It IS illegal to be Gay!

Comments on this topic have seen others say that "its NOT illegal to be Gay". Really? I think perhaps, this is quite a misunderstood thing.

You see, there are judicial crimes, and there are social crimes. To say it isn't a crime to be Gay, is to refer to judiciary constraints. These are mandated by the Government. But underlying that, as it was during the unrest of the 60s with Blacks becoming first class citizens, are the Social Crimes. Those crimes designated perhaps not universally throughout the country such as with Judicial Crimes, but sporadically, and at a grassroots level; typically enforced by drunks, the ignorant, the unenlightened, and the "Joe Bob", two-names-are-one, backwoods, hillbilly crowd.

Actually that gives Hillbillies and rednecks a bad rap as many of those types of bigots are city dwellers who would resent being called a "redneck", and vice-versa. And these people are those who don't see themselves as bigots, which is part of the problem to begin with. You see, first you have to realize you are a lowlife, before you can decide to stop being a lowlife.

Until we, as a society, stop being judgmental according to religious and social mores, being Gay will indeed continue to be a crime, a social crime. Where does this originate from? Obviously, religious precepts. Why is everyone's God such a bigot? Originally these prescripts were to keep people from degenerating into animals (again). To not have sex with another man, just women, later, only for procreation, because that was loftier than indiscriminate sex. To not have sex with animals. To not worship animals. Basically, to not think like animals. To try to be something separate and apart from the "lower" life forms. In the West, it was to be and to think, more lofty. In the East, it was to become, "Enlightened", which I'd argue is a higher pursuit. But sometimes I think, animals really aren't the lower lifeforms; actually, we still are.

But we no longer have need of many of those religious laws. Much like tonsils, when they become infected and having been something good, they can turn against us; so religion that doesn't evolve, at some point, probably during the pre-middle ages, becomes suspect, suppurating and infectious, killing both spirit and knowledge and sometimes actually, people. Some religions are further down the chain of insanity have eating constraints that were solely based upon a lack of refrigeration in a desert environment. Laws like that have become superfluous.

So, should religion evolve over time? If its a "True" religion given by God, no, but since there is NO true religion, then yes, as we learn new things, we need to update, evolve religions, otherwise, we will continue to abuse and kill our own and others.

Why should there be a State where "church" and State are separate? I think this pretty much, says it all. Reflect on the Islamic practice of stoning a daughter when she has been trashy, sleeping with a many out of wedlock, refusing a husband sex, showing some breast or showing some nose. There is a reason I agree with Christopher Hitchens on many concepts. And this is certainly one of them (regarding religion).

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...."

What is it, that people don't understand about this basic tenet of the United States of America? What the Hell does that have to do with "Don't ask, Don't Tell"? America, as preeminent in the world, needs to get its act together and if most, or many Americans are to be ignorant of what this country is, THEY need to be put down, put into their place, a place that substantiates the basic beliefs of the Founding Fathers. And with extreme prejudice, not gentle persuasions. We've treated these people gently for long enough. Its high time we, as a people, grow up, become enlightened and start supporting what this country was founded upon. Start kicking some ass and taking names if people refuse to be Americans. If YOU don't like it, YOU move to another country.

So tell me, what in the Hell does Jefferson's comments, what does the United States Declaration of Independence, have to do with "Don't ask, Don't Tell" for our Military? What has it to do with putting Cannabis users in jail? What does it have to do with keeping Gays from getting married?

Where did the America I grew up with, go?

Did I foresee Gays in the military? No.
Did I foresee people wanting to legalize another inebriant? No.
Did I foresee Gays wanting to get married? No.

Does that mean they all should be beaten to death, abused, or incarcerated, kept from being open and free, or to love who they want or to seal their feelings for another in a public and legal fashion?

Simply put, No.

