Rantings of a Bastard

Recently, on Facebook, I saw a carefully crafted image macro explaining that, no, the U.S. is not a theocracy.

And that's technically correct. We only have 'In God We Trust' on all our paper money, we have 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, and there are laws in seven states (unconstitutional laws, mind you) saying that you cannot hold public office in those states unless you believe in God.

But we are not a theocracy.

But we do have plenty of would-be theocrats. Like this lady from Michigan, who's running for a seat in the Republican National Committee, who thinks all gays should be expelled from the Republican party, and that homosexuality is of Satan.

Yeah.

You know, at this point, I'm not sure why there would still be any gay people in the Republican party, considering how most of the Republican politicians are treating them.

The IOC President, Thomas Bach, is pissed that some world leaders are using the Sochi Olympics as a 'political platform'.

Yeah, because this Olympics is the first time that's ever happened.

Dear Mr. Bach: Go fuck yourself.

I haven't posted in the last week and change because my room-mate has been in hospital. He's getting better (he's already cranky and wanting to leave), but it's going to be at least a few more days before he can.

A friend of his has set up a donation page to help defray his bills. I know times are still tight for a lot of people, so I don't expect that everyone who reads this will have the inclination and ability to donate, but I'm boosting the signal, as it were.

That was an interesting episode of Agents of SHIELD.

A couple theories shot down, and a couple mysteries still going.

I still am trying to figure out who "The Clairvoyant" could be. (And is he a psychic or is all his information gathering done through the eyeball attachments?)

Utah is pleading with the Supreme Court "Please stop gay marriage in our state! It is a terrible calamity that consenting adults who are gay have the same rights as consenting adults that are straight.

Over 900 gay couples have gotten married since the judicial decision that allowed it, and Utah is very afraid that God (or the Mormon version thereof) will soon swallow the state into a pit of darkness, or send giant spiders to attack it, if something isn't done to stop this outbreak of equality.

In what is no doubt one step towards declaring that he's going to be running for the Republican nomination for President, Ted Cruz is going to renounce his Canadian citizenship.

And all of Canada is relieved.

So, it turns out that something that I thought was a bad idea is turning out to be a bad idea.

Let me explain.

When I first moved into this building (many years ago), if the mailman or UPS or FedEx or whoever dropped off something for you that didn't fit in your mailbox, the building office took the package, left you a note about it, and when you picked up the package from the office, you had to sign for it.

A few years ago, that sort of morphed into "the packages are in the office, and if you ask, they'll let you check to see if you have anything". (No notices about packages any more.)

Several weeks ago, THAT turned into "the table that the packages are stored on is now out by the mailboxes, where anyone who can get into the building, resident or otherwise, can get to them". You know, operating on the trust system, because all humans are good and noble people who would never, especially during the holidays, take someone's mail that didn't belong to them.

Today, my roommate heard someone complaining about packages that had been delivered to the building, that they never got because apparently someone took them. This is, of course, completely unprecedented, and there is no way that anyone could have foreseen such a thing happening.

ahahahahaahhahahahahaha

Ian Bayne, who is running for Congress, has compared Phil Robertson to Rosa Parks. Yes, Mr. Bayne is a Republican. Are you shocked?

Okay, Mr. Bayne... let's get a few things straight.

Rosa Parks was an icon of civil rights. Phil Robertson makes duck calls.

Rosa Parks was a victim of prejudice and racism. Phil Robertson made comments comparing gay sex to bestiality, and said black people seemed happy before the civil rights movement.

And yet, Mr. Bayne seems to think that Christians in the United States are victims of persecution. Hrm. Let's take a look. Are Christians in the United States being lynched for being Christian? No?

Are Christians in the United States forced to attend sub-standard schools? No?

Are Christians in the United States regularly denied the right to vote? Are they regularly threatened with violence for attempting to vote?

In fact, are Christians under any real attack in the United States? (No, the fucking "War on Christmas" does not count.) No?

Well, gee, Mr. Bayne, I'd have to say that no, Phil Robertson is not, in fact, the Rosa Parks of Christian society in the United States.

In short, shut the entire fuck up, Mr. Bayne.

Saw "Hobbit 2: Electric Boogaloo" (or if you prefer, "Hobbit 2: Hobbit Harder")

Pretty good movie. I really only disliked one part, just for the cheesiness of it.

Talking head bimbo insists that Jesus and Santa are white.

Sure, the modern day representations are white. But the modern day representation of Santa was created by guys in marketing.

But let's face it... Saint Nicholas was a Greek bishop in what is now Turkey. Odds are pretty good that he was not pale of skin and white of hair.

Same goes for Jesus. Even if you assume that Jesus existed, 2000 years ago, in Jerusalem, he would not have looked like this:



It's far more likely that he looked something like this:



I guess Republicans can't enjoy the holidays if their icons aren't white.

The WBC is planning on protesting at Nelson Mandela's funeral.

Apparently, they were also planning on protesting at Paul Walker's funeral, but realized that there was a 100% chance of Vin Diesel and/or the Rock kicking their ass.

Bill O'Reilly is taking on the "War on Christmas" again.

Because apparently, saying "Happy Holidays" instead makes Jesus cry. Or something. Hell's teeth, I don't know any more...

Only three and a half more weeks of hearing Christmas music everywhere....

A lawsuit has been filed to overturn Texas' gay marriage ban.

Probably won't get anywhere, but you never know.

Philadelphia has banned people from making 3-D printed guns (unless you're a licensed firearms manufacturer).

Well, considering that most 3-D printers commonly available right now can't quite make guns that you're going to (a) use more than once or (b) use without seriously running the risk of the damn thing blowing up, I don't see how this is a huge concern now.

I know it's only a few minutes into the first quarter, but Tom Brady is already having a shitty game, and that makes me smile.

Update: Ahahahaha... the Patriots have fumbled on their first three possessions.

Update 2: Damnit, Denver, you had one job...

At some point, I'm going to say "fuck it", go upstairs, and ask the people in the apartment above me just what the fuck they are doing EVERY. GODDAMNED. NIGHT. that requires them to move furniture.

That was a nice little "I have to wonder how many people noticed that" Easter Egg in the Doctor Who episode.