Reverse Witnessing

Reverse Witnessing

via ExChristian.Net -- encouraging ex-Christians by webmdave on 1/10/10

by eveningmeadows
Recently I ran into a woman I knew from my last church. We really weren't friends, just acquaintances. We talked for awhile, and when asked, I said I didn't go to church anymore, and I didn't believe in god anymore. After the look of shock, I explained to her the frustration of not being able to ask questions, and the stupid responses from the elders of the church when I did. I shared the frustrations over what I saw in the church. We exchanged email addresses, and to my surprise, she actually did email me.
When emailing back and forth, she kept thinking over and over that I left the church because of the idiots in the church. She said that we are all working out our salvation, and we shouldn't blame god for what people do. Yes, they make god look bad, but we should keep our eyes on god only. Yup, that's easy. I would take the time to explain over and over that I didn't leave for that reason. I left because none of the teaching made sense to me anymore. I was frustrated because I couldn't think for myself. After many years of praying, reading, researching, I couldn't believe any of it anymore. And what do I keep getting back? I have to take my eyes off of the people.
I keep getting the statements about "truth." Of course the difficulty is knowing what she has been taught. I KNOW what's in her head. I know where this all leads. We were taught that there was only one truth, and she has it. She can never have understanding or tolerance for what I believe. There is no room for that.
How can anyone keep their sanity, and still keep friendships with xtians? How do you listen to all that dribble, and not just scream? How can you have discussions, when these people think they are the righteous ones? Since I'm just getting out of this "cult" mentality and brainwashing, this is really overwhelming at times. Can I have a friendship with this woman?
Well, I don't know if I can. We have gotten together a few times, and it's like there's this elephant in the room, and we just pretend it's not there. She seems to be very careful about what she talks about.
So I emailed her with my problem with this relationship. I told her about the "elephant." I explained that it would be nice if we could talk about what she was doing in the church, etc., and what caused me to leave, and what I believe now. An equal back and forth discussion. Of course, the statement back was we could talk about her and her church work, and how god was working in her life, and I could talk about what I believe and why I left, but I wasn't going to get her to leave her faith. Did I say that? No. I just wanted to scream. What I got out of it was she could talk about the "truth", and I could talk about my garbage. Of course she's afraid I'm going to stuff my beliefs down her throat, but that's wrong, only xtians can do that!
I find I just want to break this off. My self-esteem doesn't seem to be at the place where I can feel sorry for her intolerance and fear. I hate the feeling that she's looking down at me. I find myself avoiding xtians that I knew from my past. She said she wanted me to see that a xtian could be a kind and loving person, and I told her I hope she could see through me that there is no absolute truth, and to accept people and their beliefs.
I know I should continue this for the same reason she's continuing this, to "witness". I suppose fundamentalist thinking will only stop when exposed to people who challenge that belief system and show them something different. Reverse witnessing. Go figure.

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Omar Martinez Pit Bull Attack: 3-Year-Old Boy Dead From Family Dog

Omar Martinez Pit Bull Attack: 3-Year-Old Boy Dead From Family Dog

via The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com by The Huffington Post News Editors on 1/10/10

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. — Authorities say a 3-year-old boy has died after his family's pit bull attacked him at a home in Southern California
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department said in a statement Sunday that 3-year-old Omar Martinez was declared dead at Saint Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley.
Authorities answered a 911 call Saturday afternoon reporting that a boy had been attacked by a dog and had stopped breathing.
Paramedics found the boy unresponsive and took him to the hospital, where he died about two hours later.
Authorities say the dog was aggressive toward firefighters when they arrived at the Apple Valley home, and a sheriff's deputy shot and killed the animal.
The coroner's office says an autopsy will be conducted on the boy, and sheriff's deputies and animal control officials are investigating.

GMC Granite concept offers professional grade bix box styling - GMC Rips of Scion 8 years too late.

GMC Granite concept offers professional grade bix box styling

via Autoblog by Sam Abuelsamid on 1/10/10

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, GMC

GMC Granite Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

As one of the four remaining brands at the new General Motors, the folks in charge of GMC are trying to come up with a reason for the brand to exist. Until now, GMC's wares have been to Chevrolet trucks what Mercury has been Ford - same stuff different badges. Over the last decade the marketing boffins have tried to position GMC as "Industrial Grade," but it's never been entirely clear exactly what that means.
As a general rule, GMC doesn't produce concept vehicles, but at this year's Detroit Auto Show that's set to change. The GMC Granite is being badged as an "urban utility vehicle," a compact crossover that could slot in below the Terrain and give the brand something relatively unique. GM hasn't divulged what platform underpins the Granite, but it's likely to share many parts with GM's global compact (Delta II) architecture. That means this Granite will have a lot in common with the upcoming Chevy Orlando, but with a five-inch shorter wheelbase and a few other unique attributes you can read about after the jump.

