Fractal Animals

To whomever created these masterpieces, please let me know so I can provide credit.

The Ethics of Gay Rights and Same-Sex Marriage

by Michael Josephson, WhatWillMattwer.com, in CARING, COMPASSION, CHOICES, COMMENTARIES, PARENTING, FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, THE GOOD LIFE

(This is one of those commentaries that evokes passionate response and, sadly, a few people will disagree so strongly that they decide to cut me out of their lives by cancelling their newsletter subscription or putting me on the “block sender” list. I realize the issue of same-sex marriage is only one aspect of the much broader issue of how we look at and treat gay men and women, but I think it is a very important issue of morality as well as civil rights.)

I have a strong personal opinion on the issue of gay rights and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

If you’re a regular listener you may think you can predict my views based on your impression of me as either a conservative or liberal. Probably half of you will be wrong.

As a missionary of ethics and virtue with the hope of inspiring and encouraging everyone’s moral ambitions and instincts, I covet every mind and conscience I can reach, so it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Thus, I rarely comment on religious or politically controversial issues when it’s likely that my remarks will antagonize those who disagree with me.

Still, some issues involving deeply held political or religious convictions have such profound implications on my ethical principles that calculated silence to maintain popularity would be a form of cowardice. After all, my own definition of character is the willingness to do what you think is right even when it costs more than you want to pay.

With that preface, I boldly and unequivocally support the legal rights and full extension of not merely tolerance but true acceptance of and support for every son and daughter, brother and sister, friend and colleague, and complete stranger who loves and is committed to someone of the same gender.

I understand and respect the sincerity of those whose religious views lead them to a different conclusion, but I have the privilege of knowing, admiring and loving a number of extraordinarily kind, talented and highly ethical gay men and lesbian women, and I am distressed that they must bear insults, prejudice, condemnation, and legal discrimination. It’s more than an issue of civil rights; it’s a matter of respect and caring; it’s a matter of human compassion.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

___

Note: In preparing this commentary I did some research on various religious views of homosexuality and came to realize the irreconcilability of some perspectives, especially those of conservative Christians. I found the website ReligiousTolerance.org particularly helpful in differentiating between conservative and liberal Christian perspectives. Here’s an excerpt:

“Conservative Christian theologians … [believe] all homosexual behavior is sinful, regardless of the nature of the relationship. Homosexuality is a chosen, unnatural, abnormal, changeable, and perverted lifestyle, which is hated by God. Liberal Christian theologians tend to follow a wider variety of translations, and to be more concerned with instances of copying errors in the original Hebrew or Greek, of forgery, and of biases among the translators. They consider some passages (e.g., those referring to slavery, burning some hookers alive, raping female prisoners of war, etc.) as not being valid today, as immoral, and against the will of God. They differentiate among various homosexual and heterosexual sex practices, treating some (rape, prostitution, temple sex rituals) as immoral and some (within committed relationships) as positive. Homosexual orientation and behavior is seen as a normal human sexual expression among a minority of adults. It is not changeable or chosen. Like all sexual behavior, it can be a sin if it is exploitive or manipulative or not carried out safely within a committed relationship.”

WhatWillMatter.com

Happy Pride!

Live out loud because some cannot

Click above

15 Year Old Boy Comes Home With A Porsche.

A fifteen-year-old came home with a Porsche and his parents began to yell and scream, "Where did you get that car?"

He calmly told them, "I bought it today."

"With what money!?" demanded his parents. "We know what a Porsche costs."

"Well," said the boy, "this one cost me fifteen dollars."

The parents began to yell even louder. "Who would sell a car like that for fifteen dollars!?" they asked.

"It was the lady up the street," said the boy. "Don't know her name -- they just moved in. She saw me ride past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Porsche for fifteen dollars."

"Oh my goodness!" moaned the mother, "she must be a child abuser. Who knows what she will do next? John, you go right up there and see what's going on."

So the boy's father walked up the street to the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly planting flowers. He introduced himself as the father of the boy to whom she has sold a Porsche for fifteen dollars and demanded to know why she did it.

