New Polygamy Reality Show On TLC

What I wanna know is: Where is the polyamory reality show? Polyamory is much more common, and, for mainstream America, taboo than polygamy. Give me a show where the women aren't just sharing a husband, but sharing each other, and I'll give you my time. Polygamy....been there done that. It's called Big Love, and, based on the preview, it's much more interesting.

The Pot Calls The Kettle Black

In the latest episode of Awake!(always thought the exclamation point was overdoing it), Jehovah's Witnesses target atheists for not keeping their opinions to themselves. After years of knocking on our doors and trying to start awkward, impromptu religious conversations with coworkers and family members, Witnesses take issue with so called "new atheists". From the first paragraph of the magazine:

A new group of atheists has arisen in society.
Called the new atheists, they are
not content to keep their views to themselves.
Rather, they are on a crusade, “actively, angrily,
passionately trying to persuade the religious
to their point of view,” wrote columnist
Richard Bernstein. Even agnostics are in
their sights, for these new atheists allow no
room for doubt. To them, there simply is no
God. End of story.

Isn't it ironic? Don't you think? The same people that have been shoving their religion down our throats for decades would rather have us atheists keep our opinions to ourselves. I'll be honest: I didn't read the rest of the article. Too much hypocrisy to try to take in before lunch.

Speaking Of Culturally Insensitive

...But fun as hell, try Jesus Dress Up.

I especially got a kick out of the BDSM and Villians options.

Today In Culturally Insensitive Programming

VH1 Classic is airing 24 hours of RUSH concerts, videos and documentaries on September 8th, to commemorate the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah.  They're calling it RUSH Hashanah.  Slightly insensitive toward the Jewish community.  In the Jewish faith, the new year is the beginning of a period specifically set aside to focus on repentance.

Very smooth, VH1.

Today In Bad Taste And Worse Timing

You see....If only the World Trade Center was shorter.  Then the planes would have missed the 83rd floor completely.  This tasteless ad is for a French weekly whose tagline is "Learn to anticipate".

If you'll excuse me now, all this French talk has me craving French toast.

Soundtrack Of My Life - 09/05/10 "Come Join Us"

One of my favorite Bad Religion tracks. It's anti-religion, but more specifically anti-Witness. Something about the Discovery Channel gunman made me think of this song. Enjoy.

The Discovery Channel Gunman...Was A Jehovah's Witness

As if we needed further proof that you have to be crazy to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, it has recently come to light that the Discovery Channel gunman was one himself. In a story from a local San Diego channel, the gunman, James Jae Lee is said to have been a "devoted Jehovah's Witness for a decade."

Mr. Lee stormed Discovery Channel headquarters Wednesday and took a number of hostages. He believed shows like Jon and Kate Plus 8 and 19 Kids and Counting (airing on "Hotdog In A Hallway Sundays") promoted breeding and over population of the earth. He wanted the Discovery networks to start promoting human sterilization and infertility. He thought that human sterilization treatments would even make great prizes for game shows to give away on the network too. His ideas took environmentalism to a whole new level.

Stories like this make me smile.

RIP Robert Schimmel

Robert Schimmel passed away Friday night in Phoenix after succumbing to injuries from an auto accident the week before. Below is a clip of him at the Baltimore Improv. He will be missed.

Great Quote I Found On Bisexuality

Courtesy of Sex Is Not The Enemy: "Bisexual people quickly get used to the idea that almost no one will take their identity seriously… Maybe there are dudes out there who really would be willing to come out as bisexual for the cause, but because society would twist it into them coming out as gay, they’re just going to sit this one out until America has grown up enough to understand what words mean."

I'm Still Here And Still Blogging

Shit has been quite crazy in the last three months. So crazy, in fact, that I haven't even bothered with the blog.

Just to fill in some of the blanks since my last post: My stress test came back showing the possibility of multiple blockages. I was scheduled to have an angiogram. The angiogram came back showing no blockages and a very healthy heart. Spent a lot of time worrying, some time crying. I was afraid that I would go under and would not wake up. The experience gave me a new perspective on life. It made me realize that no matter how bad things get, I'll never kill myself. For the first time in my life, I was afraid to die.

