HAPPY NEW YEAR! Resolutions and Wishes for 2017

Well, pretty much the best thing that one can say about 2016 is that it's been crazy AF.  Not only have we lost seemingly everyone that made the 80's and 90's worth living, White people showed us their "true color" by electing a racist raging asshole for President of the United States.  Usually I post these resolutions with a bit of tongue in cheek humor (and don't worry, you'll laugh at some of these), but this time it's a bit serious.  With that in mind, here goes...

There's No Joy in TRUMPVILLE

I work in a predominately White conservative suburb about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia, PA.  Leading up to the election, the TRUMP/PENCE lawn signs were sprouting up wild.  Now needless to say most of the people I work with are White and conservative, and if the proliferation of Trump signs is any indication I can safely say that most of them voted for Donald Trump.

Now if you're a person of color in a situation like mine, surrounded by conservative White co-workers, you may have noticed a sudden shift in their attitude towards you.  Think about the interactions you've had with these co-workers over the past three days.  Have you noticed a certain awkwardness when they encounter you?  Perhaps a certain reluctance?  Well hold on to that observation for a bit, because I'm going to come back to this.

NOW You All Decide To Show Up...REALLY?

Last night thousands poured out into streets across the country, including here in Philly, to protest the election of Donald Trump to the White House. For the most part the protests were peaceful, and while they covered a variety of grievances, the common theme was simple.  "Donald Trump is Not My President."

Now, I'm going to assume that most of the folks out there protesting actually voted for Hillary the day before, and if you're among that group then you can feel free to skip this post entirely.  Nothing here applies to you.  However, if you're one of those folks protesting, yet couldn't be bothered to go out and vote, or you did that cute college hippie protest vote thing for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson, then I got some words for you. 

WHAT THE HOLY FUCK!?

Trump Was White America's Test...And It Failed MISERABLY! (Continuation of previous post)

This may very well come off as a rant, as I'm not really sure how I wish to express myself here.  I'm still trying to process what happened to this country as it has just elected an avowed racist, an admitted sexist and adulterer, a hateful xenophobic bigot, and outright buffoon President of the United States.  Ladies and gentlemen, introducing President Elect Donald Trump...White America's shame.

Trump is White America's Test...And Maybe It's Shame (A Black Man's Opinion)

Watching the campaign for president it is very clear to anyone with even a minuscule conscience that the GOP candidate, Donald Trump, appeals to a very narrow (and I'd like to think detested) segment of the country.  He appeals to that segment that embraces the kind of racism, sexism, nativism, and xenophobia that was once the purview of the most extreme right-wing. The kind of racism that gave birth to people like Timothy McVeigh, Dylan Roof, and even ISIS.  As president, Donald Trump may well be the one who sets back not only the cause of progressives, but the cause of freedom, liberty, and equality over 50 years.  If elected he'll have a Republican House and Senate, as well as a pick of perhaps two Supreme Court justices.  But more importantly, a Trump presidency would be a stinging indictment of White America, who will no longer be able to excuse isolated cases of racism with "we're not all like that".  Because electing Trump will prove that they are, indeed, all like that.

Things I Learned From "The Twilight Zone"

Every year I spend my New Year's curled up on the couch with a pizza, a bottle of wine, and the Twilight Zone marathon on the SyFy channel. Now I have the Definitive Collection on DVD, but there's something really cool about watching and live tweeting the marathon with fellow zone-heads on social media.  Through the years I've taken a few lessons from the show, and I'd like to break from my usual political musings in the blog to share a few.

Note: I've updated this blog post for 2016-2017, adding a few more points and referencing the relevant episodes. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Resolutions and Wishes for 2016

Hi, folks.  Here once again with my list of resolutions and wishes for the coming year.  Needless to say that 2015 has been an interesting year in almost every aspect.  And while I can spend an entire year coming up with stuff to put here, I figure I'll just limit it list to the top whatever pops into my head.  Enjoy.

War on Christmas 2015

Because apparently plain red cups (and political correctness) make the Baby Jesus cry.

Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus ... SO I PRANKED THEM ... and they HATE IT!!!! #shareUse #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKSFollow --> Joshua Feuerstein
Posted by Joshua Feuerstein on Thursday, November 5, 2015

This is from the Facebook page of Joshua Feuerstein, who is apparently rather miffed that Starbucks doesn't put "Merry Christmas" on their new minimalist design Christmas cups.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Resolutions and Wishes for 2015.

2014 has been, to say the least, an interesting year. And if this past election is any indicator, 2015 promises to be equally interesting. With that in mind, here is my annual list of resolutions that we should take to heart for the coming year. Please feel free to break them all at any time.

Texas' "Pray the Gay Away" Stance Exposes Right-Wing Cognitive Dissonance

From Wikipedia (which I try NEVER to use as a reference, but in this case will serve adequately enough)...

In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the excessive mental stress and discomfort experienced by an individual who (1) holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time or (2) is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values. This stress and discomfort may also arise within an individual who holds a belief and performs a contradictory action or reaction.

Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance focuses on how humans strive for internal consistency. When inconsistency (dissonance) is experienced, individuals largely become psychologically distressed. His basic hypotheses are listed below:

1."The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance"

2."When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance"

Texas GOP Advances "Pray The Gay Away"

Solidifying its place in the ass-end of social evolution, the Texas Republican Party voted this past Thursday to include anti-gay language that would endorse "reparative therapy" in its party platform. The vote taken at their convention in Fort Worth is aimed at rebuking bans on such therapy in California and New Jersey.

From the Associated Press...

Under the new proposed plank, the Texas GOP will "recognize the legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle."

