Most Christians Choose Not to Appreciate Humor

As if there needs to be further evidence to prove the headline, I read this post from my favorite TV blog, Warming Glow. I watched the episode in question last night with some friends and it was funny. A little bathroom humor never hurt anyone, even if religious icons are involved. It is called taking it to the next level, people! The source article quotes Deal Hudson of www.insidecatholic.com [insert dismissive wanking motion] as saying, "If the same thing was done to a symbol of any other religions — Jewish or Muslim — there’d be a huge outcry.” I have this to say in response. I will pee on a picture of Mohamed right now except I don't think they allow those to be made. If it is for comedy then I am alright with it. The show and episode are funny so they get a pass. Why do a lot of Christians have such a hard time laughing at themselves? People would like them more if they relaxed and quit spazzing so much. Here is a video of what has some Christians gasping on their own offense after the jump.

2ND Ammendment Refresher GUNS, Frick Yeah!

The new Sig P238

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
       
1. "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson

2. "Those who trade liberty for security have neither." ~ John Adams

3. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

4. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

5. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.

6. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.

7. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.

8. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.

9. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.

10. Assault is a behavior, not a device.

11. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.

13. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you NOT understand?

 14. Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.

15. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.

16. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

17. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.

The Funniest Shit I Have Read in a While

Someone sent me this link from this website, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and I must declare it the funniest thing I have read in some time. I am sure you will agree. Click Here if you chose not to click the links above. I'm not the video fucking professor. I can't figure this shit out for you all of the time. Anyway, I clicked around on the site a little bit, and it appears to be a new favorite. In fact, let me go ahead and click Bookmarks, Bookmark this page, put it under my main folder on the bookmarks toolbar (that's what the cool kids do), and click done. Yeh, I use Firefox, and shit, you tricked me into giving out free tech support. I'm possessed by the Video Professor demon.

You Think You Have Seen Some Weird Things on the Internets? Try This

http://apostoliclive.com/play.php?vid=492
Click that link and tell me that is not weird.
My first inclination on this video is that the baby is just mimicking his grandfather (see description of video underneath.) This video is as precious as it is disturbing. I do not know what else to write about it.

Pelosi Must Be Stopped

You may have heard the phrase, "You can't fix stupid." That phrase may have been invented for Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Windfall Tax on Retirement Income

Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, you're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you. That's what the Speaker of the House is saying.

Read below...............

Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words tax what you have made by investing toward your retirement... This woman is a nut case! You aren't going to believe this.

Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas, it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!

This woman is frightening.
She quotes... 'We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this?), in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest.'

(I am not rich, are you?)

When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:
'We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'.'

(Read that quote again and again and let it sink in.) 'Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it'.

Nonpopulist Movies: Black Snake Moan

I saw Black Snake Moan recently, and I was impressed. It is the 2nd movie from filmmaker Craig Brewer. His first was Hustle and Flow. On the basis of Hustle and Flow alone I wanted to see Black Snake Moan. Christina Ricci looked great and gave a great performance. A lot of people make fun of Samuel L. Jackson for his choice in movies. Say what you like, he was good in this movie. My only regret is that I waited so long to see this movie. Put it in your Netflix queue posthaste!

Global Warming, You Say?

I watched a clip of Al Gore vehemently declaring that a consensus exists that says global warming is a scientifically proven and accepted fact. Here is the video (skip to 1:15 to get to the meat of the video.)

Well, Al, suck on this! [The Standard.net]  31,000 scientists have signed a petition saying global warming is false. That does not sound like a consensus to me. The author of the article brings out the point that one of the main reasons global warming has become such a hot-button push for politicians lately is because they are running out of ways to tax us to bankroll their mismanagement of more billions of dollars. Anarchy has never sounded so good.

Nonpopulist Music

One of my favorite bands of all time is NOFX. NOFX has continually made good music, put on good live shows, and never "sold out." They have stayed independent, shunned MTV, and made an honest living. They were the first punk band I was into, and this song from them sums up some of their nonpopulist "cred." They are great musicians and singers also.

Can They Do That?

Fox News is a double-edged sword. I'm no fan of Glenn Beck. He is a tool, but he serves a purpose. We need critics to keep balance. Commentators like Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O'Reilly keep the left honest the same way Keith Olbermann, Alan Colmes, and Michael Moore keep the right honest. We have free speech and public discourse to help society move forward. Each side of the political spectrum should have a problem with the White House defaming Fox News [MSNBC.com]. It would be a terrible precedent for the White House, except for the fact that Nixon did something similar when he was president. The Obama administration is openly criticizing Fox News, even calling them not a real news organization.Wow, thin skin much? People were openly questioning whether or not Bush was mentally retarded. It was en vogue to do. That was out of fucking line. Obama does not want anyone questioning policies. Do you want to bring back the Alien and Sedition Acts? Do not question President Obama. He is infallible like the fucking pope.
Keep reading by clicking the link below:

Populist vs. Nonpopulist: Let Me Get This Straight. You Don't Want the Law Enforced?

