Cthulhu's Mirages #893247 - Tremendous economy.

It is common for Cthulhu to attack the very nature of reality through his mirages, to sabotage or forestall some actions that might help a prey species avert its own destruction by natural calamity or carefully induced negligence.

Some mirages are used to fuel improper inferences, "The economy is in good shape because the stock market is high", however by this standard The American economy was in great shape on October 23, 1929, shortly after that it more resembled stale chowder, as October 24 was "Black Tuesday" the start of the great crash, during which, Wall Street was littered with the mangled corpses of stockbrokers who had been ruined by the "strong stock market" as  half the value of stocks just evaporated.

Today the stock market is in record territory once again, just as it was in the tech boom, and in 2008. Overconfidence in the market is a sign, it is all about to go belly up. The bond rate is now inverted, these are usually bought as a hedge against inflation, but now the banks that by them are making losses on them. This is a loud signal the system is about to implode.

The IMF world economic outlook has worrying news for the American economy but also notes challenges in the agricultural sector including the tight labor market and the trade war with China. (See https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO/WH)

Over the medium term, however, global growth is expected to soften, and risks are tilted to the downside, owing to the possibility of a sharp tightening of financial conditions, escalating trade tensions and risks of a further shift toward protectionist policies, and geopolitical strains.

Tax policy still encourages manufactures to seek cheap labor in Asia and elsewhere, doing little for America's struggling middle class.

Also facing the middle is the opioid drug crisis, and the lack of accessible quality essential healthcare, because healthcare is rationed by a private insurance bureaucracy that denies 80% of all claims in the first instance, in hope that claimants will find the money some other way, just die, or horror of horrors successfully argue that tests or treatments are indeed medically required. America remains the only developed nation where medical bankruptcy exists.

Deregulation of environmental policy is allowing for more pollution, which will result in public health impacts, and 100 million Americans are exposed to drinking water with unsafe contamination. While the case of Flint, Michigan is relatively high profile hundreds of other cities have unsafe water supplies. In part, because infrastructure has been neglected, to keep taxes low for corporations. Flint Michigan is perhaps a poster child for the political pressure to cut taxes to unsafe levels for the benefit of monied interests.

Many Americans filed tax returns for the first time since the Republican tax reform under the Trump administration, they could not help but notice, that many deductions that they had claimed in previous years, were no longer available to them. The bottom line for them was, they were paying more in taxes, when they would have expected a refund, if they were still due a refund, it was much smaller than previous years. However, corporations and billionaires benefited to the value of over USD1 trillion.

About that tight labor market, The is a measure of Americans actively looking for work, or as the Department of labor statistics calls it "U3". They also track another value called "U6", this measures people who are parttime for economic reasons alone, this stands at 7.2%, well above the 3.4% U3 commonly cited. There is also evidence that many Americans are underemployed in part-time work. This is because many employers prefer to keep more part-timers for whom they are not required to provide health coverage for, to fewer full-time staff for which health coverage is required. This problem existed before the Affordable Care Act. Medicare For All would eliminate this problem, as all workers would be covered by a payroll tax, which would half the value of current private health insurance premiums. (See https://www.macrotrends.net/1377/u6-unemployment-rate)

-- U6 Unemployment
-- U5 Unemployment
-- U3 Official unemployment rate

This graph shows the unemployment figures for the last 4 years, it shows a long trend of falling unemployment that continues undeflected by the last transfer of power between administrations, to credit the administration with outstanding performance, seems to overstate the facts, essentially they just haven't screwed up enough or otherwise impacted very much unemployment at all except for a slight leveling out, which may be indicative of economic issue not addressed by the administration or diminishing returns as available labor reduces. Some Americans were able to leave or reduce work commitments after the Affordable Care Act's introduction meant that they could afford health coverage. These people are not counted in unemployment figures.

