I know this sounds cold, but I also know that I echo many many people when I say this, and I say it with love, "Get a freakin' hobby, you have enough kids!"
Thursday, October 16, 2008
OHIO: YOU DIDN'T REALLY SAY THAT, DID YOU?
Watch the below clip to see some Republican supporters speaking a whole lot of jibberish while at a rally for Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin. Some of the quotes sound like they should be on greeting cards at the Hillbilly Hallmark:
- “I’m afraid if he wins, the Black will take over.”
- “When you’ve got a Negro running for President, you need a first stringer. He’s definitely a second stringer.”
- “He seems like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I believe Palin is filled with the Holy Spirit and I believe she’s going to bring honesty and integrity to the White House.”
- “He must support terrorists. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me, is Obama.”
- “Just the whole Muslim thing. A lot of people forgot about 9/11. I don’t know, it’s just a little unnerving.”
- “Obama and his wife. I’m afraid they could be anti-White.”
- “I don’t like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash. Because we’re not!”
I will say this: I appreciate the fact that they were being honest and expressing how they feel. It seems that the prejudice we hear out loud is at least something that can be dealt with, you can try to share the proper facts and hopefully educate them. I look at this as a reflection of how many people in the red states feel.
Side note: I don't want to assume that these people are poor, but I suspect they are middle-to-lower class and I always find that funny because even though they relate to the God piece most, financially Republicans probably WILL NOT HELP YOU!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
BRAVO: YOU F**KED UP
I had the misfortune of watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The previous seasons were mildly bearable, but this new batch of women is completely worthless. What a waste, I'll stick to watching almost anything before I watch another episode of that shit. The woman in the middle is the worst of them all.
Now, I'm not particularly high-brow with my tv selections, but that's even too vapid for my tastes! And that my friends, is saying something.
BOTTLED WATER, FULL OF CONTAMINANTS?
From the AFP:
Sweden's second city Gothenburg has decided to stop buying bottled water due to environmental concerns and will only provide civil servants with tap water, a city councillor said Thursday .
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.
The findings challenge the popular impression — and marketing pitch — that bottled water is purer than tap water, the researchers say.
However, all the brands met federal health standards for drinking water. Two violated a California state standard, the study said.
An industry group branded the findings "alarmist." Joe Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said the study is based on the faulty premise that a contaminant is a health concern "even if it does not exceed the established regulatory limit or no standard has been set."
The study's lab tests on 10 brands of bottled water detected 38 chemicals including bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making chemicals and the radioactive element strontium. Though some probably came from tap water that some companies use for their bottled water, other contaminants probably leached from plastic bottles, the researchers said.
"In some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should expect better," said Jane Houlihan, an environmental engineer who co-authored the study.
The two-year study was done by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, an organization founded by scientists that advocates stricter regulation. It found the contaminants in bottled water purchased in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Researchers tested one batch for each of 10 brands. Eight did not have contaminants high enough to warrant further testing. But two brands did, so more tests were done and those revealed chlorine byproducts above California's standard, the group reported. The researchers identified those two brands as Sam's Choice sold by Wal-Mart and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets.
In the Wal-Mart and Giant Food bottled water, the highest concentration of chlorine byproducts, known as trihalomethanes, was over 35 parts per billion. California's limit is 10 parts per billion or less, and the industry's International Bottled Water Association makes 10 its voluntary guideline. The federal limit is 80.
Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards. Acadia is sold in the mid-Atlantic states, so it isn't held to California's standard. In most places, bottled water must meet roughly the same federal standards as tap water.
The researchers also said the Wal-Mart brand was five times California's limit for one particular chlorine byproduct, bromodichloromethane. The environmental group wants Wal-Mart to label its bottles in California with a warning because the chlorine-based contaminants have been linked with cancer. It has filed a notice of intent to sue.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Shannon Frederick said the company was "puzzled" by the findings because testing by suppliers and another lab had detected no "reportable amounts" of such contaminants. She said Wal-Mart would investigate further but defended the quality of its bottled water.
