Honestly, it took me until last Friday until I was able to wrap my head around it. In a way, it has absolutely nothing to do with money, but it has everything to do with money. I know. That makes no sense at all. Every time I try to explain it to my wife, I seem to just make it more and more confusing. Yesterday, I was watching Rachel Maddow's show, and she did an amazing job at explaining everything. I'm going to let her do it for me, because she does it a heck of a lot better than I do:
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Mash Up Monday
It takes confidence to tinker with the best. You have to know that you're good at what you do, to take apart something that most people already consider perfect to begin with. Most remixes or mashups that you hear are made up of two or three songs that are the standard pop or dance tune that's being played on the radio every three minutes. When you start messing with The Beatles, it becomes a different matter altogether.
Interestingly, when you go searching for Beatles mashups, the vast majority of them are very good. They're so good, in fact, that I had a difficult time making a decision as to which one to feature this week. So, this week I'm featuring a Beatles double header.
The first track is from Electric Method. It's a mix of Outkast's 'Hey Ya', and The Beatles' 'Paperback Writer'. It's called 'Paperback Hey Ya'. Have a listen.
The second of the two songs is from DJ Zebra. It is a mashup of The Beatles' 'Come Together', and Nine Inch Nails' 'Closer'. I have actually featured these two songs separately in other posts, but together, they make an interesting mix. It's called 'Come Closer Together'.
As you can tell from the last few weeks of my 'Mash Up Monday' posts, I have my favorites, whether it be DJs or artists. I need to branch out more. Stay tuned.
Interestingly, when you go searching for Beatles mashups, the vast majority of them are very good. They're so good, in fact, that I had a difficult time making a decision as to which one to feature this week. So, this week I'm featuring a Beatles double header.
The first track is from Electric Method. It's a mix of Outkast's 'Hey Ya', and The Beatles' 'Paperback Writer'. It's called 'Paperback Hey Ya'. Have a listen.
The second of the two songs is from DJ Zebra. It is a mashup of The Beatles' 'Come Together', and Nine Inch Nails' 'Closer'. I have actually featured these two songs separately in other posts, but together, they make an interesting mix. It's called 'Come Closer Together'.
As you can tell from the last few weeks of my 'Mash Up Monday' posts, I have my favorites, whether it be DJs or artists. I need to branch out more. Stay tuned.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Planned Parenthood - By The Numbers
Some key points:
Percentage of all Planned Parenthood health services that are abortion services: 3
Estimated number of unintended pregnancies averted by Planned Parenthood contraceptive services each year: 612,000
Estimated number of abortions averted by Planned Parenthood contraceptive services each year: 291,000
Think about that...from the free and low cost contraceptive services that Planned Parenthood provides over the course of a year, it SAVES an estimated 291,000 babies from being aborted. How many pro-life organizations can claim that?
Republicans Want To Bring Back Slavery
They don't, but if you saw this headline in tomorrow's newspaper, would it really surprise you?
**OK, I'm going to be honest. I am so angry right now, I don't even know where to start. I'm going to be very critical of a certain group of people here, but I'm being 100% honest with the way that I feel. If you're offended, I'm sorry, but you don't have to continue reading my blog if you don't like it.**
Republicans are pissing me the fuck off. Who else can they fuck with....really?? They have it their mission in the last year to do anything they can to take as many rights, privileges, and benefits away from gay Americans.
Republican Senators and Congressmen are vowing to push through a bill in this session repealing the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (follow me). States that have approved gay marriage, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, are fighting tooth and nail not to have it repealed by GOP state legislatures. California is fighting in the courts to get gay marriage back after it was approved and then repealed by Republican voters. Wyoming passed a bill today refusing to recognize gay marriages performed in OTHER STATES!! And other states are merely cutting domestic partner benefits arbitrarily for the sake of "budget cuts", while not making any cuts to the benefits of married partners.
As February approached, rumors started to circulate as to how drastic Republicans would want to cut the budget on things like the arts, women's services, and health care. It was much worse than anyone could have imagined.
The GOP has declared an all out war against Planned Parenthood. Today, the House voted to strip the entire $327 million in annual Title X federal funding that it receives. By law, none of the federal money they receive can go to fund abortions. They have a private donor fund for that already. Congressmen know that. It's been that way since the mid-90s. The $327 million they receive go to education, birth control, STD testing, HIV tests, cancer screenings, and gynecological exams, amongst other things. I have used Planned Parenthood on numerous occasions for free STD and HIV testing about 10 years ago when I lived in Denver. They were an excellent resource for contraceptives when I didn't even have enough money in my pocket to buy a pack of condoms. They were always kind, accommodating, and never judged me. My wife used their services when she was younger, was uninsured, and needed Depo shots. She received them at no charge from Planned Parenthood. They are an excellent resource for both men and women. Abortions account for only 3% of the total procedures done at their clinics. The things they do save more lives than the babies that die in their locations. If they lose almost a third of a billion dollars in funding, over 800 locations nationwide risk being closed. That means the possibility or more unwanted or unplanned babies, the spread of various STDs or HIV unknowingly being spread in those communities, and lower income women not being able to get gynecological care at little or no cost in their neighborhood.
Oh, and to make things worse, Republicans in the state of South Dakota, (which I'm going to just refer to as Dumbfuckistan from now on) introduced a bill making the defending of a fetus "justifiable homicide". This opens the doors to being able to legally kill abortion providers. House Bill 1171 states that murder is legal if defending your unborn child, or the unborn child or your spouse, partner, parent, or child. So, even if the mother is going into the clinic with the intent of having the abortion, that woman's husband, boyfriend, son, daughter, father, or mother could, in theory, kill the abortion provider justifiably. And, get this, the Dumbfuckistan state House has also introduced a bill requiring mandatory gun ownership for everyone 21 years of age and older. It's not expected to pass, obviously, but could you get any dumber.
OK.....next point. Today the fuckers voted to repeal Obama's health care reform. They claimed it was because the budget, but we all know they hated the thing back when Hillary Clinton tried to get everyone on board with it back in the 90s. They call it "Socialist" and "Marxist", but I call it "necessary". Even with insurance, I can't even afford my medical bills. They're over $500 a month sometimes, minimum. My parents filed bankruptcy twice because of hospital bills. One stay in the hospital can literally break a family for years. It's how the poor stay poor. Just when they start to get on their feet again, there's another emergency, and they're back on their knees. You're required to have insurance on your car. You're required to have insurance on your house. Heck, I have to have insurance on the things I have in my storage unit. Isn't my health more important than a few totes full of hoodies and office supplies in my storage unit? I think so. Not only did House Republicans vote to repeal health care reform, but they also voted to refuse to pay any federal employees that were working on the health care reform project. So, thousands of people...out of work.
