"William And Kate's Big, Fat Anglican Wedding" - Or - "Let Them Eat (Wedding) Cake!"

Re: The "Royal Wedding" of KaWill (or is it Willate?)...

* Here's a little Non-British Bonus:

Those of us who live outside of Great Britain may enjoy watching the shiny shindig (or not) from a distance...

Smiling throughout as we gaze at the happy couple, admire the exquisite dresses, sit slack-jawed gaping at the ornate carriages and - depending upon the camera angles - possibly notice the higher level of security and the number security personnel present (some of whom, I learned only yesterday, were soldiers serving overseas who were unexpectedly called back from/pulled out of Afghanistan to work the wedding).

Perhaps we'll have enjoyed the festivities just a little more than many of our fellow Royal-revelers whom actually live in Great Britain, because we can take comfort in the knowledge that- and feel genuine relief that - our taxes aren't being siphoned off to pay for half of the, undoubtedly, expensive and pretty pomp and circumstance.

I do feel sympathetic outrage for Britain's citizenry, especially since I learned that they are being forced to pay for half of the undoubtedly exorbitant costs (taken out of taxes collected) as well as having to face and deal with recently passed severe austerity measures scheduled to go into effect shortly

What's wrong with this picture?

Uh... Hello?  Unless the Crown Jewels have been stolen (amongst other treasures) or something and the Royals are simply keeping up appearances and being tight-lipped about suddenly becoming destit...

(Nah, who'm I kidding?)

... dropping a few notches on the Forbes List, or whatever -

Well, isn't the Royal Family... uh, Rich?

I mean, it would be beyond utterly ridiculous for anyone to suggest - with any seriousness - that any amount of American tax monies collected should be put aside to pay for any sitting President's offspring's nuptials... Right?


I could be misunderstanding the situation - although I doubt it - but. it looks to me like the land-owning, upper-crusty, genuine gems & countless carat-wearing lords/ladies/dukes and duchesses have all been invited to and are attending a dazzling, once-in-a-lifetime, wedding spectacular... which is being bankrolled - under duress - by Britain's hard working working-class.

It seems very unfair and so very "... let them eat cake."-ish to me.

What do you think?

Peace.
L.

Daily Show: Friends Without Benefits. GOP Sen. Stearns Says FU To 1st Responders...

Off all the Bone-Headed, Idiotic & Infinitely-Offensive Congressional Amendments shoved into a bill before they'd begrudgingly approve it...

As if Congress's taking 9 yrs. just to pass a Healthcare Bill that would assist our 9/11 First Responders in paying for their medical expenses - paying for treatment of the cancers and the respiratory diseases they've developed after sifting through the World Trade Center Tower rubble (for weeks on end) - tirelessly searching through the still-smouldering devastation, dust and blood for remains so that those still missing could, finally, be identified and their families could, eventually, have some sort of closure... As if that wasn't enough ...

Nope, apparently not...

In an "Insult To Injury" Amendment added by Senator Cliff Stearns (R.FL)...

America's 9/11 First Responders (the ones who haven't already Died from injuries sustained doing those heroic duties) who submit a claim so that they can pay for their medical treatment, must first undergo a background check/be checked against the Terrorist Watch List before receiving money for their chemotherapy.

Ugh!... sometimes I Really Dislike human beings.

(From last night's The Daily Show.)

* I'd encourage you to watch the segment - in its entirety - as broadcast in the whole episode (It's the first segment in the episode).  For some reason, Comedy Central chopped it into two pieces and "the whole is more than the sum of its parts" - as some wise person once said.

First clip (3:36)

Second clip (5:20)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (April 26, 2011)

Enjoy!

Peace.
L.

Krugman Reviews: Deluded P.Ryan; bi-partisan if it kills ya Obama & Progressive Yes We Can Plans

Hey Boys & Girls:

Below you will find a crystal clear, concise, to-the-point & user-friendly overview of the current federal budget proposals - Courtesy of Mr. Paul "Listen to the Voice of Reason" Krugman over at NYT.