Gallery: GMC Granite Concept

Continue reading GMC Granite concept offers professional grade bix box styling

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'Rush Limbaugh! The Musical' Debuts in Chicago End of the Month

'Rush Limbaugh! The Musical' Debuts in Chicago End of the Month

via NewsBusters.org - Exposing Liberal Media Bias by Noel Sheppard on 1/10/10

Germans may soon have "HOPE - The Obama Musical Story," but Chicagans are about to get "Rush Limbaugh! The Musical."
Produced by the Windy City's longtime comedy troupe Second City, the score features "a pastiche of Broadway musicals such as Spring Awakening, Wicked, and Rent. You can call it 'Dispirit of the Radio.'”
The show's website boasts (h/t Story Balloon):

Brought to you by the same team that made Rod Blagojevich Superstar! an instant hit, Rush Limbaugh! The Musical takes us back to Rush’s humble beginnings and follows his ascent to conservative dominance buoyed by characters like Ann Coulter, Karl Rove, and Donald Rumsfeld despite confrontations with Hillary Clinton and Barney Frank.

The actor playing Limbaugh has set up a blog to chronicle the experience:

Okay...so I'm about to become Rush Limbaugh. It's a daunting task to say the least. Needless to say, I have not portrayed a character with this much of a loyal following since I had the lead in "Manson: The Musical". When I first got the part, I was excited. You know, a little singing, a little dancing, a few laughs. Then I read Chris Jones' blog about the show. Or, to be more specific, I read the responses to the blog. The show hasn't opened yet, heck I haven't even seen the whole script, and already the debate over the appropriateness of it is raging.

I can't wait to read the reviews.
How about you?

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Remember the Biosphere?

Remember the Biosphere?

via Dvorak Uncensored by John C Dvorak on 1/10/10

Remnants of the Biosphere. — Ah, yes, the idealism of the biosphere. You’d think they could have least used this structure as a hothouse for tomatoes. This is utopianism’s end-result. Always.

Photographer Noah Sheldon got in touch the other week with a beautiful series of photos documenting the decrepit state of Biosphere 2, a semi-derelict bio-architectural experiment in the Arizona desert.

Roxxxy the Sex Robot Just Wants to Talk

Roxxxy the Sex Robot Just Wants to Talk

via Dvorak Uncensored by honeyman on 1/10/10

A New Jersey company says it has developed “the world’s first sex robot,” a life-size rubber doll that’s designed to engage the owner with conversation rather than lifelike movement.
At a demonstration at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas on Saturday, the dark-haired, negligee-clad robot said “I love holding hands with you” when it sensed that its creator touched its hand.
[...]
Douglas Hines, founder of Lincoln Park, N.J.-based True Companion LLC, said Roxxxy can carry on simple conversations. The real aim, he said, is to make the doll someone the owner can talk to and relate to.
“Sex only goes so far – then you want to be able to talk to the person,” Hines said.
The phrases that were demonstrated were prerecorded, but the robot will also be able to synthesize phrases out of prerecorded words and sounds, Hines said. The laptop will receive updates over the Internet to expand the robot’s capabilities and vocabulary. Since Hines is a soccer fan, it can already discuss Manchester United, he said. It snores, too.
Owners will also be able to select different personalities for Roxxxy, from “Wild Wendy” to “Frigid Farrah,” Hines said. He’s charging somewhere from $7,000 to $9,000 for the robot, including the laptop, and expects to start shipping in a few months.

Creepy sociopaths rejoice!

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Winningest Jockey in 2009 Pulls in $18,571,171 Million by a Nose!

Winningest Jockey in 2009 Pulls in $18,571,171 Million by a Nose!

via Luxist by Deb West on 1/10/10

Garrett Gomez took the title for top earning jockey in 2009 with $18,571.171 in winnings beating out Julien Leparoux who finished up with a total of $18,560,565 in earnings. Gomez who won the national earnings title now for the fourth consecutive year in a row won "by a nose" so to speak.
The feat was accomplished in his last race of the year as Gomez had left the title hanging in his competitor's hands until the last day of 2009. Leparoux, who had returned to his native France to be with his family, started off the day $26,994 ahead of Gomez, who only had two mounts scheduled in the eight race program. Gomez finished the second race last earning only $400 and his win on Fund Raiser in the fourth race still left him trailing by $194 dollars with no more horses left to ride.
Fellow jockey Martin Pedroza "conveniently" felt ill and Gomez took over his mount for the eighth and final race of the day. As all starters in California are guaranteed $400 dollars just for running the race Gomez did not have to win to pull ahead of Leparoux and finish with the coveted national earnings title. That did not stop him from piloting Cenzio to a win and picking up the $10,800 purse giving him at total earnings of $18,571,171, which was $10,606 more than Leparoux.
The record for the most consecutive national earnings title is held by Bill Shoemaker who won it seven successive years from 1958 through 1964. For those who are curious how the Kentucky Derby winning Calvin Borel fared, he finished in 14th place on the final list with a total of 853 starts and $9,244,647 in earnings.