Congress also voted to strip roughly 25%, or $20.6 million, from the National Endowment for the Arts. It's the biggest cut the NEA has received in 16 years. Don't forget, there's also talk that they want to remove funding for NPR and the Corporation for Public Brodcasting (PBS). Hopefully, your kids are old enough to already have enjoyed Sesame Street. Mine isn't.
At the same time, Republicans voted to keep in funding for abstinence only programs. These are programs that have been proven not to work. They paint false realities and unrealistic futures. When students have sex, and they eventually do, they are unprepared and know nothing regarding STDs, HIV, or safe sex. This is an example, although a little strange, of the content of some of the abstinence only curriculum being taught today. This is your tax dollars at work:
Congressmen also reversed $1.5 billion in funding cuts that Obama made to combat efforts in Iraq. Evidentially, the GOP thinks we're still in combat operations there. Let's not forget that Tea Party Republicans are fighting to eliminate the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. Not make budget cuts, but eliminate the entire department from the government.
After all of this bullshit, what have Democrats done? We've made phone calls. We have organized online. We have rallied using social networks like Facebook and Twitter. We have blogged our frustrations. We have called our Senators, asking them to vote against the budget cuts that the Congressmen have just made. We have been civil.
Then we have the incident yesterday at Rep. Betty McCollum's (D-Minn.) office. Last week, she submitted an amendment to the budget to cut $7 million from the Pentagon budget by discontinuing the Army's sponsorship of the #39 car in NASCAR. A couple of days later, she received the following fax in her office:
**OK, I'm going to be honest. I am so angry right now, I don't even know where to start. I'm going to be very critical of a certain group of people here, but I'm being 100% honest with the way that I feel. If you're offended, I'm sorry, but you don't have to continue reading my blog if you don't like it.**
Republicans are pissing me the fuck off. Who else can they fuck with....really?? They have it their mission in the last year to do anything they can to take as many rights, privileges, and benefits away from gay Americans.
Republican Senators and Congressmen are vowing to push through a bill in this session repealing the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (follow me). States that have approved gay marriage, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, are fighting tooth and nail not to have it repealed by GOP state legislatures. California is fighting in the courts to get gay marriage back after it was approved and then repealed by Republican voters. Wyoming passed a bill today refusing to recognize gay marriages performed in OTHER STATES!! And other states are merely cutting domestic partner benefits arbitrarily for the sake of "budget cuts", while not making any cuts to the benefits of married partners.
As February approached, rumors started to circulate as to how drastic Republicans would want to cut the budget on things like the arts, women's services, and health care. It was much worse than anyone could have imagined.
The GOP has declared an all out war against Planned Parenthood. Today, the House voted to strip the entire $327 million in annual Title X federal funding that it receives. By law, none of the federal money they receive can go to fund abortions. They have a private donor fund for that already. Congressmen know that. It's been that way since the mid-90s. The $327 million they receive go to education, birth control, STD testing, HIV tests, cancer screenings, and gynecological exams, amongst other things. I have used Planned Parenthood on numerous occasions for free STD and HIV testing about 10 years ago when I lived in Denver. They were an excellent resource for contraceptives when I didn't even have enough money in my pocket to buy a pack of condoms. They were always kind, accommodating, and never judged me. My wife used their services when she was younger, was uninsured, and needed Depo shots. She received them at no charge from Planned Parenthood. They are an excellent resource for both men and women. Abortions account for only 3% of the total procedures done at their clinics. The things they do save more lives than the babies that die in their locations. If they lose almost a third of a billion dollars in funding, over 800 locations nationwide risk being closed. That means the possibility or more unwanted or unplanned babies, the spread of various STDs or HIV unknowingly being spread in those communities, and lower income women not being able to get gynecological care at little or no cost in their neighborhood.
Oh, and to make things worse, Republicans in the state of South Dakota, (which I'm going to just refer to as Dumbfuckistan from now on) introduced a bill making the defending of a fetus "justifiable homicide". This opens the doors to being able to legally kill abortion providers. House Bill 1171 states that murder is legal if defending your unborn child, or the unborn child or your spouse, partner, parent, or child. So, even if the mother is going into the clinic with the intent of having the abortion, that woman's husband, boyfriend, son, daughter, father, or mother could, in theory, kill the abortion provider justifiably. And, get this, the Dumbfuckistan state House has also introduced a bill requiring mandatory gun ownership for everyone 21 years of age and older. It's not expected to pass, obviously, but could you get any dumber.
OK.....next point. Today the fuckers voted to repeal Obama's health care reform. They claimed it was because the budget, but we all know they hated the thing back when Hillary Clinton tried to get everyone on board with it back in the 90s. They call it "Socialist" and "Marxist", but I call it "necessary". Even with insurance, I can't even afford my medical bills. They're over $500 a month sometimes, minimum. My parents filed bankruptcy twice because of hospital bills. One stay in the hospital can literally break a family for years. It's how the poor stay poor. Just when they start to get on their feet again, there's another emergency, and they're back on their knees. You're required to have insurance on your car. You're required to have insurance on your house. Heck, I have to have insurance on the things I have in my storage unit. Isn't my health more important than a few totes full of hoodies and office supplies in my storage unit? I think so. Not only did House Republicans vote to repeal health care reform, but they also voted to refuse to pay any federal employees that were working on the health care reform project. So, thousands of people...out of work.
Congress also voted to strip roughly 25%, or $20.6 million, from the National Endowment for the Arts. It's the biggest cut the NEA has received in 16 years. Don't forget, there's also talk that they want to remove funding for NPR and the Corporation for Public Brodcasting (PBS). Hopefully, your kids are old enough to already have enjoyed Sesame Street. Mine isn't.
At the same time, Republicans voted to keep in funding for abstinence only programs. These are programs that have been proven not to work. They paint false realities and unrealistic futures. When students have sex, and they eventually do, they are unprepared and know nothing regarding STDs, HIV, or safe sex. This is an example, although a little strange, of the content of some of the abstinence only curriculum being taught today. This is your tax dollars at work:
Congressmen also reversed $1.5 billion in funding cuts that Obama made to combat efforts in Iraq. Evidentially, the GOP thinks we're still in combat operations there. Let's not forget that Tea Party Republicans are fighting to eliminate the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. Not make budget cuts, but eliminate the entire department from the government.
