Fireball

I was sittin around my next door neighbor's BBQ bash last week, chatting with the other neighbor folk (seems the MILF next door enjoys the company of her fellow cul-de-sac dwellers. It's a good thing, really....)... when out came the bottle of Fireball Whiskey.
Yeah.
"Do you drink?"
I'm a bourbon drinker, actually...
"Tried this one yet?"
Nope.
Looking at the bottle, the label claims it is Canadian whiskey infused with cinnamon... 'tastes like heaven, burns as hell'...
"Wanna try some?"
(heh, that's a dumb question)
Sure, I'll give it a try...

They poured, I swirled.
It smelt like Red Hots candy. Very heavy on the cinnamon, no scent of an actual whiskey presence at all. Canadian Whiskey can be that way, though... a weak sauce. I wasn't expecting much in the 'whiskey' sense.
(Straight up!: 'Canadian Whiskey' is just a bargain version of 'Scotch'. Or a bargain version of 'Bourbon'. It's weak. No character of it's own, unless lacking character is character, itself. There. I said it.)

In the mouth: Smooth, really smooth... in the whiskey sense, yet...
WOW! this shit is HOT!
It rocked my mouth like a straight tablespoon of Sriracha Sauce.
Whew...
HOT!
Then it was gone.
Quite the eye-opening pick me up.
I wanted another (yeah, I got it...)

I can see how this would be an addictive elixir that would soon (enough) lose it's punch with me.
It's worth a try.
Go ahead and do it.
Just don't do it often, lest it be wasted.

Pardon my lack of punditry. I just can't do it.

Coming Soon To California

France orders every driver to carry breathalyzer kits

Before hitting the road, drivers in France are being ordered to equip their cars with a potentially life-saving device: a breathalyzer kit.

The law, which went into effect Sunday, requires drivers to carry two breathalyzers in the hope that those who imbibe will test themselves before getting behind the wheel, ultimately helping to curb the growing rate of drunk driving.

Assuming that a drunk will remember to test himself before driving away, or even be able to test properly and read the results accurately...

I have the unnerving feeling that some California law-maker will learn of this idea... Hey!, If it saves just one human life...

Maybe we can thwart them with a reminder that the breathalyzers are made of disposable plastic bags. Hold out for a burlap model, the kind sold at Whole Foods.
Do it for the environment. It if saves just one tree...

Just spent 30 minutes having my ass kissed by a former friend who desparetly wants to be a non-former friend again.
Weird-ass shit happening on Facebook... I'm tellin ya...

Do these people not know how suckey I really am?

You Were My Thrills, You Were My Pills...

Having a little fun. Won't you join me?
Come on, get yer funk on!



Love this song. Yes, yes I do...

Where Akin Does Get It

Todd Akin speaks off-the-cuff:
In an August 19, 2012 interview aired on St. Louis television station KTVI-TV, Akin was asked his views on whether women who became pregnant due to rape should have the option of abortion. He replied:

Well you know, people always want to try to make that as one of those things, well how do you, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question. First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.

I haven't discussed this issue with any doctors qualified to discuss it with, so I'll just go ahead and say that according my limited understanding and knowledge Akin and I have a point of disagreement.
(I once knew a woman who was as "legitimately" raped as a rape can be, (Amanda, here's yer cue). Besides being attacked in her room at night, brutalized, and raped... she also bore a mixed-race child. Her attacker was never caught. I'm guessing that she may also have some disagreement of her own with Akin.)

What bothers me about this whole point of discussion is how it serves to muddy the waters as to the gist of the Pro-Life position.
Pro-Life means that every human life contains within is it's being intrinsic value.
Pro-Life means that human life should be protected from the moment of it's inception.
As a Pro-Life beleiver, I believe that even zygote humans are still human beings. (not hard to figure: they are human, and one's individual being can be recognised through DNA testing).
Supposedly, we live in a classless society as a matter of law. Our station in life is not/should not be decided within the law according the accident of our birth, whether we be born from a nobleman (or noblehuperson, if your name is Amanda), or a rapist/rapee.

One cannot be Pro-Life and still be accepting of exceptions for rape,incest... yadda yadda... and whatever else exception may be politically acceptable or demanded.

By extension, you cannot claim your that own life and liberty is sacrosanct upon the basis of your humanity unless you are willing to accept that others' are as well. The Right To Life, the right to exist as an autonomous human being, is the supreme civil right upon which all other rights depend.