Ken Bone

According to Ken Bone, "nothing has changed" in the coal industry, which continues to slide into the sunset. On the upside, the rooftop solar installer industry is still employing 3-4 times the number of people as the coal industry, despite the tariffs that had a negative impact on the roof-top solar industry. With the head of the EPA being a former coal industry lobbyist, it is arguable that the administration has a clear partiality to coal operators and limited concern for the current jobs market, let alone the economic future of the nation.

The state of the US economy is complex, by any standard it is a huge system by any measure and simple statements about its overall health are easily misleading, but this one thing does seem important, over the last 30 years, the American 1% of greatest wealth  holders have in that time see their wealth grow by USD21 Trillion, while the lest wealthy 50% have seen their wealth fall by USD900Billion(see https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2019/06/14/top-1-up-21-trillion-bottom-50-down-900-billion/). Since that latter group only had USD700billion to start with they are now indebted by USD200billion. Someone is clearly winning, it is probably not you. That could change, a new administration focused on putting forward the agenda of working Americans, livable wages, medicare-for-all, tuition-free college to invest in technology and skills development, jobs plan to future proof the energy system, end the for profit-slavery industrial prison complex, end the stupid wars. Most Americans already agree with this agenda, usually significant margins, the one big thing stopping change so far is the corruption of monied interests. With the current administration's ties to the Mercer family (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mercer#2016_U.S._election), copious evidence, of influence peddling, and the industry ties of many of the administration appointments, it seems unlikely that this administration is the government you are looking for.  You're probably looking for a candidate with a long anti-war record, a long pro-labor record, that is not a demagogue prone outrageous statements about invisible planes, and tossing paper towels at hurricane survivors.

Play nice, and praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster for she is noodly, Ramen.

Cthulhu's Mirages #875239 - AOC hated says poll

Cthulhu's mirages keep coming, strangely this one emanates from Axios. It seems Progressives may not poll well among people without a college education, also known as Trump's base at least if we do not look deeper.  Luckily someone has.

The poll has been used to claim AOC is not well supported or "hated" in her own district. The poll has problems of its own, it violated the usual standards for polling, with biased questions and cherry-picking of data.
Ryan Grim took a look into the questons surrounding  this poll as reported in this SplinterNews article. https://splinternews.com/axios-peddles-shady-poll-pushing-attack-on-progressive-1836375126

The voter demographic polled were noncollege educated swing voters, many of whom may be seeing some amount of Republican media mischaracterizing AOC and socialism. AOC never advocated banning cows, or burgers or planes, but still found 22% support among the polled demographic.  It appears the establishment remains adverse to challengers - Cthulhu is nothing but consistent.

Republicans do make a habit of using outrageous, salacious and very often false claims to attack democrats both establishment and progressive.


Never the less, praise the FSM, for she is noodly. Play nice, Ramen!

Oh Pat, is Ken Ham so much worse than you?

This week Bill Nye and Ken Ham debated "Is creationism a viable model in an age of science?"

The consensus seems to be that Bill Nye won that debate, though one critic, surprise many with what seemed to some an uncharacteristic moment of clarity.

Pat Robertson publicly implored Ken Ham to stop making Christianity a laughing stock by publicly pushing creationism.

He said in the same week that he also said that hypnosis leads to demonic possession...


It seems like every week Pat Robertson says something remarkably "out-there". Even without creationism Pat is doing more damage to Christianity than an anti-theist like myself could hope to achieve.

So thanks Pat, your a real gem.

P.S. How are those slave worked diamond mines going?

See also,
   Pat Robertson: "Let's not make a joke of ourselves."
   $8m investment in Liberian Slave mining.

The emperor and the dark side of the force...

Would I spy on you? In a heart beat!

Recent weeks their has been a public wrangling over what the Prime Minster of New Zealand knew and when in relation to the Dotcom raids of July 2011. Shortly after those Raids, Kim Dotcom held a public meeting, in Selwyn during which he discussed the broader circumstances of the raids (that we now know were illegal) and the charges against him.