After all of this bullshit, what have Democrats done? We've made phone calls. We have organized online. We have rallied using social networks like Facebook and Twitter. We have blogged our frustrations. We have called our Senators, asking them to vote against the budget cuts that the Congressmen have just made. We have been civil.
Then we have the incident yesterday at Rep. Betty McCollum's (D-Minn.) office. Last week, she submitted an amendment to the budget to cut $7 million from the Pentagon budget by discontinuing the Army's sponsorship of the #39 car in NASCAR. A couple of days later, she received the following fax in her office:
Um..yeah...they called our President the N-word....and they're dragging him behind a pick up truck with a noose. A death threat to a Congresswoman over a $7 million sponsorship deal. This isn't something that would cripple NASCAR mind you. If that car lost the Army sponsor, he would pick up a new one. Instead of being the "Army" car, he would be the "Oreo" car, or the "Applebee's" car. It wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. Fucking rednecks. I swear, it's like "Fuck women. Fuck the gays. Fuck the Mexicans and the Blacks. I don't want my tax dollars goin' to that gay art stuff, but you better not touch my fuckin' NASCAR. What are you? A communist?"
What is wrong with this fucking country? Who's next? Who haven't we fucked over as a nation? Hispanics, check. LGBT community, check. Women, check. The poor, check. Minorities, check. Children, check. The Environment, check. Who's left....oh.
Rich, old, white, straight, married males. Wow. Sounds a lot like....Republican members of Congress. Coincidence?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Watch: Minister With Tourette's - Fascinating
When the media focuses on people with Tourette's Syndrome, they often show children with the condition, because children are the ones that frequently exhibit the most severe tics. It's rare to find someone of my age (35), or even in their late 30s or 40s with moderate to severe tics. This is because Tourette's is commonly diagnosed in adolescence, and by the time someone has reached that age, the condition has been managed for many years with medication. Many times, by then, the person has learned how to disguise their tics. They have turned something that was a vocal tic, into what is now a sniffle or a clearing of the throat. And for some people, Tourette's has simply just gone away with adulthood.
Below are a couple of videos of Matt Ford, a minister from Australia. He has Tourette's Syndrome, and, at his age, it's one of the most severe cases I have seen in a while. I wanted to post these videos of Matt, not for his message, but just to show another side of the condition.
The second video is of Matt giving a sermon in front of a crowd. There are two things that I found interesting. First, he has the same condition I do, in that he repeats himself over and over again with certain words. It felt awkward watching someone else do that. Secondly, I noticed how he disguises his tics. He pretends to speak in tongues, which I find deplorable. He's using a neurological condition that his parishioners do not fully understand, and is acting like it's "god's holy spirit" speaking through him. Unless you really understood Tourette's Syndrome, you would never know. You would be a believer. I also want to have you pay attention to around the 7 minute mark of the clip. At that point, he becomes weak, disoriented, and very fatigued. It's almost as if he's drunk. He's not acting. His Tourette's tics have taken so much energy out of him, it's taken so much energy to try to remain focused on what he was doing, that he is literally collapsing from exhaustion. I have been there many times. It takes that much out of you.
You may not like what he does for a living (I don't), or what he has to say (I don't either), but you have to admire his dedication.
Below are a couple of videos of Matt Ford, a minister from Australia. He has Tourette's Syndrome, and, at his age, it's one of the most severe cases I have seen in a while. I wanted to post these videos of Matt, not for his message, but just to show another side of the condition.
The second video is of Matt giving a sermon in front of a crowd. There are two things that I found interesting. First, he has the same condition I do, in that he repeats himself over and over again with certain words. It felt awkward watching someone else do that. Secondly, I noticed how he disguises his tics. He pretends to speak in tongues, which I find deplorable. He's using a neurological condition that his parishioners do not fully understand, and is acting like it's "god's holy spirit" speaking through him. Unless you really understood Tourette's Syndrome, you would never know. You would be a believer. I also want to have you pay attention to around the 7 minute mark of the clip. At that point, he becomes weak, disoriented, and very fatigued. It's almost as if he's drunk. He's not acting. His Tourette's tics have taken so much energy out of him, it's taken so much energy to try to remain focused on what he was doing, that he is literally collapsing from exhaustion. I have been there many times. It takes that much out of you.
You may not like what he does for a living (I don't), or what he has to say (I don't either), but you have to admire his dedication.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Quick Note Of Thanks To My Readers
Hi everyone.
I just wanted to write a quick post and thank everyone that has been stopping by and reading my blog over the last month. For those of you that have been following me for some time, you'll know that I took a little more than three months off from writing over the holidays. I stopped writing around September 28th, and didn't post again until January 16th. I was having writer's block. I was wanting to spend more time with my family. I wanted to take my blog in a different direction, but I wasn't sure what direction to take it.
Over the holidays, I was able to focus on my wife and little girl. I took them to Disneyland for the first time. My daughter got to hug Chip and Dale, and get her picture taken with Tinkerbell. It was the week before Christmas, and for someone that has only been celebrating Christmas for 6 years, it was some of the best memories of my life.
I decided to start writing about the things that were important to me. I was going to be an advocate for the causes that mattered in my life (ie. LGBT causes, body positive, fat positive, politics, religion, ex-JW), and you responded.
Since writing my first post back from hiatus on January 16th, 30 days ago, I have had more views than any month in the history of 'The Daily Twitch'. I started this blog on September 11, 2009; roughly a year and a half ago. My blog views for the last 30 days account for 43.4% of my total readership since the creation of the blog in September '09.
Thank you so much for reading what I have to say. It's a good feeling to know that someone out there is listening to you. It means a lot.
:)
I just wanted to write a quick post and thank everyone that has been stopping by and reading my blog over the last month. For those of you that have been following me for some time, you'll know that I took a little more than three months off from writing over the holidays. I stopped writing around September 28th, and didn't post again until January 16th. I was having writer's block. I was wanting to spend more time with my family. I wanted to take my blog in a different direction, but I wasn't sure what direction to take it.
Over the holidays, I was able to focus on my wife and little girl. I took them to Disneyland for the first time. My daughter got to hug Chip and Dale, and get her picture taken with Tinkerbell. It was the week before Christmas, and for someone that has only been celebrating Christmas for 6 years, it was some of the best memories of my life.
