Churches that May Have Violated Political Restrictions Wait for IRS Response

According to a recent Associated Press article, nearly 7 months after defying a prohibition on endorsing candidates from the pulpit, 33 churches across the country are still waiting to learn whether the Internal Revenue Service will take action against them. Why are these Political Action Committees given tax exempt status? My guess is there are many more than 33 churches guilty of this sort of activity. 

The AP article states that "legal experts suggest a number of possibilities: The IRS has nothing to gain from a costly and mainly symbolic battle; it has limited resources; or it could still be deciding how to respond."

The clergy "urged worshippers to vote according to conservative views on abortion and gay marriage. Several endorsed Republican presidential candidate John McCain." It sounds fairly black and white to me.

Under the IRS code, places of worship can distribute voter guides, run nonpartisan voter-registration drives and hold forums on issues, among other things. But they cannot endorse a candidate, nor can their political activity be biased for or against a candidate. Churches that violate the rule can lose their tax-exempt status.

The protest was organized by the Phoenix-based Alliance Defense Fund and involved pastors in 22 states.

See the complete article here.

Goodbye Bea Arthur -- We'll Miss You

The Garden -- Before and After

Shane and I did some gardening today. All we have is this small flowerbed in the front of our house. Below are some before and after shots. We're really taking a chance planting our flowers before Mother's Day. We have had them stolen out of the ground before, we suspect to be given the the thief's Mom for Mother's Day.

You Will Eat Your Babies? Westboro Baptists Protest at MD High School

A small group of crazies from the Westboro Baptist Church protested at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD, yesterday because the school was named after a gay man. The Washington Post story states that about 500 students from the school staged a counter protest.

One of the Westboro signs read, "You will eat your babies." Where does that even come from? I am sure the Gap loves the fact that one of the Westboro protestors was wearing a t-shirt with "GAP" across her ample bosom. Unfortunately, the biggest gap seemed to be in her education.

The good news is that the Walt Whitman students shouted down the crazies big time. It is hard to imagine that happening when I was in high school. Some change is a good thing.

It's World Malaria Day -- Do Something

Nearly 3,000 children die everyday from malaria. Think about that number -- that is 3,000 everyday. Malaria most frequently infects young children, who are often not strong enough to survive the disease.

Today is World Malaria Day. One of my favorite charities is AmeriCares. I've been supporting them for years. They do amazing work and there is always a link to the organization on the sidebar of this blog.

Americares is involved with malaria programs worldwide. One of their most recent projects is in Myanmar (Burma). Critical malaria medicines and anti-mosquito treatments donated by AmeriCares are helping to stop the spread of this deadly disease in Myanmar and in other places around the world.

Despite being highly preventable, malaria kills up to 3 million people each year. Severe symptoms include labored breathing, high fever, painful joints, violent nausea and coma, as well as massive convulsions that can lead to death.

Preventing malaria is just one of the many missions of this organization. The need is overwhelming. They are in Darfur helping refugees. They are working to stop Cholera in Zimbabwe and other parts of the developing world. AmeriCares helps the victims trapped in Sri Lanka’s Civil War. They work extensively in Africa including health programs in HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and anti-blindness initiatives.

What you give to Americares saves lives. This is not a bloated operation with fancy offices where only a small percentage of your money is actually doing good. More than 98% of their total expenses directly support programs and relief for people in need, and less than 2% represent administrative costs. I know times are tough these days, but most of us can spare something for people in incomprehensible desperate need. Click here to donate.

Thanks.

Openly Gay OPM Director Sworn In!

Last month I posted an article from Government Executive about John Berry being nominated as the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The article noted that he would be the highest ranking openly gay person to serve in the Federal Government. He was sworn in on Thursday with both his domestic partner and First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance.

It is my personal hope that Berry will allow the domestic partners of Federal employees to receive health and retirement benefits, which are now only available to heterosexual married couples. How ironic it is that President Obama's remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum on Friday mentioned homophobia among the intolerances that "degrades its victims and diminishes us all." Isn't homophobia the root of these inequalities that are current U.S. Government policy? I know. I know. Baby steps.

Read a full account of the event The Washington Blade coverage.

Tube Watch for this Weekend

I was looking to see if there was anything of interest on the telly this weekend.

Friday night has a new episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. I was worried, because his seasons are short and last week was a rerun, but tonight's episode is new and live. I DVR this show and sometimes it is good and sometimes, ehhh?

