Tag: Culture

Gotta See This Video. Then Show It To Somebody Else

Trish

Outrage fatigue and Bush fatigue make us forget there are others like us out there. Watch this video and remember there is cause for hope as well as outrage. Then visit the web site to learn more.

Avaaz.org (Our name means “Voice” or “Song” in several languages including Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, Nepalese, Dari, Turkish, and Bosnian) is a community of global citizens who take action on the major issues facing the world today. Our aim is to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people — and not just political elites and unaccountable corporations — shape global decisions.

New Cheney Grandchild: GOP Cognitive Dissonance Runs Amok

Trish

Above, Lynne and Dick Cheney hold their sixth grandchild, Samuel David Cheney, the son of Mary Cheney and her wife, Heather Poe.

Bush press release titled, “President Calls for Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage,” issued Feb. 24, 2004:

After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization. Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity.

Bush: “Ages of experience have taught that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society”

On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. Activist courts have left the people with one recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America.

…An amendment to the Constitution is never to be undertaken lightly. The amendment process has addressed many serious matters of national concern. And the preservation of marriage rises to this level of national importance. The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honoring — honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society.

Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife. The amendment should fully protect marriage, while leaving the state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage.

Second Life Slides – Inevitably – Into Virtual Kiddie Porn Realm

Buck Banks

From the ick files: I’ve been alternately fascinated and repelled by Second Life, the virtual world where 6 million people around the globe pursue virtual lives. But when I found out that some of those virtual people, or avatars, were having virtual sex with virtual teens and children — in exchange for real virtual money — the needle got stuck way on the repelled side.

Virtual sex with a virtual child is illegal in Germany, but not in America.

The whole idea of Second Life was creepy to me in the first place, but then, I have enough trouble keeping up with my non-virtual existence to imagine having to live in a parallel universe simultaneously. But Second Life has hosted politicians like former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Reuters and C-Net both have news bureaus there that report on happenings in the virtual world, L$1.93 in Linden dollars is traded in-world every month (that’s about $62.5 million real dollars), and some people have quit their real-world jobs to work full time in Second Life and are making a living at it.

Now German police are investigating reports of child pornography and virtual sex between adult and seemingly under-aged avatars. Seemingly, because there are real people who will take on childlike “skins” in Second Life and have sex as if they were children with adult avatars. Second Life’s touted age verification function apparently is pretty easy to circumvent. Virtual sex with a virtual child is illegal in Germany, but not in America. Same with virtual bestiality, which is reportedly also happening in Second Life.

When I first heard about Second Life, it reminded me of a Philip K. Dick science-fiction short story whose name escapes me. In the story, people in a remote mining colony on Mars play a virtual game using a dollhouse and figurines. By taking a drug, the real people inhabit the dolls and the dollhouse and have collective hallucinations where they explore different relationships with each other and take on different characters and personalities, and even have sex. But when the drugs run out, the social fabric of the colony crashes and real life gets really bad.

Trouble is, in Second Life, unless the world’s power grid fails, there will be no crash. And it’s not surprising that humans would import all that’s bad from the real world into Second Life — it’s natural for humans to contaminate their space, real or virtual. So you have drugs, sex for Linden dollars, virtual child pornography for sale and virtual criminals out to separate naive avatars from their hard-earned Linden dollars.

What really bothers me about Second Life, though, is that while people spend an average of 40 hours a month in that virtual world, the real world is getting progressively worse. There are very real political, social and environmental problems right here, right now, that don’t penetrate the walls of Second Life. It’s kind of like the millenialist Christians who say, Why bother with global warming, the end of the world and the coming of Jesus is nigh — global warming indeed is just another sign of the end times.

Why bother with the problems of the real world if you can stay hunched over your keyboard in whatever basement or cave you’ve descended to to get away from the harsh glare of a world gone wrong, making and spending your Linden dollars in a place that consumes only one extremely valuable non-renewable resource — time.

No Offense? Not Anymore

Trish

A lot of us have gotten lessons lately in how easy it’s become to offend.

An entertainment reporter for Jacksonville’s WJXT Channel 4, John Citrone, was recently fired* ala Don Imus. He joked on the air about something profoundly unfunny — runaway wildfires in South Georgia.

“Do we really care if Georgia burns?” he asked.

Being offended has become a national pastime.

