The Church that canceled the funeral for a gay veteran and the brother of an employee of the Church is mind-boggling to me.
Simons said the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there.How is that not going to be seen as hatred? They actually said that if a person was a murderer they wouldn't have had a funeral in their Church for them, either. Yeah...they just compared homosexuality to murder. I can't believe that this kind of thinking outweighs the grace and compassion that is really the foundation of my Faith. Why would anyone want to have a life that your entire belief system is based more on what's wrong and the million ways you're going to hell instead of the joy and serenity that life brings. My life is full of compassion, grace, love and happiness. If I went to a Church that preached the misery of life and how everything is a sin and you're going to hell, I'd get up and walk out and tell them they should all go home and kill themselves."We did decline to host the service--not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle," Simons told The Associated Press. "Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it--yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family."
It's stupidity like this that ruins Christianity for everyone else. That poor family. I know in my heart that God's light is shining on them, in spite of what some dumbass hick says.
A Christian Boot Camp in Bumf*ck, Texas is accused of dragging a 15 year-old girl behind a van when she fell behind during a morning run. I think it's in 1st Corinthians verse 5 about "The sloweth shall be dragged behind a van in My name." (AAS)
Two employees of Love Demonstrated Ministries have been arrested. No word if Jesus is a suspect.
Fort Worth Councilwoman Wendy Davis (CWILF) announced that she will be running for the Senate District 10 seat (now occupied by Kim Brimer, the grumpy ass). Why do you care? You should care because she' hot and because I'm beginning work on the "I got a crush on Wendy Davis" video (a la Obama-girl) on youtube later. FWST
Burglars broke into Congressman Johnson's district office and ransacked the office. A staffer interrupted the burglary and said no sensitive information was taken. (DMN)
Congressman Johnson was thrilled to see his name in the newspaper.
The state's about to start buying your old piece of shit car for $3,000. In an effort to retire polluting cars, the state has a new Republican sponsored program to buy up old cars. "By cleaning up some of the old cars and getting them off the road, you could put a real dent in the pollution numbers," said state Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, who led the bill through the Legislature.
How much is budgeted for this? Where is the money coming from? Is there a 'cap' per year on how many cars the state will purchase? What will the state do with the cars? If they go back on the road then that's perpetuating the problem.
Oh, and furthermore with these great efforts at reducing pollution, what is the state doing to the large companies that pollute? Higher taxes, penalties or incentives to meet tougher standards?
It's an interesting idea, but I believe entirely stupid. (Chron)
The young man that helped rescue schoolchildren in the bridge collapse refused a photo op with the president. Nobody wants their stock to plummet that fast! (NYT)
It's panic at the disco around the world as global markets plummet and NY braces for round two this morning.
A bank in France (BNP) has stopped withdrawals on some of their funds because they can't value them with everybody racing to get their money. Countrywide Loans is freaking the F out because they can't unload all their bad mortgages onto the secondary market. Treasury prices are up as people look for a safe harbor in the storm.
I wonder if this bust will make the Internet bust of the 90's look like a cakewalk. Thoughts?
Pearl Jam is torqued off that AT&T's vendor for streaming video of their concert censored lyrics critical of President Bush. AT&T, jumping at a chance to redeem themselves for giving their phone records to the government, feigned outrage and said they would work to ensure Pearl Jam could criticize the President just like everybody else does.
Order restored. Go about your daily business.(AAS)
I didn't watch the debates sponsored by the HRC and broadcast on LOGO last night. But, I did read some of the follow ups. (CNN)
Gay marriage, gay marriage, gay marriage, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and there you have what was apparently the crux of the gay debates. "Marriage is a commitment between two human beings in love," Gravel said. "And if there's anything we need in this world, it's more love." That crazy old coot is the only one that speaks his mind. Whether it's crazy or not, he doesn't care. He should team up with Elizabeth Edwards and they just go around telling the truth every where. That would make for some great television.
Senator Hutchison assures us that the feds will not ask for us to return $200 million in federal highway funds because the state is cheating on how they accept bids for a highway project. The winning bid went to a Spanish company and that pissed some Texans right off. So, they wrangled a way for a home-gown white folk company to get the bid. The feds were all like "Hol' up a minute. That ain't right, bitches." To which Hutchison replied, "Aw hell no. This is Texas and if we want to do things the sketchy way that's the way we'll do it!" (DMN)
Once again we see the results of Governor Perry's "all talk" political ideology. During his campaign he was all over his Border Patrol cameras. One small detail...there isn't any money to pay for it. Sounds like some sort of Democrat to me.
Beginning in the Fall, college students at public universities in Texas will only be allowed to drop six courses during their undergraduate years. (6 years in my case but don’t judge) (FWST )The brain behind this vital legislation is Rep. Brown from College Station. Big ideas from a small man in a town that doesn't even have a real school. I say booo.
Who the hell am I? Zander that's who, check the Permalink for my fake bio.
There was a confirmed tornado in NYC yesterday. That strikes me as strange. Just looking at the photos of the coverage made me claustrophobic. While NY'ers take everything in stride since they've seen everything and done everything I betcha a tornado freaked some folks out. Whenever I tell my friends in the City about our bad weather they tell me I should move. To where? This mess? I'll take flash floods, hailstorms, million degree heat and panic at the mere mention of a snow flurry over scenes like this anyday.
I love you, New York City, but damn y'all got too many people up there.