I decided to start writing about the things that were important to me. I was going to be an advocate for the causes that mattered in my life (ie. LGBT causes, body positive, fat positive, politics, religion, ex-JW), and you responded.
Since writing my first post back from hiatus on January 16th, 30 days ago, I have had more views than any month in the history of 'The Daily Twitch'. I started this blog on September 11, 2009; roughly a year and a half ago. My blog views for the last 30 days account for 43.4% of my total readership since the creation of the blog in September '09.
Thank you so much for reading what I have to say. It's a good feeling to know that someone out there is listening to you. It means a lot.
:)
02/15/2011 Watchtower: Disfellowshipped/Disassociated Ones 'Are Demons'
You know, it's funny. I read The Watchtower and Awake a hell of a lot more now, than what I ever did when I was a Witness. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to things I see in the Watchtower magazine. While their rhetoric may not be shocking, it sometimes hits close to home. In the last couple of weeks, I was able to see an article from a recent Watchtower magazine that outright manipulates readers regarding loved ones who may be disfellowshipped (kicked out of the church) or have disassociated (submitted a letter of resignation to the church) themselves from the organization.
The Governing Body (the "board of directors" over the church) has a way of making Jehovah's Witnesses get certain information. If they find it important enough, they will put the information in one of the two articles that the congregation will study on Sunday mornings. They figured out years ago that cover to cover readership, even among Witnesses, was dwindling.
The February 15, 2011, Watchtower, likely to be studied in the congregation mid-April, has an article entitled, 'Do You Hate Lawlessness?'. On the surface, you hear that question and think, "Yeah. Of course I hate lawlessness. I think murder is wrong. I don't like it when people steal. I pay my taxes." But, you see, for Jehovah's Witnesses, it doesn't appear to be that simple.
To be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you have to live a life that demonstrates that you hate lawlessness. How do you do that? By monitoring how you dress, what you watch on television, what movies you watch, and the music you listen to. Now, I wasn't privy to the entire magazine article, just the last half; paragraphs 11-21. From what I read around paragraph 11 and 12, it was the same old song and dance we've heard from the Witnesses for years:
The part of the article that started to upset me starts at around paragraph 14:
What bothers me even more is how they bait the families of those that are no longer in the organization. They play the empathy card. "God understands what you're going through. He sympathizes with you." I've read a couple of other blog posts on this, and they tend to go along that line of criticism. Check out (we are not) The Governing Body for their take on the article. I'm going to tackle it from another direction. The JW publications have always played the empathy card. It's nothing new. What they have also done, and especially in this case (in my opinion), is "guilt" the reader. They sow that seed of guilt that festers in someone until they can't take it any longer, and then they follow along with what the article is telling them to do.
When the article was saying, "Jehovah knows how painful such a circumstance can be", what it is actually/subliminally saying is, "If God did it, why aren't you doing it already? What makes you think you're better than God?'' Disfellowshipping breaks up families. It breaks up life long friendships. In some cases, it leads to alcoholism, drug abuse, and even suicide. The only way that it brings people back to the Witness organization is that some are so alone, they miss their families so much, that they will do anything to see them again.
I have heard the rumor (at this point it's unsubstantiated, it's just a rumor) that speaking to someone who is disfellowshipped or disassociated is an offense that can get you disfellowshipped yourself, now. If you know either way whether that is the case or not, please send me a message. The disfellowshipping arrangement was supposed to be in place to, not only "protect the congregation", but to also encourage the offending member of the congregation to change their ways and return. They were likened to a lost sheep in the flock. When that sheep was found by the shepherd, he "rejoiced" when finding the sheep and welcomed him back to the flock. Lately, those disfellowshipped people trying to return are treated like dogs. They are told not to look other members of the congregation in the eye, to look down at the ground. They're being told that they can't sit with the rest of the congregation, but have to sit in the library; out of sight from everyone else. They're also being told that they must leave before the final prayer, that the prayer's not for them. They're making it more and more humiliating and more degrading for those trying to come back.
Many of you reading this post have been lucky enough to have cool family members or friends from your past, that have still been communicating with you, even though you may no longer be with the religion. Be prepared to have an awkward conversation soon. The Governing Body is tightening the leash among the rank and file Witnesses. It's not going to be pretty. I wish you all the best of luck.
Side note: For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have publicly said that they do not shun family members. Below is a copy of the article, that clearly states in paragraph 18, that Witnesses "cut off contact" with disfellowshipped family members. Nice little thing to keep handy.
The Governing Body (the "board of directors" over the church) has a way of making Jehovah's Witnesses get certain information. If they find it important enough, they will put the information in one of the two articles that the congregation will study on Sunday mornings. They figured out years ago that cover to cover readership, even among Witnesses, was dwindling.
The February 15, 2011, Watchtower, likely to be studied in the congregation mid-April, has an article entitled, 'Do You Hate Lawlessness?'. On the surface, you hear that question and think, "Yeah. Of course I hate lawlessness. I think murder is wrong. I don't like it when people steal. I pay my taxes." But, you see, for Jehovah's Witnesses, it doesn't appear to be that simple.
To be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you have to live a life that demonstrates that you hate lawlessness. How do you do that? By monitoring how you dress, what you watch on television, what movies you watch, and the music you listen to. Now, I wasn't privy to the entire magazine article, just the last half; paragraphs 11-21. From what I read around paragraph 11 and 12, it was the same old song and dance we've heard from the Witnesses for years:
"12.) You might start by asking yourself: 'Do the songs I listen to glorify murder, adultery, fornication, and blasphemy? If I were to read the lyrics of certain songs to someone, would that person get the impression that I hate lawlessness, or would the words indicate that my heart is defiled?' We cannot hate lawlessness in word while glorifying it in song. "The things proceeding out of the mouth come out of the heart," said Jesus, "and those things defile a man. For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thieveries, false testimonies, blasphemies." - Matt. 15:18,19I like this. I went to Dictionary.com, and looked up "defiled" under the Thesaurus link. One of the results that came back was "messed up". One of the synonyms for lawlessness was "evil". So, in other words, the paragraph was saying that 'are you listening to music that gives the impression that you hate "evil", or do the words indicate that your heart is "messed up"?' Then, the scripture they use implies that, say you listen to an Eminem song about him beating his wife, you'll start beating your wife too, simply because you were listening to his song. That was the line of thinking my mother had when I was growing up. I wasn't allowed to listen to any gay artists, such as Freddie Mercury of Queen, Elton John, or George Michael, because she thought I would become gay just by listening to them. How ridiculous.
