Life is a Journey, Why Not Share it?

Reader J. Peach took this picture at today’s “Glenn Beck Restores America” poetry slam and cookout. Apparently, all of this man’s racist shirts that actually make sense were in the laundry.

Update: The mystery of Weird Racist T-shirt Guy deepens!

Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck hosted a rally in Washington D.C. today that more closely resembled a religious revival than a political rally. Beck urged the large crowds at his “Restoring Honor” event  to “turn back to God” and return America to the “values on which it was founded”. I was fairly certain that freedom of religion was one of those values.  I am also quite certain that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion.

In a bout of religious rhetoric, Beck told participants at the rally “Something beyond imagination is happening… America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness.” Empty words, from a political opportunist who presumes to speak for America. I for one say that if Beck were to be the face of the American Citizenry, I would proudly stand-up and sing “Oh Canada”.

Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" Rally resembled a religious revival

The rally rightfully drew fire for its timing and location.

People filled the park by the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool, on the anniversary of the most pivotal civil rights address in America’s history — the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered at the same location 47 years ago.

Although he denied it, and denied that the rally was political in nature, Beck clearly tried to usurp the day for his own political gain. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was quoted by CNN saying Beck was mimicking King and “humiliating the tradition.” Beck insults the intelligence of all of us if he expects us to believe he is absent minded enough to have picked this date purely coincidentally.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, perhaps the perfect antithesis for Beck & certainly an intellectual equal, and his “National Action Network” gathered nearby with a “Reclaim the Dream” rally. Participants in this rally marched from a high school in northwest Washington, D.C., to the site of the future Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, just a few blocks from the Lincoln Memorial.

Beck said the site of his rally was appropriate to reflect on the legacy of King, “the man who stood down on those stairs and gave his life for everyone’s right to have a dream.”

Beck repeatedly claimed his rally was nonpolitical and its mission was to honor American troops. But as a veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan, and an open atheist, I can tell you this rally did little for me other than make me ashamed of the direction our country appears to be heading. I was saddened to see how many people actually rallied to support this mad man.

Beck struck a spiritual tone throughout the day, saying his role was to wake America up to the backsliding of principles, values and most importantly, faith. Earlier, he said “God dropped a giant sandbag on his head” to push him to organize the event.

Beck, keenly aware of his critics, opened the rally shortly after 10 a.m. with the national anthem and immediately drew attention to the large crowd that stretched for six city blocks from the Lincoln Memorial along the parks surrounding the reflecting pool.

“I have just gotten word from the media that there are over 1,000 people here today,” Beck said sarcastically.

“We are humbled that you are here,” he said. “The reflecting pool holds about 200,000 people. This field back here holds about 250- to 300,000 people. They are not only full here, they’re full in that field, they’re full behind me, and they are now across the street approaching the Washington Monument.”

Tea Party activists from across the country attended the event. Turning out in what was surely one of the most manufactured and insincere events ever held in this historical location.

Speakers included former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who said she came to speak not about politics but as “something more” — as the mother of a soldier. She said America’s men and women in uniform exemplified the virtues and values of America.

“Say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet and you can’t take that away from me,” she said to a crowd that broke out in chants of “U.S.A! U.S.A!”

She also noted the anniversary of the famous civil rights speech, saying, “We feel the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Beck had been heavily promoting the event on his Fox News Channel program and on his radio broadcasts. He claims that the timing of the rally wasn’t intentional. But that seems like a pretty big coincidence to me…

“Whites don’t own Abraham Lincoln. Blacks don’t own Martin Luther King. Those are American icons, American ideas, and we should just talk about character, and that’s really what this event is about. It’s about honoring character,” Beck said.

Lenny McAllister, an African American Republican, was asked by the Tea Party to speak at Saturday’s rally but declined. He said the rally was disrespectful to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I cannot sit on stage and co-sign on this irresponsibility,” he said. “I made sure I wore my elephant pin today. I am a proud Republican but I am also a proud African American man.”

I for one think anyone who honestly believes this rally was not political in nature is deluded. It’s no coincidence Sarah Palin was there, this is all apart of her build up towards her 2012 campaign. It’s just sad to me that people like Palin and beck will stoop so low as to use the troops as a back drop for their political aspirations, and tarnish the anniversary of such a pivotal moment in civil rights history.

I don’t agree with the folks at illuminatitv about much, but I think the host manages to make some very good points in this video. What do you think? Please let us know in the comments.

Her form is perfect!

Archery at its finest. Elbow up in the proper position, target locked in, and lots of arches for the observers to look at. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to find out that just off camera is another person with his “bow” trying to dot up a certain, unnamed target. This archer also has a lower back tattoo, it appears. I learned from a very smart movie that that might as well be the bullseye.

Also, I hope I’m not the only person thinking of that side-boob episode of ‘Family Guy.’ I mean, Peter Griffin would probably think that’s really quality side-boob.

Watching movies on the go just got easier with the debut of Netflix on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Netflix members can start watching videos and get instant access to their queue by downloading the free 1.1.0 version to their Apple gadget. The app requires a Netflix membership or the set up of a free 30-day trial account. The popular video subscription service launched a mobile version of its video streaming for the iPad in April.