Filed under: Sports

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Venezuela Slipping Into Socialist/Statist Darkness, Figuratively and Literally

Venezuela Slipping Into Socialist/Statist Darkness, Figuratively and Literally

via NewsBusters.org - Exposing Liberal Media Bias by Tom Blumer on 1/10/10

Four recent stories out of Venezuela each give readers a brief glimpse at how Hugo Chavez's brand of authoritarian socialism is critically wounding what could be resource-rich, financially prosperous country:

1. January 9, Associated Press -- "Venezuela weakens currency for 1st time in 5 years."
2. January 10, Bloomberg -- "Chavez Says He’ll Seize Businesses That Raise Prices."
3. December 22, AFP -- "Chavez announces new discount 'socialist' stores."
4. January 9, AP -- "Venezuela faces risk of devastating power collapse."

Collectively, however, they depict a country in the early stages of a headlong free-fall into Cuban-style financial ruin. No U.S. establishment media enterprise appears interested in making the accelerating decays in financial well-being and personal freedom in that country understandable to the average person.

AP's headline at the first item noted seems designed to avoid attention. This isn't a mere "weakening" of the currency; instead, it's a bizarre bi-level devaluation of up to 50%:

President Hugo Chavez' decision to devalue Venezuela's currency for the first time in nearly five years aims to stretch his government's oil earnings further and counter a recession by increasing spending.

The devaluation of the bolivar lessens a wide gap with the black-market exchange rate for dollars and will unavoidably push inflation - already the highest in Latin America at 25 percent - to even higher levels.

Opposition leaders on Saturday called the devaluation a blow to Venezuelans that will make them pay through inflation while letting the government instantly convert its oil earnings into more cash domestically to boost spending ahead of congressional elections.

.... With the devaluation, Chavez also set a new two-tiered exchange rate in an attempt to hold down prices of priority imports like food to counter inflation.

The currency's official exchange rate had been held steady by the government at 2.15 bolivars to the dollar since the last devaluation in March 2005. Chavez said the bolivar will now have two government-set rates: 2.6 to the dollar for transactions deemed priorities by the government, and 4.3 to the dollar for other transactions.

The wire service's Jorge Rueda never specified the percentages of devaluation (about 20% and exactly 50%, respectively, for "priority" and "other" transactions).

Chavez's threats identified in the Bloomberg item, to the extent they are successful, are destined to keep businesses from fully replenishing their stocks of goods for sale:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that businesses have no reason to raise prices following the devaluation of the bolivar and that the government will seize any entity that boosts its prices.

Chavez said he’ll create an anti-speculation committee to monitor prices after private businesses said that prices would double and consumers rushed to buy household appliances and televisions. The government is the only authority able to dictate price increases, he said.

“The bourgeois are already talking about how all prices are going to double and they’re closing their businesses to raise prices,” Chavez said in comments on state television during his weekly “Alo Presidente” program. “People, don’t let them rob you, denounce it, and I’m capable of taking over that business.”

If jawboning and intimidation are fully effective, most retail businesses will only have half-empty shelves and rising overhead costs -- circumstances likely to put many of them out of business.

Now there's a coincidence (/sarcasm). The December 22 AFP item reveals that the Chavez is going with a so-called "public option," if you will, for everyday goods and services:

President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday announced a new chain of government-run, cut-rate retail stores that will sell everything from food to cars to clothing from places such as China, Argentina and Bolivia.

"We're creating Comerso, meaning Socialist Corporation of Markets," Chavez said at the opening of a "socialist" fast-food location for traditional Venezuelan arepas (cornbread).

"They'll see what's good. We'll show them what a real market is all about, not those speculative, money-grubbing markets, but a market for the people," said Chavez in his drive to change Venezuela from a market-based economy to a socialist one.

.... We're going to defeat speculation. Private individuals in sales can still sell, but they'll have to compete with us and with a people who is now fully aware," Chavez said.

.... The socialist retail outlets will serve the public alongside the Mercal supermarket chain, which sells subsidized food in Venezuela's working-class neighborhoods.

So it would appear that Chavez is setting up his state-run enterprises just in time to fill in the devaluation-caused breach. How convenient.

One also expects that Comerso will have all kinds of built-in advantages over Mercal and other competitors, like exemptions from taxes, more lax regulation, the ability to get government subsidies for losses incurred. These and other advantages, by the way, are also reasons why the so-called "public option" for health insurance included in many versions of statist health care being considered by the U.S. Congress is nothing but a ruse to eventually and inevitably put private insurers out of business.

