I see now that I mis-read your first paragraph.... and I am glad you know that there are persons like me out there....

Which part of KY. Sounds like the SE. believe me I know. Born in Ft. Thomas KY, St. Lukes Hospital. but the relatives are from SE

Ditto, but it doesn't hurt to plan for the future.

Plans????Those things you make whilst life happens or eat dessert first or two in the bush or the early bird catches what...a cold????
Whatever..I give up..I can't make no plans as they keep making me..Elton says it best methinks...Actually Bernie says it and Elton tenderly loves it and brings it home to
momma.
Sigh... Duke is still here..an outlaw from the law..He'll have his pix on the post office wall tomox.
America's most wanted condo violater dog.
Nobody ever called me back soooo he's
here.If the come knocking we go on the lam

Ok Elton.....To the bridge!!
I demand it..........To the bridge.




And all I ever needed was the one
Like freedom fields where wild horses run


When stars collide like you and I No shadows block the sun

(my favorite lines)

You're all I've ever needed Baby you're the one


One and one make...torture??lol

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TT!!!!

You are my scarecrow..I'd miss you most of all. . .OK I have a few
I don't think anyone is as kind and as considerate as you . .I mean that.
You need some ketchup and I'd bite you!!!

LOOK at all the Tater stuff. . I'ts a
whole friggin' industry.
I hope you have the BEST day.
All your wishes come true and lots of
caaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!
I can't sleep. .I think it's the messy
stars.I haaaaaaaaaate those messy stars.
Kristy please..DON'T tawk about your problems on TT's birthday post.
How rude!!!

Cheers darlin' and all the best.
I got Duke in prison stripes just in
case....Happy 99th.lol

Blow them out....but slooooooowly!

Tater Tots Pencil Toppers Top everything you got with a tot!

Did you ever think to yourself "I need something way cooler than my eraser on top of my pencil"? How about topping them with some sweet tots?

A set of five of these realistic looking Tater Tots come packaged in a lunchroom box. Keep a few, maybe give one to a friend or trade one for some other fun stuff. Put one on your pencil, you pen, your pinkie fingers, and whatever else you can think of.

NAPOLEON APPROVED!!

Don't worry these tater tots are Napoleon approved for all kinds of uses, especially drawing ligers.

Some sweet Tater Tots did-you-knows? Tater Tot Fact #1: Tater Tots were invented in 1953 by Ore-Ida founders Golden and Nephi Grigg, two brothers from Oregon who found a way to use leftover potato from their French fry business.

Tater Tot Fact #2: According to the U.S. Potato Board, Tater Tots and its imitators make up just a portion of the 136 pounds of potatoes the average American consumes each year. Of the $2.8 billion worth of potatoes sold by U.S. growers in 2002, the board estimated 57 percent was processed into items such as frozen French fries, chips and instant mashed potatoes.

Tater Tot Fact #3: Americans consumed 70 million pounds of Tater Tots last year, or 14 percent of Ore-Ida's frozen potato business, making it the company's second best selling product behind the Golden Crinkles fries, according to company officials. The company declined to reveal sales figures.



Each Tater Tot Pencil Topper is 1" tall and made of soft durable, vinyl. Each set contains 5 toppers.

Get yourself some Tater Tot Pencil Toppers for only $5.95!!

Thank-You, KK. I appreciate it!

Absolutely.... we need all forms of energy...including nuclear. But whenit comes to powering our cars RIGHT NOW we need oil ...and our country has oil ...we just have to have the will to get it. If we do not someone else will( the Chinese are drilling right now 60 miles off our coast.)

All the bestest wishes for today and on, TT! Happy Birthday!

Hey Ford AI can't post a link computer glitch
so here's a link and then we all can discuss.
No drilling I say.....but that's just me
My friend's brother works up in Canada in the Yukon or sumpthin' and he works for oil companies...They have tons so does Mexico Actually more than the middle east
I have read...Why can't we deal with countries well at least Canada for sure that do not treat women like beasts of burden or worse????
I wonder??

Why drill if it's been drilled already???
Why not try and find another viable soloution??
A quick one...Hey we went to war
pretty fast....No really.. Drilling to me....is not the ONLY answer.


Fact check!.

Any loot yet?????
Any
caaaaaaaaaake!

I want cake sumpthin' awful.
Oh GAWD coconut cake lol mmmm

I would sing Happy B'Day to ya' but I'm SURE you would like to live another day..I'll just let the boys do it for me!


You say you want a revolution oops wrong song but yeah I would thank you very much


Rock out TT and rock on ...Preferably on your finger.lol


Happy happy shiny shiny!