I just started watching a new series on Starz called Party Down. It is about a group of cater waitiers in LA. One of the stars of the show is Jane Lynch, who you might know from Best in Show and the 40-Year-Old Virgin. I love her. She is on the far right of the photo. You can watch some full episodes at the Starz web site by clicking here.

Also on this weekend, is a Barbra Streisand live concert on CBS. It is a 2006 concert airing to promote a DVD release she has coming out. First the bad news: Her special guest is Il Divo. The good news is she will be singing "The Way We Were," "Somewhere," "Evergreen" and a Broadway version reprise of "Don't Rain On My Parade."

Also on Saturday night, Animal Planet is airing another episode of Groomer Has It. This is their version of Project Runway with dog groomers. It was surprisingly entertaining. It is hosted by former Queer Eye regular Jai Rodriguez. Episodes of this can also be found online here.

Pulpit Power Pipes in on DC Marriage Equality Vote

There was an article in today's Washington Post by Michelle Boorstein on Washington DC-area pastors' effort to influence the upcoming vote on DC recognizing same-sex marriage and civil unions performed elsewhere.

The article states, "D.C.-area clergy who oppose same-sex unions are forming a coalition, but only time will tell how influential they will be on the vote. Politics-watchers in the District have noted in recent years that local clergy don't have as much political clout on politics in the city as they did in previous years."

The article goes on to say, "In a letter sent to clergy, the coalition says, "If we fail to act now, history will ask - 'Where were the pastors?'" I am thinking that history more likely will ask why are these idiots worrying about who gets married when there are people in the District that are homeless and starving! This is their priority? Did I miss the story where all the other problems in the world went away and homos getting married is the worst thing going on?

The anti-gay coalition of the men of God is having a rally in DC on Wednesday, April 28 at "Freedom Plaza." How's that for irony?

Favorite Running Song -- "Found Out About You" by the Gin Blossoms

I LOVE running to this song.

Random Thoughts -- Kids at Work, Maine Marriage, 401(k)s, Milk, and What I'm Over

Today is bring your kid to work day, so there are lots of kids running around at work today. Though the idea is to give kids an idea of what their parent does all day, where I work, they have programs and demonstrations for the kids. This is not what the work day is like for their parents. If they made the kids sit in my office and watch me read folders all day, they would never go out in the world looking for a real job. They have to fool kids into thinking life is a carnival ride or they would become depressed at the thought of growing up. They just need to learn that eventually, nobody will tell them what to do and they can have sex.

Maine is holding hearings on marriage equality this week. Shane is originally from Maine and we have land in Maine that we’re planning to build a house on for our retirement. Shane has lots of family in Maine and we’ve spent lots of time up there. I’ll be surprised if marriage equality passes. Though it votes Democratic, it still strikes me as conservative place. I do think Mainers (speaking in generalities) do have a more of a respect for personal privacy and that what is your business is not the government’s business. Fairness is important to them as well. They also like to be thought of as independent. You never know, but I’ll be surprised if it passes anytime soon.

I DVR 60 Minutes and they had a story on about people’s 401(k)s going down the toilet. Interestingly, I had not seen the story prior to writing the caption I posted for this week's New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest. My caption is about someone afraid to open their statement, and in the 60 Minutes piece, they interviewed someone who had received their statement, but had not yet opened it out of fear. He opened it on camera and it had gone down.

I finally got to watch Milk this week (Shane bought the blu-ray disc). Sean Penn (Academy Award Winner for this role) and the entire cast were amazing. I think the film did a great job showing how an ordinary person can become great. It was very inspiring. Dustin Lance Black (Academy Award Winning Writer) and Gus Van Sant (Academy Award Nominated Director) and everyone did a great job presenting an important part of our history.

In no particular order, these are the things and people I’ve had enough of this week:

Miss California and her Bible

Dick Cheney and his 2 cents (I love Secretary Clinton's comment though)

NOM and Gathering Storms

Susan Boyle and her eyebrows.

The "Torture Worked" Excuse

Marc Thiessen wrote a column for the Washington Post defending the torture policies of the Bush administration, claiming that the torturing worked. Thiessen served in senior positions in the Pentagon and the White House from 2001 to 2009. He basically states that the techniques garnered information that saved American lives.

Of course, the effectiveness of torture is beside the point because the policy is immoral. What he doesn’t explain is how many new terrorists were recruited out of a sanctioned torture policy. How many Americans and others died because terrorists made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) because Americans torture? How many suicide bombers killed themselves and untold others over the hate created by this policy? They should be ashamed for even trying to defend such actions.

Has "The Office" Jumped the Shark?