Mr. Krugman touches on the Big Three:

Mr. Paul "I'm not Courageous/But I'm Cute - for a Republican" Ryan's Magical Thinking-Non Deficit Reducing-Robin Hoodlum GOP Plan; President Barack "Bi-Partisanship Is Overrated" (Yeah, I know it's wishful thinking) Obama's More Practical-Deficit Reducing-Could Be Even Better Plan & the *Congressional Progressive Caucus' Plan.

*Psst - Between you, me and the water-cooler - That last Plan is the Only One that Really Can Balance The Federal Budget In 10 Years - No Magical Thinking, No Crushing Debt Nor Devastating Disappointment Required!

Hey, Senator Ryan (and GOP-paid "Ain't Paul Brave?" Pep Squad):

Wisely , Fairly, & Successfully Reducing the Federal Deficit Whilst,  Simultaneously, Nurturing A Healthy Economy Doesn't take an Iota of Courage - not that you've shown anything resembling that, either.

It only requires a handful of priceless characteristics: Honesty, Integrity, (Un)Common Sense... Oh, and Mad Math Skills (or someone who has them) .

Here's the link:

Let’s Take a Hike  By PAUL KRUGMAN  Published: April 24, 2011

11-Year Old Texas Girl Gang-Raped By 18+ Men & Boys. Community Expresses Concerns For... Her Rapists!

Rape is a Crime of Violence.  {Period.}

Regardless of Appearance/Manner of Dress - No One "Asks for it" or "Deserves it".  {Period.}

And yet, despite this - somehow - the practice of victim-blaming continues... even in respected media outlets... even when the rape victims are children.

In a Just World, during the trials of rapists, details on such minutiae as: the victim's make-up application/style of dress; the kind of shoes worn; and discussing whether the rape victim had been drinking/was intoxicated would all be considered Inadmissible in the courtroom.

Why? 

Because such details and others like them are Irrelevant.  Period.

Why?

(Please refer to the first line of this Blog.)

Last November in Cleveland, Texas, an 11-yr. old girl was brutally gang-raped in a trash-filled and abandoned trailer by at least 18 men & boys - several of whom felt the grueling assault was a significant enough event as to be worth recording - so they filmed it on their cell-phones and later showed the films to friends of theirs.

(That's Strange... I suddenly feel an inexplicable urge to gather a tool-kit - just like the one Dexter Morgan uses for his extra-curricular activities - and take a trip to Texas. I say "Inexplicable", because I've never had any urge to/interest in going to Texas before.)

The details of the heinous crime are bad enough... Yet, that's not the end of the story.

Also Bad (very bad): Many of Cleveland,Texas' residents made statements which indicated that their primary concern was in regards to the possible long-term negative effects the upcoming trials and likely convictions would have on...

(I kid you not) the rapists.

Making A Bad Bad Situation Significantly Worse: Both the Houston Chronicle newspaper and the Houston Bureau Chief of the New York Times, James C. McKinley Jr., proceeded to sink so low - as in "Fox News" low - as to be compelled to go beyond simply reporting the facts: They made a point to heartily stoke the already-smoldering fires of the practice "victim-blaming" by printing several statements made by various members of the community - all of whom indicated that they were placing the blame for the 18-man gang-rape on either: A.) the 11-yr. old victim or B.) the victim's Mother (As in the outraged, "Where was her Mother?!" and "What kind of Mother lets her 11-year old child wander around like that?".  To which I would respond with an opposing - and more pertinent question... like: "What kind of Mother doesn't teach her sons not to rape?")

In the 21st Century, such misplaced sympathy, ludicrous questions & callous insensitivity - dare I say misogyny - and an utterly indefensible refusal to hold men responsible & accountable for brutally and forcibly violating other human beings is not just beyond Disgusting... It is beyond Comprehension.