While Dotcom was seeking to become a permanent resident, The Security Intelligence Service (SIS), had issued a certificate opposing his application.

In mid 2010 John Key, visits California, and talks to major studio representatives. The very next day the SIS certificate is withdrawn, paving the way for Dotcom to get his Permanent Residency status.

Once the PR status is granted GCSB had no legal basis to monitor his activities, but that did not stop them. And now Prime Minister John Key has pushed through legislation to make such monitoring of New Zealand Citizens legally permissible.

The problem with this is the GCSB operates under the auspices of the Prime-minister’s office. This is the path by which persecution of political opposition comes.

It is disturbing to so many quoting unwittingly Jospeph Goebals, the Nazi minister for propaganda when they say "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Taken in its true context this quote is chilling.

Bradley Manning has nothing to hide, especially after they stripped him naked, made him sleep with the lights on, and look at what they did to him. While some people might call it dating, keep in mind at end of a date, everybody goes home, Bradley might be lucky to see photos of home.

None the less, there was national day action in New Zealand's  main centre, With MP Gareth Hughes speaking in Auckland.


See Also:
   Radio Live

The US fight-back begins

Had enough of this yet?

Slave wages hurt us all, as most spectacularly illustrated in Detroit, where the auto industry was saved in the 2009 bailout by reducing new-employee wages to 14-16/hour reducing the city's tax take and increasing demands on welfare programs thus driving it into bankruptcy.

The auto-industry is not the worst for low-wages, the fast food and big box retailers like McDonalds and Walmart pay so little (about $9/hour) that employees need state and federal support just to survive.

To make matters worse House Republicans passed the agriculture bill with industry concessions and dropped the SNAP provisions because what they wanted was so tight fisted they couldn't get through negotiations before expiration on existing legislation started to cost the producer industries money.

Surely someone must see, how this pattern of greedy behaviour is hurting America and the American Dream? Well, yes. And they are starting to push back and demand a rise in the federal minimum wage to $10/hour. This and a cost of living adjustment is supported by 80% of Americans.

If you are an American, contact your congressman and let them know that you support this too. They will move to make this happen quickly if they have to spend time taking your calls on this issue, rather than using their time to call donors for campaign donations.

Are Republicans the new Sodomites?!

Not being one to use bronze age fiction as a tool for examining serious issues, this was a little surprise, knowing how much Republicans like to bash diverse minorities using such archaic literature.

But while looking for material to add to an article about a story from Cameroon about an LGBT advocate found tortured and murdered in his home, I found what the King James actually says about gay people about one of the easiest ethical questions of substance on the planet. The answer will be a surprise to many.

Genesis 9:24 "And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him."

Ooo, he saw his dad passed out drunk and naked and covered him with a robe, that is so gay. ARE YOU SERIOUS! - The ball was in - [Gunshots- pop, Pop-pop]. [P.A.] Mr MacInroe one penalty arguing with umpire, Please leave the court.

Genesis 13:13 "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

Notice the distinct lack of reference to committed gay relationships. This is because the text is referring to the use of sexual violence against the poor and immigrants. Indeed, later we will see what Sodomites really did to piss off grumpy chops. Keep in mind the act of sodomizing visitors was an attempt to discourage visitors who might enjoy traditional hospitality during a drought. Just the same way Republicans are loathed to bring in Immigration reform and are only doing so to help their chances in 2016. Of course, they are not going to make it easy, more fences, and armed guards, any opportunity to deport them will be gleefully entertained. If you get in, you're gonna be our bitches:

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Yeah, this is the Old Testament, so El delivers bitch-pudding, but still not a word about guys who just like each other "that way".

Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 

Sporting and mocking may not be what they seem, these words are used as translations of the same Hebrew word. This hebrew word may in fact be better translated to "fondling". (Source Jonathan Kirsch's The Harlot By The side of the Road).

