Pastor Had Another

The face of hypocrisy. Ted Haggard is once again (surprise!!!!) explaining why his mega-church's insurance company paid monies to a 20-year-old male volunteer at The New Life Church in Colorado. "This was compassionate assistance. It was to help him move forward, not a settlement to keep him quiet," the Rev. Brady Boyd, a senior pastor at the church, said Monday. He then states his response to the victim's desire to go public because Haggard was playing the victim in a upcoming HOB documentary was to remind him that going public would be in violation of the agreement he signed with the church.

Haggard's behavior is particularly egregious in like of his protestations against gays.

Now We're Getting Somewhere

It's been fairly common knowledge, rarely admitted too though, that the adult industry has lead the way in technical and business models that more "mainstream" entertainment industries have been overly cautious about. Actually there is few other things in the US of A more mainstream than adult entertainment. One of the reasons any cutting edge industry is such is an awareness and willingness to return to the future. Submitted for your consideration; 3D porn.

Pop Quiz; Fair and Unhinged is More Like It

OK, pop quiz. How funny is this?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Fox News Fear Imbalance

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Duck and Uncover

Nothing brings new meaning to full contact stripping like an errant boot to the face. I've known more than a few who would gladly pay to have a well used boot smack them in the face. They would have to beg me and not be innocently standing by. While not as nearly absurd as the missing pants lawsuit and given that strip clubs are not really a "you-buy-your-tickets-you-take your-chances" kind of places one doesn't expect to get clipped in the face either. At least not with a flying boot. So let's all hope that there can be an equitable settlement so we don't wind up having to sign liability release forms every time want see the lovely ladies of dance.

Painful? I Think So

Penile Fracture. Who knew? I mean I guess it's not something that comes up in general conversation. Well, in most people's general conversations. I've never had one break on me and God knows I've been less than gentle with the boys on occasion. And, why, I've been told of erections so rigid they were suitable for driving nails. If, that is, you can believe the man on the other end of said erection. I'm going to keep a 4x4 and some nails handy from now on. Put up or shut up, men.

Testy? I Think Not

A little peek behind the curtain. The press and the President spend many, many long pressured filled hours together. The relationship is adversarial by nature, professional by necessity. The press on one side of the podium needing as much information as they can get to feed the 24/7 beast that is the news industry and the White House on the other, hopefully this time around, trying to keep us as well informed about the doings of our government as is reasonable. Knowing when to press and when to back off can go a long, long way. Here we see Johnathan Martin of the Politico ziging when he should have zagged by pressing the new President about policy during a situation that was little different than a social call. President Obama's handling of the questioning has been described as "testy". I think not. More like a firm and plain explanation that he was not there to answer questions. Perhaps the compulsion to pounce is a left over knee-jerk reaction the Bush administration when even when reporters got answers to their questions the answers weren't always the truth.


The gist @ 3:30

The Symbolism is Spot On

Update; Another voice focusing on the RNC


While I can't claim any knowledge of Sarah Palin other than what is generally available I can attest to the fact that she was, in retrospect, conspicuous by her absence. By that I mean when I lived in Anchorage, Alaska, she was just another small town mayor. Wasilla is a small place with typical small town issues and intrigues. Personally the only real use for the place was to pick up the (up-priced) goods I forgot to get in Anchorage for my trips to the Interior of the state. I had some very good friends in the local media (production people) and even they had non-opinions of her with the usual exception that she was the hottie mayor. Really, even by 2012, if she's not completely irrelevant, she will be known for her whining and spinning and as always the woman with rather expensive tastes in clothing. And now we are hearing* that the RNC is storing those expensive togs in trash bags. The symbolism is spot on.

