Never Again

Pictures say what words can't. Yesterday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/27/5934012-holocaust-remembrance-day-commemorated-around-the-world

Thank God for Wyoming-Most & Least Tolerant States.

Below are the top and bottom five from 20 Most Tolerant States by The Daily Beast.

1, Wisconsin
Tolerance score: 77 out of 100
Hate crime score: 27 out of 40
Discrimination score: 39 out of 40
Gay rights score: 3 out of 10
Religious Tolerance Score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents: 1.0 (10 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents: 9.2 (5 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage: 44%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life: 79%                                                                                                 
2, Maryland
Tolerance score: 75 out of 100
Hate crime score: 25 out of 40
Discrimination score: 37 out of 40
Gay rights score: 5 out of 10
Religious Tolerance Score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents: 1.8 (19 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents: 7.8 (1 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage: 51%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life: 72%

3, Illinois
Tolerance score: 74 out of 100
Hate crime score: 30 out of 40
Discrimination score: 31 out of 40
Gay rights score: 5 out of 10
Religious Tolerance Score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents: 1.5 (16 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents: 14.5 (24 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage: 48%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life: 74%

4, Pennsylvania
Tolerance score: 72 out of 100
Hate crime score: 29 out of 40
Discrimination score: 31 out of 40
Gay rights score: 4 out of 10
Religious Tolerance Score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents: 0.4 (5 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents: 11.8 (13 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage: 51%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life: 75%

5, Hawaii
Tolerance score: 71 out of 100
Hate crime score: 34 out of 40
Discrimination score: 27 out of 40
Gay rights score: 4 out of 10
Religious Tolerance Score: 6 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents: 0.1 (1 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents: 20.3 (35 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage: 54%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life: 66% . . . . .

46, Ohio
Tolerance score: 40 out of 100
Hate crime score: 15 out of 40
Discrimination score: 16 out of 40
Gay rights score: 1 out of 10
Religious Tolerance score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents:: 3.1 (33 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents:: 24.2 (44 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage:: 45%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life:: 76%

47, Nebraska
Tolerance score: 40 out of 100
Hate crime score: 17 out of 40
Discrimination score: 16 out of 40
Gay rights score: -1 out of 10
Religious Tolerance score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents:: 5.1 (44 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents:: 38.8 (49 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage:: 35%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life:: 78%

48, Kansas
Tolerance score: 38 out of 100
Hate crime score: 12 out of 40
Discrimination score: 18 out of 40
Gay rights score: 0 out of 10
Religious Tolerance score: 8 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents:: 5.6 (46 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents:: 23.0 (41 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage:: 37%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life:: 71%

49, Arkansas
Tolerance score: 37 out of 100
Hate crime score: 15 out of 40
Discrimination score: 17 out of 40
Gay rights score: -1 out of 10
Religious Tolerance score: 6 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents:: 2.7 (28 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents:: 23.9 (43 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage:: 29%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life:: 63%

50, Wyoming
Tolerance score: 32 out of 100
Hate crime score: 16 out of 40
Discrimination score: 8 out of 40
Gay rights score: 2 out of 10
Religious Tolerance score: 6 out of 10
Hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents:: 1.5 (15 out of 50 states)
Discrimination cases filed per 100,000 residents:: 201.9 (50 out of 50 states)
Population in support of same-sex marriage:: 37%
Population that believes many religions lead to eternal life:: 63%

Click here for full list. 

I'm hoping someone will come up with a critique of the criteria and methodology that will say it ain't so. 

Thanks to McGraham

Guns Don't Kill People. Exercise Kills People.

"The Governors Highway Safety Association says pedestrian deaths increased in the first half of 2010 and the First Lady's program to get Americans to be more active could be partly responsible." Michelle Obama's 'Get Moving' Program Linked to Pedestrian Deaths by Mark Weaver.  It is not clear whether it's the advice itself, or the source being one of the colored people in the formerly "White" house.  See, also, Just The Same Old Dumb by: William Rivers Pitt

Let's sing along with Sarah Palin's theme song, Plenty of Guns & Something to Shoot to combat this exercise suicide.  (Yes, I know some think Chris Wall meant for this to be satire, but that don't change the truth)

Thanks to Karen 

Charles Joseph Whitman (June 24, 1941 – Aug. 1, 1966)-Who Are We to Say the Boy's Insane?

“All three Whitman children served as altar boys at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and Whitman chose the Confirmation name Joseph for himself. As a 12-year-old, he was among the youngest in history to achieve Eagle Scout and the first in Lake Worth to do so at that age.”
See also, 

Now think of the shame and degradation
For the school’s administration
He put on such a bold and brassy show.
The chancellor cried, “it’s adolescent
And of course it’s most unpleasant
But I’ve got to admit it was a lovely way to go.”

There was a rumor about a tumor
Nestled at the base of his brain.
He was sitting up there with his .36 Magnum
Laughing wildly as he bagged ‘em.
Who are we to say the boy’s insane ? 
From The Ballad of Charles Whitman, by Kinky Friedman.
See, also, The Madman in the Tower.

MLK's Question

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

Mrs. Betty Bowers On Sarah Palin On Gabrielle Giffords.

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian Gun-crazy, nutjob Sarah Palin puts a target on Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) and another gun-crazy nutjob pulls the trigger. If Sarah Palin had a conscience she would hide in shame. Pity Sarah herself wasn't the gunman -- that way, no one would have been hit.

Ban Brazilians & Just Say No To Hardwood

I’m saddened by the aversion young people have to hair.  I had heard about Brazilians several years ago, by accident and never dreamed "normal" people would do it.  A year or two ago, a young man confided in me that his wife made him shave his chest and back, but I just thought she was a bit kinky.  Not until last night did I discover that this practice has become mainstream and that the terms “hardwood” & “landing strip” are code words to describe the state of a woman’s hair.  The young women who told me this also informed me that a man with hair on his chest is no longer considered attractive and body hair in general is a turn off.  
As Young Art would say, "This shit just ain't right." Hair is beautiful and signifies adulthood.  I’m sure there are folks who are not pedophiles who prefer a hairless lover, but it’s just not natural.  This madness must stop!  Please don’t muff the opportunity to be the self that God made.  If this continues, we'll have to do another musical.

How Bout Them Hog Noses?

I love these snakes.  They puff up, hiss, and crawl on their bellies like reptiles.  If that doesn't work, they play dead.  They may deliver a closed mouth strike, but don't bite.  I haven't seen one since I was a kid.  Since toads were a primary food source, these wonderful creatures are probably rare now too.

Softly And Tenderly-If You Care Not for Other Sentient Beings, Take Care of Yourself.

"Within moments of birth, male calves born on dairies are taken away from their mothers and loaded onto trucks. Many are sold through auction rings where they are subjected to transportation and handling stresses. The fragile animals are shocked and kicked, and when they can no longer walk, they are dragged by their legs or even their ears. Every year, approximately one million calves are confined in crates measuring just two feet wide. They are chained by the neck to restrict all movement, making it is impossible for them to turn around, stretch, or even lie down comfortably. This severe confinement makes the calves' meat "tender" since the animals muscles cannot develop."

Of course, what muscle is left is poisoned with antibiotics necessary to keep the calves alive while living in their own excrement.

A calf lies dead in the slatted stall in which it stood for all of its life, with no mother, sunlight or decent food. This is the fate of a calf raised for veal