Fair question* but as Citrone’s editor at Folio, the independent weekly he also writes for and that stands by him, pointed out in an editorial entitled, “Playing With Fire,” the columnist lacked a sense of timing.

“…the formula for comedy is tragedy plus time. And the exact moment when homes are engulfed in flames and people are being evacuated isn’t the time. For the people involved, it may never be the time.”

In calling the T.V. station which aired Citrone’s segment of early morning entertainment news to express their outrage, Georgians said what really burned their biscuit* was the tone of the Florida coverage. Reports centered on the effects of smoke blown two hours southeast into Jacksonville, which produced asthma attacks and watery eyes. And while these conditions are bad, they are not exactly up there with having to throw the kids in the car and run for your life before a wall of fire.

“Did we get some smoke on you?” the Georgians asked. “Well excuuuse me!”

And yet…It is human nature to make light of terrible situations, even really terrible ones, like losing basketball tournaments and fighting wildfire.*

Florida had its own bout with wildfire almost 10 years ago, and no one who lived through it has forgotten the choking ash, the constant prayers for rain, and the fear that losing everything in a wanton inferno is very close at hand. We don’t wish such things on our worst enemies.

We also don’t stop making bad jokes about it. Palm Coast, south of me in Flagler County and especially hard-hit in ’99, will forever be known to long-time residents as Palm Toast.*

I found out for myself recently how very fragile people’s feelings are with regard to diet. Take it from me and don’t go there.

I think it was right to speak out against Don Imus calling females athletes “nappy-headed hos.” I said so in this very format. I think it was right for Georgians to call foul when Citrone maligned their plight. And I think it’s good to articulate our culinary preferences.

But I think we need to lighten up too. We are too quick to rant and rave and shout each other out, going for the kill. We have become a nation of Bill O’Reillys and Al Sharptons and all it gets us is further apart. Being offended has become a national pastime. And as Imus and Citrone found out, there is no forgiveness. Apologies are no longer accepted.

* I sincerely apologize for my inappropriate and insensitive use of humor to convey any concept in a way that was offensive to some or all readers and promise to do better from now on.

Is That Christ I Smell?

Trish

Want to literally smell divine? Thanks to a new perfume, which supposedly mimics the scent given off by Christ and the saints, you can!

The makers of “Virtue” say they were guided by the Lord in picking their product’s name, ingredients — including apricot, fig, pomegranate, frankincense, and myrrh — logo and bottle design. Who knew Jesus was such a marketing whiz?

We turned to the Bible and let Spirit guide us through the process of picking and choosing the right elements to include in the fragrance…

What was right? When the Spirit let us know, through both, an inner knowing and outer worldly confirmation. The worldly confirmation was a process of holding to our Inspirations, even when our “deadlines” were not met. Holding our Faith, when money and circumstances were not always in alignment with our intent to move ahead. Even, when our suppliers delayed us by either internal practices or personal bias.

Well isn’t that commendable? These folks soldiered on because it was their mission to bring a new perfume to the world. A perfume that costs only $80 per 1.7 ounce bottle. And for which Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal are accepted. I’m inspired!

The thing is, you want to smell right when you commune with your creator.

…if you choose to use is as it’s creators intended, it’s a simple matter. Spray your wrist(s) and prepare yourself to begin a spiritual practice that you are familiar with; prayer, meditation, contemplation, etc…

All the while, Feel, in the Stillness, the Presence that is your Spiritual Self. Smell your wrist. Let Virtue’s scent wrap this Awareness with it’s unique character that is slowly transitioning into your own Signature version of Virtue®. In time, your association with the fragrance will give you the ability to transition to a Spiritually Centered state, almost instantaneously. For Christians, we call this practicing the Presence of God, the Holy Spirit or Christ. Being Christ Centered.

Jesus should lead them to a good copywriter.

Fundraising opportunities are available, in case your church or faith-based initiative wants to buy into this hooey. In the meantime, the makers are getting on beauty pageant sponsor lists by awarding bottles to winners in the Miss Anaheim and Miss California contests.

The only fragrance I’m sniffing is horseshit — and bald greed.

Checklist: Is Your Husband Gay?

Trish

As a public service to help other women avoid becoming the next Mrs. Gov. Jim McGreevey or Mrs. Rev. Ted Haggard, there’s a new book and handy checklist. Bonnie Kaye has produced, “Is He Gay? A Checklist of Women Who Wonder.”