Genesis 26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Leviticus gives two of the more common passages offered in support of homophobia:

Leviticaus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Note the passages prior to the above prohibit adultery, human sacrifice of children to Molech, or talking smack about the big guy. The immediately following passage prohibits bestiality. All these things were practised by pagan worshippers using ritual and sympathetic magic to invoke Ba'al to bring fertility to the land, their stock and themselves. The intent of this passage is to distinguish Hebrew religious practice from those of the Pagans. This becomes particularly clear when the Hebrew word translated to "abomination" is better understood to translate to "ritual abomination", and is clearly distinct from other kinds of abomination.  If anything this passage represents religious bigotry rather than anti-gay bigotry.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Yeah, we get it, worshipping Molech or Ba'al is just not Jewish enough.

Deuteronomy 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Seriously, we got it first and second time. Yikes, El, you're so bitchy when you're jealous!

Ruth 1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

So, Lesbians, no problems here?   El doesn't seem to mind. Moving on, 1^st and 2^nd Samuel celebrates the relationship of David and Jonathan.

1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Further:

1 Samuel 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

20:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

20:6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

20:7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

20:8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

20:11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

20:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;

20:13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

20:14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

Turns out one of these lad's dads, Saul, who is a Republican Senator, home from voting for an illegal genocidal and racist war against the Amalekites, doesn't like his son's friend.

1 Samuel 20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

Little does Saul know there has been a generational change in attitudes, and his intolerance will be outdated...

1 Samuel 23:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

For a close couple like David and Jonathan what better way to celebrate victory in battle than a bit of that good lovin'

2 Samuel 1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

El is still jealous and otherwise pissed with social darwinist anarcho capitalists...

1 Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

So he's really pleased when Asa, David's son, kicks their asses in a war of liberation type invasion, Like when FDR used the National guard to defend striking dockworkers being attacked by paid thugs and screwed during pay negotiations.

1 Kings 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

Jehoshaphat, who is Asa's son and David's grandson, maintains the liberal revolution.

1 Kings  22:43 And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.

1 Kings 22:46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

 Jahonadab appears to hook up with Jehu, a boy friend perhaps.

10:15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot

10:16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

10:17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.

Josiah delivers another pounding to rightwingers, and El is happy.

2 Kings 23:7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.

El talks about what he believes is wrong with Sodomites. Gay sex doesn't feature highly, not worth mentioning really, so he doesn't bother. 

Isiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

1:13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Like the modern neoliberals the Sodomites did not hide their ways they were ripping off the poor for their greed which they worshipped by chanting "Greed is good". El has already mention how he "had it upto here" with their "ablations" (El likes Barbeque but even he has his limit, especially when others are going hungry).

Isiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

The neoliberal policies of Sodom and Gomorah, were implemented in Jeruselem, just as Reaganomics was implemented in the UK by Thatcher or in New Zealand as Rogernomics. Anyway El has plans for the Oligarch(1%ers)

Jeremiah 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

23:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.  

If your kid is a jack-ass money-lender charging interest, a thief, a murderer, an adulterer, beats up on poor people in Investor magazine or swings his baton into Occupy Wall Street Protestor's while banging their heads into glass doors,  or loves idols like national flags or the Don's toupee, throw rocks at them, says El.

Jeremiah 18:10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

18:11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

18:12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

18:13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Seriously the GOP, are pissing off their invisible friend, Tornado Ally and the deep red states a coincidence? Obviously text is not getting the message across.

Jeremiah 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy

16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Still stink on adultery even if you're in gay relationship

Jeremiah 33:26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?

El Doesn't like it when people blow him off, to put themselves first...

Daniel 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

 Mini El, doesn't give a toss about what a guy and his Centurion do in private.

Mathew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,  
8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 
8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.  
8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 
8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  
8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  
8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Mini El, says, I fucked the conservative oligarchy of Sodom and Gomorrha, and I'll do worse to these other fascists...