"Well," she said, "this morning I got a phone call from my husband. I thought he was on a business trip, but I learned from a friend he has run off to Hawaii with his secretary and really doesn't intend to come back. He claimed he was stranded and asked me to sell his new Porsche and send him the money. So I did."

Illustrated Guides Every Manly Man On Earth Should Know

from StumbleUpon.com

The Positive Side Of Life

 Click above.

Top Ten Rejection Lines

Where someone is letting you down gently – what exactly is running through their mind?

Here’s The Wizard's pick of the top ten rejection lines and what they actually mean!


10) I think of you as a friend. (You`re terminally ugly.)

9) There`s a slight difference in our ages. (You`re terminally old and ugly.)

8) I`m not attracted to you in `that` way. (You`d turn anyone straight)

7) My life is too complicated right now. (I have platinum gaydar membership)

6) I`ve got a boyfriend. (I wouldn’t touch you with a shitty stick)

5) I don`t date anyone from work. (I’m bedding the boss)

4) It`s not you, it`s me. (I’m sober)

3) I`m concentrating on my career. (It’ll cost you 50 bucks)

2) I`m celibate. (You’re still ugly)

1) Let`s be friends. (I’ve had you – movin on)

Say What?

21 Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

More than One Use for "Bounce" fabric softener sheets...

The US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow jackets away.

Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer.

Use it working outside. It really works. The yellow jackets just veer around you.

And all this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.

It also repels mice.. spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers, cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food.

Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. Keeps them smelling fresh.

Your milage may vary.

Diversity & Inclusion - Love Has No Labels

The Plumber's Truck

Old Fire Fighters

One dark night outside a small town in Newfoundland, a fire started inside the local chemical plant and in a blink it exploded into massive flames. The alarm went out to all the fire departments from miles around.

When the volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved and will give $50,000 to the fire department that brings them out intact." But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in as the situation became desperate. As the firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer was now $100,000 to the fire department who could bring out the company's secret files.

From the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the nearby Newfie rural township volunteer fire company composed mainly of Newfoundlanders over the age of 65. To everyone's amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these Newfies, passed all the newer sleek engines parked outside the plant ... and drove straight into the middle of the inferno.

Outside the other firemen watched as the Newfie old timers jumped off and began to fight the fire with a performance and effort never seen before. The Newfie old timers had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. The grateful chemical company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave, though elderly, Newfoundlander fire fighters.

The local TV news reporters rushed in after capturing the even on film asking, "What are you going to do with all that money?" "Vell," said Frank Tobin, the 70-year-old fire chief, "da furst thing to do is fix da brakes on dat focking truck!"

Banned Coke Poster

Things I would Wish Upon My Enemies

Earthquake causes destruction of fine art

Cool 3D Images Without The Need For Glasses

These eye-popping 3D GIFs are not your ordinary animated images. Created by adding vertical lines to moving images, an amazing 3D effect is created.

click on the picture to view 13 more!

WOWSERS!

Why Are Public Toilet Seats U-Shaped?

There’s a difference between a public toilet and the one in your house, and it’s not the smell: their seats are shaped differently. Almost all public restrooms have what are called open front toilet seats, which are shaped like the letter u and have an opening at the front. Most private bathrooms, by contrast, have oval or round toilet seats that wrap all the way around the toilet. Why the gap?

The two-prong, open-front seat is required by the plumbing codes adopted by most public authorities in the U.S. “All water closet seats, except those within dwelling units, shall be either of the open front type or have an automatic seat cover dispenser,” as California’s state plumbing code reads. The requirement was first included in the American Standard National Plumbing Code in 1955, and in the Uniform Plumbing Code in 1973, according to Dan Cole, a Technical Services Manager with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

This is largely a matter of hygiene. No matter what kind of junk you’re packing, u-shaped seats give you a little breathing room to avoid touching the seat with your genitals, and provide one less place for urine to splash.

