Fuck Off Friday: Westboro Baptist Church

I don’t think any organization pisses me off more than the Westboro Baptist Church. The attention seeking drama whores have appropriated my god for their own gain, using Him to gain power and money over others, as a tool in their business plan of ego. They use my lord’s name in vain and set themselves up as false prophets for profit.

I don’t mean cussing. Fuck that. I mean using the word “god” for themselves, in their own self-righteous vanity. They say “God hates fags,” claiming to know God’s wishes, thinking that they’re so right that everyone one else is less than in their wrong-doing and sin.

They’re so vain, they probably think my god is about them.

What they do hurts me. It affects how people look at me as a Christian, as a bisexual, and as a human being.

And what is the best way to handle hate? Comedy. Comedy can take an awful, horrid thing and make it laughable. It can take the power out of hate, the pain out of hurt. It can point out the indiscretions and stupidity of a group, person, or act and make it less.

First, I give you The 30 Best Anti-Westboro Baptist Church Protest Signs from BuzzFeed.

Not one of the BuzzFeed is this happy sign I found:

DSCF0690.JPG

This cartoon of Jesus telling WBC off in a Family Guy style pleases me:

The Foo Fighters have gained my esteem for this counter-protest:

And I think my all time favorite response to Westboro Baptist Church is this interview Russell Brand:

He’s the perfect mix of listening and attempted discussion, with humor and levity at the ridiculous points (and there are many). He handles the whole thing absolutely flawlessly with grace and decorum and comedy.

I’d bum a fag from him anytime.

I heard a rumor that WBC is contemplating coming to Minnesota to protest our soon-to-be new law letting the gays get married. Frankly, I feel this means we’re on the right track :)

But really, let them come. And if they do, let’s not shout back at them with hateful words and angry chanting. Let’s not give them that kind of power. Let’s ridicule the ridiculous with light-hearted cheer. Let’s organize a flash mob with rainbows and glitter. Let’s knock them down with comedy.

Let’s hit them where it really hurts.

Today’s Vote For Gay Marriage.

The Minnesota House is voting on a bill today that would legalize same sex marriage. It’s been a long, hard road for many people leading up to this day and I only have one thing to say to legislators about today’s vote.



Please don’t fuck this up. Oh God, please don’t fuck this up.



I hate getting my hopes up for these things but it sounds like this bill’s going to pass. I want to just breathe a sigh of relief but this could get fucked up at the last minute and I’m not going to be totally satisfied until the votes are all counted and it’s clear they didn’t fuck this up.



This could be huge. Allowing gay couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals in this state is not only a step forward for Minnesota, but each state that does this shows this country is moving in the right direction and that it’s only a matter of time before gays have complete equality in this nation. Each step in the right direction counts.



As long as the MN House doesn’t fuck this up.



I cannot stress the importance of not fucking this up enough. If they fuck this up, there will be more and more campaigning, ads, volunteers, debates, lawn signs, ads, hurt and arguments. This issue is not going away and if gay marriage isn’t legalized today it’s supporters will never stop fighting for it.



So don’t fuck this up. Please.

Meme a Hero

The country was stunned and thrilled yesterday when reports came out that three women who have been missing for over a decade were alive, healthy and soon in the arms of their loving family.



Amanda Berry, Georgina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight were allegedly held prisoner in the home of Pedro, Onil and Ariel Castro. The women were freed by neighbor Charles Ramsey after he heard screaming coming from the Castro house. Here’s a recording of the 911 call that Ramsey made –







Uh… okay. The 911 recording has become a bit of an overnight viral sensation but the important thing is that these girls are safe. Let’s take a look at a local TV interview with Charles Ramsey shortly after the rescue –







That clip… has also become an overnight viral hit but let’s focus! This is a serious matter! This man was a big part in ending a 10 year nightmare for these women. Let’s hear him set the record straight with Anderson Cooper –







Jesus. Always with the McDonald’s. It’s like his socioeconomic status holds him to a different set of standards and priorities than people who don’t have to worry about where their next meal comes from. His mannerisms and world outlook is just so DIFFERENT than real people! That’s hilarious!



Let’s take this seriously. Please. These women were most likely systematically raped over the course of a decade. They’ve had no contact with the outside world. One of them has a kid now. Let’s focus on the facts and not on Charles Ramsey’s hilarious interviews. Before you know it somebody’s going to auto-tune this –







Jesus. It hasn’t even been two days and this guy has been completely memed.



charlesmeme



You see… It’s funny because he’s black.

Yeah, That Was a Great Sho- SQUIRREL!

I’m going to tell you a story about last night.