I laughed so hard the ex son in-law comment...Was he that bad???

Here's my son and his ex g/f ..OH I could NOT stand that girl....I never told him that as it was his first love and man he was in love and she broke his heart...Now she has every right to
break up with him I don't mind that of course.
BUT she was a witch!!! So disrespectful to me.
I was sad that she broke his heart of course but GLAD she was gone.Now he's ruined for life.lol He's sworn off women he says...too much trouble..WELL YEAH!! We are women.I mean come on. Ovaries...heeeeeello

He looks like he's being tortured.lol
And some pix of MY new house I just got off the phone with my brother and I'm
like ....Could you PLEASE move out of MY house soon GAWD I wish he would but it seems the negotiations are still under way....Grrrrr
They are too much.

This is when he was building on the addition.
It looks totally different now and totally different from when he first bought it..He is really good. I mean really! He does beautiful work. He did it all alone too....He's also a landscape designer too and snow plower.
He's just great like that and my older brother is so jealous.



Here

KK,

Actually the oil supply in Mexico is drying up. Canada has plenty of oil but why should we continue to import 75% of our oil? Do we like being at the mercy of foreign oil suppliers, some of whom hate us?Increased jobs and cheaper crude oil would come from tapping our own petroleum sources - offshore oil, shale oil, natural gas. I understand that oil from offshore drilling would be available to us in two years (not ten years - that was a projection based on old drilling technology). We have to start sometime - Let's not do a Bill Clinton short sightedness when he vetoed offshore drilling in 1995 saying that 10 years was too far off for it to be a viable project. If he has OKed it back then we would not be in this oil shortage mess we are in today - it's easier to blame it all on Bush.

John I'm not blaming Bush....
There is obviously a sound debate to all of this...I doubt that brilliant peeps would be fighting it for nothing...I try and keep an open mind now and see both sides... BUT there has to be another solution to this....There has to be. BUT oil companies make BIG bucks and you know that..If all the greatest minds in thw world came together ...you don't think there could be another way???

I don't have the time right now to REALLY
read it all but from what I have heard and read and watched....BOTH sides have valid points.
At what risk will we destroy OUR chances of survival here on this earth and destroying other species????
When money is involved nobody cares..Now THAT has been proven time and time again.
I say no drilling 'cause I think we need
to get off oil period...Is that feasible????
YES it is.

When I have the time to read more.. I will come back and make a better case..If I'm wrong I'll say it...BUT I just don't think I'm gonna be.

Another note... we already import a lot of our oil through Canada....the main point is that there will come a time when outside suppliers will say "I'm sorry, we cannot sell you any more oil" .... and at that time we had better be prepared to supply our own or watch as this nation goes down the tubes globally in a big way. The reports I have seen state that we have enough oil in the ground to supply our needs for another 50 years at least.....more than enough time to actually design , develop and produce future alternitives. BUT WE HAVE TO START NOW.

Thank-You, River.

Did you have latkes for breakfast???? Maybe potatoe soup for lunch.... and steak and potatoe for dinner??

KK,

Sure oil companies make big bucks, that has always been so going back to Rockefeller and Standard Oil back in the late 19th century. Speaking of Rockefeller and big oil, I'm surprised that no one has criticised Senator Jay Rockefeller, a big voice for the Democrats and a critic of Bush, for carrying on the family oil business. No, I'm not saying that you, Kristlkrost, has blamed Bush for the high price of oil saying that he is getting rich personally because he is in cahoots with big oil. But plenty on the Left have done so. Bush is wealthy but he's not that rich and his wealth is not based on oil. The fact is, Bush tried his hand in the oil business in the 1980's and was not a success - he barely broke even. He made his money in baseball when he sold his oil company for $800,000 and used $500,000 of that money to buy into the Texas Rangers baseball organization. Here's is how he got rich - In 1998 while governor of Texas, he sold his share of the Texas Rangers for $15 million. Today his net worth is $9 million, not a heck of a lot when compared to say John Kerry who married Teresa Heinz (worth $600 million) or John McCain who also married into money (both Kerry and McCain had to sign pre-nups so in actuallity they aren't really that rich by themselves). Bush's 2006 tax returns showed him making a little over $700,000 of which $400,000 is his salary from being president.

I'll tell you what is obscene - A-Rod's $28,000,000 salary.