Meanwhile, the AP's Fabiola Sanchez, in describing the "devastating power collapse" in the final listed item above, wants to create the impression that it's happening because of the whims of Mother Nature. But the reporter at least gives voice to the more likely culprits in later paragraphs:

Chavez has blamed the electricity predicament on the El Nino weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, along with global warming. But critics blame the government, saying investments in infrastructure haven't kept up in spite of Venezuela's bountiful oil earnings.

(Economics professor Victor) Poleo said investments have been hobbled by a lack of planning, waste and corruption, and that based on his research only about 25 percent to 30 percent of the funds approved for infrastructure upgrades have reached their intended uses.

The government's electricity minister, Angel Rodriguez, was not available to respond to the accusations.

Earlier paragraphs from Sanchez indicate that the government is already imposing power rationing, including limiting the hours of operation of .... shopping malls. Imagine that. Will Comerso have to abide by such restrictions? Will it also get the "priority" purchasing rate while its competitors are stuck with the "other" rate?

Sanchez also identifies a clear overdependence on one power source, namely the Guri hydroelectric dam, which supplies 73% of the country's electricity. Fine, but Chavez has had every bit of 10 years to do something about that, and is sitting on a veritable ocean of fossil-fuel resources that could have been called into play if the related electricity-generating capacity had been built.

Put these four stories together and you see a country that is not at all far from being in a situation of forced misery with the state as sole provider of many if not most of the basic necessities of life. One wonders if it isn't already too late to keep Venezuela from becoming Cuba writ large. If America wakes up one morning to find that this is indeed the case, an establishment media elite that has been all too sympathetic to Chavez from the get-go and has failed to paint an accurate picture of what has been happening to economic and human rights in that country for years will deserve a large share for that "surprise."

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.

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Utah...biggest consumer of porn...

Is This KFC Ad Racist? Depends on your point of view...brings a whole lot of questions to the concept of racism...important things to think about.

Is This KFC Ad Racist? [YOUTUBE VIDEO]

via Mashable! by Pete Cashmore on 1/10/10

Is this ad racist? Your opinion might vary depending on your cultural background … and that’s a new reality we’re facing in the YouTube era.
The Australian KFC ad in dispute (below) shows an Australian cricket supporter in a crowd of West Indian fans. Supposedly to make himself more comfortable amid the opposition supporters, he offers up a bucket of “crowdpleaser” fried chicken from KFC.
The ad received no negative response in Australia where it aired, but it soon made its way to YouTube, where it caused controversy.

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Cultural Clash

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The issue: in the US, there’s an offensive racial stereotype involving fried chicken and African Americans. No such stereotype seems to exist in Australia (and certainly not relating to West Indians), where the ad was intended to air. The result? YouTube has put KFC in the middle of a cultural clash.
Hence we have the Baltimore Sun stating: “If it is a genuine KFC advertisement, it could be seen as racially insensitive” … and KFC replying that it has been “misinterpreted by a segment of people in the US”. In fact, the controversy became so inflamed this week that KFC has pulled the ad in Australia, perturbing some Australian viewers who think US viewers are misinterpreting it (see second video below).
The opposition to the ad may be a minority of the audience, however: a NY Daily News poll has 27% calling the ad racist versus 69% who think it isn’t. It’s unclear how many of those polled were American and how many were Australian.

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US Reaction (from The Young Turks)

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(Note that The Young Turks received such a negative reaction from their Australian viewers, they posted a followup. They maintain that the ad is racist for spreading US stereotypes.)

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Australian Reaction

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YouTube’s New Reality

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Regardless of whether you find the ad offensive, the event could force ad agencies to consider the global cultural reaction to their campaigns, even for those ads intended for regional audiences.
In the YouTube era, ads made for national markets quickly receive international distribution — sometimes with unintended consequences.
Tags: kfc, youtube

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Talking Turquoise, Brands Embrace Pantone's 2010 Color Of The Year.

Talking Turquoise, Brands Embrace Pantone's 2010 Color Of The Year.

via PicoCool / Popular items by laurasweet on 1/10/10

So Pantone named Turquoise the color of 2010. But what have some brands done in that color? From Gucci to Nintendo, furniture to appliances, nail polish to kicks... check out tons of items available in that now trendy color called "turquoise" or more specifically, Pantone 15-5519.

2 Vote(s)

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That copy writer is a marketing genius!

There must be something in the water...$2500 for a 1982 Honda 500.??? There is something in the water in Tucson

I have a 1982 Honda Cx500 runs great sounds great I just don't have the time to ride 2500 firm
ever since I broke my ankle Playing paintball I hesitate on the bike
I hate to see it just sit there I would rather someone ride it.
only reply if serious

• Location: tucson
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Honda Trail 90....$2200?? WTF?? - Local Craigslist find is stupid!

