Marriage Bigots Miss Out On $100K Matching Donation

On June 24th, the National Organization for Marriage, an anti-gay group that some say has ties to the Mormon church, raised an ambitious fund-raising challenge to their supporters.  For every new Facebook like, Twitter follower, and new text supporter they receive, an anonymous donor would donate one dollar up to $100,000.  The deadline for new supporters was today, September 1st.

I never thought that they would hit $100,000, but even I didn't think their efforts would be this pathetic.

Jeremy over at Good as You has been keeping track of NOM's stats over the last couple of months, and the results are just sad.  931 Facebook likes and 298 Twitter followers.  That's $1,229.00, people.  Unless NOM received 98,771 text messages in the span of two months and six days, it's highly unlikely that they received the $100,000 donation from their "anonymous donor".  That is, if there was an anonymous donor in the first place.  How much would you like to wager that this was a clever ploy to try to garner more support for their organization?

I would like to see their spin on this.

Quote Of The Day

"I really hate vaginas. I'm allergic to vagina."

- Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward, the vampire, in the Twilight series.  He is currently involved with Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella. 

Further proof that vampires don't fucking "sparkle".  They don't wear purity rings.  And middle aged Mormon women have no business writing vampire novels.

Video: 'The Book Of Mormon' - 'I Believe'

I see this video and two things come to mind.  1.) I need to get to New York City to see this show on Broadway, because it looks amazing.  And, 2.) Maybe Jehovah's Witnesses aren't that crazy.

Performed at the 2011 Tony Awards:

NPR Offering Exclusive Sneak Peak Of 'Book Of Mormon' Soundtrack

The only new musical I have even heard of this year has been 'The Book of Mormon'.  It's not that there hasn't been anything else that has come out.  It's just that 'The Book of Mormon' is so good (from what I've read), that nothing else has come close to being on the critic's radar.

A collaboration between 'South Park's' Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with 'Avenue Q's' Robert Lopez, 'Mormon' garnered 14 Tony nominations last week.  That's one short of the record 15 nominations 'The Producers' received in 2001.  'The Daily Show's' Jon Stewart called 'Mormon', "so good it makes me fucking angry".

The story revolves around a pair of Mormon missionaries that are sent to Uganda to convert the villagers.  One becomes overwhelmed, while the other attempts to teach the natives about god in a way in which they can relate to.

The cast recording becomes available on ITunes and in other digital formats next Tuesday, May 17.  It's available in stores on June 7.  For a limited time, NPR is streaming the album in full on their website.  You can also purchase the MP3s directly from the NPR site, before it's available anywhere else.  Keep in mind, if you purchase the tracks from NPR, a portion of the purchase price goes to help fund National Public Radio.

I've had a chance to listen to a majority of the soundtrack, and let me just say, I want to fly to New York, just so I can see this musical.  'I Believe' is heartfelt, yet hilarious.  It's akin to the old 'South Park' "This is what Mormons/Scientologists actually believe" gags, but sung by a Mormon missionary.

The best track of the musical is 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'  Jon Stewart said of it, "When the aliens come thousands of years from now, it may exist as the only memory of Earth, and I gotta say, I’m happy to go down with it.”  'Hasa Diga Eebowai' is a spoof of the 'Lion King's' 'Hakuna Matata', except that it translates to "Fuck you, God".  YOU MUST LISTEN TO IT!  But, not at work, and not with little kids around.  It's the first Tony nominated song I can think of that has the "C word" in it multiple times.


Take some time in the next day or two and check out the soundtrack.  For those of you that like musicals, or like laughing at oddball religions, it will definitely be worth your time.

Top 10 Differences Between Mormons And Jehovah's Witnesses

This list comes courtesy of Letters From the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a blog about JWs that I follow.  Sorry folks, but this post is primarily for my ex-JW readers.  If you weren't in the religion at one point, you won't get most of the jokes.  It's an "inside joke/you had to be there" sort of thing. So:

Top 10 Differences Between Mormons And Jehovah's Witnesses 

 10. Mormons abstain from coffee. Witnesses take frequent coffee breaks.

 9. Brigham Young said to be “filled with the Spirit.” Judge Rutherford said to be “filled with      spirits.”

8. Mormon Tabernacle Choir ---- Pre-recorded Kingdom songs 

7. Joseph Smith discovered gold plates. Charles Russell discovered printing plates.

6. Mormons established BYU, a world-class university. Witnesses established Theocratic Ministry School.

5. Mormons urged to form close-knit family. Witnesses urged to shun family.

4. Mormons abstain from wine all year. Witnesses abstain from wine once a year.

3. Mormons have “Divine Revelation.” Witnesses have “New Light.” (Okay so that’s not actually a difference)

2. Prominent Mormons include doctors, lawyers and governors. Prominent Witnesses include janitors, pool cleaners and multi-level marketers. 

1. Mormons don’t stand in front of deserted strip malls at 6:00 AM mutely displaying the Book of Mormon and try to convince you they’re “preaching.”

I feel like David Letterman all of a sudden.