NAZI ZOMBIES AND THE CIRCUS THAT IS POLITICS

There is plenty of talk in the news, on Facebook and in the streets about Nazis lately. A few people are touting signs with Obama sporting a Hitler mustachio, but I discount those folks as nuttier than a hoot owl. 

This post is about regular folks, normal people if you will, typically rational folks who are gumming up dialogue with references to Nazis, and history repeating itself, and other nonsense. I maintain it is all very uncivilized and does nothing to help us remember history and stay on the righteous path. 

I've stopped commenting about it on Facebook because very good people are irrationally linking Obama to Hitler. They aren't saying Obama is Hitler, and in fact they say the opposite. Then comes the "but ..." and the linkage begins. 

Just this morning I caught a news story on MSNBC about a new Harris poll asking Republicans if  Obama is like Hitler or the Anti-Christ. Couldn't find the MSNBC video, but I did find this Yahoo news story. The results?

57% Republicans (32% overall) = Obama is a Muslim

45% Republicans (25% overall) = Obama not born in the US and ineligible to be president

38% Republicans (20% overall) = Obama "doing many of the things Hitler did"

24% Republicans (14% overall) = Obama "may be the Anti-Christ"

According to Michelle Goldberg as paraphrased by Yahoo News, "Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped."

The poll surveyed 2,230 people.

Judas Priest! I did a quick Google search of Obama like Hitler and found more than I needed. Here are a few:

This Christian Church ask who is worse: Obama or Hitler.

Similarities Between Obama and Hitler

Obama or Hitler More Likely to Bring a Nation to Ruin?

Is Obama Like Hitler?

All of this reminds me a lot of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" mantra used to "love" homosexuals while still voting in favor of laws that make homosexuals unequal to us straight-screwing folk. All of this, every single bit, is because of fear. It's making normally reasonable human beings and turning them into Obama-Hitler crazies. Can't we just talk about the issues? Can't we debate the merits of health care without being batshit lunatics? 

Listen. I don't blindly follow the guy. He happens to hold many of the same views I have so I tend to agree with him. I am quite unhappy with the fact that we still have the Patriot Act. I think he should do a better job at communicating with Congress. 

This is turning into a circus, a really bad circus. Even John "Across the Aisle" McCain told the American people not to expect any GOP cooperation on legislation for the rest of the year. That is about the midterm elections (GOP jobs) and not the business of the American people. Remember, there are more than 200 Republican amendments in the health care reform act. Despite what they say, Republican ideas were included. You can forget that. It's now all about elections, even though we are months away from those.

It's all nuts. People need to calm down and read the articles that state explicitly how health care reform will impact us. There are some really great things in that legislation. We should do the people's business and not be on constant campaigning status. 

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I've always maintained, and continue to maintain, that there is no such thing as a Christian politician. That is to say, I don't think any of them are honest. I do support the ones that hold more of my views.)

STILL KICKS BUTT, BUT NOT FOR KIDS

A few weeks back I posted my enthusiasm for the movie above. I am even more jazzed about it than every, especially after watching the R-rated trailer on YouTube. I was not enlightened enough at the time. Now I realize that this ain't a kids movie. Oh boy, it is not. 

So don't take your kids, nephews, or cousins unless you are okay with them hearing the c-word (for a ladies dainty parts) and the queen mother of all dirty words. It starts with an "F" in case you are a Polly-Anna. 

I am so getting the guys together to watch this at the theaters.

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

I've added the pages feature to Fat Jack's Erratic Rants. I did this so you can continue to follow the articles, reports and analysis of how the health care reform pages will impact you, your employer,  your family and your friends. 

The links are under the header. Keep coming back. And I would appreciate any Fat Jack operatives to send me any links.

SHOOTING SOME HOOPS

It's Spring break and the daughter is thinking about her summer activities. Drama camp, guitar, cheerleading, soccer, basketball? What will she choose? The wife and I are working out the details in committee and we hope to bring the vote to the floor soon:

• How many activities is a 10-year-old allowed? 
• Is she getting enough exercise? 
• Is she too involved? 
• What activities promote her strenghts? 
• How can we build on her weaknesses? 

Don't expect any stupid amendments or an attempt to slow the process down. The decisions must be made, as they are in the best interests of the child's development. 

There's more to life than sports. Big time. Music does wonders for the brain and mathematics specifically (according to research). We need a nice balance and assurance that there is plenty of sweat time. She is so good at drama that we cannot neglect that either. Then there is the issue of what the daughter wants. We believe in choice. 