What I don't get is the resentment over big oil here in the US making money (our oil barons) but it is ok for our "friends" in Saudi Arabia and Hugo Chavez (I love Fidel) in Venezuela to soak us at the pumps. At least that is the impression I get when the democrats say no to offshore drilling. Better to inflate your tires. Someone should let all that hot air out of Obama - can you say 'flatus'?

Nope, but those are very good suggestions...I will keep them in mind.

Rod, I have a question for you (and the other self-described Christian Conservatives on these boards).

Do you vote for or against laws supporting gay rights?

Because talk is cheap and I have heard way too many people here (and in my non-virtual life) say "I don't agree with your lifestyle, but I accept you as an individual".
And then when they get to the polling booth they vote against giving gays the same freedoms that every other law-abiding, tax paying citizen in America enjoys.

I hope all religious conservatives realize that their votes have real world impact on the lives of other hard working Americans.

If homosexuality is against your religious beliefs, I can respect that. But by the same token the belief in any religion other than Christianity is also against the teachings of the Christian Faith! But it is not politically correct to say that Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists etc, should be treated as second class citizens (at least not anymore) -(and the same thing with race and ethnicity).

But for some reason, many Christian Conservatives feel perfectly fine using their religion as a reason to deny other Americans of their Civil Rights!

This a country that is supposed to be based on the following statement:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. (continue reading here http://www.duke.edu/eng169s2/group1/lex3/hyprdecl.htm)

I don't know your voting history (which is why I am asking the question) but I have a feeling that as a Right-wing Republican you have towed the party line- especially when it comes to gay rights.

If you do not support Gay Rights... I have to respect your opinion and I realize that my Civil Rights end where yours begin and vice versa.

Christians are the majority in this country and have used the power of their numbers (and their religious beliefs) to deny others of their personal freedoms.
I personally would never vote for a Bill or a Law that would keep any other American from achieving the same opportunities as all Americans are supposed to have access. But many people do, based on the perception that these Americans are different than themselves... (again I am speaking of denying rights to Law-abiding, Tax-Paying, Hard-working Americans).


But if you do not support Gay Rights through your votes.... please save the rhetoric about "accepting gays" because unless you believe gays should have the same rights as everyone else then you do not accept us.

I would have much more respect for someone who says "My religion teaches me that your lifestyle is wrong, so therefore I cannot accept or embrace it". At least I would know where I stood with that person and could respect their honesty.

But know this, if you do vote against gay rights... I will most definitely think of you as prejudiced, bigoted and discriminatory... after all you are voting to repress me and those votes affect my life and my abilities to enjoy a world safe from harm (for me and my family).

But you have every right to your opinions, I am just looking for some honesty here.

I really like the fact that you aren't angry..I'm not gay but I was once on Tuesdays.

I'm angrier than you...I won't dislike anyone for the *lifestyle* comment..I know it well and we know what it means..But I don't like many people's lifestyles and can't do a thing about it.How dare anyone deny anyone anything based on whom they choose to love??
Bravo to your post!!!

Thanks. I am not angry.... tired yes. But my anger turned to resignation many, many moons ago.

I realize that until every American actually knows someone who is gay... gays will never have the same rights.

Check out a Documentary called "For the Bible Tells me So" http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/indexc.htm
Documents the experience of five Christian families and how they handle the realization of having a gay child.

Also Ken Burns made a documentary about the Shakers called "Hands to Work, Hearts to God"
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/shakers/

It is pretty amazing what some Christians can do with exactly the Scripture!

John I'm with you on A-Rod and the rest..like how many millions does one need??
Capitalism allows this.....We have to suck it up.
No people allow it...Every where save for very few countries even supposed *socialist* countries like Cuba someone is taking advantage of someone all because of money.
Unless we are willing to share the wealth and
I mean totally share it for anyone willing to work hard.. it will never change and that ain't gonnna happen in our lifetimes or many more.
If we still have a lifetime here.And the human race may die out naturally without us messing with the balance ...it has happened to many species and we are just one more.
We can go on and on here with the back and forths and name calling of parties.. BUT we are SO willing to allow others die or be exploited every day because of greed.

If drilling messes with the balance here
on earth ...if it threatens us in some way and 50 years from now we pay those consequences will it be ok then????
So you and I could fill up cheaper???
Bill Maher says we need to pay big bucks
for oil like the rest of the world and it's about time....We are spoiled and we are fat in our pockets and we need to stop making profit more important than life...Any life.

No drilling........find another way.
jmsvnho!

Well it's no secret about how I feel about the Bible....it was written buy some drunk
guys.lol

I mean you are gonna' base your life and
personal laws on a 2,000 year old book??
Ok no stoning.....please I do NOT let the Bible carry any weight for me.I don't care what it says..I do believe in what Jesus taught and many other great philosphers.
That is my personal opinion...I've been sent to hell just one too many times this month.
Ouch!!!!!