Is it just me, or has this show gotten seriously not funny? I just watched last week's episode and it was just so bad, I am strongly considering removing the series from my DVR record list. The only thing mildly funny about last week's show was mouth catching cheeseballs. However, this episode was easily the worst show they have ever done. And they have been getting steadily worse all season. Is it me or is it them? It's them, right?

I was a huge fan of this show, but the story line of Michael quitting and running his own company is horrible. They seemed to have totally given up on making the story anywhere near believable. I am hoping next season, Jim will wake up and it will all have been a bad dream. They need to do something. It is not good.

Should the Bush Administration Be Prosecuted for Torture Policy?

With the declassification of Central Intelligence Agency memos on the torture policies of the previous administration, there is more and more call for the prosecution of those responsible for the placement of that policy. Should we not look back and forget that the U.S. Government implemented a policy that broke international law? Hell no!

President Obama should signal to the world that what was done under the Bush criminal administration was wrong and that is not what this country is about. The damage that was done to this country's reputation by the photos from Abu Ghraib prison was tremendous. And that, apparently, was just the tip of the iceberg. Knowing what was done in the name of keeping me safe made me ashamed to being an American. The people that said it was OK should know they were wrong. They should, at a minimum, be made to stand before a judge and explain themselves. I love my country and I don't want anyone thinking what these criminals did was acceptable.

This will show the world that the United States owns up to its mistakes. It will also show the world plainly, this is no longer how we operate. Thankfully, the thugs are out. We can only move on knowing the full truth and that there are consequences to breaking the law.

A Storm Is Gathering! Auntie Em! Auntie Em!

There was a storm gathering over the Potomac this morning. . . And I
was scared. There are hateful, bigoted or just plain ignorant people
that believe their imaginary friend, God, doesn't like the horrible
sin of loving someone of the same sex. They think it is OK to not
give these people the same rights as they have because it will change
the definition of a word. Dictionaries will gave to be changed, and
that is cumbersome.

There's a storm gathering and many people may get wet. The wind will
blow. The sky darkens. Baby Jesus cries. His followers don't get
that love thing he was all about. What if Jesus were a gay? He'd be
pissed. He'd want equal rights with all the sinners.

Maybe these deeply religious people should go to a storm shelter . . .
A deep hole in the ground and wait for the storm to pass. It looks
like a lenthy storm -- maybe several years. We'll let you know when
the storm passes. Take lots I'd supplies and you'll be fine. We'll
let you know when the blow is over.

Pat Robertson Talks about DHS Bowels

The Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) reacts to a report on right-wing activities released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Feel free to call CBN's phone lines and tell them what you think. Every second they are talking to you is a second they can't get hold of some crazy old womans's Social Security. If you happen to jam up their phone lines, good for you!

CBN Main Switchboard (757) 226-7000
24-hour Prayer 1-800-759-0700
Shop CBN Product Ordering Questions (805) 549-2500

Miss California's Gay Flap

As you have likely heard, there has been a big hullabaloo over the answer Miss California, Carrie Prejean, gave in a question by Perez Hilton about marriage equality during the Miss USA pageant. There were several things about this that I found interesting.

I do think it took some guts for her to say what she said on national TV when asked the question by an openly gay man. The way she said it, though, was hardly coherent. She claimed the answer cost her the crown. It should have. Content aside, it was hardly an eloquent response. In addition, what a bitchy thing to say about the actual winner. I guess in Carrie's mind, Miss NC didn't deserve to win.

The sad thing about the clip, to me, was the crowd cheering her answer. Are they cheering her brave response? I don't think so. They are cheering that gays shouldn't have the right to marry. Why would anyone feel the need to cheer that? I understand the crowd that would go see a beauty pageant in this day and age is likely to be on the conservative side. However, I can't understand that they hate so much so that they feel the need to cheer the proposal that a group of humans shouldn't have a basic civil right. Maybe it is just my bias that everyone against gay marriage is against it because they are disgusted by homosexual acts. When will I understand they are just trying to save my soul?

Another thing. They still have beauty pageants? This was televised on the national TV? I had no idea it was even on. I have been known to watch a beauty pageant now and then, but usually to make catty remarks. These women must be a little embarrassed to parade around in their bathing suits being judged on their looks. The concept does seem to be fading away. It is all very JonBenet Ramsey.

Another another thing. What the hell was Perez Hilton doing there? The moment I heard those people cheering against marriage equality, I would have stood up and left the building. On second thought, maybe I would have stayed to make sure Carrie Prejean didn't win.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #190

I got my 401K statement 2 weeks ago, but I can't

seem to drum up the courage to actually open it.