With the increase in medical bills and medication costs, it got to the point where we could no longer afford the 3 bedroom, 1900 square ft. home we were living in. Besides, we're not house people. I refuse to do yard work. 1900 sq. ft. is too much mopping and cleaning. So we moved. The three of us are now sharing a 650 square ft., 1 bedroom apartment. The moving process just finished yesterday, so now starts the process of adjusting and putting everything in it's place. I woke up with a peaceful feeling today for the first time in months.

I am almost through my first semester at school. I had my Reflexology final last Wednesday. I think I aced it. Juggling homework, and studying, and moving, and parenthood has taken it's toll on me in the last couple of weeks, but I am looking forward to being able to focus on one thing at a time. I am also looking forward to having 5-10 minutes a day to write. I miss it.

I need to get back into a routine.

Religion Is Like A Penis

It's fine if you have one.
It's fine if you're proud of it.
Just don't go whipping it out in public and start waving it around.
And PLEASE, don't try to shove it down our throats.

All Of That Worrying For Nothing

Remember how I was freaking out over the stress test? Turns out I didn't have it after all. Their treadmill wasn't rated for someone of my "big boned" stature to safely run on. I was 20 pounds too heavy. So they cancelled my appointment, and referred me to another hospital in town.

So, at this point, I'm in a holding pattern. My only concern is that, with less than eight weeks to go before school starts, if they do find something wrong, it's going to be tough to get it fixed and recover before August 2nd.

In other news, I would rather walk than buy a car from one of those "buy here, pay here" type of car dealerships. They're such a ripoff. Long story. Might get into it later. I don't know.

36 Hours Till Stress Test

I have less than 36 hours till my stress test, and I am beyond nervous. I can't find my tennis shoes. They're out in the garage somewhere. I just want to get this over with.

I think I am even more nervous about my appointment on the 15th that will reveal my results than I am about the test itself. With early tests showing the possibility of an enlarged heart, it's really scaring me.

So, tomorrow, I'm digging through the garage for my tennis shoes, putting a comfortable pair of shorts in the washer, and trying to keep myself calm for the following day. Easier said than done.

Long Time, No Update

It's been about two and a half months since my last meaningful post, and my health has deteriorated drastically since then. Due to the mold poisoning, I have asthma now. We've moved out of the house. We had to replace our bed and couch due to mold contamination. Come to find out both my wife and I are allergic to penicillium mold. I am finally starting to get back to feeling 100% from that whole ordeal, with the help of inhalers and nasal sprays.

We have yet to hear anything from our former landlord as to what he is going to reimburse us for. Meanwhile, I am out an extra $150 a month in prescription copays for asthma medications.

Was diagnosed as diabetic a couple of weeks ago. My A1C was at 11. It should be below 8, and ideally at 6. I am trying to lose weight and eat healthier. So far I am down 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks. I am also on medication for that, which brings the total to 12 medications I take daily, not including any over the counter pills that I take.

I went to the cardiologist for the first time today. Had my first EKG. My primary thought it would be a good idea with my family history and with the rest of my health being the way it's been lately. The men on my dad's side of the family have a tendency of dieing early from heart disease. My dad had a quadruple bypass at around the age of forty five. I'm bigger than any of them and have been diagnosed as diabetic earlier than any of them.

The EKG came back with an abnormality. I have to go back in for a nuclear stress test. It's where they inject this nuclear matter in your veins, have you run on a treadmill, and take pics of your heart. Needless to say, I'm scared to fucking death. They say the abnormality may be an enlarged heart, which may mean a blockage. Or it may be nothing. Either way, I think this is scaring me into eating right and exercising like I'm supposed to.

Oh, and I am going to school.

I have been thinking a lot about a career change. My entire adult life, I have been in a call center type job. I have worked either customer service or technical support. I have had people yell at me for 8 to 10 hours a day and I have apologized for something that I was not responsible for. This has caused me untold amounts of stress and anxiety.

When I was diagnosed with Tourette's, I realized very quickly that I would not be able to return to that line of work ever again. Stress only made my tics worse. I needed a line of work that was stress free. I needed a trade that I can help people and stay calm and relaxed at the same time. I am going to become a massage therapist. Classes start in August, are four nights a week, and allow me to graduate within a year, before my disability runs out. They even assist with job placement after graduation. I'm very excited.

I am not going to let Tourette's win. For the first time in months, I am very optimistic about my future.

Arizona - It's Not For Everybody