Ok.... You say never?? I say sure you will.
Sure you will...Just keep fighting the good fight and I will with you.. Whoda' thunk women could vote????
Whoda' thunk a black man didn't have to be someone's property???
You will have those rights eventually.
But there will always be some who don't want you to be free to love who you want to.
Hey if I want to marry a horse whose biz is it anyway???

I say drill now and get away from dependence on foreign oil. Practically all of our vehicles are designed for fossil fuel. There are no vehicles out there set up for alternative fuels and if there were, who could afford them? Even the hybrids that are available today are beyond the reach of the average American. At least I am among those whose can't afford a Toyota Prius. As for Bill Maher, that guy is out of his mind in saying we need to pay big bucks for oil like the rest of the world. I would assume that he is referring to countries like France who have no oil fields and have to import their oil. (By the way, France is one of those countries who was up to their eyeballs in that oil for food scandal when Saddam was still in charge.) Countries that have enough oil that they can export it keep the cost down for those who live there. Cost of gasoline in Saudi Arabia is 45 cents per gallon. In Venezuela it is eleven cents per gallon. The local Citgo station in the town where I live charges $4.099/gal, down from $4.179/gal last week. The point is we are sitting on enough oil to make us independent from the Saudis and Chavez for many years - enough time to develop affordable alternative sources of energy. What are we waiting for?

Just trying to keep in that "Tater" frame of mind......by the way.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

OK When I have the time as I am doon map stuff right now and then godda finish this house.
I will really read up on this and weigh
it out..I promise..I am not totally convinced
either way.
Maybe drill lite till?????
But I'm pretty sure I will still say no drilling.

Here's a Bill Maher funny. I really like that guy!!!
I don't always agree with him but he thinks outside that KFC bucket.


"I'm no conspiracy theorist, but if Kernal Sanders had been elected president and the price of chicken had more than tripled, I'd be suspicious." Bill Maher

Well maybe now you all will vote for Obama.
OK Obama ...I'm geting worried here.

Ralph Nader........ heeeeeeelp!





Obama Would Back Offshore Drilling
As Part of Bipartisan Energy Package

AMY CHOZICK


August 2, 2008 2:10 p.m.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida -- Barack Obama said on Saturday he would support an expansion of offshore drilling as part of a broader bipartisan energy bill, a more flexible approach than the Democratic presidential contender has previously demonstrated.

Sen. Obama, who has opposed further offshore drilling despite it being a politically unpopular position, told reporters he "remains skeptical" of drilling provisions in pending legislation designed to lessen dependence on foreign oil and ramp up development of alterative energy, but he said he would be willing to compromise.

"If we can come up with a genuine bipartisan compromise in which I have to accept some things I don't like or the Democrats have to accept some things they don't like… that's something I'm open to," Sen. Obama said while speaking to reporters at a Radisson hotel.

The issue of offshore drilling has sparked heated debates recently between Sen. Obama and his likely Republican rival, John McCain, over the past week.

Sen. McCain supports expanded drilling off the nation's coastlines as a way to drive down gas prices and give the overall economy a boost. He has come down hard on Sen. Obama lately for opposing expanded drilling.

"Sen. Obama says he wants energy independence, but he doesn't support anything that serves that goal," Sen. McCain said in his weekly radio address on Saturday. "He believes every domestic energy source has a problem. I believe every energy source needs to be part of the solution."

On Friday Sen. McCain said he supported offshore drilling at a press conference with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. "We need oil drilling and we need it now. We need it offshore," he said.

Sen. Obama's shift on Saturday could spark criticism from opponents who view the decision as a way to curb fallout from pushing a politically unpopular position. Sen. Obama has said repeatedly on the stump that he would stand by his opposition to drilling which he says wouldn't contribute to a dependence on foreign oil and would do little or nothing to bring down gas prices in the short term.

"Instead of offering any real plan to lower gas prices, Sen. McCain touts his support for George Bush's plan for offshore drilling," Sen. Obama said at a town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday.

He reiterated his criticism on Saturday. "We can't drill our way out of the problem," he said. "The long-term trend is for flat or decreasing oil supply and increased consumption."

But he said that wouldn't stop him from supporting legislation being drafted by 10 senators -- five Democrats and five Republicans -- that would ease a federal moratorium on offshore oil drilling while ending a tax break for oil companies.