The researchers recommend that people worried about water contaminants drink tap water with a carbon filter.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
OBAMA + XBOX 360 CAR RACING GAME = MORE VOTES?
Thinking inside the box, get it? Har har.
Ads for Democratic politician Barack Obama are appearing in an Electronic Arts high-speed racing game. This appears to be the first time that a presidential candidate has bought in-game advertising.
Electronic Arts confirmed on Tuesday to our sister site GameSpot that the ads have been appearing on virtual Obama billboards since October 6, and will continue to run until election day in November.
The ads will appear in the Xbox 360 version of the game in 10 states, most of them hotly contested: Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
MACBOOK AIR GETS FASTER GRAPHICS, MORE STORAGE
Want more deets on the new MacBook Air, well click away!
HAYDEN PANETTIERE SAYS, "NOBODY F**KS WITH JOHN MCCAIN"
From Just Jared, a great site:
In the latest celebrity PSA, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere sarcastically encourages people to vote for John McCain come election time. Watch the vid below or check out the transcript here:
“Hi, I’m Hayden Panettiere, and I’m hot enough that I know I have your attention for at least 30 seconds. There are three things I think all citizens should do: Smoke cigarettes, vote for John McCain, and don’t wear a seat belt. A vote for McCain is a vote against change. He’ll keep tax breaks for the rich, start another war, and we’ll all probably die. He’s just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper. Let’s vote for McCain and stay the course. Don’t switch horses midstream. Get an older horse that will take 12 years to cross that stream, ‘cause he’s old. John McCain, he’s had affairs with lobbyists, so you’ll get f—ed, and he’ll get f—ed. Everybody wins. Nobody f—s with McCain.”
See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die
THE SWEETEST THING
Camaron Diaz and Christina Applegate in one of my favorite scenes. "You like that?"
Below is another favorite of mine, there really are too many to count.
BAD DAY IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Poor thing...
While I'm not a huge fan of perpetuating stereotypes, it's still funny and mostly harmless!
Monday, October 13, 2008
SEATTLE THRILLER DANCE CREW
Check out the site if you want to dance or see the dancers perform to Michael Jackson's Thriller somewhere in Seattle on October 27. Fun stuff!
Tina Fey 'leaving Earth' if Palin wins
I love Tina Fey! I even enjoyed Baby Mama because of her. By the way, does anyone else think Tina Fey is sexy as hell?
Fact Check: Is Obama ‘palling around with terrorists’?
Get the facts, for both sides. It's a nice insight into the often-distorted view of politics.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/05/fact-check-is-obama-palling-around-with-terrorists/
Apple notebook event: Live blog at 10 a.m. PDT Tuesday
Set your alarms y'all! There's a new Apple product a-coming.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10064559-37.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
GAYS TO FEEL SAFE IN HIGH SCHOOL
I've had this conversation with friends, and the very issue has been discussed in the pop culture media: Why should people come out, especially if they're celebrities? I'll start off by first stating that I realize many people aren't further along in their emotional development and like an unhatched egg, they should be given special care and consideration. However, celebrities that make millions of dollars a year, have widespread appeal (like alleged lesbians Queen Latifah, Jodie Foster, etc.), and have a great deal of power in and respect by the Hollywood community, have a certain responsibility to help gays assimilate in the mainstream society. If everyone who is gay comes out, it becomes more difficult to shove us in a corner and discriminate against us. It makes it more difficult for people to not realize that we are next to them in the grocery store, in Target, at the gas station, on the bus, on and on. And guess what, our lives are just as "normal" as theirs. I often say that my day consists of going to work, letting the dogs out, hitting the gym, watching TV, eating dinner, reading a book, doing all the same things as anybody else. Boring right? I wouldn't have it any other way.