The part of the article that started to upset me starts at around paragraph 14:
"God's Word commands that unrepentant sinners be removed from the congregation (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) This is necessary for at least three reasons. (1) to keep Jehovah's name free from reproach, (2) to protect the congregation from contamination, and (3) to help the sinner come to repentance if possible."OK. That's somewhat standard. Anyone familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses wouldn't find anything new there. It goes on in paragraph 15:
"We need to give thought to these questions: 'Would I choose to associate regularly with someone who has been disfellowshipped or who has disassociated himself from the Christian congregation? What if that one is a close relative who no longer lives at home?' Such a situation can be a real test of our love of righteousness and our loyalty to God."Then, the article starts to play on the heart strings of the "faithful servant of God".
"16.) Consider the experience of a sister whose adult son at one time had love for Jehovah. Later in life, however, he unrepentantly chose to practice lawlessness. Hence, he was disfellowshipped from the congregation. Our sister loved Jehovah, but she also loved her son and found it extremely difficult to apply the Scriptural command to avoid associating with him."And this is where things get, how should I put it, interesting:
"17.) What advice would you have given this sister? An elder helped her to realize that Jehovah understood the pain she felt. The brother invited her to think about the pain Jehovah must have experienced when some of his angelic sons rebelled. The elder reasoned with her that even though Jehovah knows how painful such a circumstance can be, he requires that unrepentant sinners be disfellowshipped. She took the reminders to heart and loyally upheld the disfellowshipping arrangement. Such loyalty makes Jehovah's heart glad.
18.) If you face a similar situation, please remember that Jehovah sympathizes with you. By cutting off contact with the disfellowshipped or disassociated one, you are showing that you hate the attitudes and actions that led to that outcome. However, you are also showing that you love the wrongdoer enough to do what is best for him or her. Your loyalty to Jehovah may increase the likelihood that the disciplined one will repent and return to Jehovah."I have two words to describe the previous two paragraphs: BULL SHIT. Where do I begin? First, when it comes to paragraph 17, metaphorically speaking, it directly compares human beings that have either been kicked out of a church, or have left on their own free will, to angels that sided with Satan the Devil and were kicked out of Heaven by God. When you think of demons, you think of "evil beyond evil" (lawless). So, if you're unfamiliar with Jehovah's Witnesses, and you read this article, you might be thinking, "Wow. If they are kicking these people out of the church to "protect the congregation", they must have done some pretty bad stuff." As a Witness though, you can get disfellowshipped for smoking, having sex out of marriage, and even for saving your own life by getting a blood transfusion.
What bothers me even more is how they bait the families of those that are no longer in the organization. They play the empathy card. "God understands what you're going through. He sympathizes with you." I've read a couple of other blog posts on this, and they tend to go along that line of criticism. Check out (we are not) The Governing Body for their take on the article. I'm going to tackle it from another direction. The JW publications have always played the empathy card. It's nothing new. What they have also done, and especially in this case (in my opinion), is "guilt" the reader. They sow that seed of guilt that festers in someone until they can't take it any longer, and then they follow along with what the article is telling them to do.
When the article was saying, "Jehovah knows how painful such a circumstance can be", what it is actually/subliminally saying is, "If God did it, why aren't you doing it already? What makes you think you're better than God?'' Disfellowshipping breaks up families. It breaks up life long friendships. In some cases, it leads to alcoholism, drug abuse, and even suicide. The only way that it brings people back to the Witness organization is that some are so alone, they miss their families so much, that they will do anything to see them again.
I have heard the rumor (at this point it's unsubstantiated, it's just a rumor) that speaking to someone who is disfellowshipped or disassociated is an offense that can get you disfellowshipped yourself, now. If you know either way whether that is the case or not, please send me a message. The disfellowshipping arrangement was supposed to be in place to, not only "protect the congregation", but to also encourage the offending member of the congregation to change their ways and return. They were likened to a lost sheep in the flock. When that sheep was found by the shepherd, he "rejoiced" when finding the sheep and welcomed him back to the flock. Lately, those disfellowshipped people trying to return are treated like dogs. They are told not to look other members of the congregation in the eye, to look down at the ground. They're being told that they can't sit with the rest of the congregation, but have to sit in the library; out of sight from everyone else. They're also being told that they must leave before the final prayer, that the prayer's not for them. They're making it more and more humiliating and more degrading for those trying to come back.
Many of you reading this post have been lucky enough to have cool family members or friends from your past, that have still been communicating with you, even though you may no longer be with the religion. Be prepared to have an awkward conversation soon. The Governing Body is tightening the leash among the rank and file Witnesses. It's not going to be pretty. I wish you all the best of luck.
Side note: For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have publicly said that they do not shun family members. Below is a copy of the article, that clearly states in paragraph 18, that Witnesses "cut off contact" with disfellowshipped family members. Nice little thing to keep handy.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I Am So Moving To San Francisco
Can you believe they do this for Valentine's Day every year?!?
It cost the city $17,000 to clean up the aftermath. Count me in for 2012.
It cost the city $17,000 to clean up the aftermath. Count me in for 2012.
Why Can't This Be My Grandma?
Seriously. I like the sound of "Grandma Jean".
Jean Argus, an 80 year old grandmother in Iowa, decided to speak out against House Joint Resolution 6, an amendment seeking to repeal that state's marriage equality law, and deny legal recognition for existing gay married couples. This is her message:
She was inspired to say something after watching 19 year old Zach Wahl's impassioned speech regarding the strength of his family, during a public forum on the resolution. If you missed it, here it is:
On February 1st, the Iowa House passed the resolution with a vote of 62-37.
The bill is now headed to the Democratic controlled Iowa Senate, where numerous Senators have vowed to block it from coming up to the floor for a vote. Let's cross our fingers.
Jean Argus, an 80 year old grandmother in Iowa, decided to speak out against House Joint Resolution 6, an amendment seeking to repeal that state's marriage equality law, and deny legal recognition for existing gay married couples. This is her message:
She was inspired to say something after watching 19 year old Zach Wahl's impassioned speech regarding the strength of his family, during a public forum on the resolution. If you missed it, here it is:
On February 1st, the Iowa House passed the resolution with a vote of 62-37.
The bill is now headed to the Democratic controlled Iowa Senate, where numerous Senators have vowed to block it from coming up to the floor for a vote. Let's cross our fingers.
