Bumper sticker baby...

Here is my new philosophy...But I don't know if you are supposed to use quotes when you said it...so i will use the partial quote 'Normal is for people not creative enough to be interesting.'
So, today and everyday LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY! FREAK PRIDE!

Truth, man.

From Yahoo news:

"The 10 rainiest cities in the U.S. by amount of annual rainfall include:

Mobile, Alabama--67 inches average annual rainfall; 59 average annual rainy days Pensacola, Florida--65 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days New Orleans, Louisiana--64 inches average annual rainfall; 59 average annual rainy days West Palm Beach, Florida--63 inches average annual rainfall; 58 average annual rainy days Lafayette, Louisiana--62 inches average annual rainfall; 55 average annual rainy days Baton Rouge, Louisiana--62 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days Miami, Florida--62 inches average annual rainfall; 57 average annual rainy days Port Arthur, Texas--61 inches average annual rainfall; 51 average annual rainy days Tallahassee, Florida--61 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days Lake Charles, Louisiana--58 inches average annual rainfall; 50 average annual rainy days"

YEAH! So, suck it stereotypers: "Oh you live in Seattle? So do you have gills instead of lungs?" Washington doesn't even appear on the list until #24 and that is Olympia!

Docuhorror

I just invented a new genre. Docuhorror. The kind of documentary that is made specifically to scare the living crap out of you...The Gore documentary about weather is, at least this is the impression I get, intended to inspire us to act, to get passionate and care and do crap or something. The ones I am talking about are the ones that inform you about something that you can do little or nothing about. And that scares the crap out of you. Like Michael Moore documentaries* or the one I just watched, Jesus Camp by Heidi Ewing and Rachael Grady.
I know this is the second in a row with a religious bent, and I apologize for that, but this movie scared the crap out of me.
I believe that everyone has the right to do, or say or think what they want under one very important stipulation. Your rights end where the next guys nose begins. And you have a responsibility, if you are a parent, to allow your kids those same rights. I also think that parents have an obligation to teach their kids TO think, not what to think.
But, that aside, the two things I mostly wanted to talk about, other than the sheer blind terror I was experiencing for the entire run of the film, were, my mom's reaction and what I would want if I was a god.
So, we watched it with my agnostic/atheist family and my mom kept interjecting "I don't see what the problem is?" "Why are you getting so mad?" "What is the difference between this and child abuse?" Because I am suuuch an advocate of child abuse. My sister and I, who were drinking heavily, were explaining that the problem isn't the belief in god, or the belief in a faith based moral code, but in the teaching kids to be spiritual warriors, teaching them to be afraid for the immortal souls of their friends who watch Spongebob and teaching them that they are hypocrites who need to "get right with god". Some of these kids didn't even have their permanent teeth yet, let alone the need to be saved. And I don't think kids should be politicized. They should be taught tolerance and what is good and bad, but I don't think they should be praying outside the White House with plastic fetuses taped to their hands with tape over their mouths with the world "Live" written on it.
I went to the website of the preacher who ran the titular camp (her name is Becky Fischer) and I needed to share this quote "But let me also explain that because of all the misconceptions about the supposed "political activism" going on in the film. Our teachings and equipping of children does not center around politics. In fact we never viewed our activities as political until we saw them through the eyes of secular filmmakers. "
Well. There you have it. You are right Ma. No harm in that. Another interesting point made on this website, by Becky is why the focus on kids, rather than teens or even adults capable of reason. "Statistics show that by the time a child is 7 to 9 years old his/her moral moorings are already cast in stone, and whatever he/she believes by the time he/she is 13 they will generally die believing unless something catastrophic happens in his/her life to turn them around. I clearly remember Catholics and Communists both saying years ago saying "Give us a child until they are seven years old and we will have them for life!" They know something Christians don't know."
The joke writes itself about the 7 yr old and the Catholics and this isn't about cheap digs, so I will glide onto my next thought.
Secondly, (and seriously, I am going be mad about this for a long ass time, so you will hear more) as my dear friend said "It's not a good idea to screw up the teaching of the one you believe will judge you one day". Pretty sure god didn't, or doesn't want kids tormented with the thought of their souls burning in hell because they weren't evangelical enough in first grade! But, then again, maybe I am wrong. Maybe these people are right. Maybe god wants kids scared and crying ALL the time. Maybe having blind following is a huge ego trip that god likes. Personally, I would rather have people who have made thoughtful choice and consideration agree with me because I am right, not because they are scared I will murder them if they don't.
There are tons of websites about this documentary, both pro and con, but I gotta say, there is nothing more terrifying that the blindly faithful. Especially when they are too young to drive. In fact, most of them are too young to babysit. Kids are not tools. People who use kids are tools.