Sam Raimi new Alien Invasion project, "EDF"

SAM RAIMI GETS IN ON THE ALIEN INVASION CRAZE WITH ‘EDF’

Sam Raimi is not one to sit idly by when all the cool kids are doing it, so the “Spider-Man” director is actively developing his very own big-budget sci-fi alien invasion movie called “EDF”, or “Earth Defense Force”. In EDF, we open on a U.S. military operation gone awry: Sent to rescue what they believe is a sub that’s accidentally bumped into a mine in Chinese waters, U.S. naval aviators quickly wind up engaged in a dogfight with a squadron of Chinese air force pilots. Soon, planes on both sides are being shot out of the sky, but not by the Chinese or U.S. pilots — by three alien attack fighters, which soon depart and destroy many of the world’s landmarks and military installations, then vanish.

It’s a test of Earth’s defensive capabilities, and we failed. Shortly after, NASA detects a radiation signature in a nearby galaxy, indicating a far more massive attack coming in about ten months, and world leaders set about trying to create super-aircraft and weapons that can fight off the coming invasion.Raimi is developing “EDF” with “District 9″ producer Bill Block, and is currently in negotiations with Warner Bros. to make the movie.

Also: SAM RAIMI TO DIRECT ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ PREQUEL

Sam Raimi news……he’s officially been given the reins to direct the prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz' (which up until now was a project that was still very much up in the air as Raimi continued to work on his World of Warcraft adaptation). You'll remember that this is the film called 'Oz: The Great and Powerful', and it tells the origins story of how the Wizard of Oz became, well, the Wizard of Oz. It'll track him from his days as a circus wrangler through to when a tornado brought him to the magical land of Oz. David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote the play 'Rabbit Hole', is currently re-writing the script.

One of the big reasons Raimi wanted to do 'Oz 'is so that he could work with Robert Downey Jr., who's still in negotiations to take on the role of the Wizard (fingers crossed those negotiations end with Downey Jr. in the part). Raimi is better known nowadays for his work on the 'Spider-Man' movies, however the Raimi that sticks in my mind is the one responsible for the 'Evil Dead' franchise and the gory, gruesome images that resulted (he later turned the franchise into a parody of itself with 'Army of Darkness').

From: Rich Goellnitz' Sci Fi newsletter on Facebook

Weekend Wise Words

This is something all Americans need to pay a lot more attention to. What was this country founded upon?

Jefferson borrowed the expression from an Italian friend and neighbor, Philip Mazzei, as noted by Joint Resolution 175 of the 103rd Congress as well as John F. Kennedy in "A Nation Of Immigrants."

The opening of the United States Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, states as follows:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...." From Wikipedia

Have Too Much Debt? Think smart

Five debt strategies you may want to avoid:

The first advice of experts in the field is to be sure you don't make your situation worse by making common mistakes. In particular try to avoid:

• Paying only the minimum payment on your debt.
• Relying on friends and family.
• Unscrupulous credit counselors that demand cash upfront or high fees for help they promise.
• Using new high-interest loan to pay off lower interest rate loans.
• Declaring bankruptcy.

I've had a couple of times in my life where I had to consider these things. One after I got out of the military. After years of being in charge of millions of dollars of your taxes, and more importantly, people's lives, I felt I couldn't even get a job at MacDonald's. After I got out of college, I had been living in part on credit cards for food. After a divorce where I took all the debt and had child support payments, because I wanted my child to have all that could be available for them; even though it meant, in the beginning that I didn't eat every day.

The first time, after the military, I struggled through it all myself and eventually paid everything off. After college, I heard about a group that helped people that were over their heads in debt. They, were incredibly helpful. I couldn't believe how much they helped. They negotiated with the companies I owed, gave me a budget to follow, a single payment a month to give to them, and it was far sooner than I could ever have imagined that I was out of debt again.

The last time, was after my divorce to my son's mother. As it turned out, I went back to the same group and again, they helped me out of debt and I swore I would never get into that situation again. And I haven't. Times have been hard, as we've all been going through these past years, but I've been lucky and educated in my choices. I may only be treading water at this time, but I'm not (yet anyway) sinking.