Open-front toilet seats are largely designed to make it easier for women to wipe, according to Lynne Simnick, the senior vice president of code development at the IAPMO. The opening is designed to “allow women to wipe the perineal area after using the toilet without contacting the seat,” she says. So basically, open toilet seats are designed for front-wipers. (Clearly the ladies in question have not been lectured on how to prevent UTIs.)

U-shaped seats are also cheaper, since they use less material. And they’re less likely to be stolen, according to Roger Barry, the managing director of Healthmatic, a UK-based company that designs and manages public restrooms. Though I question why anyone would want to steal a public toilet seat, he says that theft is a major problem. “The appearance of u-shaped seats is something that has dampened in the UK,” he reports, mostly because public toilets are no longer fitted with toilet seats at all to combat stealing.

Indeed, we should be grateful to have any toilet seats at all in public washrooms.

History of the Middle Finger!

Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified.

Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

Giving the Finger

Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future.

This famous weapon was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew" (or "pluck yew").

Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, "See, we can still pluck yew!"

"PLUCK YEW!"

Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute!

It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird."

And yew thought yew knew everything!

Filet Minion....

Muster Point

I always wondered what was meant to "pass muster".

A muster point (also known as 'Assembly Point') is an assembly point where everyone meets in the event of an emergency. Muster Point is primarily a Canadian term. Muster point signs indicate the exact location of the assembly area. They are required by many safety associations. Reflective materials are encouraged for increased visibility.

Signage installation should be a safe distance away from a building, worksite or construction zone.
Typical mounting is between 48" to 72" off the ground or over 96" when mounting in parking lots where vehicles may obstruct the view of the signage.

For more information on Muster Point Signs watch this short video.

Pass Muster

Meet a required standard, as in That yard cleanup won't pass muster with Mom. This expression originally meant "to undergo a military review without censure," musterreferring to an assembling of troops for inspection or a similar purpose. [Late 1500s]

GREAT WHITE SHARK BEACHES IN CAPE COD Amazing Footage!!!

A juvenile great white beached itself while trying to catch seagulls off Chatham, Massachusetts. Thanks to the harbor master and beach-goers, this shark was saved.

Would YOU Use It??

Click on the picture to see if you would use it...

Pagan Stress Test

Please forgive me for disturbing your work day, but I believe this very quick test will help you determine what your next steps should be for your health.

Goddess speed.

When you click on the link at the bottom, it will open a webpage which has two identical dolphins on it. It was used in a case study on stress levels in pagans of all types.

Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water.

The closely monitored study revealed that although the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences between them. It means that a person who finds many differences between the dolphins is experiencing a great amount of stress.

Click below and please examine the photograph carefully, and if you find more than one or two differences, you may want to take a vacation.

Click on the below image.

Nine Months In Four Minutes

Totally tubular!

Dead Giveaways That Somebody Is American - No Offence Meant...

1. Friendly to the point that you become suspicious of their intent.

2. Americans generally are more confident in the way they present themselves, most other countries tend to be more reserved. Walk into a room full of different nationalities, I guarantee the American person will be the first to introduce themselves. It's a confidence thing, and I admire it.

3. When they use the imperial system.

4. Wearing sneakers with anything

5. Big smiles, firm handshakes

6. Using big adjectives generously ("Wow, your aunt's kidney stones sound awesome!" or "This Euroshopper beer tastes great!")

7. Mostly it's the 'prepared for anything' look they have about them (fanny pack, backpack, bottled water, camera pouch) compared to various other tourists - Asians tend to herd together for safety, while Europeans vary between blend-right-in Scandinavian to designer-brands-everywhere French and traffic-laws-are-for-others Italian. But Americans are the only ones who seem to view a perfectly civilized, modern city like some kind of uncharted jungle that doesn't have places to shelter in the rain or buy cheap bottled water.

8. They say 'great' and are not being sarcastic. I can't even begin to imagine making a sentence where great actually means great.

9. Constant clapping.

10. Speaking as a former barman or "bartender" as American customers would say... tipping! No British person will ever tip a barman. I'll occasionally get bought a drink by drunk ladies or gents, but Brits actually giving me money for doing a job that I was already being paid for? Never happened. I would listen for American accents (which were easy to hear due to their natural loudness) and immediately serve them next.

