men & women & women
 

Congratulations! That is the first inciteful thing I have seen you post. I am no sock. There may be hope for you yet.

But not without some work and some educating. You are a fool, a fool’s fool in fact, if you don’t think that televisions rampant portrayal of adulterous sex and porno style orgies and the similar real life behavior of the false role models that HollyWEIRD and the media create does not influence the masses.

A simple but useful analogy is found with the correlation of TV and violence. I pose the rhetorical question, does Television’s portrayal of violence as entertainment in fact spawn more violent behavior? The answer is that studies clearly show that children who watch violent TV become more aggressive adults. Res ipsa loquiter!

I find interesting and almost humorous, in a pathetic way, how someone as purportedly edumacated and sophisticated as you claim to be wants you to deny these findings that TV incites, encourages, and stimulates undesirable behavior in society. Even more elementary, think about TV ad….., now we all know TV ads influence all of us to do things we otherwise would not. So if violent shows beget violent people and TV ads beget compliant consumers, what does not ring logical about TV sex=real life promiscuity.

Jesus man, even the 8 year old kid I mentor in the “Big Brother” program can figure this correlation out and I don’t even think his foster family has cable.

Going one step further from cable TV to your obvious porno fetishes, do you realize that it has been shown that brain chemistry and function are adversely altered by exposure to adult orientated material. Certainly, Austin’s pal is easy proof of what the obsession with pornostyle polyamory can do and how rapidly it can spiral out of control destroying the lives of innocent spouses and children. Your problem is you want to argue that the peculiar lust in your groins is more important than the innocent morality and safety of others. That is certainly selfish, but I guess that's what the hedonists in Hollywood want us to believe is the right thing to do. People for the American Way.

Other than ESPN, FoxNews and Dennis Miller.....and maybe American Movie Classics, I'll take a good book anyday. Heck, I’d take a bad book over most of what the “Entertainment industry” has to offer.

He would have an enormous schwanstucker. Or not.
 

Hardly a day goes by that I don't get at least a couple of spam e-mails for Penile enlargement. Usually they have titles like "Don’t Spare the Rod, Spoil Your Lover”, “U Want the Magic Stick?” “Get Hog Wilde!”

Now first off, some of us have the opposite problem that we get spammed about and actually need shrinkage pills, but more to the point, this stuff is really bothersome. Why not just send it to the Germans. It reminds me that many years ago, back in the days of Prodigy, I got my first porn spam email, coincidentally for stay-hard cream. So I responded to the sender and asked him to not send me anymore. He sent me back an apology and stopped sending me stuff. The Internet was different back then. But again, it shows the result of how low the mass media and adult entertainment industries have pused the bars of decency.

men & women & women
 

My EX-brother-in-law (may he rot in hell) used to work at a porn place. He wasn't a lawyer, but I can tell you that the fringe benefits are quite lucrative if you are into those sorts of things.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Awesome! The fucking-Catholics are so behind.

Anne
pun intended

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Did you see what the so called inappropriate conduct was? The guy claimed that the bishop harassed him because he touched him on the shoulder and on the back, and has since refused to file a formal complaint and said he regretted using the word harassment. This was in public and nothing was said that was inappropriate, and he conceded others could have seen it as perfectly normal. He just wanted to defame him in private apparently as soon as it became public he had to tell the truth.

The other accusation was that web site for a gay and lesbian youth support group with which he had been involved in the past had a link to a porn site. There was not only no such link, but he wasn't involved in the web site anyway.

What a stupid effort to drag the man down.

I have long since learned that if these so called moral people can't win their way fairly, they will do whatever it takes to win all the same. In a pa town in which a gay rights ordinance was passed a recall effort was attempted. They couldn't get enough signatures for the recall, and further, when the recall signatures they did get were reviewed it turned out many of them were forged.

Some christians. They should be ashamed of themselves.

TdF
 

For all you TdF fans. Tyler hamilton threw out the first pitch at Fenway last night and got a rousing ovation.

http://cache.boston.com/images/daily...r_hamilton.jpg

Anne
The Sox come from behind to beat the Angels. Yeah!

men & women & women
 

A friend of mine runs a few porn sites. He recently told me he has something like 250 gigs of porn videos on a variety of computers. He also says that porn does nothing for him anymore.

men & women & women
 

And you haven't given Less or me a few complementary passwords?

not7yS

men & women & women
 

Let me repeat the scientific explanation that I already enunicated, it has been shown that brain chemistry and function are adversely altered by exposure to adult orientated material.