Good News!

As you may know, I am an atheist; To quote Mr. Douglas Adams (whom, before his death, my husband would have left me for given the chance) "It isn't that I don't believe that god exists, it is that I actively believe there is no god." But, unlike many atheists, I can discuss god with people who do believe without screaming "THERE IS NO GOD!" In fact, some of my closest friends are people of faith and I respect their belief as they respect mine (although I am sure the giggle quietly about my place in hell).
This does not prevent me from anthropomorphizing the god that our culture talks about. In the old testament, god was always "smiting" people...with another friend, it has been decided "smote" is a liquid, that god stirs, in a big cauldron while he watches his creations from the clouds. And he must have a sense of humour, look to the platypus (That is from something but I don't know what...shiny nickel for anyone who tells me). And I know that there are a helluva a lot of assholes who do terrible things to innocent people and hide behind their god, who frankly also thinks they are assholes.
Despite a lack of a faith based moral compass, I try to be a goodish person. That includes not actively wishing bad things to befall people...unless they really, really deserve it. Which brings me to my point. JERRY FALWELL IS DEAD!
Couldn'ta happened to a nicer guy. I hope he was in pain. And for just a brief moment, I hoped that the afterlife is whatever people think it is, so that those who believe in heaven and hell go there. And I hope god punched Falwell in the face and then ass raped him. And then laughed in his face and called him a faggot. And then I hope that there is reincarnation and I hope Falwell comes back as a poor, crippled, black queer. And I hope his parents hate him.
Rot in your grave you sick piece of crap. I just wish your death had been more prolonged.

Tricky

I am in sunny CA. And by sunny, I mean liquifyingly hot. I honour and admire all those who can get it up for the 900th sunny day in a row...but I don't think I could ever live here. Having tons of fun though...
Because of the acursed internet, despite being out of town, I am still in touch with the world. And by world I mean my sucky 10th reunion committee. And it is shaping up to be a doozy. It is slated to be at a slightly skeezy bar in Steveston. Woot. And another event at the school. Oy.
But, I got a message today on facebook asking me to give the speech I gave at grad again with some updates, for the school event. And I don't know what to do.
Our school had three speakers at our grad who were elected by the student body...one was the "Spirit Speaker" who talked about school events and trips and clubs, "Valedictorian" who talked about the future and the inspiring crap, and the "Class Historian" who was supposed to gently poke fun at all the antics the class had gotten up to over the years.
I was said CH. And my speech destrpyed the universe. Well, not quite the universe, but it did cause a stir. Most people liked it. The people who didn't stopped talking to me. There were meetings with the school admin and parents. Teachers were divided in the staffroom into supporting me and supporting the butt of many of the jokes, the class president, who we will call Pigeon.
It was my job to tease people from all walks of the school life...to include all...not just my own friends and teachers...which I did. But some took it badly. Like vowing to never talk to me again badly. Admittedly, they probably did get over it. But still...it tainted a fun night. I got a standing ovation. And then ignored and hated.
Whatever. Fuck 'em. I'm doing it. I don't care. If they can't take a joke...well, I won't be surprised.