Two Word Tuesday
"Belly Buttons"
 |
| Have you ever seen a painting of Adam & Eve without belly buttons? |
 |
| If they were direct creations of God, made of "dust", they would not have had umbilical cords. They came from no womb. |
 |
So did dozens of Renaissance era artists simply "forget" this information? Or did they not believe in the church taught BS, either? |
Mash Up Monday - Singularity
I was trying to find something that was somewhat romantic to post for Mash Up Monday this week, with it being Valentine's Day and all. It was very difficult to do. Most DJs aren't in the practice of mashing up love songs. I did find a nice track from my go-to guy, Norwegian Recycling. It's called 'Singularity'. It mashes up the following tracks:
1. Travis - Sing
2. Iyaz - Replay
3. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
4. Oasis - Wonderwall
5. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
6. No Doubt - Don't Speak
It's quite pleasant, actually.
1. Travis - Sing
2. Iyaz - Replay
3. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
4. Oasis - Wonderwall
5. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
6. No Doubt - Don't Speak
It's quite pleasant, actually.
A Tale Of True Love
It's a remarkable thing to know the exact moment that your life changed. To be able to tell someone the day, hour, and minute that light shined down onto your path and mapped out the rest of your life. For me, that moment was September 21, 2005, at 8:29pm.
At the time, I had just turned 30. I was working as a dispatcher and office manager for the family trucking company, and I was hating every minute of it. My previous relationships, if you wanted to call them that, were utter failures. I would go on maybe a couple of dates with a girl and realize there was zero compatibility between us. Had a number of one night stands. Nothing meaningful. I hadn't been in a boyfriend/girlfriend type of scenario since that previous February, and that ended badly. At the time, I was ready to just give up.
On the evening of September 21st, I received the following message in my Myspace inbox:
So I responded,
I can honestly say now that the spaghetti really wasn't that good. I think she put sugar in the sauce. Regardless, I was polite and ate it. Later that evening, as I was laying on the couch in her living room, she gave me a "cow kiss" across the entire right side of my face. I almost vomited, but it attracted me to her. I always wanted someone that was a lover and a buddy. Someone that would try to give me a "wet Willy" when I was half asleep. To me, that was a sign of someone that was interested in you, in a sick and twisted sort of way. It was the best first date I ever had.
Later that week, we were on our second date, and I was realizing that I was falling in love with this woman. Normally, that would be scaring the shit out of me, but something deep down inside of me knew that this was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I had already been engaged in the past, and she was the first person I felt safe with. I could tell her things, things that I was scared to admit to myself. I tried to scare her away. I told her all of my secrets, and she only got closer to me.
In January of 2006, I moved in with her. It was a huge adjustment to make. I had never lived with a partner before. Nine months later, the two of us were walking through the mall. A jewelry store was having a sapphire sale. Sapphires are her favorite stone. We went in, just to look at the ring settings. As she was looking at the rings, I called her mom on my cell phone. I told her mom that I was going to propose to her daughter right now, but first I need her permission. Her mom was sobbing, but I think she said "yes". I got down on one knee in the middle of the store. I told her that I have loved her from the moment I saw her. I told her that I couldn't imagine my life without her in it, and I asked her to marry me. She said "yes" too. I told her to pick any ring she wanted.
As the weeks and months went by, we discovered ourselves. We realized that all of these years we had been living our lives to make the people around us happy. Speaking for myself, there were things that I didn't know about myself at 30 that I should have figured out at 15. It was almost as if we grew up together. We found each other and found ourselves. We started planning our wedding. We decided on Las Vegas, February 29, 2008, Mandalay Bay Hotel.
We had everything picked out. It was going to be a Beatles themed wedding. The processional was going to be Regina Spektor's cover of John Lennon's 'Real Love' and we were going to walk down the aisle as husband and wife to the Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'. We had hotel reservations and restaurant reservations. Everything was figured out. Then at about 2am on a night in early October 2007, Jessi rolled over and softly said, "I think I'm late".
"Late to what?"
"You know, late."
"Like?"
"Yeah."
A half hour later, I'm at a 24 hour Walgreens buying pregnancy tests and a two liter bottle of Coke. At 4am, we realized we were having a baby. We also realized that meant on February 29, 2008, my wife would be nearly 7 months pregnant. "If I'm going to Vegas, I'm drinking." That's a quote from her. Not me. So, on November 23rd, 2007, I married my lover, my buddy, my best friend, and the mother of what would soon be my daughter. It was a simple ceremony. We had it in the kitchen of our apartment. It was just us and three close friends. Afterward, we had sparkling grape juice and Blue Bunny chocolate chip ice cream. So, on every November 23rd of every year, we celebrate by having sparkling grape juice and Blue Bunny chocolate chip ice cream.
It has been about five and a half years since that first message. 1,973 days. And it has been the best 1,973 days of my life. We have the type of relationship that movies are written about. Besides the occasional appointment or trip to the grocery store, we have not been more than 30 feet away from each other for the last five years. Even when I was working, we worked in the same office, for the same department, within 25 feet of each other. We had the same hours and had the same lunch schedule. We were together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we wouldn't have had it any other way.
We have never had a fight. We have had maybe two little arguments in the last five years. We very rarely disagree. If there is one perfect person out there in the world for you, I have found that person. I am never letting her go. Only death will separate us, and even after I die, I have promised to haunt her. It is the only way she would be able to go on without me.
Happy Valentine's Day Jessi. You are my love, my strength, my rock, and in so many ways, my better half. I love you.
At the time, I had just turned 30. I was working as a dispatcher and office manager for the family trucking company, and I was hating every minute of it. My previous relationships, if you wanted to call them that, were utter failures. I would go on maybe a couple of dates with a girl and realize there was zero compatibility between us. Had a number of one night stands. Nothing meaningful. I hadn't been in a boyfriend/girlfriend type of scenario since that previous February, and that ended badly. At the time, I was ready to just give up.