This was my first motorcycle ever.  Actually I had a 1969 Trail 90...what a great little toy.  I spent all summer mowing lawns to afford it.  I paid $100 at a DEALER sometime around the early 80's.  NOW they think they're worth $2200?  Craigslist you are one cruel mistress of stupid pricing. I can buy a friggin used sport bike for $2200.  What is wrong with you people???




Doesn't get much better then this one. All original, 461 mile since it left Japan in 1977.

• Location: 1st/orange grove
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Łukasz Murgrabia photographer

Łukasz Murgrabia photographer

via Design You Trust. World's Most Provocative Social Inspiration. by ViaComIT on 1/10/10

Spot On ViaComIT’s Blog
‘Black’ series by Łukasz Murgrabia

Steele: My racial slur isn't the same as Harry Reid's

Steele: My racial slur isn't the same as Harry Reid's

via Crooks and Liars by David on 1/10/10

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RNC Chairman Michael Steele offered a non-apology apology Sunday for using the term "honest injun."
Wednesday, Steele was speaking to Sean Hannity about his new book, "Right Now: A 12-step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda." The RNC Chairman told Hannity, "Our platform is one of the best political documents that's been written in the last 25 years. Honest injun on that."
Members of his own party immediately spoke out against him. Rep. Tom Cole called Steele's remarks "unacceptable" and said, "It's an offensive phrase in the Native American community."
His mea culpa came less than a day after the revelation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the term "negro" when discussing then-Senator Barack Obama with reporters.

The revelation comes as the new book has disclosed deeply damaging comments Reid made to the reporters, where he said the country was ready for a black president - particularly one that was "light-skinned" with no "Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one." Reid immediately apologized for his remarks, and Obama and other Democrats have come to his defense.

Steele said the remarks shouldn't be held to the same standard and called for Reid to resign, a stance the rest of the GOP party is only too happy to echo.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) said it would be "entirely appropriate" for the Nevada Democrat to relinquish his leadership post over comments about Barack Obama's skin color and lack of a "Negro dialect."
And like Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and Senate GOP Whip Jon Kyl — both of whom also called for Reid's resignation Sunday — Cornyn suggested that any Republican who said what Reid said would be under attack from Democrats, leading African-Americans and the media.

Steele called for the Majority Leader to step down Sunday. "I think he should," he told Fox News' Chris Wallace. Steele complained that former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was forced to step down when he praised Strom Thurmond who ran as a segregationist for president in 1948. Lott said the country would not have had "all the problems" it had if more people had voted for Thurmond.
"The reality is there is this standard where the Democrats feel they can say these things and they can apologize when it comes from the mouths of their own," said Steele. "But if it comes from anyone else, it's racism. It's either racist or it's not."
But apparently that standard doesn't hold up when it comes to Steele's "honest injun" remark. "The reality of it is that's not the same," Steele told Wallace.
(Nicole:) While Steele may have a point in saying that his flippant use of an old colloquialism doesn't rise to the same level as Harry Reid's tin-eared comments, he's wrong that Reid's statements are the same as Trent Lott's wistful nostalgia for the days before the civil rights movement. There's no question that Reid's statements--in front of reporters, no less--are clunky and stupid. However, without excusing them, what Reid said is actually not dissimilar to discussions had in every campaign war room when discussing the pros and cons of candidates. There's a world of difference between that--however inartfully expressed--and praising a politician for his work to sustain the days of Jim Crow.

214 Mexican prisoners moved for Mel Gibson film...

214 Mexican prisoners moved for Mel Gibson film...

via Drudge Report Feed on 1/10/10

214 Mexican prisoners moved for Mel Gibson film...

Crush of the week - Sara Bareilles

 Okay, ever since college I've had a huge weakness for women that can sing.  It all started with girl named Ann from Kansas.  She might have been named Anne.  I never wrote her, just talked to her.  Anyway we used to pass around the guitar and she would sing "Little Red Corvette".  That was it...I was smitten.  Now the few of you that know the same girl you know you felt the same way.  She wasn't drop dead beautiful, but she could sing, and that was enough.  (She was cute too and a great person)  Where are you Anne?  Last time I heard you were dating a painter.  (House Painter, not fine art)  This was 15 years ago though so I'm not all that current on my updates.

Jump to today.  Yes...I'll fully admit that I first heard Sara Bareilles on a cell phone commercial.  Screw it.  I'm not too cool to admit that.  I think I may have actually purchased her album.  I've always like sincere singer songwriters like Jim Croce, Harry Chapin etc.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that she was a very talented perfomer with great lyrics.  So the good folks at Netflix sent me a disc today and it was Sara Bareilles live at the Fillmore Theater.  This was the first time I actually heard her speak and not just sing her tunes.  Turns out she's a very cool chick.  I wasn't particularly surprised to find out she spoke eloquently.  You can't write those clever songs and not be intelligent.  But what I was happy to find out is that she has a great sense of humor, and a naughty little dirty side to her!  She seems to be very humble and very grateful for the little bit of success she's achieved.  I have to deal with musicians almost daily...so a little humility goes a long way towards forming my opinion about you.