Just so the prevailing crowd does not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a little spicy erotica between consenting adults but the pervasive effects of a constant stream of SkineMax, MTV, Wild On E! and the harder core stuff is going to cost you your natural hormonal responses in the end.

Why do you think that the third largest cost for the adult film industry, after film stock and talent salaries, is the cost of viagra??

And before you question my prurient interests, i.e. whereby I came to such info, it was in the Economist.

Going to the chapel, & going, to get harried?
 

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch

Marriage isn't as popular as it used to be, doll face. Today, in the US, around 30% of men 16 or older haven't been married. The percentage is expected to climb. It amuses me to hear about the decline of marriage rates. Decline from what? The rates after the post-WWII marriage boom? Hah. A totally self-serving baseline. Go back to the 1890's in the US; a bit over 40% of men 16 or older had never been married, and a big old 67% of men 16 through 34 hadn't been.

men & women & women
 

One more word of warning, don't surf that stuff at work.

My sister-in-law told me that just last week at her office, a large brokerage firm in the midwest, that several brokers and sales assistants had been terminated, effective immediately, because they had used company computers to surf adult oriented web sites. They were given 5 minutes to pack their offices/desks and were given the old armed guard escort out. One of the guys, a 20 year veteran of the company, top producer and father of 3 teen agers, broke down in tears on the way out. My s-i-l said it was not a pretty sight but an example of what can happen when you play with fire. Just my .02.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Anyone hear if the Church of England confirmed it first openly gay bishop? I know there was one up recently (like June-ish), but I don't recall hearing about the outcome.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Sure did. Then they made him step down.

Mixed Messages
 

The Episcopal Church has interesting days ahead. I suspect the result will be, as with other large denominations over other issues, a split into two separate denominations, one more liberal and one more conservative.

Leagl, I agree that the tactics used to stop a vote on his election were sleazy and I said so last night. But you are looking at this as just another gay rights issue and not as a religious doctrine issue. Would you feel as excited if they had elected a bishop who was married but having an affair? It really isn't any different because each would be living a lifestyle that is contrary to their church teaching.

I'm not convinced the people who brought those charges to stall his election were the only ones not acting fairly. It seems to me that before the vote on this guy's nomination, they should have had a debate and vote on whether the gay lifestyle is consistent with being a good Episcopal Christian. But instead they made it a vote about one guy and as a result have a bishop whose life violates church doctrine. This is not a good thing for a church.

On the other hand, if there are heterosexual bishops who are openly having affairs or otherwise living contrary to church doctrine and haven't been given the boot, then they get what they deserve.

Mixed Messages
 

You assume I am looking at it as a gay rights issue, in fact I am not. I don't think religion is a gay rights issue at all. I think religion should have nothing whatsoever to do with the struggle for gay rights, and that individuals in each religion need to deal with whether it is possible for the tenents of those religions to accept homosexuality as a reasonable way to live. I respect the right to believe homosexuality is a sin. I disagree with it, obviously, but I believe people have the right to view it that way, and I won't try to change their minds. Where I have a problem is when they take that religion and use it to tell me how I should or should not live my life, or the President stands up and informs me, from a Presidential posture, but based on his religious views, that I am a sinner and don't deserve equal rights, that is when religion crosses into my life and becomes fair game. Now those are things I see as gay rights issues.

Similarly, when at the last moment someone tries to derail something that in the past has just been a rubber stamp by clearly false efforts, that just is a problem for me. Is it a gay rights issue? No. It is a hypocricy issue.

From a religious point of view however, I would question whether it is appropriate for a man to be a bishop when he has received a divorce and perhaps left his wife a bit high and dry. I would also question whether it is appropriate for a gay man to be a bishop in this religion, I know little about it. Those are different issues from what happened this evening and last night. Last night was an effort by one side in which they said we are losing, we don't like it, and we don't care what we have to do to stop it, so lets lie, lets make stuff up. That's just wrong, and it is especially wrong in so called men of God.