Sherriff Joe Arpaio is a lightning rod of controversy to say the least. He has taken the most active and outspoken stance against illegal immigration since they used to drown the potato-mongers at Ellis Island (note: I am of Irish descent-lighten up.) His department has arrested 33,000 illegal immigrants since 2007 under a now rescinded mandate for the Department of Homeland Security that allowed him to enforce federal immigration laws. That power has been stripped, but he does not mind. There are still state laws in Arizona that he can use to bust immigrants and send them home. Most people fall on one of the two extremes on the issue of immigration. Some want more open borders and basically want to give amnesty to any illegal immigrant who has bypassed law enforcement and made their way into America. Others want to put a fence up and connect high-voltage electric charges to shock the would-be illegals back from which they came. Those are the populist views. My view, the nonpopulist view is that America as it is today is a country founded by immigrants, and we still need immigrants of all shapes, sizes, colors, education levels and skill sets to keep this country going.

Nonpopulists Browsings of the Day/Week

You say there's a lot of Muslims? Wow, captain Lou Al-obvious. [CNN]

Yeh, because our troops probably do not need much ammo to fight 2 WARS! [Washington Times]
Continue reading after the jump for some good ole Dennis Miller, link to another great article from Jason Whitlock, and a great GIF of Gina Carano

Wasn't It Made Clear That Americans Do Not Want HR 3200 Passed?

My least favorite quote from this story [AP via Yahoo.com] about the health care reform bill (HR3200) passing the Senate Finance Committee is, "When history calls, history calls." That out of touch quote was uttered by Maine Republican Olympia Snowe. That makes no sense. You are not penning the Declaration of Independence. What has just left your committee and is now headed to an eventual floor vote is another modicum push in a long trail of pork-barrel politics and seizing of any and all control the federal government can get over the populace of America. You need to pump the brakes because never in my memory do I remember such vehement opposition to a particular piece of legislation. That does not mean people want it. That means they do not want it. I knew people in Congress were not all the mental equivalents of Einstein, but I think people with an extra chromosome can determine the majority of Americans do not want HR 3200 passed. If this bill does get passed, it then becomes the mission of every voting American to not only vote, but to campaign against each Congressman and Senator that votes in favor of this version of the healthcare reform bill. It's personal to me, bitches. Oh, and we need term limits for both houses of Congress.

Internet Addiction is Real

Addiction is rampant in our culture because we do not strive for much. We are literally fat and metaphorically happy. Matriarchs don't carry laundry to the nearest stream to wash and bring back fresh water while men hunt and farm all day as once was the case. I think there is a scale on which the more civilized or advanced a society becomes, the more it has unfulfilled individuals and seeks any and all diversions to maintain happiness. Basically, I extrapolate the second law of thermodynamics applied to society. The latest example of American societal decline is internet addiction. I found this great article about internet addiction by Winston Ross in Newsweek. What really makes his article pop is the anecdotal example of his own brother choosing to be homeless and spend his days on the internet at the library instead of fitting into normal societal roles. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of not fitting into traditional societal roles, but not necessarily like that. Look, I spend a lot of time on the internet, but not at the expense of work, family, or anything else important. Maybe I'm in denial. Just another step toward the fall of Western civilization.

Death by Religious Stubbornness

The parents of an 11 year-old girl who died from a treatable form of diabetes were each convicted earlier this year for second-degree reckless homicide. The parents' religious beliefs led them to pray instead of seeking medical help for their daughter, Madeline. When the girl stopped breathing, someone (not specified) called 911. By that point, of course, the parents' decision had sealed the girl's fate. The parents religion was Christianity, specifically Pentecostal, or Charismatic as it is called in Christian circles. Christians follow the Bible. There are many miracles outlined in the Bible. People also die in the Bible from old age, disease, or any of the other reasons people die today. 

The Nonpopulist's Browsings of the Day

I definitely prefer Jennifer Morrison with brown hair.

Rush Limbaugh wants to buy the St. Louis Rams. [Profootballtalk.com] He'll definitely be buying low. The Rams are wretched. I vaguely remember him getting fired from ESPN for something racist... had to look it up. What Limbaugh said [The New York Times]  wasn't that bad. It surely wasn't as bad as "nappy headed-hos."

