Something's are Enormous

Maybe it is his ego or maybe his ass, but Newt Gingrich is aiming for enormous and saving America.  Newt unveiled his new set of policy proposals, a “21st Century Contract With America,” and said that  “The scale of change I am suggesting is so enormous."  It is the same type of  Republican solutions and campaign boilerplate that we have seen from other candidates who are trying to save the world. Time.com

But, there is more to good ol' Newt then just his saving of America.  He also thinks that same-​sex marriage is a “temporary aberration,” because really marriage is supposed to be between one man and one woman.  And gay marriage equality "fundamentally goes against everything we know."  He must know, right?  He has been married three times, divorced twice and left his cancer-stricken wife to marry his third wife. The New Civil Rights Movement

That is some scale of change.  Did he make a contract with any of his wives?  Were any of them surprised at his enormous change.

Probably the only thing enormous for Newt.

Oh the (Not So) Friendly Skies

Earlier this week, an actress was "kicked off" a Southwest Airlines flight for an "excessive" display of affection to her girlfriend.  She and her girlfriend were reportedly kissing.  While being escorted from the plane, the stewardess informed Leisha Hailey that SWA was a "family" airline and the multiple complaints from other passengers prompted the kicking off. (LezGetReal.com)


That does sound a bit homophobic and just a tad hateful.  What kind of "family" doesn't like to see kissing?  The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) opposes any premature boycott measures against Southwest Airlines, though.  They say that SWA "has strict non-discrimination policies [and] is actively working ... to enhance their policies and employee training."  (JoeMyGod)


But there is still that feeling of hate.  It seems to be prevalent in this world towards those who are not "straight".  Even the Catholic church has a bit of hate towards people in same-sex relationships.  Timothy Dolan of New York, the head Archbishop, yelled at President Obama for not defending the Defense of Marriage Act.  He says it would "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions."  He reiterated the feeling that "traditional marriage is best for society."  (USAToday.com)


And Gay Marriage is horrible?  And probably two girls kissing on a plane is icky?


The Archbishop rants about the "conflict between church and state" but where oh where is that "separation" that is supposed to be there?

Maybe it's Good News?

The Associated Press tweets today that Maggie Gallagher, the chair of the National Organization for Marriage, has been replaced.  So that may be good news, the Magster will have to stop her bigotry and hate.  Maybe.  The replacement may not be too much better.  The failed Attorney General wannabe for California, John Eastman.  He attempted to have the repeal of Prop 8 overturned while the Gov (Ahnold) was out of the country.  (JoeMyGod)

One would wonder, why was Maggie let go?  Did she need to stay at home and be the good wife?  Or has she changed her stance on equality?  She did attend the reading of Dustin Lance Black's play "8", which re-enacts the Prop. 8 trial.  She maybe now playing with the enemy, as the ticket dollars went to "AFER and Broadway Impact to secure full federal marriage equality."  Or maybe it is just her eating habits.  Obviously she has been through the buffet line a few too many times, and she did munch on some loud food during the reading. (TheAtlanticWire.com)


Now, she says she is going to finish her book "Debating Same-Sex Marriage".  But it probably is more for being the good wife and over-eater.

If the Search Result Fits...

Then of course Google has to list it.  Now, some folks might complain about that.  But Google's PageRank is how it works.  Every time somebody adds a link to a web site, Google interprets this as a vote for that site. The more links to the site, the more votes it gets.(SwitchIt.com)

Then of course, there is the Google Bomb.  "Google's search-rank algorithm ranks pages higher for a particular search phrase if enough other pages linked to it using similar anchor text." (Wikipedia.org) Examples of such bombs would be like a search for "more evil than Satan himself" resulting in the Microsoft homepage.  Or "dumb motherf*cker" leading to a site selling George W. Bush-related merchandise.  Google has developed an algorithm to catch and remove these.


So, which is the case for "Santorum"? 