If on the other hand the issue was forced, i.e. bringing him up to be a bishop, in an unfair or dishonest way, and that should come out, I would agree with you, that is no more right than what the people who didn't want him ordained did. I haven't seen any suggestion that happened.

They didn't seem capable on either side of having a reasonable discussion on the subject. In fact I never see extremists able to have a reasonable discussion on the subject, and yes again, on both sides.

But whether it is a religious issue or not, the fact that someone decided to attempt to sabatoge the effort at the last minute is what I am talking about. And it is so common.

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

My Sun. to Tues. addictions (spoilers at the end):

Restaurant: I can't believe Rocco has 3 successful restaurants and is doing such a crappy job with this one. Maybe the evil Mark Burnett wants some drama so he's secretly sabotaging things. But if he wants drama, I'd rather it be something more exciting than that the food is crappy and cold and the waitrons are pissed at their poor tips.

Love or Money 2: These guys aren't into Erin as much as the guys on Bachelorette were into Trista. I think any of them would take the cash over her. Eric's misuse of Scripture to justify himself was a little too creepy for me and I'm not sure whether he is playing the part of a wingnut or that's who he is. Vic was smart to take the cash but if he had read his fellow players better he could have had more.

Cupid: This show is better than expected. The dates aren't so scripted as in others and Laura sets new standards of brutal opinion. She should get her own show, maybe a makeover one, where she can be catty. And the guys aren't all the same slick look-a-likes as in other shows. Spoiler follows-----












I can't believe Robert the Austrian Ah-nold clone didn't get the boot. People must have voted for him just to watch his painfully pathetic dates. The song he sang to Lisa -- ouch. My two faves are Hank and Joe; I'm a sucker for sweet goofy guys.

men & women & women
 

I suspect he had too much chest hair, skin color, and bad jewelry.

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

SPOILERS HO!






SPOILERS FOR LAST COMIC STANDING





MORE SPOILERS




I was amused at who won. Mainly because I thought that if he could get past the first part of the show, given the awful treatment he received, he could well get the underdog vote. They cut off their noses to spite their faces with how they treated him. I always wondered what exactly he did to deserve it. I didn't see much of the show, so perhaps he did something, but I cannot imagine what it would have been.

Did anyone see anything that suggested he deserved to be singled out the way he was?

The Doctor is In
 

I get this mental picture of Slave running down the road with a table dragging off his foot and I just can't deal with this seriously anymore.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

A queer man is still higher in their sight than is a woman. Remember that as you eat that bisquit . . .

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Didja see ELF's latest $20M fire? Cool, huh?

(Let's not speak intemperately. We all have our pet assholes.)

Did Anyone Attend?
 

Sadly, I missed this. A democratic operative on the radio lamented that Californians could approve a recall with 51% of the vote (meaning that 49% of the voters wanted to keep Gray Davis), but that Larry Flynt could win the governorshp with 6% of the vote on the recall ballot. It was the best news I heard all day. I think Larry Flynt would make a far more entertaining governor than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Mixed Messages
 

I'm sorry I misinterpreted you.

Not being Episcopal, I'm not sure whether they've ever had a situation where a bishop-elect was violating church tenets. If not, then it's a different situation.

I agree but, having been part of a bitter vote over the role of women in church leadership (I'm for it, just so you know), I understand the desperation they must have felt. And desperation makes even Christians more susceptible to sinful behavior.

I guess I take the position that nominating someone for church leadership whose lifestyle is defined as a sin by church tenets is per se unfair. If you disagree with church doctrine then tackle the issue head on or leave and find a denomination that is more in line with your beliefs, but don't do an end run around it. But my church background is in denominations founded by people who left or were kicked out of the state church of Sweden for flouting official positions so that influences my thoughts.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

What's your point? You think I would support that? Of course not. Nor would I support animal rights activists blowing up a lab, nor antiabortionists killing doctors, nor gay rights advocates faking signatures to get an anti-gay law recalled. I may be rare in this, but I apply my views on this equally. I don't consider one group superior to another if it engages in things such as this, and lord knows burning something to make an environmental point is not only absurd, it could result in deaths of innocent people never mind the loss of property. Criminal, disgusting, really there are no words to express how I feel about things like that.