The TEA announced the graduation rate had decreased to 80% in their latest report, down from 84% in the previous reporting period. That was supposedly due to new tighter definitions on what is a dropout. Critics are already attacking the number, claiming that the graduation rate is closer to 70% in 2006. The number of students who dropped out increased from 11,650 to nearly 25,000. The TEA says they stand behind their numbers but do nothing to explain why someone would criticize those numbers.
I don't like their answer. The TEA should immediately respond to the criticism. Show us a graph, a formula and make the critics realize awfully quick they put a decimal in the wrong place. The TEA saying "We stand by our numbers" is the same as "Because I said so" and neither is an acceptable answer.
Whether the dropout rate is 20% or 30% I want to know what is the goal? What's an acceptable amount of kids to dropout? How many are we willing to just 'write-off'? I'll land on an arbitrarily chosen 10-15% dropout rate.
Come on, Robert. You're smarter than this. Educate us. We all really want to be on your side, but you need to tell DeEtta Culbertson that the next time she gives a snide non-answer to the press you're going to fire her ass.
Will Kinky run for governor in 2010? He says maybe. As a Democrat. Oh, he also wants to tell you about his new book coming out and a new line of cigars. What better way to help Texans than by combining a publicity tour with a gubernatorial campaign?
Democratic consultant Kelly Fero said voters will be in a serious mood in 2010: "They're going to be looking for real serious, legitimate candidates. Kinky should throw his cigar in the ring if he thinks he fits that profile."Listen, we've been in a serious mood about leadership since we started this blog.
The leadership vacuum in this state sucks so hard people in Arkansas are complaining about the breeze.
The new bachelor is from Austin. I bet all her single friends are wondering why he had to go on a damn TV show when there are plenty of desperate eligible single women right here...reading blogs. They should film that stupid show right here in town. That way all the men could go scoop up the rejects. I got your rose right here, baby!
The entire Texas education system is a big ol' mess. Teacher pay is shocking, dropout rates are soaring and the incentive pay program approved in 2006 is a bait and switch. Teachers that teach to the TAKS test get an incentive. Teaching to a test is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. That's not teaching...that's memorization. (DMN)
Until we get quality teachers teaching about subjects they know and schools encouraging arts and science as much as they encourage sports and Jesus we are going to continue to grow the population of stupid people in this state. Trust me, we've got our quota already.
Remember when this state had so much to be proud of? What happened? I'm not even Texan and I'm embarrassed for y'all. You've really let this place go to hell in a handbasket.
The AAS web site does something that annoys me. They take two brief stories that are unrelated and join them by a semicolon. Here's today's example:
Strangely, these two stories could actually go together. It would explain why there was a staff shortage at least. If they are going to put multiple stories here why not just call it "Brief Metro Stories" or "Crap we only cared enough about to write a blurb."
The newly appointed head of the State Board of Education is a mouth breather. The Texas Observer and Texas Freedom Network point to a recorded lecture given by Don McElroy illustrates a hostility towards science. (source)
It is so hard to get geared up for a fight over this issue. How do you argue with people that are fundamentally wrong? It amazes me how people are so proud of their aggressive ignorance when it comes to teaching evolution. Part of what makes the arguments continue is that the sane people can't believe we have to argue over this point and just don't bother...and then before you know it we're teaching our children to believe in magic instead of scientific fact.
The state has launched a new website for organ donors. Simply go to the site, scroll through profiles of internal organs and find your match! Eyeballs are not allowed to register on the site because of their alternative lifestyle.
I've set up two profiles...you know, one for when I'm feeling naughty.
There's gonna be a few new folks scouring the news and the halls of the capitol building for tidbits for the blog. They'll pop in and introduce themselves without really introducing themselves sometime in the next few little whiles. Be nice to them, or not...I don't give a shit. But don't proposition them for sex until you've at least read a few of their posts. You folks are so dirty and horny!
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So, what's up with the mortgage market? So many defaults that lenders are having to stop lending? Some of these companies are only getting the results of exactly what they knew would one day come when you lend money to those with no means to pay it back. I don't really feel sorry for the companies because they knew the risks. I don't feel sorry for the stupid people that got sucked into taking out loans everyone but them knew they wouldn't be able to pay back, either. (Chron)
Comedy Central has launched Indecision 2008. Their team of paid writers will supply all of us with the funny that is sure to be the presidential campaigns for the next year or so. Great. Yet another thing on this confounded Internet that I'll have to keep up with!
The Statesman reports that Mikal Watts earned $40 million over the past 18 months. Suddenly, he's so much more appealing to me. Gee, I wonder why? (AAS)
The new Texas pledge went into effect on June 15. Now it has "one state under God" added. The new pledge goes something like this:
I pledge allegiance to the state that ranks 40th in high school dropout rates, ranks 30th in teacher pay, first in uninsured children and 48th in voter turnout. Under God.
Ah. Strong leadership. It's what we deserve when we don't vote. I really didn't know the state ranked so low in voter turnout. No wonder the legislature is full of morons....so are the citizens!
Let me give a shout out to my favorite former staffer I saw out having a drink Sunday night. Since he moved away from the Cap City, he's at least 2.5 times more sexy than when he was in the soul-sucking pink dome!
The House voted on a big ass energy bill, including $16 billion in new taxes for energy companies. After careful consideration...I'm okay with it. (Chron)
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