Some of you know that Bill and I have both spent an awful lot of time involved with the Monday Night Comedy Show. He performs there every few weeks or so, and has about 75 performances there tucked under his belt (the only one with more performances is P Bau, with 76. He got an award. It was a big deal). I’ve been going to, performing at, and helping with the MNCS since show #8. Bill and I did a lot of our dating at MNCS, and when Bill asked me to marry him, the first thing we did was set a date. The second thing we did was ask the host of MNCS to officiate our wedding.

Several years ago, when the show was just starting out and numbers were low, I found myself in a meeting where talk of shutting down the show occurred. It was about that time of that meeting that I made the MNCS logo (I saw the need for a little marketing and branding, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to help out friends in need).

I get royalties in free shows. Worth it.

I get royalties in free shows and a neat little Viking pin. Worth it.

The kids decided not to shut the show down, and last night, the show celebrated 6 years of near weekly performances.

As happens to me frequently, I was double booked, but after an awesome rehearsal, I went to the MNCS anniversary show and caught the last half. If you were there, you know how awesome it was. If you weren’t, there’s no way I can describe it.

But the takeaway from this is that my husband, who only drinks about once a month or so, was served by a bartender of legend, who pours the stiffest drinks this side of the Mississippi. So my husband was DRUNK. Repeating the same thing 50 times drunk. Rambling about the same thing, trying to make a point he made 5 minutes ago but doesn’t feel like he made sufficiently yet. Telling me secrets that weren’t secrets, dropping things, waking the boy while being super loud while trying to be quiet.

He was really fucking drunk, you guys.

I’m the sober cab, and I get him in the car, and drive towards home. And he’s rambling over and over about how awesome his coworkers are, and other such ramblings. I pull up to our house about 11pm. Our next door neighbor is on his front sidewalk, with ropes hanging off his boulevard tree, tying something to the end of it.

This calls for further investigation.

So we ask what’s up, and the guy says that his buddy is in the tree, getting rid of some squirrels that have started stealing their insulation. Not killing them, but knocking down their houses so that they realize it’s an unsafe place and move on.

I wonder if their homeowners insurance covers act of man, or will they have to fund their new homes out of pocket?

Anyway, I look up, and sure enough, there’s a guy in the tree, with safety ropes and harnesses and everything. and he’s pulling up the thing that was tied to the rope up to him. “Say- what is that tied to the rope?”

Beer. The guy in the tree wanted a beer, and my neighbor sent one up to him with his own safety ropes.

And it’s at this point Bill says “so you mean there’s beer in that tree?” And then decides he’s going to climb the tree to get some beer. My neighbor is encouraging this, and I try to talk him away, and he’s trying to decide how he’s getting up that tree with it’s lowest branches 15 feet off the ground. 5 minutes later, he realizes that there are ropes.

He’s becoming serious. and he is far too drunk. So I whip out the ultimatum that says I’m serious… I mean, I’d never follow through on it, but some couples have key phrases to let the other one know they’re serious. “If you try to climb that tree, you are never getting laid again.”

And then my husband says a thing that in my mind, totally sums up him, his ability to cut through bullshit, and get to the point of the matter. That he can assess with such ease, even while drunk as fuck, the exact situation, prioritize his desired outcome, and communicate effectively his intent and wishes in a deliberate and concise manner.

“Woman, I’m pretty sure I can get a slut like you to have sex with me again, but that is TREE BEER.”

Bill did not climb the tree last night. Instead, he set up the hookah, flipped off a police officer while he wasn’t looking, told me secrets I already knew, and made cold hot dogs with mayo even though we have a working microwave. But even though he didn’t climb that tree, I feel he will always have tree beer in his heart.

Pretty Girls in Trouble

I haven’t followed this Jodi Arias trial at all.



I’m not trying to sound superior or anything when I say that. My favorite forms of entertainment are cartoons, kung fu movies and anything zombie related so I can’t really pass judgment on what other people watch. True crime drama just doesn’t do it for me. That’s all.



Thankfully, cnn.com has posted an article for people like me who have missed the nonstop, 24 hour, meticulous, all encompassing coverage of the trial. Just like every other trial by media in the last few years, it’s pretty much come to the conclusion that she’s guilty while trying vainly to seem unbiased. Also, like every trial by media in the last few years, it’s involved a pretty white girl –



Damn.  I'd let her stab me 27 times and shove me in a shower stall IFYOUKNOWWHATI'MSAYIN!

Damn. I’d let her stab me 27 times and shove me in a shower stall IFYOUKNOWWHATI’MSAYIN!