The above is my entry for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for week #190. Let me know if you come up with a caption too. Mine is the sort of subtle humor the New Yorker is seeking, i.e. not that funny. Click on the link to enter your caption.

The above cartoon is from week #188. Below are the three captions chosen as the best submitted. My submission was, once again, not among them. Luckily, I'm not bitter.

"This song goes out to the one that got away." Submitted by Elisa Narsu, Basking Ridge, N.J.

"And every year they return to my piano to spawn and die." Submitted by Frank Bruno, Sacramento, Calif.

"Any requests before I tell you about tonight's specials?" Submitted by Brian Shuman, New York, N.Y.

My caption was, "Remember folks, this is a goldfish bar, so don't be koi." I know puns are the lowest form of humor, but I thought that was kind of funny.

Sunday Morning Run on the National Mall

I went for a run this morning (before I went to the Nats game) and took my iPhone with me. I made lots of stops for photos and here's a sample of what I saw. I start out at my house near Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. I run toward the Capitol and down onto the Mall. I stop and visit Abe at the other end of the Mall and run back home.

On the Mall running toward the Washington Monument.

The World War II Memorial


The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Looking back down toward the Washington

Monument in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Climing the steps to see Mr. Lincoln. A group of children

on the right were singing the "Lullaby of Broadway."

The Lincoln Memorial

From the top of the steps at the Lincoln Memorial.

On the path going back toward the Capitol.

An Earth Day exhibit.

Preparing for the Earth Day Concert on the Mall.

The U.S. Capitol

Flowers outside the Botanic Gardens

More flowers

Lots of flowers were blooming. Some of the tulips were a bit past their prime.

More tulips

Still outside the Botanic Gardens

In front of the the Capitol

Getting ready to climb back up Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill and heading for home.

The Nats Break Our Hearts. . . Again!

The game was neck and neck until the top of the ninth inning.  It was a tie score -- 4-4.  The Florida Marlins had the bases loaded and Cody Ross hit a bases clearing double.  The final score was 7-4... The Marlins came from behind and beat the Nationals for the third game in a row.  Below are some photos from the game.  

The Nats stretch before the game.

The National Anthem

One of several times the Nats had the bases load.  

George and Teddy mingle with the crowd.

The Nats let another one slip away.

Nats Update

Bottom of the 5th and the Nats are leading 2-1. They are playing the Florida Marlins, which came from behind to beat the Nats the last two games. We're hoping for the best.

At the Nats Game

The game just started and we're not losing yet. Yea!

Geranium Hat

I tried to take a self-portrait with my iPhone as sat out on our steps
enjoying the flowers I just planted. I also got a haircut today. I'm
ready for warm weather. I inadvertently made it look like I was
wearing a geranium hat.

Porch Geraniums

It was a beautiful spring day and I did a tiny bit of gardening. We
usually don't like to plant too many flowers before Mother's Day,
because it has proven too tempting in the past to some looking for a
gift for their mom.

Hypothetical Question -- Which One Food Would You Choose?

You suddenly become allergic to all food to the point of death. Your doctor tells you this is very expensive to cure. They can only afford medicine to allow you to eat one food. You must choose the one food that you will eat for the rest of your life. Eating any other food will cause a painful death. It can be any food because they would add the needed nutrients to whatever food you choose in a way that doesn't alter the taste. What is the one food you would choose to eat for the rest of your life?

For me, this would be an easy choice. It would be McDonald's Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake. Is there anything sadder than hearing the slurp of the last bit of a McD's milkshake mixing with the air at the bottom of the cup as you desperately move the straw to suck every drop? I think I could happily eat nothing else for the rest of my life. I know they are bad for you, but I have to treat myself once in awhile.

In case you weren't sure how bad they are for you, Men's Health magazine recently did an article about the worst fast foods and they named the McDonald’s Large Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake as the worst milkshake. The article went on to say you would be better off ordering two Quarter Pounders than downing this gut-busting shake. They suggest ordering the reduced-fat ice cream cones as a much, much healthier choice. Sorry. The cones don't compare to the heavenly goodness of the shakes.

Tell me what your one food would be to eat for the rest of your life?

Sometimes Being a Bitch Is All a Woman Has to Hang Onto

Judy Parfitt was amazing as Vera Donavon in the movie, Dolores Claiborne. This clip is a well-deserved tribute to her. This clip and many others are always available on the sidebar of this blog.