No matter what you are attempting to accomplish going directly against the very things you espouse, and behaving in a way that actively sullies (or risks harming innocent people or property) what you are trying to accomplish sucks, to put it plainly.

Edited to say sometimes I think I am one of the few people I know who left law school more naive then when I entered it, in terms of how I apply my philosophy of things to the world. Such is life. Hell, righteous indignation is fun.


On a more interesting subject I saw Tomb Raider 2, and in fact the water does get quite nippy in the beginning.

Mixed Messages
 

Happens to the best of us, we all have our pet issues and sometimes read them into things. I am enjoying our conversation, however, I think probably I've bored enough people and harping on gay issues gets tiresome even to me. I'd be happy to discuss it more off board with you though.

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

The winner may not have deserved the derision he received, but it was to be expected. His material falls into two categories (1) not funny, and (2) hack/derivative. Comics hate both with a passion. That's why Dave Mordahl was so well-liked by the other comics (and also why he lost to Dat Phan weeks ago.) Dave's stuff was original and off beat, but it's rare when that stuff gets mainstream success. Margaret Cho should sue Dat Phan for royalties.

Having said that, I still want a co-exec producer credit if any of my sitcom scenarios (Long Duc Dong 2K3 or Toshiro from Revenge of the Nerds 2003) are developed.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

My point is that I am too used to people moving on to encompass conservative thought in their morality play ("Look at those intolerant people who aren't willing to let others choose their own course!") and so reacted too quickly when that wasn't what you said. Sorry. But, if you ever have that thought again, and think that it is validly targeted at right-wingers, think of that last post, and the Bilmore that you once knew, and cleanse your thoughts.

((Edited to delete a line that I decided wasn't fair.)

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

Oh no problem, this seems to be my day for confusing people. I'll file it for future use under B, for both Bilmore and Bullshit.

Darn you edited it and now my Bullshit line just seems mean. But I'm leaving it, because it made me laugh, of course insomnia does that.

Mixed Messages
 

Let me state at the outset that I am not an expert on Episcopalian ("E") doctrine. But I believe that the whole point of the recent nominating convention and the debate surrounding Bishop Robinson's confirmation has been that there is in fact NO consensus within the E church on these issues. One of the reasons that Es have been able to move forward in this area, unlike the Roman Catholic Church, is that there is no single head of the E church who interprets scripture and tells the larger body of congregants what they should believe on these issues. Rather, there is a meeting every ten years (the Anglican Conference), at which a group of delegates meet and debate these issues. As I understand it, even the decisions made at the Anglican Conference may not be "binding," as some Es consider them to be advisory in nature. Thus, as I understand it, the group that confirmed Bishop Robinson was free to do so without violating church doctrine.

Does that mean that there might be a schism? It is possible. But one was predicted before, in the 19th century, when there was a similar lack of consensus regarding the morality of owning slaves. No formal schism actually occured, though different factions of the E church took different positions on the issue.

As for whether the debate should have been about the larger issue, instead of this one man, it was, until David Lewis (writer of yesterday's e-mail) chose to smear Robinson by claiming that he lacked appropriate boundaries and had "harrassed" Lewis by touching him inappropriately (on the arm and back, in front of witnesses), rather than debate the merits.

Finally, would I feel as happy if they had elected an adulterer? No. But then, I don't equate adultery (a broken promise both to one's spouse and to god, if married in a church) with homosexuality.

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

MORE SPOILERS FOR LAST COMIC STANDING



Ah, say it ain't so. I have no idea what that he did in the house to be so reviled by the other comics, but the guy was simply the least funny, most annoying person in the group, based on the bits we saw on the show.

Runaway Slave
 

Originally posted by ias 39

Originally posted by bilmore

Don't laugh, it's a fine addition to slave's training regimen. Given his propensity for hooking up and his aversion to marriage, he could be slipped a mickey and awaken shackled to the altar.

http://www.sonkajarvi.fi/ylasavo/son...ElemFormat=gif

men & women & women
 

I am late here but I have one question.

