Willow Palin uses terms the terms “gay ” and “faggot” in a derogatory way on Facebook. Tammy Bruce has a good excuse:

The ‘slur’ used here is one you could hear on the streets of West Hollywood or Chelsea every day of the week. Apparently, it’s only a ‘homophobic slur’ when it comes from the daughter of a conservative female leader.

Facepalm.jpg.

Bristol is still lead-footin’ her way into America’s heart as one of the final three on Dancing with the Stars which I guess shows the power of the people.

Meanwhile Sarah Palin herself is kinda upset because excerpts of her new book, an analysis of her  family and American culture, are hitting the internets.

Uh, see, that’s publicity. And when you sign a contract…

Speaking of contracts implied or otherwise, I wonder what will happen when one of the Palins is pulled aside for TSA screening. Here’s a clue from America by Heart:

This is my America, from my heart, and by my heart. I give it now to my children and grandchildren, and to yours, so they will always know what it was like in America when people were free.

She also REALLY likes Simon Cowell, writing that he could be:

a little harsh at times, but he upholds the highest standards, and something in us recognizes and responds to that.

Remind us of that next Monday when it’s time to vote on DWTS.

It was only a matter of time before some celebrity’s Naked Airport Machine scan was saved by TSA and uh sent to the media, in this case me.  Guess which star is below the fold!

(more…)

I am flying soon and am wondering which to do: The daring, racy and novel full body scan (X-rays=hot!) or the tried and true pat down (fun, if done correctly; otherwise, pesky and mild). I may try one flying out and the other on the way back, just to see which I like best since I have yet to experience the anticipated soothing brusqueness of a  homegrown TSA frisk.

I had some some pretty nice pat downs this summer in Europe while traveling. I don’t get all fussy over a pat down; they are so not a big deal. I mean, what does it say about us as a nation that we won’t let other Americans get paid to run their hands up and down our  thighs? Or perhaps we suspect that there are ulterior motives for security wanting to pat down Grandma and not Aunt Jenny.

I am still trying to figure out the issues behind the full the body scan aside from getting microwaved or macrofried or whatever. Could they see my tattoos? Do I care?

And like seriously, aside from the potential life-threatening, cellular-disrupting, DNA-damaging sizzle of  electrico-magnetic Kryptonitic theremin waves–or the concern that there might be some transporter beam glitch and you’d end up hanging with the Sleestaks or centaurs–why are people so upset at having their naked meat suits seen by total strangers? You’d think with reality shows, amateur porn, and people sending each other rather intimate images via text-tickles and twits (and getting medical body scans!), it’d be all like, “So what?”

Fear of the search must come down to Puritanical roots combined with the belief that our fellows will mock our defects. Alongside simmers the perverse hubristic  hope that they might also do something sticky with our X-rays.

How can we think so lowly of our fellow Americans?! Surely we all live by the Golden Rule of doing unto others as we would have done to us. And I like  Larry Flynt’s addendum:

Only do it first

Pastor James Swilley of Georgia-based mega church, Church of the Now, has come out to his congregation from the pulpit explaining that there were two things in his life he couldn’ t change, even if he wanted to: His calling from God and that he is gay. The suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi was the impetus fo rhim to discuss his orientation.

For some reason, his situation was kind of the tipping point with me. There comes a point in your life where you say – how much time do we have left in our lives? Are we going to be authentic or not?…At a certain point, you are who you are.

The release of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung Suu Kyi yesterday after spending 15 of the past 21 years in prison or under house arrest was thrilling, uplifting. Pressure on the Burmese government came from many angles, economic, diplomatic. And from the voices of people around the world lifted in song.

One cannot discount or ignore the power of that rock n roll played in Suu Kyi’s release. Over decades U2 has championed human rights, specifically through Amnesty International. For their monumental, astounding super-gianormous 360 Degrees tour which began in 2009 and continues through 2011, U2 staged a specific tribute to Aung Suu Kyi  and Amnesty International during the song “Walk On,” recounting her history as the democratically elected leader of Burma (Myanmar) and then as a prisoner of the military which took control of the country.  (wonder what they’ll do now for that part of the show?)

Weird side note: In his book Decision Points, George W. Bush recounts how he met with Bono to discuss financial aid for Third World countries. The twoo had a great chat, and after Bono left,  one of his staff asked if he knew who Bono was. Bush said that of course he did — he was the rock star who

used to be married to Cher.

U2′s 360 Degree tour set attendance records; in 2009 the show was seen by over 3 million people; the 2010 has been equally as well received. That’s a lot of people around signing postcards for Amnesty’s campaign to free  Suu Kyi.

