Brainstormy
Brainstormy's JournalDoug Stanhope on raising money for atheist tornado survivor: I did it simply to be a prick
Comedian Doug Stanhope helped raise more than $100,000 for an Oklahoma family whose home had been destroyed by a tornado.
But he didn’t do it out of the goodness of his heart or because he was sympathetic. He just takes pleasure in mocking the faithful.
“I didn’t do it because I felt sympathy because she got all her sh*t destroyed by a tornado. I did it simply to be a prick to her Okie Christian neighbors,” Stanhope said in a video uploaded to YouTube on Monday. “It’s funny how hate can make you do real nice things every now and then.”
After a tornado ripped through the town of Moore, Oklahoma in May, CNN host Wolf Blitzer asked resident Rebecca Vitsmun if she thanked the Lord for surviving. She replied that she was an atheist.
“If you didn’t think that took balls you’ve never been to Oklahoma,” Stanhope remarked. “Saying ‘I’m an atheist’ in Oklahoma is like screaming ‘Jihad’ at airport security. It took some nuts.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/30/doug-stanhope-on-raising-money-for-atheist-tornado-survivor-i-did-it-simply-to-be-a-prick/
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson: Girls should carry a Bible and marry when they are 15
It just gets better. Recently uncovered video indicates that Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson may have fringe views other than those on homosexuality and civil rights.
Video at:
http://crooksandliars.com/2013/12/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-girls-should
Adios Huffington Post
I know many DUers aren't in love with Huffington Post but I've been a user for three or four years and typically it's been my first go-to site every day for a general heads-up on the news. HP's decision to force commenters to connect with Facebook as of this month originally made me angry. Now it's making me kind of sad and I'm questioning whether I'm a hypocrite. See, I don't get into politics or many of the other issues I discuss here on DU on Facebook. The communications I have there, with co-workers, family, friends who go all the way back to high school, etc., are kept pretty warm fuzzy. I've never thought arguing on FB was a good idea and in that world not too many folks know that I'm a flaming liberal gun-hating, socialist heathen. (very little sarcasm intended.)
On Huffington Post, and here at DU I speak my mind. But not on Facebook. I'll miss the forum, I guess. And I'm not sure whether I'm smart or cowardly. But HP can color me gone. Does anyone else care about this development?
Elizabeth Warren Fires Back at Centrist Dems on Social Security
In the interview, Warren emphasized that Third Way, as well as many in Congress and the media, are framing the debate over Social Security in the wrong way. "We should stop having a conversation about cutting Social Security a little bit or a lot," she said.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/12/elizabeth-warren-expand-social-security-third-way
I will not shop on this Black day
I will not shop on this Black day
I do not care what others say
There is no deal that’s worth the crush
There is no discount worth the smush
There is no thing that I could buy
That’s worth an elbow in the eye
For the sake of Old St. Nick
I will not scratch or claw or kick
I will not push, or shove, or stomp you
Trying to buy a present for you.
I do not care what others say,
I will not shop on this Black day.
Giant Jesus Survives
This morning I stumbled on yet another story hailing the survival of the giant Jesus statue in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The fact that many are calling this a miracle, or a sign of hope or a message from god is also yet another example of the twisted, mystifying thinking I encounter among believers. More than 5,000 real people dead; concrete Jesus still stands, and the message is . . . .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/jesus-statue-typhoon_n_4284415.html
Meet Your Taxpayer-Subsidized Farm Bill Billionaires!
Oh, SNAP.
Reps. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) both cited the Bible last week to argue that while individual Christians have a responsibility to feed the poor, the federal government does not.
"We're all here on this committee making decisions about other people's money," Fincher said.
LaMalfa said that while it's nice for politicians to boast about how they've helped their constituents, "That's all someone else's money."
Yet both men's farms have received millions in federal assistance, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that advocates for more conservation and fewer subsidies. LaMalfa's family rice farm has received more than $5 million in commodity subsidies since 1995, according to the group's analysis of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department, while Fincher's farm has received more than $3 million since then.
Last year alone, Fincher's farm received $70,574 and LaMalfa's got $188,570.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/farm-bill-billionaires_n_4256365.html
Hunger Games Theme Parks Are Coming, Because Nothing Says Fun Like Children Fighting to the Death
Some days the news is just surreal.
Shoot an arrow through the heart of your opponent and win a stuffed animal!
If you were starting to wonder if Hollywood could possibly squeeze any more money out of the Hunger Games franchise, shame on you for doubting them. Lionsgate is now in talks to develop theme parks based on the popular series, Variety reports. The entertainment company’s CEO Jon Feltheimer made the announcement Friday morning.
“We have been approached in two different territories about potential theme park opportunities, which gives you a sense of the cultural impact of this franchise,” Feltheimer told analysts on a conference call. He said they were “pursuing” those opportunities, but beyond that, didn’t offer too many additional details.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second film in the series — based on the dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins — opens worldwide on Nov. 22. No word yet on when these theme parks will open, but here’s hoping they’ll include sweet roller coasters that allow you to shoot arrows and blow things up in midair.
http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/08/hunger-games-theme-parks-are-coming-because-nothing-says-fun-like-children-fighting-to-the-death/
So Help Me God
In light of the fact that the Air Force academy has made this oath optional, I'm wondering how others feel about this. On the one hand, I would be tempted to make a statement by protesting the oath, having to put my hand on the bible in court, etc., but on the other hand the words and the book mean nothing to me anyway so I might just pass on the flack and blowback.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/air-force-oath-god_n_4164796.html
American Exceptionalism
I'm just cringing, imagining how our current political circus is being viewed by the rest of the civilized world. Surely this isn't the example of democracy in action we need to be demonstrating. Don't know when I've felt such deep national embarrassment. Does anyone else think that the PR is suffering?
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