Editor’s note: Shouldn’t that be, “A Checklist FOR Women Who Wonder?”

Anyway, listen up if you have that nagging feeling hubby just isn’t all that into you. Or your best friend. Or your sister.

“The Gay Husband Checklist”

1. If your husband thinks you are a nymphomaniac or “pushy and aggressive” because you want sex twice a week.

2. If sexual activity steeply declines within the first few years of marriage.

3. You’re always more sexually aggressive than your husband.

4. If your husband is turned off by the thought of touching your vaginal area or performing oral sex on you.

5. If his best friend is gay.

6. If he hangs out in gay bars.

7. If he enjoys watching gay porn movies and surfing gay porn Web sites.

8. If he is excessively homophobic, mocking and imitating other gay men.

9. If he brags about gay men complimenting him on his looks.

She left out number 10, but I think it’s, “If your husband has seen Brokeback Mountain six times but you’ve seen it eight.”

I have to ask about numbers 6 and 7. Can you say, “Duh?”

Subway Wants You to Eat Fresh, as Long as It’s Meat

Trish

As a vegetarian, I’m used to a little drama when I order food. But at Subway? You know, Subway, that has Jarrod, urging us away from Big Macs? Whatever.

Against my better judgment — as it’s never been exactly smooth at the Subway nearest where I work on Saturday — I decided to pass over Taco Bell and Burger King and “Eat fresh” for lunch.

Subway offers a veggie patty sandwich, but do they train their employees on what to do in case someone wants to eat one?

The line was to the door, full of big guys in matching t-shirts from the Fire Fighting program at the local training academy. I waited, and waited, and waited some more as each one ordered a double meat special with extra meat and a side of meat. There was a moment of entertainment when one of the Butthead-like kids making sandwiches forgot about one he was toasting and smoke poured from the oven. Twenty guys went for the fire extinguisher at the same time.

When I finally got my turn to order, it was from a sandwich maker recently returned from break, who put out her cigarette and popped in some gum just before donning her plastic gloves to smoosh meat, meat, meat into bread.

She asked what I wanted, knife poised to slash into whatever bread I chose, but I said first, “Could I get you to change your gloves?” She stared at me. The 15 people behind me in line paused in their conversations. “For what reason?” she finally barked. For what reason? How about because the nice customer lady asked you to?

As I debated on the quickest way to tell her I didn’t want beef blood and salami grease all in my veggie delight, she figured it out. “You a vegetarian?” she asked. I said yes, and she waved her finger at Butthead, and said, “You have to talk to him.” I looked at him, busy burning someone else’s meat sub on a meat roll, back at her, said thanks, and walked out. I went to Burger King, where I ordered a B.K. Veggie without so much as one eye batted.

So here’s my question. Does Subway really mean it when they say they are vegetarian-friendly? Yes, they offer a veggie patty sandwich, but do they train their employees on what to do in case someone wants to eat one?

I know many of you are thinking that if I want to be a pain in the ass and spoil everyone’s party by not eating meat, I have it coming. As I said before, whatever. But did you happen to catch the study from the University of Rochester Medical Center that shows pregnant women who eat a lot of modern beef are lowering their male children’s sperm count?

…among the 51 men whose mothers were the highest beef eaters, almost 18 percent had sperm counts classified by the World Health Organization as “sub-fertile” (20 mill/ml or lower). By comparison, sperm concentrations were 24 percent higher for men whose mothers ate less beef, and only about 5 percent had sperm counts that could be classified as sub-fertile.

Mothers who reported eating an average of more than one meal a day of beef were referred to as “high beef consumers.” The average number of beef meals was 4.3 per week. Researchers also examined the mothers’ consumption of other meats (pork, lamb or veal), as well as fish, chicken, soy products and vegetables, but did not observe a significant association between sperm count and these other foods.

I’m just saying.

Remembering Ryan Skipper One Month After His Murder

Trish

Vigils will be held around the state of Florida and in Washington tomorrow to remember Ryan Keith Skipper.

Ryan was brutally murdered one month ago — stabbed 20 times, his body tossed on the side of the road. In life, Ryan was an open, fun, caring young man with enough energy to manage a retail store full-time while pursuing a degree in computer technology and fixing computers for his many, many friends on the side.

He was also gay. And this last fact is likely the reason Ryan was killed.