The daughter is interested in basketball. She cheers like a banshee at the Lady Bears games and had a blast watching her older cousin play in a tourney. So it was off to the store today to pick up a girls' basketball. A pink and white, indoor-outdoor, intermediate size fit the bill. We've spent the last hour dribbling, practicing proper shot form, and playing P.I.G and Around the World. 

We'll see where that takes us. We have a b-ball goal and never bought a ball. We needed one anyway. So no big deal to buy one even if she doesn't play in a league.

GOD'S WILL BE DONE

I do have a real, legitimate religious question related to health care. 

Many of my friends believe that God has his hand everywhere. That God controls who is elected and what is done. God's will be done. Many people were praying about this health care issue – for and against. So if this many people prayed for God's intervention and we believe God answers prayers (inot always in the way we want, but in what he thinks is in the best interests of his plans) can we then extrapolate that the passage of health care reform was God's will? That he determined it was the best path for America? He does not ignore prayer and there was tons of it. Or do we only do that when we like the outcome of a thing. Then it's God's will. If we disagree, then it is the Devil's work? How do serious followers of Christ answer these questions?

HEALTH CARE REFORM AND YOU: THE INS AND OUTS

It passed. Now what? No gloating. No songs. No disrespect. It's time to move on. We need to be informed about how the health care reform bill that will affect all of us. The Kaiser Foundation put out a fantastic Q&A guide on how this sweeping legislation will affect us. 

A Consumer's Guide to Health Care Reform

It is a wonderful breakdown to help you understand the basic ins and outs. The Kaiser Foundation went on to offer information on those items that will take effect immediately. 

The Immediate Effects of Health Care Reform

I am going to print both articles out and give to my elderly grandmother. So watches the news so much and has been very frightened about all of this. Lots of people have been fearful. In fact, I would go so far as to say that people were more afraid than angry, but that's just my opinion. I'm hoping that these articles will help her be informed and less scared. She can hold the documents, make notes, underline, read and re-read. 

Information is power. Power means less fear.

The New York Times also put out a great story that details how you be affected. There are different ways to search the information (by individual, by employer, by Medicare, by Medicaid. So you can find your individual circumstances and get information pertinent to you. 

How the Health Care Overhaul Could Affect You

(Update: Be sure to check back often. I will continue to post these kinds of informational articles as they become available to me. Attention Fat Jack operatives: Send links my way.)

WHAT THE BILL (THE BILL) WILL DO

CBS News offers a nice article on the bill. You know the one that everyone's talking about: Health Care Reform. 

Click here to find out what the bill will do.

There are some great things in this bill. Great things. For instance:

I started to list them, then figured that if you want to know, you can just click on the link above and read the story yourself. No need to reprint it here. How are these things bad? They are not, in my opinion. But I tend to see Jesus as an advocate and supporter of the poor and downtrodden, not one who trods upon them.

NEWS I CHOOSE

I'm pretty liberal on most things, something you should have already noticed if you stop by very often. So it may surprise you to learn that two of my favorite news programs are MORNING JOE  and FOX NEWS SUNDAY. Both are Republican-learning programs. 

1. Both shows do a good job offering various viewpoints.
2. Both seem respectful to liberals
3. I get a good feel for how Republicans and conservatives see the world and particular issues.

I want to know what other people think. The most important reason is that I feel these shows give me the tools I need to be self-governing. There are plenty of liberal-based shows that do that as well. But I want to know more about those who oppose me and I want to be able to see it in respectful and intelligent ways. Both shows seem pretty fair most of the time.

I watch MORNING JOE every morning while I work out and get ready for work. I check out FOX NEWS SUNDAY every week I can.

A LOVE STORY

Yesterday, the wife and I decided to watch Michael Moore's documentary, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY. I find his movies interesting and his approach humorous, knowing full well that I need to take him with salt ... lots of salt.

I have a sense of humor and thought it was funny to watch it on the eve of the only significant health care reform vote Congress has ever had the opportunity to vote upon. I'll have the TV on today and cannot wait to watch FOX NEWS SUNDAY (a show I watch every Sunday morning). I'll try to check out MEET THE PRESS, too (a show we sometimes catch.)

GOOGLE SPRINGFIELD

I keep seeing this Google Springfield business on blogs and especially Facebook. I saw it again on Carbon Trace and wondered why I wasn't supportive of this movement. I do support the City of Springfield's effort to get Google to bring its fiber optic project to the Queen City. Currently, there are 6,717 fans on Facebook. Cool.

Google Springfield official site

Google Springfield Facebook fan site

KEEPING GAYS OUT OF RESEARCH STUDIES?

This story from Yahoo is just another example of how homosexual persons are excluded from society. What is the rationale for excluding homosexual persons from health-related research studies? Who knows, but what we do know is that it is going on at a rate that was higher than expected.