Mathew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Mini El, seems to be saying the gender-variant are born and made, either way he's cool with that...

Mathew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Again Mini El, confirms his "I eat fascists for breakfast attitude"...

Luke 10:10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Actually, Mini El, confesses he kind-o' likes gay folks, inviting them to drop by when they're in his neighbourhood.

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.  

17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 Mini El, has a boyfriend?

John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

Mini El, takes his boy friend home to meet Mom.

John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Mini El, Gets a PDA at dinner

John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

Philip Baptizes a gay Ethiopian.

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.  
8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 

Paul seems to be missing the point here. But it is not like he ever had form for being a people person, who does he think he is to screwing around with the bosses agenda? ...

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

This bit doesn't mean what you think it means. "with family love" is a better translation of the Greek translated to "without natural affection". That said you have to be a special kind of Randbot to be an ignorant, flip-flopping, sociopath, immune to reason and compassion.

Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Paul hates the trangenderred, Mini El would be so disapointed, (see Mathew 19:12). That said, how many years have passed when GOP members haven't screwed up in the rest of this list.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Another don't-be-a-jack-ass list, if other passages are anything to go by, sleeping around is bad news gay or straight.

1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Ripping the pissy full-of-crap, warmongering xenophobic Randbot Sociopaths and psychopaths again.

2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Tell us again how El deals with rightwing Conservatives and why he says they had it coming...

2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

So what should Paul Ryan expect?

Jude 8:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Yeah, the GOP aren't seeing heaven any time in the future...

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

"John" which ever one it was, uses "dogs" to refer to the cult prostitutes prohibited in Leviticus 18:22.

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

So lads, what ever you are doing to entertain your boyfriend, as long as you're not worshipping Ba'al, bringer of spring winds, you're sweet - unless you voted Republican.

[ADDENDUM]
Someone in the facebook audience seemed to think their was a lot of hate in this article. Many throughout history have observed that appeasing evil is evil. While the biblical characters were quite accustomed to hate, with all the stoning, poisoning and the genocide, No one here is advocating any of the bible prescription for meating rough justice. Republicans may be bat-shit crazy monutentally ignorant xenophobic elitist ass-hats, but to misquote the Riddler "if you kill 'em they wont learn nofin'."

See also:
   Cameroon activist tortured, killed

GOP strategy: Taliban - can't beat them so join them.

I've seen mention of the GOP anti Obama congressional strategy, and have blogged about it before. It is staggering for a liberal democracy, often described with terms like unconstitutional, treasonous, and anti-democratic.

Previously I have satirically compared the GOP to the Taliban for its misogynistic anti-choice legislation. In a move that could hardly be expect One GOP representative has compared themselves to the Taliban, I shi*t you not.

Back on January 20, 2009, President Obama was attending his inauguration ceremony, while just kilometres away, in a Washington eatery, 12 leading GOP representatives including Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor and GOP strategy wonk Frank Luntz. In that meeting the question was what to do about the new president. The answer they came upwith was block everything, filibuster like their pension depends on it and obstruct like the sewer was backing up.

According to Pete Sessions (R) the meeting used the Taliban as an example.

Taliban Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban. Insurgency  is the way they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. 

And these Taliban - is  an example of how you go about to change a person from their messaging to their operation to their frontline  message. And we need to understand that Insurgency may be required when [dealing with] the other side.

So far the insurgency has meant that congress has pass just 2 bills of consequence, the Violence Against Women Act, and Sandy disaster relief but only after great difficulty and failed votes. Other staggeringly pressing bills include the size of steel blanks for commemorative coins and failed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.  Congress has not been this ineffective since the 1940s.

The goal of this strategy is to the President look like a "lame duck" president, and if some some of the Sodahead conversations I've had are anything to go by, some are falling for it.