11. Americans describe distances in driving time, as opposed to miles or kilometers.

12. The dead giveaway is when they call you "honey" or "sweetie" or "darling".

13. North face jackets. Everywhere.

14. Incredibly loud but incredibly friendly. Very often you can hear them before you see them.

Who Stole The Keeshka! Polka on dude!

Kishka or kishke refers to various types of sausage or stuffed intestine with a filling made from a combination of meat and meal, often a grain. The dish is popular across Eastern Europe as well as with immigrant communities from those areas.

A Year in the Life of Earth's CO2

The Raspberry Song

One of the last 2 recordings made by Peter Sellers. Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan as The Goons. Recorded in 1978 it is a reworked version of Jack Hodges 1933 recording of 'Everything Is Fresh Today' which Spike had sent up in his series Q7 a year earlier.

Wise Words

Excellence

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well

- JOSE ORTEGA Y GASSET

Saving Energy

Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. To test; close the door over a piece of paper so it’s half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper out easily, either the seal may need replacing or the latch may need adjustment.

Dualism

Dualism - n. a philosophic doctrine that reality consists of two principal elements, usually mind and matter or good and evil.

Questions

There is no such thing as a stupid question. Questions are always to gain knowledge or to know things better.

Hope

Never let go of hope, for it is one of mans last possessions.

Success

It takes twenty years of hard work to become an overnight success

- DIANA RAKIN

Toothpaste for getting rid of that fishy smell

When soap and water leave your hands smelling fishy, just try washing your hands with toothpaste. Works every time.

Bye Bye sauce stains on Plastic

To clean plastic that has been used to store sauce, wash in cold water and detergent First. Then rinse and wash as usual. Hot water only causes the plastic to retain the stain.

Blond hair turning green after a swim?

Chlorine from a swimming pool can give blond hair an unattractive green tint. Just by rubbing your hair with tomato juice and leaving it for a couple of minutes before shampooing you can neutralize it.

Thickening Stews

To thicken, use a small amount of quick-cooking oats or grated potato.

Oral Incontinence

Shallowness of thought is the main cause of verbal incontinence!

Needs no explanation...

Shocking footage of a man hit by a train twice!

blood chilling video

6 Steps To Improve Your Sex Life

By Ramon Johnson
Gay Life Expert

Image Source/Getty

If you are in a relationship you must know that you cannot settle for a monotonous life. Your partner is not only your best friend but also the person who is sharing a life with you. That takes honesty and in some cases more effort than others.

That means improving your sex life as well. After five years in a relationship, for example, sex is something that constantly needs fresh ideas. Your partner may seem totally committed to you in every other way besides sex.

How can you improve your sex life then?

A little spark in your love life is the answer. But of course your partner's a man and doesn't know how to communicate that. Don't blame him, blame the human genome.

These easy steps can help you reclaim your sex drive. Click here to read at gaylife.about.com

Wiccans get organized

Ever try to organize a whole lot of witches, Druid and many other pagan folk? The people are as individual as the path they follow. Enter in The Congregationalist Wiccan Association of Saskatchewan. (CWAS).

Click above to visit their site

(Saskatchewan, Canada)  Wiccans et al are no longer in the broom closet. Public rituals, (open to anyone, pagan and non pagan) are currently happeneing every 2 months at Gabriel DuMont park in Saskatoon. Curious? Come visit.

From their website:

The CWAS is a non-profit organization which offers free public Wiccan Rituals and Services to the general public of Saskatchewan. Rituals are hosted by local temples in their area. Currently there are two temples in Saskatchewan, one in Saskatoon (Sky River) and one in Regina (Sage Wind).

Wicca is an eclectic spiritual belief system centering around gods, goddesses, and nature based worship.

First Public Ritual of Sky River Temple - Saskatoon

Wicca is a growing belief system within Saskatchewan and through out all of Canada. We hope to expand our fellowship and our services. If you would like to get involved please attend one of our Rituals, send us an Email or contact us on Facebook

I encourage you to check us out!

Unlikely PBS Shows

Click above to see them.