* "a source close to... and "a spokesman" are not two of my favorite things. They do, however, sometimes provoke a reaction that is more complete

That's right. It is what it is. And guess what? The world hasn't spun off its axis. We're not spinning to a fiery doom into the sun. A lesson in perspective.
Russian skater Ekaterina Rubleva was the model of composure when the effect of centrifugal force took it's undeniable course during the European championships in Helsinki, Finland, 21 January 2009. Her and skating partner Ivan Shefer didn't miss a beat. They finished 12th.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles

Of the myriad of corrections the Obama administration must make the one lifting the ban of U.S. funding for international family-planning groups providing abortions or even counseling and information relating to abortions. The so called "global gag rule" has been batted back and forth in to and out of effect since 1984 when the policy was instituted by Ronald Regan. Again those on the ground, the people on the front lines fighting against ignorance, crushing poverty, abuse, those trying to dignify and educate human beings and help lift others to a better life will now be, in some small way, better able to do what people do best.

Isn't there something fundamentally wrong when CEO's engage in nothing shy of abhorrent behavior? A greed and selfishness, a total lack of ethics of this measure of depth and breadth demands some manner of recompense. granted the bright burning light of security is a good start. These personalities, though, capable of this kind of indulgence are tone deaf to the din of public scorn. They must be dealt with in a way that they understand on a visceral level.

The Days Called One & Two

Executive orders are being signed before my very eyes. Close Gitmo, no more torture, and the formation of a task force to review detention policies and review individual cases. These are vital, far reaching orders that will begin us down a path that will lead to a return to our prominence in the world as a moral beacon. Now, the chicken hawks and the sky is falling babies will cry the we will now suffer a horrendous attack. The al Qaeda navy will now storm our beaches and their air force will drop bombs and troops on our very heads and we will have to fight them here instead of there. As we gain our rightful reputation back the world will work with us against those who are against a peaceful world.

Clinging? More Like a Paniced Death Grip

So the folks that were most offended, or annoyed as gun shopper Mike Warner, 38, of Las Vegas phrased it in this New York Times piece, by President-elect Obama's comment about people's feeling towards their guns and their religion, rush out in some record numbers in response to a hereto for unknown and unexpressed desire to curtail gun rights and buy said guns. Surely not in a clingy way, though.

Bush/Cheney/Rove really has turned this country into a bunch of little wussies afraid of their own government. The last eight years of the now former administration and their criminal disregard for checks and balances, separation of powers, and, oh, the Constitution, has, especially for the under informed amongst us, eroded faith in our system. The most basic tenants of our Republic have been forgotten by some (stolen in a sense) even in the face of a display unprecedented and envied the world over.

That will now begin to change if people are willing to see.

And the world is a better place.

Two more big states getting projected to go to Obama. The light of history begins to show from below a new horizon. And at McCain headquarters shoelaces, belts and sharp objects are being collected and the news has been turned off. Typical. Stick their head in the sand. Plug your ears and go la la la la real loud. Some of my pet issues are breaking favorably. While sex still frightens a lot of people health and care of fellow people are doing well.

The trend continues. Allowing some genuine excitement to creep tentatively to the top of my conscience. A monster of a state has gone to Obama. While the few results out on some civil liberty and equal rights issues are being defeated by the wrinkly white haired folk from the olden days and hillbillies afraid of anything new. Like powered flight and electricity. No surprises.

Things appear to be trending towards Obama. The knot in my gut is not getting any better. It seems that the only people sure of an Obama win is conservatives. Liberals have been burnt twice in the last two nationals. We don't trust the Republicans. Rove and his ilk are proven despicable. His ilk has to the very last use the cheapest of attacks to derail Obama.

We're drinking from the fire hose here. So much information. Some many bright and shiny things. Bells, whistle. It's a trick to focus down on the information we want to concentrate on. Indulging, though, on I want to know and I want to know now mind set. A few races aside from the president have my attention tonight. I'm anxious to see if Alaska will throw 'da bums out. One incumbent, Uncle Teddy Stevens, a freshly minted federally convicted felon is actually trying to keep his office. Don Young is still under federal investigation. Has been for a long time now. Spent over a million dollars of his campaign money on his defense. Refuses, though, to say what exactly he's being investigated for.

