based on faith and the threat of burning in hell.
I’m too pissed off to have a smile, feel good clickity today so enjoy looking at my big fat belly: http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.p.henry/09MatherMudRun092708?authkey=FDr2fWIQaj8#
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