My Former Elder Sentenced On Molestation Charges

On a personal note, I have been holding onto this story for a while.  The news came out more than a week ago, but I've had quite a hard time trying to figure out how to discuss things.  As I have spoken about the nature of Dave Nelson's crimes, it is only right that I speak about what has happened since.  The entire story brings up a slew of uncomfortable feelings that I would rather not deal with.

If you recall, shortly before I left the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, I was a member of the Squaw Peak congregation.  At the time, I was seriously questioning my faith.  It was the first time that I was living on my own.  David Nelson was the Presiding Overseer (Chief Elder) of my congregation.  He took me under his wing.

Looking back, he took all of the young guys under his wing.  In addition to myself, there was Patrick and his cousin Steve.  And off the top of my head, I can think of two ladies that had "non believing" husbands.  One had a fifteen year old son.  The other had two - one about eighteen, one about fourteen.  At the time, I was twenty.


Seems Dave had a thing for teenage boys.  Last November, he was booked on 6 counts stemming from an encounter he had with a 14 year old Witness kid back in 1980.  The local media kept referring to him as a "former" Jehovah's Witness.  But, I found out (through multiple local sources) that he only resigned as an elder, and disassociated himself from the organization, four days before his arrest, knowing that authorities were looking for him.  His victim, still one of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Phoenix area, managed to get Nelson to confess to the molestation on a taped phone conversation, which was later turned over to police.  That was the beginning of a shocking series of events.

Dear Santa: All I Want For Christmas Is This...

AN LED MOHAWK VIKING HELMET!!!!  I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!  Check out this video:



Oh, and a cricket bat.

Say It Ain't So. Jack White's A Juggalo?

Word came out Wednesday, that Jack White's Third Man Records was preparing to release their latest 7" single on September 13th.  In fact, they issued a press release, complete with the following photo:

From Third Man Records' site:

"In the grand tradition of peanut butter meeting Iggy's chest or Bing Crosby getting down with David Bowie, Third Man Records is ecstatic to present the latest in a long-line of unexpected musical pairings…Insane Clown Posse and Mozart.

Back in '82, ahem, 1782, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote a piece that's been left out of the spotlight ever since. The title of the piece is "Leck Mich Im Arsch" or literally translated to English as "Lick me in the arse." Understandably this piece has figuratively been swept under the rug. So who better to give this piece it's due respect than the wildly successful, much misunderstood, and divisive Southwest Detroit rappers Insane Clown Posse?

With fellow Southwest Detroit-born Jack White at the production helm and musical backing by Nashville's very own Jeff the Brotherhood, this 2011 version of "Leck Mich Im Arsch" marries Mozart's melody (and lyrics sung in operatic German) with ICP's poignant lyrical addition in English and Jeff the B’s monster-riffs, letting the whole thing tie together in the most beautiful of ways.

The b-side "Mountain Girl" finds Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope telling tall tales about a shotgun wedding, meth problems and moonshine…all pretty common-fare for a twangy country song birthed in Nashville.

The 7" single and iTunes digital download of "Leck Mich Im Arsch" will be available for sale on September 13th. One-hundred Tri-color versions of the single will be available from the Third Man Rolling Record Store at the MI Fest in Brooklyn, Michigan on September 17th and another 50 Tri-colors will be randomly inserted into mail orders dispatched by Third Man Records."

I am dumbfounded, as are, I'm sure, millions of Jack White, White Stripes and Raconteur fans.  The writers for Rolling Stone and Spin magazines are probably having a field day at the moment.

Jack White has been considered by many, including myself, as a musical genius.  A godsend.  Perhaps the John Lennon, Pete Townsend or Robert Plant of this generation.  He is a shoe in for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  This is sure to effect his credibility.  Just how much has yet to be seen.

I have heard the song already, and let me just say, you'll thank me for not posting it.  At the moment, I'm searching Google for "ear bleach".

You know, an actor by the name of Oscar Levant once said, "There is a fine line between genius and insanity.  I have crossed this line."  I think Jack White can safely say the same.

Here is a video of a much nicer collaboration between White and the great Loretta Lynn.

Photo: Coolest. Weatherman. Ever.

This photo is not altered. It is of Australian Channel 7 weatherman, Jonathan Pollock.  His "non-traditional" appearance is causing a stir in the local community that he serves.  I have comments from, "disgustingly revolting", to "and you lot let him in the door", to even that "he looks scabied (sic) and pustulous".

I love the guy.  It nice to see a weatherman that doesn't look like an 80's era game show host.

Video: America's Newest Fad? Batmanning.

When planking just doesn't pose enough of a risk for a concussion...



Notice how it's all skinny college guys doing it?  Like my fat ass would be able to hang upside down like that.

The nation's next cool fad?  My money is on "douchebagging".

Photo: Woman Buys Wooden IPad For $180

In a contest of "Who's dumber than who" this week, a South Carolina woman bought what she thought was an IPad, but turned out to be a block of wood.  Turns out, the con men weren't too keen either.  Here's the story:

22 year old Ashley McDowell, told police that she was approached by two young men while leaving McDonald's on Monday afternoon.  One of the men showed her a new IPad 2, and explained that he had a trunk full of the tablets, due to a bulk pricing deal.  He offered McDowell one for $300 cash.  She countered with an offer of $180, and he accepted.

