I join the multitudes...
I raise my hand in peace
I never bow to the laws of the thought police


David Dees, Butcher

* Top ten conservative idiots. excerpt:

7. Jethro Monestime

"A few weeks ago Jethro Monestime, who until recently worked at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, decided to play a hilarious prank by downloading a verse from the Old Testament book of Leviticus onto his cellphone and then broadcasting it over the airport's PA system.

"The verse in question was this one: 'V'et zachar lo tishkav mishk'vey eeshah toeyvah hee.' In case you don't speak Hebrew, conservative Christians have translated this verse to mean, 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.' It's their favorite passage to point to when claiming that homosexuality is forbidden by the Bible. (Of course they also forget to mention that the book of Leviticus also says that eating shellfish is an abomination, slavery is a-ok, shaving is a no-no, and children who curse their mothers or fathers should be put to death.)

"If you want to find out everything that's wrong with that particular Bible verse, click here. But obviously Mr. Monestime's intention was clear - he wanted to publicly broadcast his bigotry. I'm sorry - I mean, he wanted to play a hilarious prank. Which would be only be found funny by other bigots.

"And so he did! And then he got fired. What a shame.

"Mind you, expect complaints from Pat Robertson and co. over Jethro's firing. I can see it now... How dare this man get fired for broadcasting a passage from the Bible over the PA system! Is nothing sacred any more? This is a Christian country! Getting Jethro Monestime fired is all part of the liberal atheists' War On Broadcasting Biblical Passages Over Airport PA Systems!"

* Top ten building implosions (with video).

* Stereogab's commentary published in Examiner. excerpt:

"A new relationship is developing between Congress and its constituents. As the Internet transforms Web users into politically savvy watchdogs, Congress has an opportunity to earn the public’s trust.

"Americans care about the way their country is run and want to actively participate in political processes, to help public policy and legislation more closely match their values and civic needs.

"The same citizens who contribute increasingly personalized content in blogs, commercial Web sites, and online forums to make informed decisions about their consumer purchases are also more interested in contributing to our legislative dialogue. But, they are too often met with red tape and blockades to congressional information.

"A more dynamic and productive relationship will arise between Americans and Congress when both recognize that they have a shared interest in creating a more transparent legislature.
...
"It is in this spirit that the Sunlight Foundation recently launched the Open House Project — a collaborative and bipartisan effort to suggest attainable, straightforward reforms to promote public access to the House of Representatives.

"The Open House Project today released its first report of transparency reform recommendations, which were informed by a united coalition of participants from left and right with substantial backgrounds in media, government, information technology, blogging, and public policy."
...
"We encourage a dialogue on the recommendations on our Web site, the openhouseproject.com, and also urge Congress to begin work on these reforms immediately.

"The Open House Project will hold Congress to its stated commitment to creating meaningful transparency. We recognize the obstacles to implementing all our recommendations, but these improvements can happen with a sustained, administrative commitment — the necessary response to the increased public pressure, the opportunities presented by the Internet, and the bipartisan support for transparency reform.

"Together, we are opening the house."

-- related: Video promo for Open House Project using music by Leafy Green.

* "A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it." -- Oscar Wilde