There's another argument I hear often, which is, "I don't feel the need to discuss who I sleep with, so why do gay people?" Trying to be objective, I often ask them how it would be if they didn't feel they could mention their spouses name, or what they did that weekend, what their goals are, and conversations they're having in their relationship. Can you imagine what they would have to talk about? If you think about any of your coworkers who might have their spouse's picture on their desk, a ring on their finger, anything that represents probably the most important part of their life, and you'll maybe realize how much is asked of gay people to keep silent about. And by the way, how much of the above items have anything to do with sex? Exactly.
To know me is to know all of me, not a sanitized version of me. For these kids in the article below, they deserve the chance to be who they are, especially in such hugely formative years. I would be remiss to not mention that if you have a gay child, PFLAG is a great resource that should be able to provide you some guidance.
School officials say the proposed school would offer a welcoming, harassment-free environment for gay students.
The School for Social Justice Pride Campus, which officials say will not be exclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, is aimed at being safe and welcoming for any student looking for another school option, said Josh Edelman, executive officer in the Chicago Public Schools' Office of New Schools.
"It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation," Edelman said.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan announced his recommendation Wednesday. Officials said Pride Campus would be separate physically but be attached administratively to the School for Social Justice.
School officials said the standards and curriculum for the school would be in line with other schools in the district. The school would also offer counseling for students, though because of federal laws, officials cannot ask students about their sexual orientation. The curriculum would not rely on, but would incorporate lessons about, sexual identity in history and literature classes, officials said.
"It's about creating another option for kids," Edelman said. "When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality options for students, whether they are gay or not."
The school could be a lifeline for students who are struggling for academic success.
Gay and lesbian students are three times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe, according to a 2003 Chicago Public School District survey. And a study released Wednesday by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network showed similar trends across the country.
The national study, which the group says is the most comprehensive report ever on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students nationwide, found that 86.2 percent of those students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1 percent physically harassed and 22.1 percent physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
This harassment, the study concludes, has affected students' ability to achieve success in school, causing their grade-point level to be, on average, half a point lower than that of heterosexual students nationwide.
Dropout levels are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students because of more frequent truancy, the study found. Almost 32 percent of those students missed a class because of feeling unsafe, compared with only 5.5 percent of heterosexual students nationwide, the study said.
Truancy and lower grades aren't the only repercussions of anti-gay sentiments in schools, said Kevin Jennings, the founder and executive director of GLSEN. He cited the killing of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student shot by a classmate in Oxnard, California, in February after King asked to be his valentine.
Jennings said the repercussions of harassment alone underscore the need for Pride Campus.
"If we keep doing nothing, we are going to keep getting these horrifying levels of harassment, greater rates of skipping, not going to college and more tragic violence like the murder of Lawrence King," he said. "Those are our choices. We can continue to do nothing, and we know the results, or we can save young people's lives and offer them an education and a future."
A similar school in New York, the Harvey Milk High School in the East Village, was created because of similar fears.
The school, which had been around since 1985, serving gay and lesbian students, expanded to a "gay-themed" school for 100 students in 2003. The Pride Campus is expected to serve 600 students, school officials said.
Harvey Milk High School, like the Pride Campus, is open to all students regardless of sexual orientation. But unlike the proposed school in Chicago, Harvey Milk requires its attendees to be at risk of dropping out because of harassment.
Harvey Milk boasts a graduation rate of 95 percent of its students -- all of whom were at risk of or had dropped out -- well above the city average of 52 percent.
When the school opened its doors, protesters, led by anti-gay Kansas minister Fred Phelps, screamed at supporters gathered outside to repent for their "sodomite behavior."
Edelman said that while some concerns have been raised about Pride Campus at community meetings, officials have not heard any large-scale opposition.
One Chicago resident said at a meeting that he could not support the school because of his religious beliefs, Edelman said. Others told local media they didn't support the use of public money to create the school. Some thought that if gay students went to the Pride Campus, students in other schools would not learn to accept the gay community. Instead, they suggested, the focus should be working toward acceptance in all schools.