7:50pm; Clichés. Overused phrases. Tossed about like a ship on tumultuous seas. True, though, true words. We, as a country, as a society, as a people, stand this eve on the cusp of a historic day. A quadrennial Christmas. The gifts come slowly. Tortuously. One can feel the momentous weight of the day as it marches across this country, enveloping everybody along the way. Regardless of political persuasion, knowledge or involvement. Things are going to change tonight. Sure, it can go one of two ways. Joltingly divergent ways. Irrevocable, irretrievable change. There's something in the air. The town, the city. A feeling. Like a holiday in that everyone's attention is focused around a single thing. A feeling of somber, sober anticipation. If things break one way then everything we have become accustomed to as predictors in these matters will be thrown deeply, deeply into question. Either that or, conversely, something is terrible, terrible flawed. Corrupted. Manipulated to the extreme. As in illegal. If things break the other a new day break tomorrow virtually unlike anything this country has seen.

Summer slipping past
Season ending cycle moves
forward as it has

Permit me, please, a second to place my money down in a hypothetical wager on the story here. My money's on; stunt, hoax, fabrication, promotion, bullshit. I'm putting some hard won imaginary money down on the publicity pentafecta. This thing, this aquatic Frankensmurf fish from the deep, has at it origins some very commercial DNA (read; Cloverfield). If I might continue with some, as I see them, salient points. The Montauk Monster. Different poses yet none of the sand is disturbed around the little darling. It appears as though water has washed around it perhaps that accounts for the differences. Where have all the people gone? Montaulk is just down the road from New York City. Just guessing but the shadows would indicate these photos were made near midday. Summer, summer in the city and nobody's on the beach that might be able to corroborate MM was indeed reposing peacefully along a beach in close proximity to 8 million people? At the height of the very season that gave The Girl played by Marilyn Monroe reason to stand upon that one particular subway grate? Furthermore, is there anything, anything, in this world of even a potentially passing interest that isn't instantly photographed by more cameras than cover your average Super Bowl? Look at a google map. As per Newsday the thing washed up on Ditch Plains Beach. Literally in the front yards of a ton of houses. How could anyone find what for all intents and purposes appears like nothing else ever seen to most people and not be driven to find out what said find is all about? Take the creature to a veterinarian. The zoo. The police. A fishing boat captain fer christsakes!!!! Where's captin' Quint? Oh yeah, right. OK. Why, how, could somebody just take the carcass and bury it? What the hell does DNA stand for? Don't Notify Anybody?






Least you think me a cynic. Hard boiled and humorless. I choose until all bets are made and paid to suspend my disbelief as the originators no doubt want me to. Breath deeply the wafting possibility that some day, somewhere, somehow, little gray/blue monsters exist. As the title intones; I want to believe. Sasquatch, Yeti, Loch Ness, Gray's. Bring 'em all. I relish the thought of a quantum leap in zoology as much as the next person. But then the mystery is gone in a general way. Studied, identified, cataloged. The wonder of the unknown vanishes. Faith is not sole providence of religious believers. Having faith that there are things unknown, beyond our imagination even, provides no small amount of comfort. To have faith that we are not alone. To have faith there is new yet to be discovered is part of what makes us us. Sometimes we look around at this world, see the glass half empty and say to ourselves please don't let this be all there is. How could anyone be so arrogant as to think with any certainty that we know it all or the we here on earth is all there is. Here's hoping then that the Monster of Montaulk is as real as it gets.

the better known version;
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

a not so well known version;
Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And marigolds all in a row

Like with any long lived, beloved writing the above has at their roots humor, in this case a good dose of maybe cruel mockery and politics. Regardless of the pedigree this little ditty is very adult in origin. Dissident to say the least as it was treasonous to mock royalty. As for me? I just like to get my feet dirty. Don't you? Like my feet dirty that is.

For much, much more get on over to my Nite Flirt photo page