1Isnt Austintacious a guy? (and if so, why is he asking?)


edited to remove a question that was answered

men & women & women
 

So happy you feel that way. Abbatrim, are you in?

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
 

This is why, for the life of me, I cannot understand how anyone can be Catholic in the twenty first century except for misogynists, homophobes, people afraid that death equals rotting in a hole in the ground and thats it, people who are oppressed by society, and utter morons.

This might explain why the catholic guy dumped me. Like I am gonna raise my kids in that tradition of hatred and exclusion?

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

SPOILERS






















While I missed one or two of the early episodes that set p the hate fest, it appears to me that people hated him for the same reason people hate the guy who starts outlining the first week of law school and does his reading every day. He fucking works so hard and the fact that he might be successful makes you feel threatened that you arent doing enough. Thats my theory and I am sticking with it. They wanted him gone to prove that workingso hard doesnt guarantee results. Like hwo we are so thrilled that these studying freaks get the Cs. It justifies our hedonistic lazy asses.

May I just applaud myself on how much better I was than whoever Lester's odds source is? I was so right on. Clearly I could be doing something much cooler based on my pure understanding of the American psyche and outstanding observatino skills. What do these bookmakers make anyway?

BB4- is there anyway Dana won't go? Its a shame bc I want that hideous bulldog freshman fifteen pig gonzo and she is the best way . I dont see how Dana can stay, but I hope she gets a spot on the jury. But man is she ugly.

Cupid= this show runs again tonight, right? Tuesdsay night is a clusterfuck of outstnading schlock. I have a huge crush on Laura and am bummed to be missing this. Lisa's total resemblance to Coureney Cox is a little offputting though and I cant figure out what is wrong with the face of the other chick. She just looks disgfigured.

BoyMeetsBoy- missed this for the most part. I still have a huge crush on Dan and am really hoping he is straight. I think his oscillating on the manfriend in NYC is my best hope, though his highlights tell me there is no hope. Does thies run again per chance?

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

I have said this before, and I will say it again. There are no originial ideas. Just bc there is one famous Asian comic who does her family does not mean that any other Asian cannot be funny and is just a derivative hack. Many many comics do the exact same kind of routines, but they bring themselves into it and that is the difference. And Dat made me laugh out loud quite a bit. You just forget that you ever did bc he did his bit on practically every show. Mordall did former drinker a lot, so do many other comics including this one guy who is just brilliant at it whose name I forget but he took over the fat guy's job on that comedy show that comes on after SNL. Dat was not nearly as brilliant as Ralphie and I am bummed Ralphie didnt win, but Ralphie is also the first obese man comic who focuses on that that I recall (though maybe Sam Kinison did something ont his, but I dont recall that so much).

Hopefully someone gives Ralphie a show. I think that would be pretty progressive given the body obsession and skeleoria going on in Hollywood these days.

Brit Discl
 

Would the poster formerly known as Majic Jackson pls send me an e-mail @ falalala2003@yahoo.com
I lost your e-mail. Thanks!

Boy Meets Boy
 

Missed the beginning of the show last night and I have no spoilers, but watched first show with a gay friend last night (yes, Tivo) and he voted straight on Dan. He really disliked Dan too. I still can't quite read and he wasn't featured in the part of last night's show that I caught. I still heart Wes. I want him as a friend! I was trying to sell my friend on him last night.

Queer Eye -- that apartment was a crazy disaster! I thought it was funny that they rented a 3 month storage space. Basically admitting that within 3 months, the place will be right back to where it started. Thom has really grown on me. I want him as a friend too.

n(one can never have too many gay friends)cs

Reality TV Update & Spoilers
 

LCS

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While Dat was the least funny of the five finalists, I blame the other contestants for completely missing the point of their show. Likability is essential when the audience votes -- and they set Dat up to be the most likable and for them to appear awful every single week.

They all get career boosts from this.

Ralphie's shtick got really shrill tiresome by the end. I was so disappointed because I thought he was by far the single funniest person at the beginning.

QE
 

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This is totally not a spoiler, but Carson's catty comments at the end were wonderful -- "maybe a gig singing back up isn't so bad . . . "

He was a nice enough guy, but his voice was so disappointing.