"Absolutely, we should work for [acceptance] across the board," said Jennings, the GLSEN executive director. "But it's not going to change overnight, and in the meantime, these kids aren't going to graduate."
Jennings said that GLSEN research shows acceptance among peers is helped by having a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at school.
The most important factor, according to the GLSEN study, is the existence of a state law that protects students from harassment based on their sexual orientation.
Thirty-nine states, including Illinois and New York, do not have laws offering that specific protection, Jennings said citing the GLSEN study. Some have laws, but they don't specify on what basis the protections apply, which Jennings said was essentially as effective as having no law at all. California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin are the only states with specific sexual orientation protections for students.
The Chicago School Board will vote October 22 to approve the School for Social Justice Pride Campus in addition to 17 other proposed schools.
As far as Jennings is concerned, the school board's choice is an easy one.
"The choice they are making is not should we have this kind of school," he said. "The question is 'Are we going to do anything we can to get these kids an education?' And there's only one right answer -- yes."
Sunday, October 12, 2008
WA WOMAN SHOT IN LEG BY HER STOVE
Too funny, but very odd! Glad she's ok of course.
http://perezhilton.com/2008-10-12-headline-of-the-week-weak-250#more-33190
8 RULES FOR A SUCCESSFUL "STAYCATION"
#1 Change your routine
It won’t feel like much of a vacation if you do the same things. Shake up the routine! Be spontaneous and give yourself unscheduled time for fun. Do the unexpected. Your usual routine will be there waiting when you’re back to work!
#2 Unplug
Turn off the cell phone, take off the watch, put the blackberry in a drawer, stay away from e-mail and screen your telephone calls. Resist the temptation to check in with work. Pretend you are too far away for anyone to reach you. The biggest challenge of your staycation is to keep work at bay!
#3 Skip the chores
You’re going to feel really deprived if you spend your time cleaning out closets or doing other chores. Hire a cleaning service so you can spend the time lounging or having fun instead of cleaning. Take a vacation from the pets as well by sending them to a local kennel for a few days.
#4 Eat out
Dining out is part of any holiday. Visit your local farmer’s market and go on a gourmet hunt. Get online and read reviews of local restaurants and pick out some new cuisines to try. Invite some friends offer for dinner or invite them out to a restaurant and pick up the tab -- you can afford since you’re saving money staying at home.
#5 Spend some time with nature
Slow down. When was the last time you laid back and watched the clouds roll by? Take a hike, a canoe trip or swim in a lake. National Parks have nominal fees but offer some great places to explore. Plan an overnight camping trip. If you’re a foodie, visit a u-pick farm and pick up your favourite berries or fruits.
#6 Become a local tourist
Rediscover the things you love about your hometown. There’s sure to be some local attractions you’ve been meaning to visit for years. Get out to those concerts in the park or festivals you’ve been missing for years. Pick up a guidebook and discover what visitors enjoy in your town. As a local, you’ll be eligible for all those amazing discounts most cities offer.
#7 Pamper yourself
Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to splurge. Visit a day spa. Spend the entire afternoon lounging in one of those glorious robes while you get a massage, facial, pedicure and manicure. Check into a four-star hotel for an evening away and soak up the luxury. Since it’s close to home, you won’t have the hassle of luggage or finding your way in an unfamiliar city.
#8 Relax
Don’t over-schedule yourself. Leave time for downtime and let yourself do whatever you feel like. Read a book, take naps in your hammock, visit friends for afternoon coffee, sleep-in, spend the day in your pyjamas -- lose track of time. The idea is to feel like you’ve gotten a break without exhausting yourself.
(Source: Green Living Online)
MITTENS FOR LOVAHS
I imagine these mittens are either for Siamese twins that are connected at the hand, or for people who like to take little romantic strolls in the moonlight. Either way, they're inventive and I love that kind of stuff. Have a look at the Pedlar's site.
BAD DAY CURE
Nothing in the whole world will make you laugh harder than giving your dog eyebrows. Check out this site, Bad Day Cure.
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