The logical outcome of social conservatism.

The crazy asshole shown above is the man who walked into a Unitarian church in Tennessee yesterday and opened fire on the congregation as they watched their children perform the musical "Annie". At least two adults were killed, and many more seriously wounded. Turns out this guy left a note in his vehicle showing that he had been planning this attack for weeks, and that the motivation behind his rampage was the fact that the Unitarian church was a welcoming and affirming congregation for GBLT people.

At what point do we, as civilized human beings, stop trying to be open minded about people whose political and social platform includes the active process of dehumanizing and marginalizing us? When do we put down the mantle of tolerance and say, loudly and clearly, that it's not okay to be a Christian terrorist? In our hearts, we know that the logical end-game of religious conservatism is violence against those who are different. It's happened from the very beginning of history, and it's happening now. At what point can we rightfully say that homo-hatred is a biblically justifiable but no longer socially acceptable bias? When can we stop trying to understand and start demanding, in no uncertain or wishy-washy terms, that our government step in and protect us from the terrorists right here at home?

I guess it's easier to worry about terrorists who have darker skin and live halfway around the world than it is to recognize the possibility of terrorism at the hands of those who are more like us.

A nightmare for we pee-shy people...

From eatmypotato.com (linked below):

Hailstones blasted man off toilet.

July 21, 2008 - 12:49 pm

An Austrian man, Martin Bierbauer, was blasted off the toilet when huge hailstones started shooting out of it.

The crazy weather in Austria where the temperature dropped over 30 degrees centigrade in just a few days has led to freak hail storms in the country.

Martin Bierbauer said: “I heard the pipes rumbling a bit, and suddenly hailstones the size of golf balls started exploding out of the toilet like it was a popcorn machine.

“There was an avalanche of ice that quickly filled the toilet, then the entire flat, and eventually the entire building.

“I ran down the stairs with the hailstones following me, and other residents did the same.”

The incident was caused by hailstones flooding into a local drain during a torrential downpour, which became blocked. The pressure become to great and the hailstones had to go somewhere and they came out through the toilets.

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” - Martin Luther King Jr

My friend Shawn's boyfriend posted this on his blog recently. My head almost exploded. (Note: This video clip is part of a longer original, which is no longer available at the original site.)



There's something quite unusual about this kind of insanity. Normally, when we think of someone who's utterly insane, we think of the crazy dude asking us for money on the sidewalk... or, even worse, the crazy dude telling us we need to repent for our sins before we can cross the street or walk into the Walgreen's. I find it less than comforting to know that the craziest among the crazies are actually working hand models.

It does bear mentioning that the nuttier of the two women in this clip is married. When I see long-term relationships that are maintained in a relatively healthy way by people who are utterly deranged, it makes me wonder about the rubric by which I define sanity for the rest of the world. If crazy hand lady's husband is truly as devoted and long-suffering as he is portrayed in this clip, then does that mean that he's faking it, or that there truly is "a lid for every pot"? What about my friends who haven't either found or maintained long term relationships? Does that mean that they're crazier than the hand lady, or does that mean that they're not crazy enough... and if it's the latter, then what does that say about my own sanity? It makes one's head hurt a bit.

All that said, I truly am grateful that my profession, as specialized as it is, does not involve walking around town with my hands in opera-length black gloves, held high in a combination "stick-em-up!" / "touchdown!" pose. As low as the standards are on Manhunt these days, I doubt there'd be many takers.

More ink: Logan McCree

Logan McCree, real name Philipp Tanzer, was the German Mr. Leather for 2004. There was also something on the net about Logan working at some bar in New York. Logan McCree stars in Raging Stallion's salute to tattooed men, Ink Storm.

Oh, dear.

Is this what might have happened to me had I not left Oklahoma?

I feel like I've just dodged a bullet.