What ever happened to defending the constitution from it enemies foreign and domestic. In minds of the tea party President Blackular is the goosestepping tyrannical enemy. Well, with an extraordinary admission above, when is the Tea party Caucus undergoing extraordinary rendition? Any minute now the IRS will break down there doors and demand they fill forms to show there 501(c)4 charitable groups really are charitable and not just political groups. Oh, wait they asked that of of groups regardless of political affiliation and the only group denied 501(c)4 status was aligned with the Democrats. And no doors were broken.

The GOP strategy is no more sophisticated than a grumpy four year old at preschool who doesn't want to play with the new kid in group. Is it anti democratic, certainly they are usurping the will of the people by the popular vote. Is it treason? Well they have admitted their priority is not the welfare of the American nation.

Why aren't Americans furious? Decades of drama too exhausting perhaps or perhaps many are too poor to be able to afford to express dissent. At least some call it the beauty of neo-liberal economics - bloody nightmare that it is. At least Egypt offers an example.

'Atheists and humanists are the most discriminated groups in the country'

The religiously unaffiliated in the US is the fastest growing segment in the US and already number 20%.
Many see the lies, scaremongering, social manipulation, moral hypocrisy, and money hungry preachers and are repulsed.

Even though some US studies put atheists in a position of being less trusted than sex offenders, the religious right is organised and holds veto power of one of the two major political parties in the US. It's somewhat bizarre, because at the same time they respect Brad Pitts' work in Katrina recovery, George Clooney's ambassadorial works for human rights and are big fans of Daniel Radcliffe and Ian McKellan, not to mention the huge support for the Star Trek franchise - created by atheist Gene Roddenbury. Gene, Leonard Nimoy (raised in Jewish tradition) and two others wrote the Undiscovered Country after his acceptance of the atheist position. The script has Captain Kirk asking "What does God need of a star ship?". This is a parody of a Christian parable.


In New Zealand, the religiously unaffiliated number about 35%, but we have a similar problem to the US; as we have not yet organized a potent political force to counter the regressive politics of rightwing religious fundamentalists. It is time for secular people in America, New Zealand and elsewhere to organise. Todd Stiefel is doing his part and helped organise the Reason Rally 2012 that brought 20-30,000 secular people together on the Washington Mall. America's secular voters wielded surprising power in last year's presidential vote.

Here in New Zealand, The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists and the Humanist Society of New Zealand are working at the vanguard of bringing together secular New Zealanders. Recently, these groups worked together to bring a series of public seminars highlighting the encroachment of religious fundamentalism in our public schools. New Zealand prides itself on being an inclusive society. Religious fundamentalism is often unabashedly exclusive; this is an anathema to our Kiwi values. The failed push back for marriage equality is just one example, the vast majority of the opposition to Louisa Wall's bill was from religious groups. Too often, they offered vile arguments, scaremongering with predictions of criminal behaviour, and in at least one case blamed the drought on the discussions and push for marriage equality.

It may seem easy to dismiss these ludicrous contributions to the debate as just the product of the minds of random cranks, but the fact is they are not. The fact is too many unsceptical minds accept these assertions without question. Note that today the Bob McCroskrie's facebook group Protect Marriage NZ has over 7800 likes and sometimes posting material from the American Family Association which is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Centre as a hate group. Here is a sample from Bob himself:

When I checked today, I did not see any posts on that page by anyone other than "Protect Marriage NZ", primarily shares of statuses and blogposts by Bob McCroskrie. It sort of looks like the modern equivalent of the 1970's kook with a mimeograph in the basement. Though that appearance may be administrative because overtime an intolerance of tolerance grew in the way they handled dissenting posts.

Such intolerance of dissenting opinion is common among primarily fundamentalist groups. It seems they habitually take demonstrably wrong positions and can't stand their ideas being shown up as unsupported by anything more than sky hooks, or that the ideas they are pushing are flat out counterfactual. It creates an echo chamber effect which was so clearly demonstrated in the genuine shock of the GOP at the last US Presidential election.