"What I don't want to do is for the best to be the enemy of good here," he said. "[I don't want] partisan bickering or the desire to score political points to get in the way of providing some genuine relief to people who are struggling."

One of the aims of the legislation is to have gas-guzzling vehicles using 85% nonoil fuel sources within 20 years -- similar to proposals that Sen. Obama has made in recent weeks.

The bill would also raise billions of dollars for various conservation and energy-efficiency programs by making oil companies no longer eligible for a manufacturing tax credit. Some estimates have put the potential savings from such a move at $13 billion over 10 years.

The McCain campaign saw an opening on Saturday to attack the Illinois senator for flip flopping. "We hope Barack Obama will realize that his ongoing opposition to John McCain's realistic energy solutions and additional offshore drilling is wrong," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

Shifting positions is a problem both candidates have had to deal with in recent weeks: Sen. Obama on his promise to withdraw troops from Iraq within his first 16 months in office and Sen. McCain for wavering on his pledge not to raise taxes in order to revitalize the ailing Social Security system.

With its sprawling coastline and tourism industry, the topic of drilling hits close to home in Florida, a key battleground state that both candidates have visited this week. The state voted Republican in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

Sen. Obama tried to calm local fears on Saturday when a reporter from the St. Petersburg Times asked him how he would protect Florida's coastlines. He said he would be strongly opposed to "anything that would have an impact on that extraordinary treasure, not just of Florida's, but of the country as a whole."

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted July 23-29 gives Sen. Obama a slight lead in the state with 46%, compared to 44% for Sen. McCain. Other polls show Sen. McCain leading.

Note... OK you asked.... and I will try to be as honest as I can. Understanding that how you feel about things is not a static thing but one of change and growth, I will admit to in the past having taken a stand that would be percieved as having a bias against Gay Rights. I do NOT feel that way now. I do not know what the eventual answer will be to the same sex marriage issue here in Calif; I believe that it is more of symantics issue in the first place anyway. In most cases, Gays in Calif enjoy the same benefits regarding property, benefits etc as hetero couples and that is the primary idea I support... if a couple either homosexual or heterosexual live in a committed relationship then they should enjoy the smae rights and benefits under the law regarding property ,benefits, taxes, and the ability to be part of your partners care in the event of medical issues.Where I still have problems is with what I percieve as an agressive Gay agenda that wants to force me and others like me into acceptance. The Gay Freedom parades while showing that there are many people out there that are gay and just like everyone else also show the "out there" groups like Dykes on Bikes and the S&M crowd that while they also have a right to march I do not believe help your cause. There are issues now in Calif regarding how homosexual lifestyles are to be presented in schools and at which grade level these lifestyles are to be presented. Personally, if I had young kids I think I would rather take the responsibility of presenting these issues myself as opposed to having a school do it....but I absolutely fear having a school system have some program mandated by government that has to be taught because they will get it wrong. It goes along with the same thoght that teaches grade schoolers how to put on condoms by demonstrating on bannanas.... we need to let our kids be kids( and I know there are parents out there that will not take this responsibility)
So to sum up....I will support Gay rights as long as the legislation presented does not circumvent my rights or force me to adopt preferential treatment of a person because of his or her lifestyle....we should and must be equal under the law. I hope this answers your question.

Rod, that's not true. The Office of the VP issued an AP press release saying Cheney had erred making this statement. George Will printed a correction to the column where he had said the same thing. It's just not true.

And no, NO nukes!!!! No nuclear power, no, no, no, no, no! South Texas Nuclear Project cost the City of Austin millions, and we never got a single kilowatt of energy. No one did, that project was riddled with fraud and construction problems from the get-go.

Where are we going to put all the waste? The toxic, radioactive for thousands of years waste? Why don't we put it all in the Northeast? Or California? Oh yeah, big plans to put almost all of the waste that's already been created in the U.S. on the Texas/New Mexico border. NO!

Yeah, that's my backyard....NO Chernobyls! NO NUKES!

In the long run, how can anyone take sides on a round planet? We need to change our thinking, too, not just our sources of energy. Last time I checked, except for a couple of dudes on the space station, we are all on the same planet.

AI

Not me sistah'... I'm gleefully out of orbit at the moment!

&^% the %#$ *&^^ world!!

AI for prez!!!!

Food for thought or something to chew on.

Don't shoot me I'm only the copy and paster.


BLOGLICIOUS!!






Monday, April 28, 2008
Bill Maher: "Now That Gas Costs the Same $4 at Every Gas Station, You Can Drop the 9/10-of-a-Cent"

Yeah, I've always wondered about that. Why do all gas stations have this 9/10 of a cent garbage on their prices? My guess is it has to do with the "old days" when gas pumps had mechanical movements, but now?