All of our rights begin with our right to live as autonomous human beings. If that cannot be, then I see nothing wrong with slavery, segregation, or even rape.
If it is OK with you that lines are to be drawn for political/cultural expediency (i.e: those with the power vs those without), don't complain when you find yourself on the wrong side of that line someday.

***Comments are now closed. Amanda has the last word (however misguided she may be.) Which actually gives me the last word. Well, it's my blog, ain't it?
Seriously, I recommend you all to the next post. Let's talk about the Gap Band... How incredibly cool they were...Just like Adam and Eve... you said you'd set me free... you dropped a bomb on me, Baby....

A Week Shall Not Pass

July is deadliest month of 2012 for US troops

Casualties rose steadily each year before reaching a peak in 2010 when 492 personnel were killed.

Maybe it is just my imagination, but I distinctly remember a national press corps that too often seemed giddy with outrage when reporting the deaths of troops under that stupid, war monger, Bushitler president.
Today, it seems that these (even higher number of) deaths are hardly noticed in the media at all.

Important reading for every citizen and taxpayer. Go read it.

Pussy Riot babes were sentenced to two years in prison. I guess the conviction is for 'hooliganism' and not freedom of speech. Of course, we all beleive that, don't we?
Normally, I am sensitive to sacred places and churches and things like that. It really pisses me off to see the queers rampaging through their selected enemy worship services with their disruptive and threatening antics. (I'm still waiting for the first homo to try that stunt at a Nation of Islam service, though). I don't appreciate such rude behavior at all. There is a difference between intellectual/social dissent and being an ass just because you can get away with it.
I think sound and solid asswhippings, on-site, should be justified by law whenever instances such as these occur.
That said, over here we live with a separation of Church and State. When the Russian Orthodox Church ties itself as closely to the governemnt as it has, it must expect to become a legitimate target of anti-government protest.

Somewhere in Chicago a monument commemorates Barrack and Michelle's first kiss. Not be outdone, the Clinton camp is searching Little Rock to mark the site of Bill's first blow job.

You need look no further for proof of Hollywood's creative irrelevancy than the release of The Expendables 2.

Not A Chick-Fil-A Within Driving Distance

And this is the Arab world's most diverse and westernized society.

Dozens of people demonstrated outside the law courts in the Lebanese capital on Saturday to protest the use of anal "tests" on men suspected of homosexuality, which is a criminal offence in the Arab country.

The rally followed a July 28 police raid on a gay venue in a working class district of Beirut when 36 men were taken into custody and forced to undergo the examinations, reportedly to determine their sexual orientation.

HELEM, considered the Arab world's leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group, called for the rally under the slogan: "Stand up against the tests of shame, vaginal or anal."

It also voiced solidarity with women subjected to so-called "virginity tests."

"We’re here because we want a clear statement from the ministry of justice that these kind of tests should be completely abolished and punished by the law," said participant George Azzi.

"The syndicate of doctors has declared these tests are irrelevant scientifically and it’s illegal for doctors to do these tests, but that doesn't mean police can't still request it," he said.

Men and women - ranging from gay and lesbian young adults to a father and daughter - chanted in unison and held banners that read: "United to abolish the tests of shame."

Other homemade signs struck a more sarcastic tone: "Honorable minister, before you test my anus, at least take me out to dinner," read one.

But for most, the tests were no laughing matter.

One sign read: "The cost of forensic rape: 125,000 Lebanese lira" (about $85), pointing out that the men subjected to the anal probes were being charged for the procedure.

Under Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, sexual relations "contradicting the laws of nature" are illegal and violators may be punished by up to one year in prison.

Ya know what's really funny to me?
That the same folks (generally speaking, of course)... who are all about opposition to the Gay gender in the USofA are the same crowd of people who too often (generally speaking, of course) gush with love and support for Tel Aviv and how important it is that it survive against the horde of those who most/best represent opposition to the Gay gender.

Killer Joe

Chris (Emile Hirsch) is a drug dealer who finds himeslf in debt to the mob. It's a dire matter of the money or his life, so his family contracts with Killer Joe, a Dallas police detective who moonlights as a hit man, to snuff their mother (as despicable a person as the rest of them) in order to collect the insurance money.
The family doesn't have the fee-for-service upfront, so Joe takes possession of the emotionally delicate(or maybe not), virginal younger daughter (Juno Temple) as retainer until the cash comes through...