Plus, this time, part of the reason I don't have much spending money form paycheck to paycheck, is that I have money being deposited to a 401k and other money going to my stock broker, and a little more money going into my credit union account. I love credit unions and highly suggest you having one yourself.

see the full article

Felicia Day and The Guild Webinar

Who is this Felicia Day? What is "The Guild" webinar series?

First, let's get your attention:

Felicia Day's The Guild - Do You Wanna Date My Avatar video.

So, what is The Guild?

Its basically a sitcom shot for internet release-only on a web site. As Felicia puts it, if she hadn't been so beaten down by producers and the process in Hollywood, she would never have put pen to paper and come up with this show in 2007.

It now has three seasons online which she said they all get together to shoot once a month. It follows the life of online gamer "Codex" and her mismatched, nerdy, dysfunctional, online-gaming friends, who are all in an online, "World of Warcraft" (WOW) type "Guild".

Her show has won a "Streamy" and the show a YouTube award.

Here is Felicia winning the "Streamy Award" for best female actor in a comedy.

Yet another award, here.

From the attention she has gotten from The Guild, she was asked to be in Joss Whedon's (Buffy, Firefly,
Serenity, Dollhouse, etc.) now famous webinar series, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" with Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris and others which is also currently on stage at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) on, unsurprisingly, Whidbey Island in Washington State.

A Bollywood video Felicia and The Guild crowd did.

A PC Hook-up show interview with Felicia Day.

Basically, I find the lady very talented, attractive and if I were only younger and perfect, I'd be chasing her down. I don't know quite what I'd do when I caught her, but between the two of us, at a coffee shop, I'm sure, just absolutely sure, we'd come up with something. Anyway, I applaud her efforts and look forward to seeing much more from her. Game on, Girl!

Understand Fraud before it hits you

Do you know the warning signs of fraud?

I got this in the mail the other day and thought its always a good thing from time to time, to mention this kind of thing.

The warning signs of fraud; if something:

• Sounds too good to be true
• Pressures you to "act right away"
• Guarantees success
• Promises unusually high returns
• Requires an upfront investment - even for a free prize
• Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference.
• 
  
• Doesn't have the look of a real business


• Something just doesn't look right

• Never click on a link inside an email to visit a web site. Type the address into your browser instead.
• Its easy for a business to look legitimate online. If you have any doubts, verify them with the Better Business Bureau.
• Only 2% of reported identify theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Retain your receipts, statement and packing slips. Review them for accuracy.
• Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash.

Fraud Facts:

• 
  
• Your bank will never email or call you for your account number.


• Don't wire money to people you do not know.


• Be cautious of work-at-home job offers.


• There are no legitimate jobs that involve reshipping items or financial instruments from your home.


• Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. You can't win no matter what they say.


• Check your monthly bank statements for charges you don't recognize.


• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a year from annualcreditreport.com, or check with your bank to see if they have a privacy protection plan that includes this.

For more information, see http://www.deliveringtrust.com/topten/

Famous and Favorite Quotes

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder.
-Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, quoted in Molly Bawn

Constancy is the foundation of virtues.
-Francis Bacon, De Augmentia Scientiarum Pt. i, bk. vi, sec. 23

Rugged the breast that beauty cannot tame.
-John Codrington Bampfylde, "Sonnet in Praise of Delia"

One joy dispels a hundred cares.
-Confucius

Beware the fury of a patient man.
-John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel Pt. I

Great actions speak great minds.
-John Fletcher, The Prophetess Act ii, sc. 3

Always listen to experts.
They're tell you what can't be done and why.
Then do it.
-Robert Heinlen

Anger is momentary madness.
(Ira furor brevis est.)
-Horace, Epistles Bk. i, epis, ii

Nothing under the sun is accidental.
-Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Emilia Galotti Act vi, sc. 3

I have Immortal longings in me.
-William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra Act v, sc. 2

You cannot define talent.
All you can do is build the greenhouse and see if it grows. -William P. Steven

Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.
-Albert Payson Terhune

[We must] either find a way or make one
 -Hannibal

"Prevention is better than cure"
 -Erasmus