To offer you the best means to decide for yourself via various perspectives on this stunning story...

Here's the initial Ms. Magazine article which caught my eye and from which I gleaned the links to the New York Times And Houston Chronicle articles (found below):

Did The New York Times Blame the 11-Year-Old Victim of a Texas Gang Rape?  (Ms.Magazine)

Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town  (New York Times - Houston Bureau)

Girl's sex assault rocks Cleveland  (Houston Chronicle)

I hope the young girl - who is in a new school (in Gifted classes) and has, since the attack, been placed into foster care because local authorities are concerned for her safety - and her Mother, sisters and brother (who have also had to move to another town out of the same concern for their safety) - continue to heal, receive all the support they needs and that they are able to enjoy safe, happy and fulfilling lives.

As for the 18-20+ men and boys who threatened, kidnapped, gang-raped, taped the rapes and then did a show-and-tell with the videos as well as uploading them onto the internet AND have threatened her and her family since the arrests began...  I'll simply say this, "May each and every one of you receive all that you deserve - and may it be a good lesson to you."

Peace.

 L.

*Thanks to One Million Pissed Off Women for bringing this story to my attention!

Daily Show: Tales of Principled Behavior- Obama Birth Cert. Mystery, Or Bill O'Reilly Just Blew My Mind

If anyone at any moment throughout my Life had ever suggested to me that I would be expressing the following sentiment, I would have been either: A.) rendered completely helpless for a good five minutes (at least) due to convulsing into hysterical fits of laughter or... B.) suggested that they had - in that very instant - simply become irrevocably insane.

The words that I never (in a million-trillion years) would have ever believed I would ever utter (not even in jest) are these:

Pappa Bear Bill O'Reilly has accomplished something which I would have previously considered Impossible - if I had ever ventured to consider such an unlikely act coming from the man behind The O'Reilly Factor (on Fox). A feat which, when I first watched the tape, left me momentarily stunned & speechless and one which I willingly admit is deserving of our respect and is the kind of use of time and resources for which I would encourage him to engage in more often.

What did O'Reilly do?

He spent some of his On-Air time during The O'Reilly Factor reviewing some of the most pervasive online myths regarding President Obama and then stating to his (inexplicably) wide audience that they are, indeed, False claims and then exposing the Truth Behind The Lie/Myth.

To say I was stunned to see the historically right-wing and non fact-checking Mr. O'Reilly's participating in Truth-Seeking and Myth-Busting - especially when it concerns our Democratic President and especially on-the-record and On-The-Air during his own program... is the epitome of understatement.

First, he Trumped ridiculous Wanna-Be Republican Candidate for President, Donald Trump, following the D-oh-nald's laughable attempt to lend credence to the already-busted and now simply delusional "Birther" myth/belief that President Obama wasn't born in Hawaii/America.

And that was just for starters.

Uh... Way to go, Bill!  And, umm.... Keep up the great work!

(F.Y.I. ~ Hell has just frozen over.)

Here's the clip that blew my mind and... restored my faith in hum... (Nah...) restored my belief that Anything's Possible:

(From Wednesday, April 13, 2011's The Daily Show)
Daily Show: Tales of Principled Behavior - Obama Birth Certificate Mystery

4/18/11 Breaking News: San Francisco Bay Area Earthquake!

Yippie-kai-yay!

We just had an Earthquake. It was entered somewhat South of San Francisco.

I felt a jolt-rumbling-jolt as the floor jerked and the walls rattled as I sat in my bedroom in a 100+yr. old Victorian.

Current Estimate is: 3.8 on Richter.

(My Dad says the smaller quakes release pressure, thereby staving off bigger quakes. *I don't know if that's true- but, it makes me feel better :) .)

Had my windows open... No one else in my immediate vicinity seemed to notice it.

Gotta Love California!

Peace,

L.

Inquiring Minds Wanted To Know: Was Sarah Palin's Pregnancy A Hoax?

