lollardfish

Has anyone actually ever eaten a hat?

They've made a movie of Tristan and Isolde instead of making another King Arthur or Romeo and Juliet. I'm impressed.

(Written by my former partner in crime, Kurt G.)

I have long had this feeling that the rest of the world still follows US trends and opinions, only now in a mirror-like fashion. Take, for instance, a story I read this morning on same-sex unions in Great Britain:

LONDON — Rock star Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish led the march up the aisle Wednesday as an estimated 700 same-sex couples in Britain registered their unions on the first day that civil partnerships became, with remarkably little rancor, legal throughout the country.

In fact, the loudest voice of protest came from a gay activist group, OutRage!, over the fact that they weren’t calling these unions marriages. The churches, notably, were either silent, or, realizing their completely emasculated state of being in Europe (OK, I’m sure Vatican City was upset, but, I mean, did you see the picture of the new pope in the Santa hat? Was he preparing to bless the children or eat them?), muted.

I can only imagine some of the conversations people have overseas:

Todd: “Oh my. Look, the US state of Florida not only allows you to conceal and carry a weapon, now they’ve passed some sort of shoot first law that says you can shoot someone on public property if you feel threatened.”

Barbara: “Well, that’s that then. Write the prime minister-we’ll go for a complete ban on handguns, knives, and sharpened sticks. Those dodgy Americans. Be sure to tuck Liza in with our favorite warning-Be good, or the American political system will establish a foothold here!”

Consider the fact that a majority of states have passed anti-gay marriage legislation. For how long have the republicans among us demonized the democrats for ‘social engineering?” Isn’t there some form of insanity in not recognizing the beam in your own damn eye or something like that? Geez! I’ll take the splinter out myself, thanks.

Why do some people have so little to do in their lives that all they can worry about is who is sleeping with who? Not only that, but aren’t there still laws on the books telling heterosexual and homosexual couples what positions they can and cannot use? I’m no prude, but I’m not looking any of you in the eye and telling you whether missionary or bronco riding will get you sent to hell. I’ve got better things to do, and I don’t need that image searing my retinas.

If the US represses scientific theory, the rest of the world embraces it (see Evolution, Darwin’s theory).

If the US suppresses scientific findings, the rest of the world celebrates it (see Global Warming, Family Planning, Stem Cell Research).

If the US embraces personal defense issues, the rest of the world recoils in horror (see Murder Rate Comparisons, US, Everyone else)

If the US feels that war is the only reasonable way of solving a problem, the rest of the world shakes their head and wonders why we enjoy being spoken of in the same breath as Syria, North Korea, and Iran (See Axis of Evil).

It wasn’t always this way. The Bill of Rights may have been the last time we would lead the world, instead, choosing to follow later for the next 250 years (see: emancipation of slaves, entry into WWI, WWII, the treaty to ban landmines, the Kyoto agreement, the United Nations, and others). Sure, we’ve had our moments, most notably in technology and occasionally in attempts to reestablish ourselves as a good and moral nation, but really…

It’s time to look in the mirror.

Happy holidays, everyone.

Kurt

The thing to remember about the administration's ineptitude and subterfuge (using it as an excuse to power-grab) regarding the "global war on terrorism," is that the threat is real.

J. Witt, former FEMA direcotr (and a Clinton appointee who worked very well with Republican congressmen) says, "Terrorism is just another risk."

What he means is that the Department of Homeland Security is dedicated to protecting our borders and stopping terrorism. FEMA, on the other hand, is dedicated to preparing for and dealing with the aftermath when any risk is realized, whether it be a bomb, a flood, or a storm. Terrorism, to FEMA, is just another risk, and that's why FEMA should be removed from the DHS and back to its own cabinet level.

One of the many things that frustrate me is how good the right wing as coming up with phrases, then repeating them constantly as if they were true. For example, "cut and run" wasn't nasty enough, so now all Republicans (and I do mean all in the sense of from all of the country and in all branches of the federal government) are calling the Murtha Democrats "retreat and defeat" Dems. I've been playing with the Republican language and seeing what can be turned around, with only moderate success.

Pat Robertson says that pie is NOT delicious!!!!!


"Pie is a corrupt and foul-tasting pastry-covered baked-fruit abomination that shall turn to ashes in the mouth of the misled eater," Robertson said during his 11-minute anti-pie tirade. "The pious eat not the pie, knowing it an unclean thing, nor the crust, nor the filling. Get thee behind me, pie!"

(On this snowy day) - According to the New Yorker: Since we've (no clue who they mean!) been keeping track (since the late 1800s), 8 of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 1996. 2005 is on track to be the hottest year on record.

Any clue who I write to about the Minneapolis smoking ban? I spent money in bars last weekend in a Minneapolis bar /because/ it was smoke-free. Now the Hennepin Cnty Commission has temporarily reduced the ban to only apply to places that sell more food than liquor. Time to complain.

EDIT: After further review, while it seems clear that some bars have been hurt and that the demographic of bar use has changed (where people go, etc.), overall, the hospitality industry has remained pretty stable. So ... I feel bad for bars being hurt. My stance remains.