Not an Apple fanboy (or girl)? Fear not, the rumor mill says Netflix has an app in the works for Android.

Full story at CNet.

The proposed Mosque two blocks from ‘ground zero’, originally named “Cordoba House”, has stirred quite a debate across the country. I have expressed my opinions here previously, and I have shared some enlightening videos from Pat Condell who I think really hits the nail on the head with this issue. However, there have been some extremists chiming in on the debate, and I feel the need to clarify my own position.

I am personally, morally opposed to the construction of this mosque, and I find it’s presence to be deeply offensive. I should point out, that I would also be offended if people were building a Church there. I am aware that there are Mosques that exist in the area, and that several of them were there well before the World Trade Center was erected. I have no real issues with the preexisting religious institutions in the area. However I do take great offense to adding more.

I am also aware that my personal opinion means little, and I would NEVER advocate trying to take away these people’s right to build their Mosque, but at the same time, I fully intend to exercise my right to voice my opinion on the subject. I have been hopeful that enough of a public outcry would dissuade their actions, but it seems we’ve not cried loud enough. 9/11 should stand as a reminder of what religion, and unquestioning devotion to a god leads to. It was the act of RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS, which is why I am offended by the notion of ANY religious institution being constructed on the site. I stand by my belief that religion can ultimately only serve to divide us as a people. The fact that the religious institution being built happens to be one representing the most repressive, backwards, intolerant and evil religions practiced today only makes it worse.

Christianity, is itself a pretty heinous and demented belief system if you actually read the Bible. It too advocates outright evil, like stoning your daughter, just as Islam does. Christianity also has many strange rules such as not eating shrimp, and it makes strange claims, like rabbits chew cud. But there is one difference between Islam and Christianity that makes Islam far more dangerous… Christians cherry pick the bible. They only “believe in” and “practice” the nice bits, and the pieces they like. Whereas that certainly makes Christians incredible hypocrites, it also makes them far less dangerous. Islam is the largest religion in the world that is still openly stoning women, convicting women as criminals for having been raped, and that practices genital mutilation (only on women, of course).

This leads to my next point… People like to mention the “moderate Muslims”. Should we offend them? Should they not be given credit? My answer is simple. You are not guaranteed any protection against being offended in this nation, and I can not give credit to any group of “moderates” that are not actively denouncing the hateful actions Islam takes against women around the world. Their silence serves as quiet condoning of such actions.

I do not believe religion deserves respect. It should not have the special protected status it seems to in our world. Why is it we can poke fun at people’s race, sex, disabilities, ignorance, etceteras, but once we poke fun at religion we are told we “have gone too far”? Why should we be concerned about offense given to anyone who can read books such as the Bible or the Koran and believe they are Holy and infallible? Or worse, why should we be concerned about giving offense to those who follow these dogmas without having read the books all the way through?

Religion in any form is rapidly becoming a greater and greater blight on our society as a whole. It is high time we stop cowering behind political correctness and stand up and demand reason. I do not understand how anyone with half an education can be anything less than outraged at the construction of nearly any new religious institution, much less one intended to hail the glory of an extreme and violent religion that seeks to oppress those that stand in its way.

The following are weird sex laws that are or were in place at one time or another. This listing is for entertainment purposes only and those seeking legal advice should contact their state or country representative or a lawyer that is familiar with the state or country’s laws.

In the USA, the FDA does not currently regulate sex toys, so many of them are toxic.

In Florida, having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.

In Tibet, many years ago, the law required all women prostitute themselves. This was seen as a way to gain sexual experience prior to marriage.

“Female breasts,” according to the Arizona Supreme Court, don’t constitute “private parts” under state law.

The Asiatic Huns punished convicted male rapists and adulterers with castration. Female adulterers were merely cut in two.

The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

The T’ang Dynasty Empress Wu Hu passed a special law concerning oral sex. She felt that a woman pleasuring a man represented the supremacy of the male over the female. Therefore, she insisted all visiting male dignitaries show their respect by pleasuring her orally when meeting. The empress would throw open her robe and her guest would kneel before her and kiss her genitals.

In London, it’s illegal to have sex on a parked motorcycle.

There is, in fact, an Illinois law that prohibits a number of things—one of which is a public erection, another is nude dancing. The prohibition against the public erection has never been challenged in the Supreme Court, but the prohibition against nude dancing has.

In 100 A.D., the Teutons, an Germanic tribe, would punish anyone caught as a prostitute by suffocating them in excrement.

The vow of a Roman vestal virgin lasted 30 years. If she engaged in sex before then, she was punished by being buried alive.

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In these days of measuring the productivity of everything and everybody, it is of great importance for our researchers to demonstrate how efficiently they utilize their resources. An often-recurring bone of contention is consequently “who can do most with the least?”

At one such set-to, a mathematician claimed that mathematics was the least wasteful, saying that “we need only three inexpensive tools for our research: Paper, pencil and waste basket.”

“Bah!” exclaimed the resident philosopher, “we don’t even need the waste basket!”