The vigils are not, as their organizers remind us, a time to protest. They are instead a time to honor Ryan’s life, which his friends and family are determined to remember for more than its end. I recently talked to Ryan’s brother, Damien Skipper, to find out what the handsome and friendly 25-year-old was like.

The vigils are a time to honor Ryan’s life, which his friends and family are determined to remember for more than its end

“We grew up between Auburndale and Winter Haven. We were both born in Winter Haven Hospital…and we lived in Polk County our whole lives until I went away to college.

Ryan stayed in Polk County and he’s gone to school. He went to Polk Community [College] for awhile and basically he’s carried a job since he graduated from high school. All of his friends are there and I tried a few to get him to move out of Polk County, just because of — not that I ever conceived or could conceive something like this happening — but I just told him that I thought it would be nicer if he lived in a metro area.

Ryan was a handsome and intelligent young man and he’s incredibly honest and he is a true friend to anyone who knew him and I’ll stick with the cliche that everyone has been saying, which is that if you knew Ryan you loved him. He was just that type of person. I don’t think there’s anything in his past that anyone would ever be ashamed of. Ryan, just like all of us, was imperfect. That doesn’t mean anything negative, it just means that we can all strive for perfection but none of us will reach it.

And so I remember Ryan as…I said this at his eulogy. I remember going to the hospital with my father and seeing Ryan and just knowing from that day that he’s my little brother. I’m his big brother and it’s my duty to kind of show him the ropes and protect him and just, you know, make sure that he lived a great life. And he did.

And it’s unfortunate that someone decided they could take that away from us, take that away from him.

Two men were arrested for Ryan’s murder, which is being investigated as a hate crime. They are jailed without bond, and will be until their trials.

Tomorrow we will remember Ryan, a brother and son, friend and student and coworker, who was taken from us. If we protest tomorrow, let it be against hate and intolerance, violence and ignorance, savagery and loss.

Boycott Your Church

Trish

Or just expect more from it.

Pensito Review reader Rick left this eloquent and strong comment about why folks like us aren’t doing church anymore:

I stopped going to church after our shameful shock and awe of Iraq. I believe God spoke loudly and clearly February 8th when over 8 million people of conscience poured out into the streets and pleaded that we not do this. This we did, and this we would’ve done even if it would’ve required tanks in the streets of America to enable it.

My faith is not wrapped in a flag. My conscience is not deadened to silently condone torture. And I can’t fellowship with those whose consciences are that dead.

I’m not going to church this Easter, as well as not joining with family, because I don’t silently condone torture nor can I shut up about it. I’m supposed to zip my lip and not offend the morality of other family members who “love my country”. Excuse me. My morality is offended, much more deeply than those offended by my protests could ever fathom because of their shallowness. Abu Grahib was the 9-11 event to our morality. Where is the outrage?

This president is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. This country is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. Need I say more? I don’t suspect there is any questioning of this in the churches of this country. Rather, there is pray for our troops. And just what are our troops doing?

My faith is not wrapped in a flag. My conscience is not deadened to silently condone torture. And I can’t fellowship with those whose consciences are that dead… nor with those who sing happy hymns while being totally oblivious to what we are doing, what we’ve become.

Calls for Head on a Platter After Imus Loses His Mind

Trish

“Nappy headed hos???”

That’s how radio superstar Don Imus described Rutgers University’s Scarlet Knights, after they lost the NCAA Women’s Basketball title to the University of Tennessee’s Lady Vols.

“That’s some nappy headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that,” Imus said.

“That’s some rough girls from Rutgers,” Imus said. “Man, they got tattoos …”

“Some hardcore hos,” said [Imus Show’s Producer Bernard] McGurk.

“That’s some nappy headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that,” Imus said.

As you might expect, lots of people were unhappy with the racist, sexist characterization of the college athletes.

[National Association of Black Journalists] President Bryan Monroe asked Thursday if Imus had “lost his mind” and called for the veteran radio host’s dismissal.

I agree, but I must say Imus made a good apology.

Imus said he wanted to “apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning referring to the Rutgers women’s basketball team.”

“It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry.”

So many people would have said they were apologizing to anyone they “might” have offended, as if whoever found their bad behavior offensive was the problem. At least Imus owned his backward stereotyping.

Imus, according to Wikipedia, hails from Riverside, Calif. I shudder to think what people would have made of this if he were from, say, anywhere at all in the South.