He opened his trunk, and gave her one of the many sealed FedEx boxes that were stacked in it.  Upon arriving at home and opening the box, this is what she found:

It was a piece of wood the approximate size of an IPad, spray painted black.  But, it had a white Apple logo spray painted on the back.  The "screen" was framed in black tape, with replicas of IPad icons for Safari, Mail, Photos and the IPod logo.  There was also what appeared to be a "Best Buy sales ticket" applied to what would have been the screen.

Why would con men go through such trouble for a simple "bait and switch" con?  Did they do it to add insult to injury?  Or were they really so stupid, that they thought they needed to put that much effort into the job to rip someone off?  Were all of those FedEx boxes in the trunk filled with "imitation" IPads?  This story is really a competition of who has the lower IQ.

My favorite part of the story-look at the left image above.  She actually tried to swipe the screen!

Photo: Would You Buy Your Child This Coloring Book?

This is a page taken from a new coloring book called, 'We Shall Never Forget 9/11 - A Kids' Book To Freedom'.  It's from a company called Really Big Coloring Books, Inc.  I'm not going to link to their site.  If you would like additional information, Google them.

Is this appropriate for a child?  In my opinion, no.  Is it Islamaphobic?  You be the judge.  My little girl will stick with Rapunzel and Hello Kitty, thank you.

A Midsummer Night's Drawing

When Ambien came out a few years ago, horror stories emerged of people doing all kinds of things in their sleep.  Individuals were doing everything from eating, to driving, having sex and going to work while sleeping.  Someone even supposedly committed murder while asleep on the pill.

Lee Hadwin has had an unique experience since the age of 4.  He draws while sleeping.  And we're not just talking stick figures:

Do you notice the words "love", "fuck" and "arse" hidden in the drawing?  Absolutely insane.  Here is a video taken by a family member of Hadwin creating a piece of art.



He has reported seen numerous doctors, and has not received any explanation for his abilities.  In the morning, he wakes up completely refreshed, unaware of anything that had happened the previous night.  He claims that he cannot draw while awake and that he has never taken an art class in his life.  He is reportedly receiving up to six figures or more for his works.  Unbelievable.

Church Sign Of The Day

Video: Bill Nye "The Science Guy" "Confuses" Fox News Anchor

Climate change and hurricanes, as explained by a children's television show host, gets too "confusing" for the anchor and viewers of the Fox Business Channel.



When it comes to debating scientific evidence for global warming, couldn't Fox find a more accredited authority on the subject than Bill Nye?

What's next?  Elmo and Big Bird debate tort reform?

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.

Video: Willie Nelson's Cover Of Coldplay's 'The Scientist'

Earlier last month, Chipotle commissioned Willie Nelson to provide the soundtrack to an animated short film.  The film, called 'Back To The Start', "depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future."  The title of the piece comes from the lyrics of Coldplay's 2002 song, 'The Scientist'.




If you like the cover as much as I do, you can purchase it for $.99 on ITunes.  All proceeds from the tune go to benefit The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.

Photo Of The Day

Autographed by whom, exactly?

Via Jesus Needs New PR

Check Out The Trailer For 'Three'

From Tom Tykwer, Director of Run, Lola, Run.



Talk about a bizarre love triangle.

And, what is it with that fucking song today?

Must See: Children's Book Based On Bowie's 'Space Oddity'

Canadian illustrator Andrew Kolb has created one of the most fascinating children's books I have ever seen.  Based on David Bowie's rock classic, 'Space Oddity', it tells the story of Major Tom and his ultimate demise in outer space.  The book contains the song's original lyrics as the story, with vivid illustrations to help bring Tom to life.

'Space Oddity' was released just 10 days before the Apollo 11 lunar landing.  Though it was intended to be somewhat of a tongue in cheek insult at the failed British space program, the BBC used it during news coverage of the event.  In time, it has become one of the most iconic songs in music history.

At the moment, Kolb has not found a publisher for the book.  It is not even clear as to whether Bowie has seen it.  He does not have permission at this time from Mr. Bowie to publish it.  Hopefully, in time, that will change.

In the meantime, you can download a PDF of the book, at no charge, from Kolb's website.  I read the story to my three year old before bed time tonight.  She didn't like it.  She thought it was too sad.  She asked me to read Angelina Ballerina, instead.

For the last three days, since reading this book, I have had this song in my head.  I know you will, too.  I hope this helps.

Update:  Talk about bad timing.  It appears that the downloadable PDF of the book has been taken down.  Word is, there is a possibility that Kolb may have received a cease and desist from Bowie's lawyers.  That didn't take long.  

I am looking at a work around at getting a full copy of the book online from other sources.  If I am able to do so, I will post accordingly.

Update 2:  I have just taken a look at his site, and it is now so altered, that all text is blurred out, including the title of the book.  In fact, the site name is now "space book", instead of "space oddity".  Just sad.