Tweet Of The Day

Oh, snap!

Quiz: Ukrainian Presidential Palace or Neverland Ranch

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was removed from power on February 22nd, after days of violent protests.  He is now considered a fugitive, fleeing Kiev after being charged with over 80 counts of murder, for ordering military snipers to fire on protesters.

To the public, Yanukovych was the image of a "man of the people".  That couldn't be further from the truth.  Ukrainian citizens gathered en masse at the gates of Yanukovych's multiple estates, and were dumbfounded at what they saw.

The following images were taken of either Yanukovych's presidential palace, or Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch.  Can you tell them apart?  Answers after the break.

Photo Of The Day - Oh Nein You Didn't

So, this unfortunately timed photo is of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pointing to a spot across the room, and inadvertently creating a shadow on the face of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.  I can't stop cringing.

Quote Of The Day - Gay Marriage Is Like WHAT?!

"The government should not force us to ever use our business and use our talents, to go against what we fundamentally believe in.  For example, we would not force a Muslim to participate in a Koran-burning ceremony. We wouldn't ask a black photographer, and force them to go take a picture of KKK event. This is America. And in America, we should be able to live freely and not be forced to support or endorse ideas."

- Kellie Fiedorek from Alliance Defending Freedom, speaking on CNN.

The Alliance Defending Freedom is a Scottsdale, Arizona group of 44 lawyers. While not yet technically an SPLC certified hate group, they have many board members that are affiliated with hate organizations.  Alliance has been getting a lot of media attention recently, because they're the group that drafted Arizona's SB 1062.  SB 1062 is the bill that allows businesses to deny service to individuals (gay folk), based on someone's "sincerely held beliefs".

MINI RANT

Every interview that I have read or seen with someone supporting this bill, the person being interviewed has repeated the term "sincerely held beliefs".  It's almost as if it has become some kind of catchphrase that Conservatives use instead of "homophobic".

Okay.  Mini rant over.

So, let me see if I understand this correctly.  Having to bake a cake or provide flowers for this:

is akin to participating in this:

Or this:

What kind of fucked up world do you live in, where these are the first two examples that come to mind?  Koran burning and Klan rallies? Why on earth would anyone even do these horrible things to begin with?  Why would anyone force any of their employees, regardless of what their religion or ethnicity is, to participate in something like this?

That would be like....well...forcing one of your gay or lesbian employees to refuse service to a gay customer.

Unfinished/Unsent

Recently, I was transferring my documents from one laptop to another.  I found a document called "Hi", written in January of 2009.  Had no idea what it could be.

I forgot that I wrote a letter to my mom.  Well, was writing a letter to my mom, at least.  The last conversation the two of us had, I told my mother that I had a number of serious doubts about the things I was taught as a Jehovah's Witness.  She asked for specifics, and I said that it was too much to bring up at that time.

That night, I started writing her a letter.  Five hours and 4200 words later, I saved the document and went to bed.  I didn't even begin to explain my objections to a lot of the doctrine I had previously believed.  Had no chance to get into the blood issue, or anything concerning 1914 or 607 B.C.  I very quickly realized that finishing the letter was pointless.  My mother probably would have never read it anyway.  What was the point in writing the apostate equivalent of War and Peace?

Considering my state of mind at the time, I'm surprised at how logical I was with my writing.  Didn't curse even once.  Read for yourself, after the jump.

*Interesting footnote:  Spell check programs do not recognize the words disfellowshipped and disfellowshipping.  Interesting....

tl;dr They're Crazy

The last couple of years, it seems that the majority of "genuine" comments I've received on this blog have been genuinely crazy. Recently, I don't hear anything for weeks, then a gem like this shows up.  Keep in mind, this was a comment left on a post about The Pirate Bay.

"THE TRUTH IS OFFENSIVE!

Some believers in Christ honestly believe that that truth is so offensive that Christians should only proclaim that God is love. Example: Only preach and teach that God loves everyone. Simply repeat John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

The problem is even John 3:16 offends many people.

Those who reject God's truth find part or all of it offensive.

GOD'S TRUTH THAT OFFENDS

1. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(NKJV)

Mark 16:16 offends those who believe that water baptism is not essential for salvation.

2. John 16:23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.(NKJV) 

John 16:23 offends those who want to pray to the Virgin Mary and other dead saints. 

3. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.(NKJV) 

Titus 2:11 offends those who believe God's grace is only offered to a predetermined select few. 

4. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. (NKJV) 

Hebrews 6:4-6 offend those who believe in once in grace always in grace.


THE NEW COVENANT TERMS FOR PARDON.

1. Faith: John 3:16
2. Confession: Romans 10:9
3. Repentance: Acts 3:19
4. Water Baptism: Acts 2:38 

The terms for pardon offend those who reject the terms. 