Sarah Palin Gives Her $.02 On Bergdhal (She really should have saved her money)

You know, there are some people who really, REALLY should just keep their opinions to themselves. Especially if they don't want folks to start asking questions which may prove more than a bit uncomfortable to THEM. Sadly, Sarah Palin does not feel this applies to her.

Criticizing the president's praise for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was released after five years of captivity in Afghanistan, she opines... (h/t Talking Points Memo)

"No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs – even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot – is not 'honorable service.' Unless that is your standard."

You Are NOT A "Patriot" If...

As I did my annual "walking tour" of Philadelphia this past Memorial Day, observing all of the ceremonies acknowledging the sacrifices of the men and women who have actually fought and died for our freedom, it occurs to me that there is a stark difference between REAL patriots, and those who just use the title to justify their Obama Derangement Syndrome. (Yes. I'm talking to you, Operation American Spring.) With that in mind, I figure I might provide the following as a kind of primer. Think of this as "Patriotism for Dummies".

BREAKING: Divorce Lawyers Expect Surge of Clients as "Opposite Marriages" Become Meaningless

With same-sex marriage bans being challenged, put on hold, or overturned altogether across the country (the latest being in Pennsylvania), divorce lawyers are gearing up for a surge of new clientele as heterosexual couples suddenly realize that the sanctity of their marriage has been diminished by "the Gay".

"We've been receiving a torrent of new calls from distraught couples," says I.M. Slyme of the law firm Dewey, Cheetem, and Howe. "After years and years of feeling so safe and secure in the knowledge that marriage is exclusive to them and them along, I'm getting calls from new clients (mostly men) who are now just saying 'f--k it, I'm done'."

Operation American Spring Joins the #EpicFail Hall of Shame

In the history of really, really stupid dumb-assery there are those moments that stand out. These moments, which seem to come along just when we all need a good hearty belly laugh, deserve a special place in what we call the #EpicFail Hall of Shame.

Remember the May 21, 2011 doomsday prediction of Harold Camping? Thousands of his followers believed his prediction of impending doomsday only to end up dazed and confused like this poor fella.

Homophobes STILL Talking About The Thing They Don't Want "Shoved Down Their Throats"

It's been almost a week since the "kiss heard 'round the world" appeared on ESPN. That would be the 1.5 millisecond lip-lock Michael Sam planted on his boyfriend when he heard that he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. By this time you'd think that most of America would have moved on, and in fact they have. The only people who are STILL talking about it are the ones who claim that the Gay "lifestyle" is being "shoved down their throats". This from Amy Kushnir, co-host of a local Texas TV station's version of "The View". (Courtesy: Huffington Post)

"When parents do not have a choice as to whether or not they want their children to see this, it's wrong," she said. "It's being pushed in faces.... I don't want to see that. I don't want to see cake in your face, kissing each other."

See the video below.

Former Ole Miss Guard Tweets Reaction to Michael Sam...Then Spends Next 15 Tweets Cleaning It Up

I love Twitter. Seriously, I just LOVE it. Mostly because it's so easy for some idiot to put their foot in their mouth for the whole world to see. Take this tweet from former Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson.

Boycotting sportscenter til this michael sam nasty ass shit is off .... My brothers are 7 and 11 and saw that!!! #SICKENING
— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) May 12, 2014

GOP State Lawmaker Claims The "Icky-Icky Butt-Sex" is Bad For You

And we come to yet another ridiculous argument against same sex marriage. South Dakota Republican State House rep and pastor Steve Hickey is apparently so distraught at the prospect of his state being the latest to have its same-sex marriage ban overturned that he felt inspired to beg aid from the medical community to explain how the "icky-icky butt-sex is bad because it's just icky." In a letter to the editor of the Argus Reader that he posted on Facebook he adds this bit of crazy-sauce to the stupid-stew simmering in the slow-cooker that is the Right Wing (h/t Talking Points Memo).

"Certainly there are board-certified doctors in our state who will attest to what seems self-evident to so many: gay sex is not good for the body or mind," he wrote. "Pardon a crude comparison but regarding men with men, we are talking about a one-way alley meant only for the garbage truck to go down. Frankly, I’d question the judgment of doctor who says it’s all fine."

Missouri Mayor "Kind of Agrees" with Jewish Center Killer

Proof that no matter how cray-cray you are, or how unforgivably violent your ideas or tendencies are, you can always find a friend somewhere. From Talking Points Memo...

Marionville, Mo. Mayor Dan Clevenger spoke warmly this week of Frazier Glenn Miller, who allegedly went on a killing rampage on Sunday in Overland Park, Kan.

"He was always nice and friendly and respectful of elder people, you know, he respected his elders greatly. As long as they were the same color as him," Clevenger said while laughing, according to television station KSPR. "Very fair and honest and never had a bit of problems out of him."

Clevenger said he sympathized with some of Miller's views, but didn't like to broadcast that.

"Kind of agreed with him on some things but, I don't like to express that too much," Clevenger, the owner of a local repair shop, said.

Oh, Just SECEDE Already!

Cut and pasted from my diary entry at dailykos.com.

From the fabled land of the Right-Wing Cray-Cray comes yet another resolution for secession.  From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...

Earlier this month, the [Wisconsin Republican] party's Resolutions Committee voted in favor of a proposal that says the state party "supports legislation that upholds Wisconsin's right, under extreme circumstances, to secede." Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/...
Follow us: @JournalSentinel on Twitter

Frankly, I'm just about sick and tired of these Teabagger folks' constant smack-talk about secession.  In fact, I've actually gotten to the point where I support secession.  Not for myself, mind you, since my love of this country is not dependent on who's running it (or his skin color), but for the asylum escapees who have spent the past 6 years butt-hurt over the fact that America elected a Black guy as President...TWICE!