Jing-reed's Musings from Thailand

The Hunky Jesus Contest

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 32nd Annual Easter Celebration filled San Francisco's Dolores Park with onlookers waiting for the most popular event — the 'Hunky Jesus' contest.

Set your offense level to stun!  But as they say, Jesus had a sense of humor, and so should you. It's all in loving good fun, and a celebration of an organization that has raised millions to support charities that "Christians" have conviently ignored.

For the adventurous and brave of heart:  Hunky Jesus YouTube Video

 

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God and Amputees

Well, God may not heal amputees, but it appears that contemporary medical science has been able to do so.

"26-year-old single mom looking forward to doing the 'little things' again

Six-and-a-half weeks after receiving the first hand transplant in the western United States, Emily Fennell is becoming so accustomed to her new right hand that she barely remembers when she didn't have one.

The 26-year-old from Yuba City, Calif., underwent transplant surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a 14-hour procedure that began just before midnight on March 4 and concluded at 2:30 p.m. the next day.

"It has been surreal to see that I have a hand again, and be able to wiggle my fingers. My 6-year-old daughter has never seen me with a hand," said Fennell, a single mother. "She looked at it, touched it and said it was 'cool.' "

Fennell was discharged from the hospital April 8 and will continue to stay near UCLA for two months for monitoring and occupational therapy. .....

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Demented David Barton and WallBuilders

The GOP's Favorite Fringe Historian

"Newt Gingrich is a fan. So's Michele Bachmann. Mike Huckabee's such a booster that he recently said that all Americans should be "forced at gunpoint" to listen to this guy.

The object of this high praise from Huckabee—and recent shout-outs from other potential GOP presidential contenders—is David Barton, a Republican activist and minister who founded WallBuilders, a for-profit evangelical outfit that works to inject religion into politics. Barton holds some pretty unconventional views, and in the past he has spoken alongside fringe figures like Holocaust deniers and white supremacists. Among other things, he claims that Jesus would oppose the capital gains tax and the minimum wage; that global warming is "self-correcting"; and that the nation's homeland security apparatus has been infiltrated by members of the Muslim Brotherhood. He also contends that the separation of church and state is a perversion of the Founding Fathers' intention to create a Christian nation. . . . . "

Now this is scarry fricking stuff.  Have I mentioned recently how glad I am that I live on the other side of the planet from these deluded GOP psychos? 

For the real story behind David Barton's psychotic delusions:

     Propaganda Masquerading as History.

     Barton’s Contempt for Religious Freedom.

     David Barton  Master of myth and misinformation.


David Barton & WallBuilders' FAKE QUOTES   ["David Barton is to history what creationists are to science."]

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The End of the World [Yawn . . . ]

Well, Harold Camping may be correct, but I seriously have my doubts.  Christians have been touting this apocalyptic event for over 2,000 years, over and over ad nausaum, and it just never seems to materialize. 

Perhaps I should begin collecting a few of those pesky black birds and make Mr. Camping a nice pie to send him on the 22nd of May [having neglected to buy any groceries, it will probably be quite tasty].

 

 

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Thai-Cambodia Border Clash Continues

 
Peace elusive as Thai-Cambodia border battles rage

Hopes for peace between Thailand and Cambodia faded on Tuesday after fierce border battles raged for a fourth day, despite growing international calls for dialogue and an immediate ceasefire.

Explosions rang out across the frontier for more than three hours late on Monday as the two sides traded mortar and artillery fire close to two disputed 12th-century Hindu temples, intensifying the bloodiest conflict between the neighbours in nearly two decades.

It ended a full-day break in hostilities and followed the cancellation of a visit to both countries by a top Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envoy who had brokered a UN-backed ceasefire deal in February after deadly clashes near another temple 150 kilometres away.

Three Thai soldiers were wounded and a small skirmish took place about four hours after shelling subsided, Thai television reported. There were no known Cambodian casualties.

Although on the surface, the conflict appears to be a dispute over sovereignty and territory, many experts are skeptical and believe the fighting is being fuelled by political interests in Bangkok or Phnom Penh, or possibly both.
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Twenty Three Million Dollars For A Book ?

Amazon seller lists book at $23,698,655.93 -- plus shipping

"Lots of normal people would pay $23 for a book.

But $23.7 million (plus $3.99 shipping) for a scientific book about flies!?

This unthinkable sticker price for "The Making of a Fly" on Amazon.com was spotted on April 18 by Michael Eisen, an evolutionary biologist and blogger.

The market-blind book listing was not the result of uncontrollable demand for Peter Lawrence's "classic work in developmental biology," Eisen writes.

Instead, it appears it was sparked by a robot price war." .....

Stephen Fry On Catholicism

 

An Easter message — of sorts.

"National treasure Stephen Fry joined provocateur extraordinaire Christopher Hitchens to debate against Ann Widdicome and the Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan. The topic was 'Is Catholicism a force for good in the world?'. Needless to say, Hitchens & Fry didn't think so. Also needless to say, they provided the most convincing arguments of the evening.
Mr Fry's passionate and emotional speech is presented here in its entirety, along with his closing remarks."

You can watch the entire debate, which runs about fifty minutes, by going to:
http://www.intelligencesquared.com

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'Family Values' Sen John Ensign Resigns

The American political 'circus maximus' continues to produce mind-numbing surprises. Adulterous, anti-gay "family values" Senator John Ensign will resign within days.  This is many months after the affair with one of his staffers.   And months that have been filled with numerous behind-the-scenes corruption and ethics investigations. Rachel Maddow talks with journalist Jon Ralston, who broke the story of Ensign's surprise resignation.

Why is it that 'Family Values' creeps seem to think that their much touted and cherished 'moral values' are directed at everyone except themselves? 

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What Easter Bunnies Have to Do With Easter

At last someone attempts to explain the connection between the rather gory crucifixion of a Jewish mystic in ancient Jerusalem and fluffy easter bunnies with baskets of eggs [chocolate and hardboiled].    And curiously it ALL has to do with the earlier pagan springtime fertility rituals. 

The word Easter derives from a Germanic celebration of a goddess of fertility called Ostara.

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Q.I. — 'Si non è vero è ben trovato'

Alan Davies relates another of his now famous small stories. 

To which Stephen Fry comments: 'Si non è vero è ben trovato — If it's not true, it's a good story.'

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