Without going into the long and silly details I officially name her my crush of the week.  I may have to book her this year just to get to her know her a little.  Please Sara if you read this...just wait a bit before filing the restraining order against me.

Weight Watchers cat is protecting my freezer from me. Or is that me from my freezer?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Santa got me this bitchin' thermometer. Now I know exactly what wear depending on temp...if I go in drag.

BTW that isn't a typo...it really is almost 68 degrees outside in January...

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The Gits....never forget please.

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The Gits were an American punk band, formed in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1986. Known for their part in the burgeoning Seattle music scene of the early 1990s, their distinct punk rock sound gained a reputation for its uncompromising vision and bluesy street punk aesthetic.^[1] They were known for their fiery live performances and retained a dedicated following both during and after their existence.

Singer Mia Zapata—influenced early on by blues, soul music and hardcore punk^[2]—sang of inner struggle, alcohol, death, and survival despite utter hopelessness. Other members included guitarist Joe Spleen (born Andy Kessler), bassist Matt Dresdner and drummer Steve Moriarty. During their existence, the band released two studio albums, one compilation of early recordings, one live recording, three 7" singles and appeared on various compilations. The band also recorded on a few independent labels, and released its two studio albums on C/Z Records. In 2003, each release in the band's discography was remastered and expanded with bonus tracks on Broken Rekids.

The band dissolved in 1993 following the murder of Zapata. Though the band never signed with a major label and never reached a mainstream audience, Zapata has nevertheless been cited as an influence by several subsequent female punk vocalists.

Formation and early history

The Gits met and formed in 1986 at Antioch College, a liberal arts school in Yellow Springs, Ohio. They called themselves the Snivelling Little Rat Faced Gits (a reference to a Monty Python skit, episode 21), but soon shortened the moniker to just "The Gits." In 1988 they recorded and self-released their "unofficial" debut album entitled Private Lubs with the help of friend Ben London (later of Alcohol Funnycar and solo). These recordings did not see widespread release though until 1996 when the album was reissued by the Broken Rekids label asKings & Queens. After finishing school, they packed up and headed to Seattle, Washington in 1989 in search of greater opportunities.

[edit]Local following

After arriving in Seattle, the band set up shop at the now infamous 'Rathouse,' a Capitol Hill district house where the band rehearsed and lived. They quickly earned a following on the local scene and gained many friends, particularly in the city's punk rock community. During the early 1990s, buzz began surrounding the band, which caused some media outlets to erroneously lump them in with the then-burgeoning Seattle grunge music scene, and Zapata's persona led many to incorrectly associate The Gits with the Olympia, Washington riot grrrl movement.

Their first 'official' release surfaced in 1990 in the form of the "Precious Blood" single, released by the local Big Flaming Ego Records. This single was quickly followed up by two more releases ("Second Skin" on Broken Rekids (1991), "Spear & Magic Helmet" on Empty Records (1991), as well as the Bobbing For Pavement compilation (Rathouse/Broken Rekids, 1991) which featured The Gits alongside some of Seattle's best up-and-coming punk bands.

[edit]Increased following and disbandment

In 1992 the band recorded and released their debut album Frenching the Bully on the local C/Z Records to rave reviews. By this point, Seattle had become the 'next big thing' in mainstream music with several of its better known bands gaining national attention. The Gits themselves had gained quite a bit of notoriety by this point, thus allowing them to not only tour outside of Seattle, but also in Europe, despite the fact they had no permanent record label or other professional services to support them.

By 1993 it became clear that the Gits were on the verge of making it big with the band gaining the attention of major label record companies. Production began in mid-1993 on the band's second album entitled Enter: The Conquering Chicken, an album which was planned to be their breakthrough. The Gits seemed to be well on their way when, on the night of July 7, 1993, the group's charismatic singer and songwriter Mia Zapata was brutally raped and murdered while walking home from a friend's house late at night.

Immediate aftermath

After the initial shock of Zapata's murder, both the remaining members of the Gits and the Seattle musical community at large began an intensive investigation into her death. The Seattle Police Department initially focused their investigation on Zapata's circle of friends, believing that her murderer must have been someone she knew. Using funds generated by the Seattle music community (from benefit shows and CDs), as well as their own money, the remaining band members hired private investigator Leigh Hearon to supplement the police department's investigation. For over three years, Hearon and the Seattle Police Department investigated the crime with little or no breaks in the case. In 1996 the investigation first gained national attention in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, it however did not open any new leads. The case was later highlighted on several other TV shows including A&E's American Justice, Cold Case Files, City Confidential, CBS's 48 Hours and FOX's America's Most Wanted.