Sure, throughout history, there have been women who chose to make an intentionally false claim of Pregnancy.

But, never ever has any woman made such a claim on the scale of this recent example...

Half-Governor Sarah Palin.  And uh, no... I Kid You Not.

Scandalous?

Absolutely!

Still... Apparently, La Palin wasn't actually preggers.

And, not only that, but Trig isn't Palin's son - he's her grandson.

Don't believe me?  I don't blame you.

I wouldn't have believed it myself... Sounds too National Enquirer-ish, right?

If you would simply suspend your disbelief for just a moment and listen to this:

There's a very real and growing body of evidence that all points to it being True that Sarah Palin's pregnancy was a great, big, manipulative Hoax.  I read through it and it has convinced me of its veracity.

Now, obviously, the mainstream press bowed and cowed in '08.

So, Now Is The Time To Investigate! (No time like the present, right?)

Hello Boys & Girls! Today's word is: "Fraud"... as in: "Sarah Palin, et al. perpetrated an enormous Fraud on the American people."

Hell... Where are those "Birthers" when you need them? (La Palin has yet to produce an authentic/official birth certificate, amongst other discrepancies.)

 Check out the documented evidence for yourself in the article from Business Insider (below).

Thanks to One Million Pissed Off Women for bringing this gem to my attention.

P.S.~ This is not a case of "going after someone's children", although that's what the first outraged defenders of Palin will, undoubtedly, cry out - with much gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes..

What it Is:  A case of then-Alaska governor and candidate for Vice President of the U.S.A., Palin, and untold numbers of helpers attempting to - well, no... they did put one over on all of America.

And I, for one, think that their bunko behavior Sucks.

I also think that all of the people who were instrumental/complicit in perpetrating this hoax need to be exposed, publicly,  as the Liars, Deceivers & Frauds that they work so hard to be and truly are.

Enjoy!

Peace,

L.

Versace 2011: That's Mighty White Of Them...

"That's Mighty White Of Them..."

Umm...

I must say that, after having perused Versace's Fall/Winter 2011 Collection runway fashion show images, that I'm...  Wow...  Well, I'm...

I guess "Stunned" would be a good word.

Mind you, I don't mean "Stunned" in good way.

"Why?", you might ask... (Please Ask.)

Because every single runway model - in both Versace's men's & women's collections - is... oh... Uber-Caucasian.

In fact... (personally) I found the men extremely Aryan-looking and not all that physically-attractive - for my own tastes, anyway.  As I looked at them, I kept seeing Prince Charles, for some reason...

And, in the spirit of "full-disclosure", to be honest: looking at high-end European facist... (oops!)... I meant fashion... show models is something that I never do, usually.

Like you, I have infinitely more important things to do taking up so called "time" in my life - like watching grass grow - but I had to grit my teeth and do a little slumming while doing research for one of my upcoming eBay listings.

So, I have yet to compare Versace's dismal, pasty-faced parade to the diversity (or lack thereof) found at other fashion power-houses...

But, now that Versace's glaring lack of color - not to mention evolution - has gotten my ire up...
What can I say?

It's a dirty job... but, somebody's gotta do it.  And, as is often the case in such situations, I pick... Me.


So, in the coming days, I'll be going undercover... I'll become a "Pretender".

The "Pretend": I'll become a style-conscious Fashionista... getting a line on all the glamour-gossip... rubbing virtual shoulders with the chi-chi and the (eww!) trendy...

(Sigh...)

And then, after I've taken a very long, very hot shower (or three) and scrubbed all of the over-the-top superficiality off of me... I'll let you know what I've uncovered.


Peace,
L.

*The House of Versace has been run by sister Donatella since Gianni was murdered in the 1990's.

P.S. ~ Check out the photos for yourselves and let me know what You think:

Versace's Fall/Winter 2011 Women's Collection.

Versace's Fall/Winter 2011 Men's Collection.