A few notes:

• Gina Gershon came through with the Entrance Of The Year.  I won't spoil it here, but rest assured that it is in yer face. No, really.
• An act of on-screen brutality hasn't cause my head to turn away since  Irreversible did, twice , in 2003.
• Oh again, as per Gina Gershon... I was reminded that she still has the sexiest pair of lips on-screen... or anywhere else.
• Matthew McConaughey (as Killer Joe)  really can act. Who knew?
• Gershon and the fried chicken leg. OhMyGod...
• Some dogs are asking for the bullet...
• Thomas Haden Church: you seen him already, yet never noticed his being there. In this film, he does 'Bag Of Hammers'  more truthfully/real life-completely than I ever seen before.
• Juno Temple has gotten my attention. Whatever she does next, I'll check it out.

Awesome, awesome performances by the entire cast.
The settings and camera work were right on, delivering the proper vibe and setting the emotional pace for a well built film, if a bit dark for most.

Call it 'Trailer Trash Noir' if you want, but I haven't seen  a film this disturbingly rich in years, and maybe never.

OK, Irreversible was disturbingly rich. (if you haven't seen it, why not?). But there was no comedy in it. This film, though not as awesome, does contain a sick level of comedy. Maybe that makes it a tad more awesome? You decide.
Go see it.
(leave the chick at home, OK? This is not a date movie.)

One Drama Comes To An End

Been slow with the action here that past several weeks. Sorry about that. It's what happens when you try to avoid political news in the midst of a heated election season, and are too busy to look around at what else is out there.

Oh, that... and my computer crashed. The last few days I've been using an old one that I had laying around that isn't much faster than a dial-up connection. It takes the fun out of 'looking around the neighborhood', so to speak.

And... fighting with the Home Owners Associations of two different homes in two different cities.
Seems the last HOA fined me for growing some weeds near the side gate after I failed to respond to a 'Request For Explanation' or to attend a scheduled hearing in which I would be allowed a defense.
The pisser: I had snuffed out the weeds a few days after recieving notice to do so, yet failed to notify them of my compliance.
You see: I have to tell them to come and inspect my property again, or they assume that I did not take care of the violation. Why is that? Because they are too stupid to notice the defoiliation when they came around to notice that my trash cans were left on the curb overnight, and sent me another notice of violation.

Hey, you bastards... see that 'For Sale' sign in the yard, and the 'In Escrow' sign above that? No cars in the driveway, Jehovah Witness fliers in the door, and the lights are never on?
Have you noticed the fucking grass is still green, and mowed weekly? The flowerbeds all flowery and colorful?
Ya ever stop to think that maybe we moved and don't quite make it out here every fucking day to kiss your arrogant asses, while still keeping the property up the best that we could within all practicality...
Ever think of that?
Assholes...

Oh yeah... that 'Request For Explanation' and subsequent hearing that I never responded to nor attended: I didn't know about either one.
And they knew that, having received the correspondences in returned mail, after having filed Change of Address with the post office... which forwarded every worthless thing you can imagine to my new address... except the stuff from the HOA.

My call had now been transfered to the lawyer of the HOA... or the lawyer's 'office chick', whatever... same difference...
(law offices will employ the 'chick tactic' (i.e. having a babe on the phone to handle angry men who are more likely to be less 'masculine' (ie, assertive, determined) in order to sooth pissed off dudes and have their way with them. I.O.W.: screw them out of their money, cause that's what it's all about ...)

It did not work.
Ok, so you are fining me because I failed to attend a hearing that you know I was not informed off?
Mr Gino... we have photos of the violations, and copies of the notices that were sent out...
Have you recieved any confirmation that I had recieved notice of the hearing?
No, you did not,
Mr Gino, the by-laws clearly state that you must notify the HOA of any address changes...
That was not necessary. I was still recieving mail, and collecting it regularly, at the (old)) address.
You did not notify us of any forwarding address-
That was not required. I am still the owner of the property in question. I have collected the mail regularly. That means that this address is still legit for reaching me...
Mr Gino, you were given an opportunity...
"An opportunity" is a little vague, dont you think?
YOU KNEW, that I did not know of a hearing...
A hearing in which to offer a defense...
A defense that I am entitled to by law.
Am I right???

Well, Mr Gino-
Am I Right?
Let me talk to-
Bullshit!
I won't pay it.
You were given a chance.
NO!
We we'll met again... in court, cause I ain't payin this...
you know that, right?...
You cool with that?
I am....
...
(silence...)
Yo, Miss Paula? you There?
Mr Gino, we sent notice-
No.
No way...
You ain't playing this game with me...
Our records show that you were noti-
Then sue me!