Anyway, that was a pretty apolitical "New Rule" for Maher on his final show before the mid-year hiatus. To be exact, he said:

Now that gas costs the same four bucks at every gas station, you can drop the nine-tenths-of-a-cent bullsh*t.

After all, if we're praying for lower prices, who needs the extra 9/10?

In a more political vein, Maher also addressed the sign noted last week outside a South Carolina church which said

"Obama Osama, humm, are they brothers?"

First of all, it should be "hmmm" shouldn't it, instead of humming to a song? The pastor of the church said the idea of the sign was to make people "realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ."

Er, you guys can't have it both ways. First you attack Obama for his past relationship with Rev. Wright, and then you say he's not a Christian. Make up your minds. Anyway, what Maher said was:

If you still think Obama is a Muslim, you just might be a redneck. A Christian church in South Carolina has a sign out front that says, "Obama, Osama, hmmm, Are they brothers?" No, in fact, they're not even related, which is more than I can say for the married couples in your church.

Pretty funny stuff. I'll miss Maher until he comes back. I guess I'll have to watch more Colbert Report.

Watch the video: Labels: Bill Maher, Gasoline, Oil Prices, OPEC

I agree with Civil Union protections for all couples in the United States. I have been in the position of not having permission to see my partner after he was in a severe auto accident! I also see that every gay & lesbian couple I know pays higher taxes than their married heterosexual counterparts.



Although I agree with you on the fact that I am ashamed at how some of my compatriots act and behave in public during "Gay Pride" events, I also understand that the need for such spectacles will be greatly reduced once gays and lesbians can enjoy the same freedoms as the rest of our society.

I wish all of the Pride participants could see this as a political march and act accordingly.

I have no problem with people dressing up and acting wild once they are off the public streets and in a separate atmosphere. But IMO no one should be exposed to near nudity and extreme acts of sexuality in public...
Of course I see this almost everyday with heterosexual couples in public... (but I digress).

The second point is you cannot take the sex out of homosexuality.... our sexual identities are what makes us targets of discrimination to begin with. But again, turn on your TV and see how often and how extreme sex is portrayed in our culture. I'm not saying it's right.... but it is a fact!
Now imagine that every time you see heterosexuality represented in the media that it does not represent you or your beliefs.... it's pretty overwhelming!



Homosexual families exist! It's a fact... why would you want to hide that fact from children?
What is wrong with teaching kids that not all families are made up of two opposite sex partners of the same race and same religion and their homogeneous cookie cutter children are the only families that exist???
If you want to discuss your families personal religious or political beliefs with your children this is exactly the time to do it.
They will be exposed to it not matter what- pretending we do not exist will not keep your children safe from learning about us.

Why the need to pretend that being gay or knowing someone who is gay is an "adults only" issue?


I love those two words "Preferential Treatment".
I am looking for Laws that will protect me and my family from being ostracized, made to feel like a criminal, forced to endure discrimination on the job and in every aspect of my life- or beaten or even murdered because of my sexual identity.

How does wanting those things mean I want preferential treatment?

Do you enjoy these rights? Can your boss fire you for being heterosexual? Have you ever had objects thrown at you from moving cars? Have you ever been beaten or discriminated against because of who you are? And then told that you got what you deserved?!?!?!

Have you ever been told that you should be ashamed of something that you felt is an inherent part of your being?

Have you ever attempted suicide because your culture and all of society tells you that you that are sick and don't deserve to live?

I think if we could just try to see the world from someone else's perspective once in awhile the world would be a much different place.

It is very easy to be judgmental when you are sitting on the side of the majority.

Oh boy....I applaud your every word.
Ford I respect you very much...but we
TOTALLY disagree here.
Gay men and women are no different than you and I.
No different and the straight community has
it's very unfair share of lascivious
kinksters...let's face it.
I mean the Catholic priests alone!!
Jimmy Swaggert...and the rest of those repressed thumpers....Man were they
thumping....OK most gay guys have better fashion sense than I but ...I'll deal.
The only way to change this is to say it loud and say it proud over and over.

You can never back down.
Women can vote because they never backed down and so on.
If we allow gays to marry then the flaunting of the sex issue will be pretty much moot...We all know that married peeps never have sex!!!!

Never stop fighting for what you believe in.
A very sweet and wise man said that.
NEVER!

I posted this a few months ago on the Work Out boards.... I just wanted to share it here as well....