[edit]Finding the killer

Seven years passed with few new leads in the case, until a random DNA check conducted by the Seattle PD's Cold Case Unit and the Washington State Crime Lab led to the arrest of Cuban-American fisherman Jesus Mezquia. Mezquia, who briefly lived in Seattle during the time of Zapata's murder, was linked to the crime in 2003 when a DNA profile was extracted from a saliva sample left on Zapata's body; Mezquia had bitten her breast. It had been kept in cold storage until the STR technology was developed for full extraction. An original entry in 2001 failed to generate a positive result, but Mezquia's DNA entered the national databank after he was arrested for burglary in Florida in 2002.

On March 25, 2004, a jury convicted Mezquia of Zapata's murder and sentenced him to 36 years in prison, the maximum allowed in the case under Washington state law.

Home Alive

In the aftermath of Zapata's murder, friends created a non-profit self-defense group called Home Alive, which exists to this day and has organized benefit concerts and CDs with the participation of Seattle's music elite, such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Heart, and the Presidents of the United States of America. The Home Alive group has its own instructors and seek to empower women with ways to protect themselves against predators. They hold a range of courses, from anger management and use of pepper spray to the martial arts.^[3]

[edit]Influence

Portland, Oregon-based alternative rock band Everclear dedicated their 1993 album World of Noise to Zapata. The California hardcore band Retching Red included a Gits cover ("Spear and Magic Helmet") on their debut album "Get Your Red Wings". Also, the alt-country band Richmond Fontaine have a tribute song to the band, called "The Gits".

Punk rock band 7 Year Bitch, who were good friends and briefly label mates of The Gits, named their 1994 album ¡Viva Zapata! in tribute to Mia Zapata. The album cover also featured a painting by artist Scott Musgrove featuring Zapata wearing bullet sashes. The song "M.I.A.," which explicitly deals with Zapata's death, appears on this album.

[edit]Films

In 1996, Hype!—a documentary about the Seattle scene, featuring The Gits—came out. Eleven years later, in 2005, a movie chronicling the life of Mia Zapata during her time with The Gits was released. The final cut of the film was released theatrically in over 20 North American cities on July 7, 2008, the 15th memorial anniversary of Zapata's death. The following day saw the film released on DVD along with a Best of the Gits CD (both from Liberation Entertainment).

The story of the Gits was made into a documentary film, titled simply The Gits. The movie, directed by Kerri O'Kane, had its first screenings in 2005 at the Seattle International Film Festival to an overwhelmingly positive response. A finalized version of the film was accepted and screened at the 2007 SXSW (South By Southwest) Film Festival held March 9th-March 17th, 2007 in Austin, Texas.

Malkovich Confirms Vulture Role in Spider-Man 4

Malkovich Confirms Vulture Role in Spider-Man 4

via ComingSoon.net - 30 most recent stories on 1/10/10

With all the rumors and speculation about Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 , whether or not it will make its scheduled May 5, 2011 release date and why it has run into production problems, it's come out in the wash that John Malkovich was indeed up for the role of The Vulture, Raimi's choice of villain for the fourth movie, which was first broken by Movieline a month ago. Malkovich was interviewed by an Italian sports show called "Quelli Che il Calcio" and he was asked not only about whether he had been approached to play the Vulture but also about the production delays. The fine folks at the Italian web site Bad Taste have graciously provided an English summation of what was said on the show: "When conductor Simona Ventura asked him about his role of Vulture in the...

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The Futuro House: Space Age Architecture Comes Home!

The Futuro House: Space Age Architecture Comes Home!

via WebUrbanist by Steve on 1/10/10

[ Filed under Architecture & Design or in the Abandoned Places category ]

Evoking images of flying saucers, interplanetary space pods and science fiction futurism, the Futuro house offered homeowners a chance to live in the future without ever leaving their front yards. Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed the Futuro house in 1968 but only 96 of the fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic pods were produced over a 5-year period – killed by the 1973 Oil Crisis that tripled the price of plastics. Today, roughly half of the ellipsoid structures have been accounted for and their iconic design has made them a favorite of pop culture collectors, retrofuturism fans and all those who appreciate the impact of 1960s Space Age style.

From Finland It Came

(images via: Artificial Owl, International Day and Discover Interior Design)
The Futuro house was the brainchild of Matti Suuronen, one of a number of Finnish architects and designers who garnered wide recognition for futuristic, post-modern structures and consumer goods. Along with Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen and Viljo Revell, visionary architects like Suuronen put Finland on the map when it came to futuristic, and, well, fantastic expressions of the post-modernist ethos.
(image via: Yu-Lin Chan)
Explaining his architectural philosophy in a 1957 speech, Alvar Aalto said, “We should work for simple, good, undecorated things, but things which are in harmony with the human being and organically suited to the little man in the street.” Toronto’s city hall, which was designed by Revell and opened in 1967, is shown above.