Weatherman Predicts High Pressure Front in his Pants

Though my sense of humor has not graduated the sixth grade, I really do feel bad for this guy. I love how he leaves the shot one way and has to franically run back the other. Check out Failblog.org for more examples of people being human.

Random Thoughts -- Teabaggers, Taxes, Chimp Photos, the Lottery, and Movies

Today, there will be a bunch of protests against taxation WITH representation. These people are basically just sore losers and whiny. I love how MSNBC constantly refers to them as teabaggers. The only people with a legitimate gripe are the people in DC who have to pay taxes and actually have no voting representation in the government.

Speaking of taxes, we already got our refund. Yea! I know Suze Orman would scold us for not having enough deductions and getting a healthy refund each year, but I think it is a good way for us to actually save some money.

I wonder how long before the National Enquirer or the Weekly World News or an organization of that caliber get hold of the sealed photos of the chimp victim. I bet they will be published somewhere eventually.

I’ve decided to stop buying lottery tickets. I know that someone has to win, but the odds are that it won’t be me. The odds are even lower now that I’m not playing. Take a look at the crowd at a baseball stadium, where there may be 20,000 people. Out of just that many people, what is the actual likelihood of being the one person out of all them to win something? Now, multiply all the people in that stadium by 4,000 baseball stadiums filled with 20,000 people.

I’m looking forward to Grey Gardens on HBO this weekend. It looks really good to me.

I haven’t been to the movies in weeks, and there isn’t any movies out that I’m interested in seeing. Doubt was the last one we saw. Since we got our 50-inch plasma TV, we enjoy staying home and watching movies. Milk is next on our Netflix, but I can never remember to send the discs back.

Burger King Ad Offensive ?

Burger King has a hot potato on its hands with its new whopper ad. According to the Associated Press, Mexico is protesting what it says is "a whopper of an insult."

An advertisement for Burger King's chili-flavored "Texican" burger that has run in Europe shows a small wrestler dressed in a cape resembling a Mexican flag. The wrestler teams up with a lanky American cowboy twice his height to illustrate the cross-border blend of flavors.

"The taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican," a narrator's voice says.

It seems to me the ad is more of an insult to little people than Mexicans, but I also find the ad kinda gay. A cowboy answers an ad to live with a short professional wrestler. Nobody thought it would work out, but they seem to be living quite happily. They just need to add some small romantic touch, such as a hand on the thigh. Why not piss off the religious right while their at it and show a bedroom scene? The want ad does say one room.

New Yorker Cartoon Contest #189

The human porcupine gene is deeply recessive and very

rare, but I must warn you, when it does happen, the

births are quite painful and the children are not very popular.

Another Monday means another New Yorker Cartoon Contest. The caption under the cartoon is my very long entry. Click on the link above to enter your own caption. I'd love to hear some of your ideas.

The Endless Woods

In David McCullough's biography of John Adams, the author described Adam's wife, Abigail's trip from Boston to DC. He noted her description of the "endless woods" between Baltimore and Washington, meaning the last leg of the trip seemed endless and all there was to see was woods. The photo above was taken on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, where there are still some woods left between the two cities. Even though I'm sure we ran into lots more traffic on our way to DC than Abigail had to endure, I'm sure we made much better time.

Easter Egg Rolling Backup

We ran into lots of traffic on our way back to DC after our Easter
celebration. We went to my sister's house about an hour north of
Baltimore.

Raising Chloe from the Dead, aka Heimliching My Dog

What better day than Easter to talk about a resurrection of sorts. Back in March, I posted the complete list of the 100 Facts about Me, and number 7 was that I performed the Heimlich Maneuver on my dog. The dog's name was Chloe and above is a watercolor of her that was done by my friend Elaine.

I got Chloe at an animal shelter in 1995 when she was about 4 months old. The incident took place during the second night I had her. It was in the middle of the night and I heard a noise that woke me up. I turned on the light and saw Chloe near my bed unconscious. I nudged her and she didn't wake up. I picked her up and she as limp as a rag.

I looked down her throat, but did not see anything. I stuck my finger down there deep and could feel something hard, but could not reach far enough to get a hold of it. I knew she had been chewing on a piece of rawhide, so I held her upside down and squeezed her stomach.

I was panicking at this point. I only had her for a few days, but I couldn't believe this was happening. Suddenly, out came the slimy rawhide and the next think I knew, she was looking at me and walking around like nothing happened. Needless to say, she never was given rawhide pieces to chew ever again.

Chloe lived 11 more years. We had to have her put to sleep in 2006, and as far as I know, she is still dead.