Sigh Snaggle I lived in Key West and went to the Village a lot in NY..Christopher Street was our hang out as my friend's brother was gay and lived there and I have seen and heard it all.
My BIGGEST most gentle hugs for that
and YES it still goes on every day.
For what????Because someone has sex in a different way than YOU?????
Who cares??

Straight peeps flaunt their sexuality every day.
This world is pretty messed up...Straight peeps
haven't done a great job running it so far.
Being gay is not a choice and until gays have every single right that we do..then they MUST say it loud and say it proud.
I was gonna' post a gay pride song but then I thought....this is the definitive one.The words say it all....Why can't I????
Being gay is NOT a choice..it is a right.

Eva Cassidy who died very young.
The voice of an angel.



Pot of love?????




Over The Rainbow
(Arlen-Harburg)

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Thank you KK! Beautiful rendition of a truly magical song!

That song (and the Rainbow Connection) have been personal favorites since I was very little.... and of course took on whole new subtleties for me as an adult... thanks for the memories!

hey Snagglepuss, I like the way you think!

I really like the way that you paint, too. I saw your paintings on the FO board, very nice.

It amazes and dismays me that in 2008, there is still so much ignorant hatred in the world. The peeps who got shot in church in Knoxville last week were members of my faith. According to the police report, they died because they were liberals and openly supported gay peeps. In church. Killed. Pretty much for saying that love is love.

F*cking mindblowing....

AI

AI... I really find it interesting that people that hold Europe up as the shineing example of how to live well fail to note that most of Europe is powered by nuclear power... especially France. Chernobyl was bad design that is no longer used in any way....as for the waste current design uses small rods that only need changing about once every 10 years...we will have more problems disposing of the batteries from all of these hybred cars than we will have of those fuel rods. As for the power plant you speak of..... any project can be overcome by fraud...here in Calif, PGE has had major battles over wind farms not far from where the Altamont rock festival was held. Are there other sources of power available... yes; but for this country to be able to serve everyone's needs in the future it will take all sources ,including nuclear for us to be able to wean ourselves off fossil fuel.

Owww Snaggle can you post them
here please???


Don't yell at me AI ......I'm. getting there.lol

Here's Rufus and his sister doon Leonard Cohen's ....Hallelujah.

I didn't know about his life till you told me and I found his sister by a happy accident.
Tele played him yesterday and it was beautiful that song too.

She reminds me of your daughter's voice kinda' but now that I listen she's sounds like Duffy
too..She is fantastic..Martha is her name.

If God exists he makes everyone for a reason no???

Well he made gay guys to make sure you
and I wear the right shoes with the
right pocket book.

Nah Michale my gay b'f made my high school time bearable... if not for him ....I would
have not had any one to love.When others
made fun of me for being *fat* he embraced
me..I will always love him for that..slap or no slap.lol...Peeps thought he was my b'f.

Say it LOUD brotha's and sistah's!!!!


To the bridge Rufus



I cry here!

Thank you for your kind words... they are much appreciated.

I am sorry to hear of the church shooting! I hadn't read that! That is tragic!

I just really truly try to practice what I preach... I believe we should all respect each other's differences.

Religious Fundamentalists teach their parishioners to believe that the only true faith is theirs and that all other faiths are wrong. And that God has sanctioned the destruction of anyone who prescribes to all other ways of thinking.... This of course leads to suicide bombings, the flying of planes into buildings and church shootings!

Why not preach that there are many different ways to believe and that every person on the planet has a right to their own personal belief system and everyone should respect each other?

Isn't that the true meaning behind most Religious Doctrine? Not just Christianity but the Eastern Philosophies especially?

(Sorry I just realized I'm preaching to the choir!)....

(Sheepishly turns to the parishioners) LOL

Snag...first...if you have been the target of a hate crime(and that is what we are talking about) I am really sorry. NO ONE should have to endure that... I know. For most of my life I have smiled and grinned when someone would tell a "fat" joke in my presence...or shrug of the comments overheard when people thought I was not listening..so I know of what you speak. But I am afraid of another round of a sort of "affirmitive action" where it will become manditory to hire the gay person over the hetero person "because we have to make up for past mistakes" We still argue about compensation to the Native Americans,the Japanese Americans locked up during WWII and of course blacks because of slavery. This would be just another group to add to the list. I support a level playing field...let everybody be treated the same and have the same rights and priviledges.
You are absolutely correct as far as displays of sexual conduct on the hetero side being inappropriate also....unfortunately in our culture today sex sells .. just look at the adds for"Axe" deoderant. All people need to have a little more restraint in public...what they do in private is thier business. Lastly, as far as shielding kids; I have no problem with telling kids about alternitive life styles... as you have stated, they do exist and kids probably know about the differences even earlier than we suspect. I have seen some of the suggested materials for teaching this subject and my perception is that it almost presents a homosexual lifestyle as almost preferable. I have a problem with that from my heterosexual bias... present it as different but not necessarily better or worse...just different.