GOVERNOR REPEALS LAW; IT'S OKAY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS IN VIRGINIA

I hear an anti-gay marriage argument all that time that states that gays already have equal rights and what they are seeking are special rights. There simply is no evidence to support that claim. None. 

Enter Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia. According to Talking Points Memo, he repealed a law that prevented employers from firing a gay employee just because they are gay. He did so by executive order. He was okay with adding veterans to the non-discrimination policy, but took out protections for gays. Adding some and taking away others nulls the "special treatment" argument. 

Homosexual persons are not afforded the same protections and equalities as other persons. They are second class citizens in many ways and the leaders of the movement to keep them down are Christians.

I'M FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

Many congressional bills are not perfect when they first hit. Civil rights protections have continued to evolve (or devolve in the case of one Governor). The health care bill is not perfect and there are things I do not like (favors insurance companies too much) and things I wish were included (single payer system). 

For years the Democrats have been trying to get some form of health care reform. The Republicans took great pleasure and pride in the fact that they shut down Hillary Clinton's attempt to make a go of it in the 90s. The talking points of that same party have continued to be, not on passing some form of health care reform, but on stopping it. The rhetoric is slowing changing to repealing it if passed. 

I understand people's reservations. I have them, too. Will it cost more money than they expect? That is a possibility and it's scary. We need something. What we have does not work any longer. Pundits keep saying that this plan mirrors what Gov. Romney's health care reform did in his state. That makes me wonder if this really isn't about fear and keeping a liberal president from succeeding. 

We need health care reform and despite what the Republicans on television keep saying (America does not want the bill) many, many Americans do want and need health care reform. I know that Glenn Beck says that social justice is evil, but Jesus was for it and so am I.

GLENN BECK WANTS CHRISTIANS TO BOYCOTT JESUS

Just read the quote, then we'll talk:

“I beg you, look for the words ’social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. If you have a priest that is pushing social justice, go find another parish. Go alert your bishop and tell them, ‘Excuse me, are you down with this whole social justice thing?’ 

He went on to relate social justice with "communism" and "Nazism." He also alluded that both the communists and Nazis were advising the White House and he claimed a new history to prove it.

Like it or not, social justice is a central theme with Jesus. If you strip that from the church's teachings what do you have left? You have lots of Old Testament stories of wars, animal sacrifices, food restrictions and plenty of rebukings. Caring about and fighting for the social equality for all persons is not a communist or Nazi belief. It is called love.

I think we are coming to a point where we are merging our political and religious beliefs to the extent that we are changing the ideals of one to suit the needs of the other. It's dangerous.

Churches everywhere are drawing lines in the sand on this one. He may have a chalkboard. He may have plenty of belief. He may have a bully pulpit, but that doesn't buy you much when you link churches with Nazism.

You can read the story here.

You can listen to an excerpt of his address here.

WOMAN SELLS GHOSTS-IN-A-BOTTLE

While we are talking about crazy, why not mention the New Zealand woman who sold two vials containing the souls of the dead in an ebay-like auction for nearly $2,000 usd?

Vial one contained the spirit of an older gentlemen from the 1920s. The other held a truculent girl. Apparently, a Ouija board was used to capture the apparitions. Fret not, dear readers. The glass containers were dipped in holy water to "dull the spirits' energy."

My comic book guy (who tipped me off to the story) and I want to know what happens if the corks pop during shipment. Does the UPS truck become haunted? How does one go about pouring a soul into a glass tube? Do you run around scooping air into the vial? Perhaps you siphen the air around the Ouija board then exhale it into the container? Perhaps you smoke too much dope?

Oh I know. You just believe the spirits into the vials. 

(Who is crazier: the seller or the buyer?)

FAITH HEALERS SENTENCED AFTER CHILD'S DEATH

The 16-year-old boy had a urinary tract blockage. His parents had God. No one sought medical treatment and the boy died from heart and kidney failure – a completely preventable medical condition. Now the parents have been sentenced to prison for criminally negligent homicide.

Story from KGW.com in Portland.

The issue brings up all kinds of problems: freedom of religion, thou shalt not kill, child abuse. Oh crap, it just goes on and on and the shades of gray really complicate things. What if the same were applied to a family who had a standing DNR and pulled life-sustaining treatment from their terminally ill 15-year-old daughter? How do we reconcile the two viewpoints? Each had a child that was allowed to die. 

Perhaps it all comes down to hope. In the first case, the teenage boy had a simple complication that could have been treated with meds, giving him the opportunity to exist. In the later example, the girl was terminally ill and was being kept alive by machines. She had no hope of recovery. 