U2 fan wearing Suu Kyi mask at concert

Amnesty International has storied history in Ireland; one the NGO’s founding members, Sean MacBride, was the son of Irish revolutionary–and muse of William Butler Yeats–Maud Gonne and Major John MacBride who was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Uprising which led to the Republic of Ireland’s independence from England.

At 15, Sean MacBride joined the Irish Volunteers and was imprisoned in 1921. Released in 1924, he studied law and eventually became an Irish politician, and worked throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s for human rights worldwide. MacBride was appointed to number of positions at the United Nations including Assistant Secretary General,  President of the General Assembly, High Commissioner for  Refugees and High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Yeah, rock ‘n roll changed something in world. Well, many things.

It’s a crime in Zimbabwe to call someone a witch or a wizard. Must be like yelling fire in a crowded theater. Three 50-something year old siblings were accused of

indicating

their mother as a witch and have been summoned to court for trial. The trio claim the charges are false, that their mother has been induced to accuse them of such heinous a crime, and asked that the charges be dismissed. The local magistrate said the case will be heard.

The two sisters and one brother, himself whom is a successful businessman

allegedly accused their mother of causing accidents in the family

every time she consults a traditional healer over family problems.

Wow, I wonder if Moms had a session with her faith healer before the charges were brought, because this is a big oops! And if so, I wonder if her faith healer does phone consultations….

The defendents claim allegations against them

stem from blatant ingratitude by some of the their family members and to some extent jealousy.

Their lawyer said

“Accused genuinely believe that the complainant (mother Marian Chifamba) does not fully appreciate the nature of allegations she is being compelled to make…She is merely being used by [some of her other children] who have their own differences…

The three are being charged under  Section 99(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act: Chapter 9: 23, indicating witches and wizards, which is considered a

crime against morality.

Oh noez! A super big giant phallo-missile mysteriously shot up in the air off of Catalina and no one at the Pentagon wants to talk. Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan told local the Los Angeles CBS affliate which had captured the Unknown Launch on camera:

Nobody within the Department of Defense that we’ve reached out to has been able to explain what this contrail is, where it came from.  So far, we’ve come up empty with any explanation.

Golly! One report has Former US Ambassador to NATO Robert Ellsworth, a former deputy secretary of defense, suggesting to CBS8 that

It could be a test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine underwater… to demonstrate mainly to Asia, that we can do that

But maybe it was just a commercial something or other, only FAA doesn’t know anything about it.
So I am thinking maybe it was some test rocket by an amateur, a brilliant under-employed substitute teacher. Or perhaps the street people of Santa Monica set off a giant bottle rocket. Your thoughts?

CNN’s update:

John Pike, a defense expert who is director of GlobalSecurity.org, said he believes he has solved the mystery.

“It’s clearly an airplane contrail,” Pike said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s an optical illusion that looks like it’s going up, whereas in reality it’s going towards the camera. The tip of the contrail is moving far too slowly to be a rocket. When it’s illuminated by the sunset, you can see hundreds of miles of it … all the way to the horizon.

Oh yeah, I believe that theory, or maybe it was flatulence from white winged pigs. Did you know there are actually pigs that don’t have cloven hooves, so technically they can be used for kosher bacon?

copyright Louis Metz, permission granted for use on FDL

Los Angeles-based Louie Metz’s paintings evoke Egon Schiele’s work, though with a distinctly California flavor: One work is entitled “It Used To Be a Zody’s”, a reference to a local discount clothing store. Metz has been featured at various galleries in Los Angeles and was included in the Beyond Eden art weekend last month at Barnsdall Park. Lately Metz has taken to creating political cartoons using Photoshop’s drawing and painting features.

I am all for pot smoking, gay-lovin’ folks moving to California. It will increase out tax-base, which means more money for schools and infrastructure. Property values will increase and maybe more people will start landscaping with native plants!

It Used To Be a Zody's, Louie Metz

I voted! Very excited! Now I am watching the exit polls. I figure we’re gonna just shoot the breeze about whatever tonight.  Straw polls, strawmen and women, weed…it’s a free for all. I’ll be happy to swap recipes, tell jokes, and cheer as election results come in. We can play a drinking game: every time a talking head says

“Exit”

or

“Lead”

or

“Gaining”

or

“Defeat”

or

“Trailing”.

swig iced tea or American liquor! And anytime marijuana is mentioned, well, do what thou wilt!

Rest in peace, Captain. The rest of you, go vote!

November 2, y’all better be at the polls. There’s plenty on the ballots, whatever states you live in. AZ, CA, OR and SD have pot issues. And then there’s a whole other type of tea party to vote against!

If I can haul myself out out of my vale of tears and wrap my swollen eyes in Jackie O shades to stagger to the polls, those of you who haven’t done your mail in ballots can certainly do the same!

VOTE!