Doesn't it all boil down to one sentence in the
Bible which has been interpreted anyway they like???That's what I've been told but could be wrong... I try very hard not to read that thing
I have to say Catholics never even spoke of gay people really.

Yeah like much else with that
religion.. denial is everything!!

More wrongs have been perpetuated in the name of God.

I think God if he/she does exist is mighty peeved at us.but then again that negates the whole omnipotent argument and the one question Christian's can never answer me.
Why give the test if you know the answer??

Yeah well I know Eve is gonna' eat that apple and ruin mankind forever..BUT I'll test her
her anyway...kinda' boring here in heaven
today...Let's have some fun and spawn
plagues and famine and sin for the rest of their born days.

No wonder I can't find my black sparkly beach dress

Snag.... the church I go to preaches that God is Love and that God commands me to love all ( this is a mainstream Protestant church by the way). It also preaches from scripture that Jesus said " I am the way, the truth , the life and no one comes to Father but by me". I respect all faiths... I love talking about differences between mine and others....but I also pray that others find the peace I have found in Jesus. I will never hit someone over the head with a Bible or try to berate a person into submission. I guess what I am trying to say is that not all evangelicals are the same.... I can agree to disagree with you and love you and pray that you might change someday.

Ford I respect that of you...Please know that
I do not want to be part of any organized religion at all and I hope I ain't gonna' get sent to hell again for speaking what is my truth.
I try to lead a....what you would call
Christian life pretty much 'cept for a few things and no prayer.
Being a servant to the world is very important to me and I know that to me at least that is the only way to heaven if it exists.
Once someone told me if you do good things
never speak of them so I won't but I sure would like to.I ain't above it.

My son never went to church and we taught him nothing about religion as I feel it's almost brainwashing...That's just me.. I let him decide
and he did with many friends..He tried them all.
He became a vegetarian.
My father snuck and got him baptized one day.
But I didn't care..A little insurance can't be bad.
I pray Snaggle stays just the way he is!!!!

ETA: I lied I'm going to hell in an arm basket.
I do pray like like a m* [expletive deleted] like a good hypocrite when things get real bad.
I say GOD... I know I've been remiss but if you up there... heeeeelp and curse him/her out.
So I kinda' pray..just a bit different than you all

Yeah, dunno if the hater who did this is a fundie or not, the police said he had Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity's books. No mention of any religious motivation, it appears to be politically motivated homophobia.

Google "knoxville uu church shooting" for the story.

Yep, most religions espouse some version of....

"I AM WE ARE ONE"

AI

Thank you for responding Rod, I am genuinely curious as to why any free American would ever choose to subjugate another group of human beings.

I also believe we should not have laws to protect people based on minority status... but the sad truth is, that because people in this country do discriminate based on minority status... we do (as of today) need certain protections.

It really was not so long ago in this country when Americans believed that there shouldn't be laws passed to allow black children to be taught with white children.... I believe those laws have made our country a much better place.



Is this country perfect? No! But by working together and trying to create a greater understanding... I believe it will one day be a better place...

And I also know that this country, as flawed as it is, is the best Nation on this planet... and it is up to us "We the People" to ensure it continues to grow and progress to be the best place to live.

Thank-You, Ford.

I also just watched a great documentary on Norman Rockwell.... it was very inspiring.




Norman Rockwell Mosaic
On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations in 1985, this mosaic was presented to the United Nations by Mrs. Nancy Reagan, the then First Lady, on behalf of the United States.

It is based on a painting by the American artist Norman Rockwell called the Golden Rule. Rockwell wanted to illustrate how the Golden Rule was a common theme of all the major religions of the world, and depicted people of every race, creed and color with dignity and respect. The mosaic contains the inscription "Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You". It was executed by Venetian artists specializing in mosaic works.

Nice try, KK...But it would take a heck of a lot more than that to make me vote for O'bama. Like maybe a gun held to my head.

Wow never saw that one...Beautiful.
My *artiste* friends discounted Norman pretty much but I like him very much.

Can you post yours and I godda' get going here...GAWD help me.
I would post my art work but stick figures are so yesterday!!!