Even with such a distinction (very black and white) there is the issue of disability? Could we then argue that a child with a significant disability and who will not live past into double digits is therefore terminal and should be allowed to die? What of cancer patients? At what point do we draw the line?

I'm not sure I have the answer for you, but I can make judgments in my own mind that seem good. But it comes down to perspective. Personally, I think the parents who withheld medical treatment for a preventable disease are nuttier than a hoot-owl and I feel little sympathy for the outcome. If we get close to those gray lines, it becomes harder to figure out. 

The funny part is the parents probably believed – really believed – that God would just save their son. Just because someone believes doesn't make it truth or reality. I'm sure they think they felt God talking to them or through them or around them. That don't make it so. They can feel God all they want (or think) but science shows us we have a dead kid.

SO SAYS THE WORD OF FAT JACK.

There's too many hateful people with Jesus in their heart. 

That's my sermon for the day. You can quote me if you like.

SCHOOL CANCELS PROM RATHER THAN ALLOW LESBIANS TO ATTEND

In yet another school-sponsored bully session against homosexuals, a Mississippi high school cancels prom after a student (and the ACLU) filed suit when the district forbade a lesbian student from wearing a tux and attending with her girlfriend. 

You can read the nonsense here.

Once again, Christians are at the forefront of the movement to discriminate. A local Baptist pastor, Bobby Crenshaw, defended the move as biblical. The mayor is supportive of the school district's decision, too. There was a time when we didn't allow Blacks in schools or at white water fountains. These homosexual haters claiming God are going to find themselves very embarassed at the way they have portrayed God one of these days.

NO QUEERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ has kicked out one student and prevented a younger sibling from entering simply because their parents are lesbians. They have the right, of course, as they are a private school. That doesn't mean that it is in line with God's teachings. 

You can read the story here.

My question centers, not on the church's beliefs, but on the church's consistency with following God's will as they define it. Are people who engaged in any of the following also being denied a religious education based on not following the strict tenants of the Catholic belief system?

• Divorcees (even if they are remarried)
• Anyone who has engaged in an extra-marital affair
• Those who curse
• Smokers
• Alcoholics
• Families who use birth control
• Masturbaters

My guess is, no. The only families whose children are not allowed to go to this school are those whose parents are homosexual. It's not discrimination if it God's will. Just remember, this is done by those who love the sinners so much.

THE CRYBABY OF MODERN POLITICAL NEWSERTAINMENT

This is a good funny lampooning the ever-weepy Glen Beck.

PORKSODA

My PRIMUS playlist inexplicably loaded first on my iTunes player today. I have no idea why as I haven't listened to that band for years. I nearly forgot how much I love their funky sound and funny lyrics. The bass lines are wicked-cool and the cymbal work on NATURE BOY is hypnotic. I've included the lyrics to two of my favorite songs from the album, Pork Soda:

MY NAME IS MUD
My name is Mud
Not to be confused with Bill or Jack or Pete or Dennis
My name is mud and it's always been
'Cause I'm the most boring sons-a-bitch you've ever seen
I dress in blue-yes navy blue
From head to toe I'm rather drab except my patent shoes
I make 'em shine, well most the time
'Cept today my feet are troddin' on by this friend of mine
Six foort two and rude as hell
I got to get him in the ground before he starts to smell
My name is Mud

My name is Mud, but call me Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie
That's long for Mud so I've been told
Told that by this sonsabitch that lies before me bloated blue and cold
I've got my pride, I drink my wine
I'd drink the finest except I haven't earned a dime in several months
Or were it years
The breath on that fat bastard could bring any man to tears
We had our words, a common spat
So I kissed him upside the cranium with an aluminum baseball bat
My name is Mud



NATURE BOY
I pull the blinds then I take my clothes off
Dance around the house like nature boy
My genitalia and pectoral muscles aren't quite what I would like them to be
But you don't see me
No one can see me

I pull my blinds
Fill out my income tax form
Pen in hand I write so legibly
I have my kitty. His name is Allowishus, I stroke him
But you don't see me
No one should see me

I pull the blinds
For the sun glares off my tele and I find it quite so irritating
I have my videos-loads of Ren and Stimpy
Bottom-a bit of pornography
But you don't see me
No one should see me

I've been persecuted since I sailed in through the door!
And I've been known to sing a song in 3 and 4 and 5!
And I've been gettin my ass chewed since the day I arrived!


I'm home alone, my friends, soaking in all the pork soda I can before the family arrives. I love finding old music again. It's like reading an old book.

BANG!