I hung up.

Less than fifteen minutes later, I recieved a call-back from Paula informing me that they had waived the bullshit fine.

I win.

On a better note, docs were signed and the sale was funded yesterday morning. I'm done with that house. It's over.

May As Well Have My Say...

I didn't feel compelled to visit Chick-Fil-A, or compelled not too. It's one of those places that exists in my world for the purpose of driving blindly passed... like Target stores, fitness centers and Italian restaurants.
In short, I am aware that they are out there... and that's it.

Despite my own indifference, I watched with curious interest the last two weeks as my feed exploded with Chick-Fil-A related postings, the vast majority of which were negative and condemning. (Much of my kin is lock-step, knee-jerking, toe-tag Left. All of my kin are outspoken and brash. Yeah, my feed can get entertaining...)

I'm like... My God, all this over chicken sandwiches??
Of course not.

Whenever a culture war event of this magnitude occurs, there is a lot more going on, a lot of history and hurt feelings, a lot of name calling... that led up to this.

You see, Hitler opposed gay people, so if you don't agree that two men should be allowed to marry, then you hate gays, just like Hitler... who also didn't like free speech that he disagreed with, just like the gays, who must be on Hitler's side...
This is what much of it sounds like to me.
This can go round and round...

Gays see themselves as fighting for their right to exist among humanity. In their way, through their eyes, I can see where this comes from in a world where being Gay is illegal in most societies, and can get you executed by The State in even some modern, educated ones.

Given the state of the world at large, the generally progressive European and American societies serve as a sort of oasis for gays within a desert of hostility. It makes sense that this oasis would be heavily guarded by any means available by Gays who adopt a world-view sense of their sexuality.

It's also quite a stretch to go from "I have moral objections to homosexual acts that are based upon 8,000 years of social and civilized tradition, not to mention biology." to "Kill all those faggots!"

I'm willing to bet that it would difficult to find anybody among the Chick-Fil-A-tionists of the past week who would be OK with the public hanging of Gays.
Yet, at the same time, it's easy to see why a segment of the population would be just a tad peeved with some of the bully tactics employed by the Gay Marriage supporters...
This peevedness goes beyond a few big city mayors, and extends to the past several years of antics the Gay side has been guilty of.
From Judges redefining the English language in California, despite the will of the voters to decide the meanings of the words they use...
To death threats delivered to openly anti-Gay Marriage churches.
Yes, death threats... from the liberal progressive tolerance crowd who oppose hate.

People flocked to Chick-Fil-A as a way of saying 'We are tired of your shit already!', not because of hatred.

Not everybody who opposes Gay marriage is acting out of hate, just like not all Gay marriage supporters endorse acts of terrorism. I think sensible folks can at least agree this much.

A few things I would like to say:

Cultural Traditionalists (I am one) need to recognize that some traditions are no longer as we remember them, that cultural values are/can be malleable in expression while the virtue (two committing as one) still remains.

Gays (I never was one)need to understand that 8,000 plus years of human/social/theological tradition will not be overturned so easily. Judges and politicians can decree, but people are people, and will behave according their whims first and foremost. I'm not saying to give up the struggle, I'm just saying try a little bit softer tact, maybe openly condemn the terrorists in your midst.

Christianists (I once was one, but got over it quickly) need to understand that we live a secular society with a decidedly secular form of government, by design. Trust me, you Fundamentalist types were on the wrong side of non-secular government in the past, and it wasn't pretty. It is possible that you will be again. If you desire to offer any logical/consistent defense in the future, you need to be honest now.
I suggest sticking to first principles of 'Church-State Separation' that you so valiantly defended (and rightly so.)
Looking to The World to protect the Christian sanctity of sexual unions is looking toward a false authority for an affirmation that can only come from God.

Free people should be allowed to enter into any living arrangements they desire and contract authority over their lives accordingly. I see nothing wrong with government enforcing these contracts and responsibilities as it does now with marriages.

What passes for marriage anymore is a far cry from the institution my grandparents took part in. There really is nothing Holy about government sanctioned matrimony anymore, so lets stop pretending that there is.

Same Sex Marriage will always be a contradiction. That said, government by nature is corrupt and run by whores... renaming something to it's liking doesn't make it so anymore more than calling a cat a dog will.

My guess is that Same Sex Marriage will be the law of the land a lot sooner than anybody thinks.
I don't mind.