On the evening of September 21st, I received the following message in my Myspace inbox:
"Hey happened to stumble across your profile......great song clip!"Her name was Jessi. She was 22. I looked at her profile. She had a couple of country music song clips (ugh), but she was pretty cute:
 |
| (She's the one on the right) |
"Thanks....was sorta fitting at the time....still is...lol. I really liked your page....except for the country music part...but you made up for it with Nelly......Like your sense of humor.....you're a bit twisted....NICE."She continued,
"Hahaha yeah that definetely sums me up ... twisted...And i will agree not ALL country music is good but there are exceptions! if ya wanna chat sometime i'm on yahoo or msn as ixxxxxx_xxxxxs"I had recently gone to see the documentary 'March of the Penguins', and wrote a review of it on my Myspace blog. I also wrote a small blog about my memories of 9/11/2001. She sent me another message a couple of minutes later,
"WOW just got done reading your blogs.....happened to stumble across those too...the 9/11 one made me cry....don't feel bad but i seriously bawled...it took me back to what exactly i was doing when i heard...at the time i was working for MCI and it was located literally right next door to the air force base (in iowa) so i couldn't go to work not that i could have anyways....its amazing how much can change in such a short time.... also very jealous you have seen march of the penguins....i LOVE penguins and haven't had time to see it....guess i will have to catch it on pay per view or something...thats all!"Our email conversation continued the next morning. I sent her a message saying,
"that penguin movie was amazing....im a big fan of documentaries.....would like to chat with you later....you seem pretty cool....cute too...lol"From that point on, we either sent each other instant messages or talked to each other on the phone. That was on September 22nd. She invited me to come over to her place for spaghetti on Tuesday, September 27th. I knocked on her door. When it opened, I was frozen. I looked in her eyes, and said "Oh my God, you're beautiful." Then I kissed her.
I can honestly say now that the spaghetti really wasn't that good. I think she put sugar in the sauce. Regardless, I was polite and ate it. Later that evening, as I was laying on the couch in her living room, she gave me a "cow kiss" across the entire right side of my face. I almost vomited, but it attracted me to her. I always wanted someone that was a lover and a buddy. Someone that would try to give me a "wet Willy" when I was half asleep. To me, that was a sign of someone that was interested in you, in a sick and twisted sort of way. It was the best first date I ever had.
Later that week, we were on our second date, and I was realizing that I was falling in love with this woman. Normally, that would be scaring the shit out of me, but something deep down inside of me knew that this was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I had already been engaged in the past, and she was the first person I felt safe with. I could tell her things, things that I was scared to admit to myself. I tried to scare her away. I told her all of my secrets, and she only got closer to me.
In January of 2006, I moved in with her. It was a huge adjustment to make. I had never lived with a partner before. Nine months later, the two of us were walking through the mall. A jewelry store was having a sapphire sale. Sapphires are her favorite stone. We went in, just to look at the ring settings. As she was looking at the rings, I called her mom on my cell phone. I told her mom that I was going to propose to her daughter right now, but first I need her permission. Her mom was sobbing, but I think she said "yes". I got down on one knee in the middle of the store. I told her that I have loved her from the moment I saw her. I told her that I couldn't imagine my life without her in it, and I asked her to marry me. She said "yes" too. I told her to pick any ring she wanted.
As the weeks and months went by, we discovered ourselves. We realized that all of these years we had been living our lives to make the people around us happy. Speaking for myself, there were things that I didn't know about myself at 30 that I should have figured out at 15. It was almost as if we grew up together. We found each other and found ourselves. We started planning our wedding. We decided on Las Vegas, February 29, 2008, Mandalay Bay Hotel.
We had everything picked out. It was going to be a Beatles themed wedding. The processional was going to be Regina Spektor's cover of John Lennon's 'Real Love' and we were going to walk down the aisle as husband and wife to the Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'. We had hotel reservations and restaurant reservations. Everything was figured out. Then at about 2am on a night in early October 2007, Jessi rolled over and softly said, "I think I'm late".
"Late to what?"
"You know, late."
"Like?"
"Yeah."
A half hour later, I'm at a 24 hour Walgreens buying pregnancy tests and a two liter bottle of Coke. At 4am, we realized we were having a baby. We also realized that meant on February 29, 2008, my wife would be nearly 7 months pregnant. "If I'm going to Vegas, I'm drinking." That's a quote from her. Not me. So, on November 23rd, 2007, I married my lover, my buddy, my best friend, and the mother of what would soon be my daughter. It was a simple ceremony. We had it in the kitchen of our apartment. It was just us and three close friends. Afterward, we had sparkling grape juice and Blue Bunny chocolate chip ice cream. So, on every November 23rd of every year, we celebrate by having sparkling grape juice and Blue Bunny chocolate chip ice cream.
It has been about five and a half years since that first message. 1,973 days. And it has been the best 1,973 days of my life. We have the type of relationship that movies are written about. Besides the occasional appointment or trip to the grocery store, we have not been more than 30 feet away from each other for the last five years. Even when I was working, we worked in the same office, for the same department, within 25 feet of each other. We had the same hours and had the same lunch schedule. We were together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we wouldn't have had it any other way.
We have never had a fight. We have had maybe two little arguments in the last five years. We very rarely disagree. If there is one perfect person out there in the world for you, I have found that person. I am never letting her go. Only death will separate us, and even after I die, I have promised to haunt her. It is the only way she would be able to go on without me.
Happy Valentine's Day Jessi. You are my love, my strength, my rock, and in so many ways, my better half. I love you.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Special Valentine's Day Tune From Eminem And Lil' Wayne
Tarran Killam and Jay Pharoah of SNL demonstrate why Eminem and Lil' Wayne make a bad choice of music to woo your woman with. Killam does a shockingly good job at channeling Eminem:
"KNIFE!!"
"KNIFE!!"
5 Of The Best Love Songs You May Have Never Heard
Well, It's Valentine's Day, and by now, for many of you, the flowers have already been given. The cards have been read. The chocolates have been eaten, or at least tasted. And, it might be safe to say, the kissing has already started. Maybe you already have a number of your favorite love songs in mind tonight. Maybe you don't.
Perhaps, you're going with a reliable choice. The "old tried and true". Like Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'. Yeah. That's a good one. One of my favorites was always Peter Gabriel's 'In Your Eyes'. I heard it for the first time when I was 12 years old. It changed the way I listened to music, had that much of an impact on me. It was the first time I equated music with poetry. Twenty something years later, it's still one of the most romantic songs I've ever heard.
I wanted to do a post for Valentine's Day that featured a number of love songs that my wife and I really liked, songs that we listen to quite a bit, that have gotten little notice by the mainstream media. None of the songs below have charted. Only two of them were released as singles and had music videos released for them. None of them, to my knowledge, received any radio airplay from mainstream radio. I hope you like them as much as we do.