THE BIG BANG THEORY is the funniest show on television in years. I like being the key demographic because shows are made for me and I love it. Screw getting old. These four guys are my friends – well, not the genius part but the geeky, comic, sci-fi, technology part for sure. Geek is chic, baby. 

Who knew that the senior citizen channel (CBS) could put out something so hip? Click here for the official page.

TOP TENS

Jason's Top Ten Fave Lines from Fat Jack's Erratic Rants. We didn't expect our own top ten, but thought it was fun. [Insert best Beavis and Butthead giggle.] Thanks for the ribbing, Jason.

We sincerely appreciate Jason's funny bone as he gives us funny things to talk about. By the way, one of my favorite blogbytes involves the phrase "donkey-on-turtle sex,"which I support.

OSCAR PUT THE HURT ON AVATAR

No doubt you've heard that THE HURT LOCKER stomped out any real aspirations of AVATAR. The sci-fi flick won some well-deserved statues for special effects and other things, but a stolen script didn't win out in the end. [whew].

More than anything our group noticed how poorly the Oscars were produced and directed. There were so many sloppy mistakes and awkward moments that it affected the enjoyment. The crowd was visibly more somber than usual (and I'm not talking about George Clooney's schtick with hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin). Every time they panned the crowd, folks looked like they were genuinely bored or unhappy.

Once again Quentin Tarantino was snubbed. It really seems that the Academy hates Tarantino for some reason. It is the blogger's opinion that Tarantino is the greatest film maker of my generation.

I had a great time anyway, although I was dragging this morning. I added some new movies to my Netflix queue. 

A TRAILER FOR EVERY ACADEMY AWARD WINNING MOVIE ... EVER

Now, you can fully enjoy all the Academy Award goings-on even if they do give AVATAR an award it doesn't deserve. (Click of the keyboard to J.R. for the link.)

A Trailer for Every Academy Award Winning Movie Ever -- powered by Cracked.com

AWARD SPEECHES I'D LIKE TO SEE

Cinephile and Oscar genitalia-toucher, Jason Rohrblogger, already has his Academy Award speech ideas on the net. Now all he has to do is move to Cali, work as a waiter, get discovered after pleasing the director, make a movie that spares us any full frontal nudity or back hair, and win his Oscar. Then he can thank everyone with such statements as (my personal fav):

I especially appreciate my fellow nominees for not being talented enough to compete with my performance this year.

Jason. When are you going to feature your number one Internet fan and promoter in one of those handy-dandy top ten lists?

DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OVER A FREAKING MOVIE

Apparently, people are so enamored with the magical world of Pandora depicted in the movie AVATAR that they are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts because they can't live there. All this crazy hubbub over a movie that is a nothing more than a weak mishmash of ideas stolen from other scripts covered in an admittedly well done CGI gravy. 

Oh yeah. Fans are reporting experiencing depression and considering suicide according to CNN. I can't stand it. The only thing that movie did well, and does deserve an Oscar for, is the CGI. And I simply can't explain AVATAR inducing depression except to say that people must walk in with profound sense of malaise and depression to begin with. 

I can see how it's ripping of other scripts might make one angry. I'm depressed that it's up for so many Oscars. I might self-mutilate by slamming my head against the wall or gauging my eyes out with a hot poker if AVATAR wins. But killing myself over its cinematography or story? Judas Priest!

WATCHING THE OSCARS

 

We are hosting an Oscar party this year, thanks to both of us being employed. (I was still getting my master's this time last year.) Skinny Kitty is out of town all weekend for a scrapbook retreat and that leaves the daughter and I to get everything ready. I'm not dirtying up a kitchen to cook for 15 adults and 5 kids, just to clean it up all by myself. No thank you. Skinny Kitty will come home on Sunday to several gourmet pies from Arris' Pizza.

In celebration of the Oscars sometimes ridiculous winners, I offer 5 Reasons the Oscars Matter Even Less Than You Thought from Cracked.com. Those bastards are going to choose AVATAR to win all kinds of nonsense. I just know it. I will spew like that girl in THE EXORCIST. Therefore, we are changing our rules of engagement. No longer will attendees mark down their best guesses for who will win at the Oscars. This year, we are recording who we would choose if we were the judge and jury. 

If you need more Hollywood laughs, try out these stories from the same comedic crew at Cracked.

5 Careers Destroyed by the Post Oscar Curse

5 Things Hollywood Reuses More Than Plots

MUST SEE INTERNET TV

Remember these guys dancing on treadmills in their music video? How cool was that? Well, the band known as OK Go has a new video featuring an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine. These guys are so much fun to watch. They are a group who has really merged music and video, making them a band that must be viewed and not just listened to.