Design Ahead Of Its Time

(images via: ArcSpace and Zentropolis)
Airport terminals and city halls are one thing, homes for the “little man” are quite another. That’s where Matti Suuronen comes in, along with his iconic Futuro house. Measuring 10 feet (3 meters) high, 26 feet (8 meters) in diameter and perched upon a sturdy 4-legged steel base, the Futuro house could house a very small family in a pinch or several modules could serve different domestic functions. The basic design is a simple one, as can be noted by the consistency of Suuronen’s vision from the very first hand-drawn renderings.
(image via: Ektroverde)
The finished product proves the practicality of Suuronen’s design. The shape and form are timeless – with its “egg on an egg cup” format, the Futuro house looks as good today as it did in 1968.

Building For Tomorrow, Today

(images via: Populuxe and Skor-NL)
The Futuro house wasn’t built like other houses of the day; instead it was prefabricated in a factory. The first Futuro prototype, painted white, exited the Polykem plant in Hiekkaharju, Finland in late March of 1968. Production models (the first one being painted yellow) began coming off the line soon after.

Moving House

(images via: S de AC, Amy Antonio and Zentropolis)
Originally intended to be prefab ski cabins, Futuro houses were basically picked up at Polykem and set down on the desired plot of snowy land. Erm, it helped to have either a helicopter or a crane – or both – to do the picking up and dropping off.

Futuro-scapes

(images via: Futuro-House, Pour 15 Minutes d’Amour and San Diego Union)
The otherworldly appearance of the Futuro house makes it a popular subject for photographers. Finding a suitable scenic vista is often made easier by Futuro owners for whom the UFO look is to be accentuated to the max.

Windows Of The Soul

(images via: Zentropolis and Mechafushigi)
Some Futuro houses came with an extra set of 2 or 4 windows, which are undoubtedly attractive and probably help to reduce any feelings of claustrophobia. Arachnophobia, not so much.

Look Out For The Futuro

(images via: Amy Antonio, Eichler Network and Zentropolis)
It may have looked odd on the outside but from inside it looked even… odder. Futuro promotional brochures from the late 1960’s attempts to portray regular (ok, very groovy) people in average situations – in a very un-average home.
(images via: Hooked On Houses, P.S.1 and Christchurch Modern)
Photographic representations from a more recent date show off the Futuro’s spacey and surprisingly spacious interior.

Ramping It Up

(images via: Eichler Network, Artificial Owl and Sellsius Realestate)
An important – critical, actually – facet of the Futuro’s design was the airliner-style extendable ramp that unfolded out from the home’s outer hull. Once homeowners climb aboard and reel in the ramp, the Futuro exposes a practically seamless exterior that not only looks great, but also enhances security.

The Futuro Of New Jersey

(images via: Lost In Jersey and Stu Of Doom)
Sometimes even the coolest designs fall prey to their surroundings, and that’s the case with this Futuro house located in Franklin Park, NJ. Judging from the verdant undergrowth the home has been in place for some time, though it’s unknown when the owner decided to heck with the entry/exit ramp and built the incongruously traditional front foyer. I’m not here to judge, though… what happens in Jersey, stays in Jersey.

Pensacola Beach’s Spaceship House

(images via: C-Monster and Roadside America)
The so-called Spaceship House is currently the Pensacola Beach Preservation and Historical Society’s headquarters. Having survived Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Dennis with nary a scratch, the southern Florida Futuro house sits atop a more traditional blockhouse structure with a permanent ramp to ground level.

Back To The Futuro

(images via: Futuro-House, Virgin Media and The Shopping Sherpa)
Here are some other views of classic Futuro houses uncluttered by later add-ons and appurtenances. With 300 square feet of living space inside they indeed may be small, but wouldn’t it be cool to keep one in the backyard, maybe as a home theater?

This video provides a deeper look at the Futuro house along with a text narration of the Futuro’s story from beginning to end. It’s accompanied by complementary cool mood music, “La Femme d’Argent” (The Silver Lady) by Air.

(image via: Peggie Scott)
In 1998, Finnish film director Mika Taanila made a documentary film titled “Futuro – A New Stance For Tomorrow”. If the video piqued your interest than this film is a must-see.
(image via: Westgate Street)
The Futuro house epitomizes Space Age style, a period of optimistic, futuristic aesthetics that roughly coincided with the first great burst of space exploration. From the launch of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellite in late 1957 to the end of the U.S.’s Apollo moon missions in 1972, earthbound designers let their creative spirits soar into orbit – and we gladly went along for the ride.

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