First up is a track from a band call Bright Eyes. It comes from their 2005 album 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'. It's called 'First Day of My Life'. It's a very sweet and innocent song, but I especially like the video. It was directed by John Cameron Mitchell, director of 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', and most recently, 'Rabbit Hole'. The people in the video are real people, listening to the song for the first time:
Speaking of John Cameron Mitchell, as I said, he directed the 2001 film adaptation of the off Broadway show, 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', in which he also starred as Hedwig. The soundtrack has a beautiful song explaining the origins of the human race, the males and females of the species, and love. It's called 'The Origin of Love':
Next up are two songs from my favorite modern singer songwriter, Joshua Radin. Without knowing it, you have probably heard some of his music before. In the last 5 years, his songs have been featured on over 75 television episodes, ranging from 'Grey's Anatomy' to 'The Bachelorette'. He is a friend of 'Scrubs' star Zach Braff. One day in 2004, Braff brought in a copy of one of his songs into the studio in the hopes of getting it played on an episode. The rest, as they say, is history. In early 2008, Ellen Degeneres was at a party at Braff's home and mentioned that she was still looking for someone to play for her and Portia de Rossi at their wedding later that year. Ellen was introduced to Radin, who played the following song for her on the spot. That song later became their wedding song. That song, called 'Today' is on Joshua Radin's 2006 album 'We Were Here'.
My favorite Joshua Radin song is actually a cover of a song originally performed by Yazoo called 'Only You', back in the 80s. In the 90s, Erasure covered it with moderate success. This version, in my opinion, is much better than the original. It's also found on his 2006 album 'We Were Here'. Enjoy:
Finally, when the word "punk" is mentioned, "love song" aren't the next two words to immediately follow in your mind. I can't think of a large number of punk bands that have released a love song as a single. And, depending on who you ask, Green Day has strayed from their punk roots too much to truly be considered "punk" nowadays. Nevertheless, one of my all time faves is a track from their 1997 album, 'Nimrod'. It's a love letter of sorts from lead singer, Billy Joe Armstrong, to his wife, Adrienne. They were at a point in their marriage where they were constantly arguing. "I love you" was being said merely out of routine. But, looking at the relationship, two things stood out. 1.) The pattern that they had fallen into as a couple, and 2.) that he still felt passionately about his wife. This is 'Redundant':
Hope you liked my suggestions. Thanks for listening. Happy Valentine's Day.
Perhaps, you're going with a reliable choice. The "old tried and true". Like Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'. Yeah. That's a good one. One of my favorites was always Peter Gabriel's 'In Your Eyes'. I heard it for the first time when I was 12 years old. It changed the way I listened to music, had that much of an impact on me. It was the first time I equated music with poetry. Twenty something years later, it's still one of the most romantic songs I've ever heard.
I wanted to do a post for Valentine's Day that featured a number of love songs that my wife and I really liked, songs that we listen to quite a bit, that have gotten little notice by the mainstream media. None of the songs below have charted. Only two of them were released as singles and had music videos released for them. None of them, to my knowledge, received any radio airplay from mainstream radio. I hope you like them as much as we do.
First up is a track from a band call Bright Eyes. It comes from their 2005 album 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'. It's called 'First Day of My Life'. It's a very sweet and innocent song, but I especially like the video. It was directed by John Cameron Mitchell, director of 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', and most recently, 'Rabbit Hole'. The people in the video are real people, listening to the song for the first time:
Speaking of John Cameron Mitchell, as I said, he directed the 2001 film adaptation of the off Broadway show, 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', in which he also starred as Hedwig. The soundtrack has a beautiful song explaining the origins of the human race, the males and females of the species, and love. It's called 'The Origin of Love':
Next up are two songs from my favorite modern singer songwriter, Joshua Radin. Without knowing it, you have probably heard some of his music before. In the last 5 years, his songs have been featured on over 75 television episodes, ranging from 'Grey's Anatomy' to 'The Bachelorette'. He is a friend of 'Scrubs' star Zach Braff. One day in 2004, Braff brought in a copy of one of his songs into the studio in the hopes of getting it played on an episode. The rest, as they say, is history. In early 2008, Ellen Degeneres was at a party at Braff's home and mentioned that she was still looking for someone to play for her and Portia de Rossi at their wedding later that year. Ellen was introduced to Radin, who played the following song for her on the spot. That song later became their wedding song. That song, called 'Today' is on Joshua Radin's 2006 album 'We Were Here'.
My favorite Joshua Radin song is actually a cover of a song originally performed by Yazoo called 'Only You', back in the 80s. In the 90s, Erasure covered it with moderate success. This version, in my opinion, is much better than the original. It's also found on his 2006 album 'We Were Here'. Enjoy:
Finally, when the word "punk" is mentioned, "love song" aren't the next two words to immediately follow in your mind. I can't think of a large number of punk bands that have released a love song as a single. And, depending on who you ask, Green Day has strayed from their punk roots too much to truly be considered "punk" nowadays. Nevertheless, one of my all time faves is a track from their 1997 album, 'Nimrod'. It's a love letter of sorts from lead singer, Billy Joe Armstrong, to his wife, Adrienne. They were at a point in their marriage where they were constantly arguing. "I love you" was being said merely out of routine. But, looking at the relationship, two things stood out. 1.) The pattern that they had fallen into as a couple, and 2.) that he still felt passionately about his wife. This is 'Redundant':
Hope you liked my suggestions. Thanks for listening. Happy Valentine's Day.
Parody Of Every British Action Movie Made In The Last 15 Years
I remember the first time watching a couple of Guy Ritchie's movies, like 'Snatch' and 'Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels', I had to rewind the DVD over and over again. It took me forever to figure out what the characters were saying. It looks like I wasn't the only one.
On the most recent episode of SNL, they aired a trailer for a new British movie titled 'Don' You Go Rounin' Roun to Re Ro', featuring British comedian Russell Brand It is a spot on parody of every British action movie that has been released since 1998. They even have the local neighborhood bad guy with the dog on the couch. Ha ha. Check it out:
Oh, and the website featured at the end of the trailer, www.donyougorouninrountorero.com, it's a legitimate promotional website for a fake movie. When 'Saturday Night Live' does a gag, they like to go all out.
On the most recent episode of SNL, they aired a trailer for a new British movie titled 'Don' You Go Rounin' Roun to Re Ro', featuring British comedian Russell Brand It is a spot on parody of every British action movie that has been released since 1998. They even have the local neighborhood bad guy with the dog on the couch. Ha ha. Check it out:
Oh, and the website featured at the end of the trailer, www.donyougorouninrountorero.com, it's a legitimate promotional website for a fake movie. When 'Saturday Night Live' does a gag, they like to go all out.
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