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. [Reuters] Everyone is and will continue to talk about this, but here's the quick Nonpopulist take: While Obama may have helped strengthen international diplomacy simply by not being President Bush, his choices and the people around him are doing a good job of dividing this country. Also, the author who won the Nobel Prize for Literature seems to have some interesting work that I would like to read.

This list illustrates how difficult putting together a good list is from top to bottom. The Art of Manliness' list of the top 15 buddy movies. A good effort, truly. I love Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours, and I Love You, Man. [The Art of Manliness]
Read after the jump for crazy bombings, a beautiful woman, and more.

National Poetry Day (in England)

 Sage Francis, a modern poet

How much more Nonpopulist can you get than National Poetry Day?
I wrote my first poem when I was 16. I wrote my second poem when I was 16. The second one was so bad that I did not write any more until college. I have always enjoyed good poetry. Rhythmic verse is not as much of a commitment as a novel, but a good poem can still stir the emotions. Some of my favorite poets are W.B. Yeats, Dylan Thomas, ee cummings, Charles Bukowski, and Langston Hughes. There are too many to name them all. I encourage you, though, get some damn culture in your life. Read a poem!
Here are a few selections after the jump:

Another Group Obama Wants to Piss Off: School Children

I write that jokingly for once. President Obama has mentioned lengthening of the school year [Associated Press via Yahoo] (either by hours in a day or days in the school year) in order to keep up with the rest of the world in education. I do not think that is a bad idea. I at least will not dismiss it outright like most people under the age of 19. Let's face it. People in this country are dumb. A little more education would be good for the future of this country. How's that for contrarian? The story is a good read.

Gun Control- Stay Vigilant

I friend sent me this note on the history of how successful gun control has been in these particular countries. Now that Americans have one of the anti-gun attorney generals in their history and a president with a Senate voting record that reads like a senator from Alderaan (had to look it up for spelling) we need to have knowledge that will help protect a major freedom in America. 

"A Little Gun History
After reading the following historical facts, read the part
about Switzerland twice.

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.. From 1929 to 1953,
about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
up and exterminated.
------------------------------

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million
Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
exterminated.
------------------------------

Things No One Else Is Talking About: Cloves Banned

WHAT THE FUCK? Are you kidding me? Why am I just now hearing about this?
Cloves are now banned in the US. [Kansas City Star]
Again the government is trying to tell us that we are too stupid to make our own life decisions. Well government, you're too stupid to not build up trillions of dollars in debt through mismanagement, overspending, and in general bad decisions.
I'll take my chances making my own decisions. The ban is not only on cloves, but all fruit and candy-flavored cigarettes and maybe even some flavored cigarillos. This seems like a small infringement because most people rarely buy cloves or other items affected by this ban, but the principle and the surprising backer of this legislation are what worry me. The principal of taking away/ infringing on our freedoms simply can not be tolerated any longer. Each freedom we are made to give up is another step toward living in shackles. One of the most shocking aspects of this story is Altria (Philip Morris) backed not only this piece of legislation, but the government's efforts to put tobacco regulation under FDA control entirely. I understand their short-term benefit. They plan next to push regulations against menthol cigarettes which will piss off a significant portion of the US population. Altria is attempting to gain the market share it has loss to menthol producers, namely Lorillard, who makes Newports. If menthols are banned Lorillard would almost certainly go out of business since 98% of their market is Newports, leaving Altria, who makes Marlboros, to sell non-menthol cigarettes with no menthol competition. That scenario would be a huge boon to Altria and RJ Renyolds, but the trend would continue toward banning all cigarettes, not just cloves and menthols. They are basically giving themselves cancer.
One day cloves will be the beginning of one of those poems that goes... First they came for _____ and we said nothing. Next they came for the __________ and we said nothing. Last they came for __________ and no one was left to defend it.

When the Internet's Down...

My internet has been out since Tuesday. I was reconnected to my lifeline (aka the internet) Wednesday, but I decided to not to dive full force back in to viewing all the pictures of cats in costumes the world wide web has to offer.
The forced withdrawal from the internet got me thinking. I live on this joker. I always have something to do on the internet. They vary in importance (read usually not that important, like this blog no one reads,) and they take up a lot of time.
I defy most people under 30 to tell me the internet is not like air to them. We have Blackberries, but we still need to get to the computer also.
This All got me thinking about taking a break from the internet entirely. I've done it with television before twice in my life, once forced as a child because our television broke and we were to repair to replace for about a year and again in the year 2006 for around nine months. I'm thinking about it. I did not say I was doing it. Non-committal this!