It all started when sex advice columnist, author and activist Dan Savage didn't like what Senator Rick Santorum had to say about homosexuality.  He equated it with bestiality and pedophilia.  So Savage asked his readers to come up with a new definition of "Santorum" and they picked:  The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.  And it pops up on Google.  (HuffingtonPost.com)


Well, now Rick has asked Google to fix the problem, and they said "no."  Google does not “remove content from our search results, except in very limited cases such as illegal content and violations of our webmaster guidelines.” (PamsHouseblend) Dan Savage has re-defined Santorum and he has created a website that has lots of links to it that fit the PageRank guidelines, so it is the "frothy mix" that wins.


Looks like Rick is stuck - literally and figuratively.

Things We are Supposed to Hate

And today, those things are Schweddy Balls and AARP.  Now, Schweddy Balls started out as a Saturday Night Live sketch involving Alec Baldwin's balls... or some that were sold as a Christmas treat at his shoppe Season's Eatings.  Now, Schweddy Balls are a line of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream flavors.  (SNL Transcripts)


"AARP is a membership organization leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50. Since 1958, AARP has been leading a revolution in the way people view and live life."  (AARP)


So, why are we supposed to hate either of these?  According to the American Family Association www.afa.net, a "pro-family action site promotes traditional family values, focusing primarily on the influence of television and other media on our society," both are bad. Although, to some AFA is bad... Right Wing Watch


With Schweddy Balls the AFA says that the "vulgar new flavor has turned something as innocent as ice cream into something repulsive."  They are calling for a boycott.  Because they don't want kids walking into the grocery story asking for something offensive.  AFA also took a stand against another Ben & Jerry's flavor - Hubby Hubby which celebrated gay marriage.  "It seems that offending customers has become an annual tradition for Ben & Jerry's."  (JoeMyGod)


The AARP one might be a bit more confusing.  Helping older people is wrong?  Oh wait of course there had to be a reason, and AFA points it out:  "AARP uses member resources to advocate same-sex marriage and pro-homosexuality military policy."  (JoeMyGod)

Guess Old Schweddy Gay Balls is just bad and need to be hated.

It's War!!

Well, that is probably what the GOP will think.  President Obama says it is not "Class Warfare just math" when it comes to his new deficit reduction plan.  Most of the rich people out there, however, are going to think that it is a warfare against the upper class.  "Obama's plan would end Bush-era tax cuts for top earners and would limit their deductions."  (HuffingtonPost.com)


But the Republicans have already cringed at the plan.  They have insisted that tax increases should play no part in taming the nation's escalating national debt.  They want to cut Medicare payments.  But Obama said: "I will not support any plan that puts all the burden for closing our deficit on ordinary Americans."  And he plans to veto any such plans.


So, what are the wealthy to do?  Oh, no!  How is it possible that they will survive having to pay their fair share?  Rep. John Flemming (R-LA) is a victim of class warfare, or so he says.  (PamsHouseBlend)  After he pays taxes he only has .... wait for it.... wait for it.... $400,000 to feed his family.


$400,000 to "feed his family".  Well, for those of us who make 10% of that - before taxes, or less... how the hell are we supposed to feed ours?


The war has begun.

What is 12%?

When you do a Google search on "12 Percent", you can get some interesting returns:  12 percent = 0.12, 12 Percent - Importer of Fine Ales, Rams TV rating down 12 percent vs. 2010 opener, Violent crime plunges 12 percent in US in 2010.  Now if you are not into calculators, beer, St. Louis Football or violent crimes, then this information isn't going to do you any good.


Another interesting return from this little search does bring up something interesting.  "Poll: Just 12% happy with Congress."  Yep, that's it.  The current congress got only a 12% thumbs up.  This is the "lowest percentage [since] ...October 2008." (CBSNews.com)  And it is pretty much everybody.  "Dissatisfaction with Congress cuts across party lines. Republicans, Democrats, and independents all overwhelmingly disapprove of the job Congress is doing."


On some better(?) news, it seems the overwhelming winners in 2010 aren't doing so well, as "most Americans disapprove of Republicans more."  Not that this is overwhelming - 72% disapprove Reps vs. 63% disapprove Dems.  (Doubt too many Dems are going to write home about that number).


So, 14 months to go and only 12% happiness.  Maybe we need some beer and football to get us through...  Google that.