GOD LOVES EVERYONE, HOWEVER, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL."    

GIF Of The Day - Prince 1978-2013

25+ albums.....4 of them decent.

Bigoted Asshole Headline Of The Day

From Matt Barber.

The particularly disgusting quote from the piece:

"It’s a shame that Ann (Heche) wasn’t younger, she could’ve waited ‘til now when coming out as gay goes viral on the Internet and you become untouchable by anyone and everything."

And, this doesn't even compare to some of the shit he's said......

Ridiculously Hilarious Headline Of The Day

Tea Party To Celebrate Five Years Of Racism And Hilariously Misspelled Signs

Details

Today's New Releases On The Pirate Bay

Late last night, Spike Lee's Oldboy was uploaded to the site.  I was really excited when I read that Lee would be doing a remake of the iconic 2003 Korean film. But, after reading a number of reviews, I decided to skip it.  The 2013 remake only has a 41% favorable rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

My advice:  Watch the original.  But, don't watch it on Netflix.  For some reason, the Netflix version is dubbed and has a weird aspect ratio.  It totally ruins the experience.  If my memory is correct, Hulu has the original unedited version available for its members.

Today's New Releases On The Pirate Bay

The DVD screener for Philomena has finally become available.  So, by my count, the screeners for all Best Picture Oscar nominees are on The Pirate Bay.

That's pretty much it.  It's been a slow week.  Hoping to see Anchorman 2 out soon.

Remember, Don't Try Any Of That Gay Shit At The Olympics...

So says this guy:

Today's New Releases On The Pirate Bay

Good afternoon, everyone all four of you.

Today, we have the awards screener of Nebraska making its appearance on the site for the first time.  It's been getting a lot of great buzz, and I'm assuming will be will worth your time.

You also have the Marvel "one shot", All Hail the King, which is scheduled to appear on the new Thor DVD, as well as a lovely tribute package honoring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.  It's a bundle of 31 films featuring some of his best performances.  It's a hefty download (31 gb), but would make a nice addition to your collection.

Today's New Releases On The Pirate Bay

It's Thor's-day!!!

Other than that, it's nothing but crap.

You have the laughable Homefront, starring Jason Statham, Winona Rider, and James Franco.  It's a movie that USA Today said "what "Breaking Bad" may have resembled had Sylvester Stallone written the TV show."

You also have the advance copy of the direct-to-DVD-Robocop-ripoff Android Cop, starring Michael Jai White.  Remember him?  Me either.

How Many Days Does Bill Murray Relive In 'Groundhog Day'? The Answer Will Surprise You.

Every year on February 2nd, TBS shows the movie 'Groundhog Day' umpteen million times.  You know you watch it every year.  I usually see it on TV a couple of times a year.  Inevitably, the question pops up in my mind, at least once, "I wonder how long Bill Murray kept repeating that same day over and over again".

Well, wonder no more.  Years ago, when director Harold Ramis recorded the commentary for the 'Groundhog Day' DVD, he estimated that Phil Connors "spent about 10 years trapped in his own little corner of Hell".  Later, in June of 2009, a blogger took the time to dissect the film, and came up with the estimate that Bill Murray relived that single day in Punxsatawney 3176 times.  That breaks down to 8 years, 8 months, and 16 days.

Ramis read the blog post, and responded in an interview, disagreeing with both the blogger and his own earlier estimate:

"I think the 10-year estimate is too short. It takes at least 10 years to get good at anything, and allotting for the down time and misguided years he spent, it had to be more like 30 or 40 years… People [like the blogger] have way too much time on their hands. They could be learning to play the piano or speak French or sculpt." 

The issue seemed to have been settled.  Then came an article in February 2011, by Simon Gallagher of the blog obsessedwithfilm.com.  He poured over the film time and time again.  It turned a light-hearted movie into an arduous task:

"For anyone who wants to check all of this, I really don’t suggest watching Groundhog Day in this manner. It’s not the best way to enjoy what is essentially a light-hearted comedy whose metaphysical concerns are supposed to be enjoyed in fun, and not worked out mathematically. Normal people should be happy to just watch, and accept that Phil Connors is stuck repeating his one day endlessly over and over until he finds himself- but then, I don’t think I’m normal."

After taking into consideration scene changes, lines of dialogue, and skills that Phil had taught himself over the course of the movie, Simon had determined that Phil Connors had actually been stuck in a perpetual day of repetition for 12,403 days.  Taking into consideration for leap years, and you have 33 years, 358 days.

In a way, knowing that doesn't make the movie funny anymore.

As I was finishing this post, this song popped up on my Pandora.  Ha ha ha.....