Before Jodi Arias it was Casey Anthony –



I'd let her drown me in a swimming pool IFYOUKNOWWHATI'MSAYING

I’d let her drown me in a swimming pool IFYOUKNOWWHATI’MSAYING





Before that (and I guess it’s in the news again for some reason) was the Amanda Knox trial –



I'd let her stab me in the throat in my apartment in Italy IFYOUKNOWWHATI'MSAYIN!

I’d let her stab me in the throat in my apartment in Italy IFYOUKNOWWHATI’MSAYIN!





Think about it. Would everybody care nearly as much if these girls weren’t seriously hot? I think this country just likes seeing a pretty white girl get raked through the coals every once in a while. Don’t get me wrong, the crimes they’re accused of are really fucked up and, at least for Knox and Arias, there’s a bunch of weird sexual intrigue going on but there’s plenty of weird sex crimes going on all the time in this country and we don’t look at them twice. For example –



Dawn Peel awoke her boyfriend with a kiss one late night in October and asked him “do you love me?” He said “yes” and then she started sawing at his throat with a fucking chef’s knife. She apparently thought he was cheating on her and was living up to an earlier promise to get revenge on him in his sleep.



This story didn’t make it past a couple city pages articles though. Was it because the victim survived the attack or was it because she looked like this –



dawn peel



She doesn’t look that bad for 50, I just doubt she’s going to get any offers from Vivid once she gets out of prison.


Fuck Off Friday: Blasphemy

I am a Christian, and most people would say I am smarter than you.

I don’t mean that I know more than you do, or that I actually have more intelligence, or that I put it into practice more often. I probably don’t even make better decisions than you. One time, I did drunk DDR with a guy who managed to break both of his legs within the same year in two fairly non-leg breaking activities. And I plan to repeat the activity. I guarantee you that you make better decisions than I do.

No, what I mean is that my IQ is probably higher. Which is a silly thing to judge a person on, but it happens all the time… that fucking number. It means dick-all. I tell my son repeatedly that it doesn’t matter how smart you are, or what you’re capable of. What matters is what you do with those abilities.

But so many people put stock in that number. If I told you what it was, you’d be all “shit, son! You’se smart.” And I wouldn’t even correct your grammar, because that’s a dick thing to do.

I bring up intelligence because it comes up ALL THE TIME around me. There is a stereotype that Christians are dumb. I have been told point blank that I am stupid because I choose to believe in a God. I’ve been told that I’m too smart to be a Christian. There’s a pervasive idea that people have to choose to either accept God or accept science. That the two can’t exist in the same space, and the idea is promoted by activists on both sides of the divide, which wouldn’t exist at all if people didn’t keep creating the damned thing. The concept does a disservice to both.

It is illogical to have a faith, therefore the person with faith must be illogical. Now, I will agree that faith is an illogical thing. If I applied logic to my faith, 2 things would happen. First, I wouldn’t be a Christian. It’s probably the most ridiculous of all the beliefs still practiced, the idea that the son of God was killed and then came back to life. WHAT ABOUT DECAY? He wasn’t even a zombie. Second, if I applied logic to faith, IT WOULDN’T BE FAITH!!!

I bring up all of this because today’s theme for Fuck Off Friday is Blasphemy. I was wandering the internet, and I stumbled across jesuschristarcade.com, and my first thought was not OMG THOSE HEATHEN FREAKS ARE ALL GOING TO HELL. No, it was “huh, I wonder if it’s Jesus bashing or satire.”

And the lovely answer is that though there are bits of both on this site, but mostly, it’s just Jesus themed silliness. Though I disagree with Jesus having to dodge science books to shoot down airplanes taken over by terrorists with laser beams that shoot out of his eyes before the world trade center collapse, my major complaint is that the science books perpetuate a stereotype. And it’s an issue because it’s the one *I* have to deal with all the time.

But fuck is Super Jesus fun.

Another favorite Jesus flash game is Run Jesus Run: aka the 10 second gospel you have 10 seconds to beat the game by moving with arrows and clicking the spacebar to “do Jesus things.”

Flash games not your thing? There’s a LOL Jesus meme out there. I went to Know Your Meme to get the best ones. Click the image to go to that page and browse the blasphemous goodness:

a79

And to close on a high note, Adam and Eve in Epic Rap Battles of History:

I hope you all have a good Friday. Not a Religious Good Friday. Just a pleasant closing to the week.

I’m Afraid to go Outside Right Now.

Yesterday I heard repeatedly on the radio about how we’re going to get 3-7 inches of snow. How the morning commute was going to be shit. Meteorologists kept going on about this freak May snowstorm that was going to blanket the Twin Cities with a thick, heavy slush overnight.



This morning I turn my computer on and find out that it was worse than predicted. As much as 13 inches have been dumped as far south as Rochester and as far north as Brainerd.



I look outside and not a drop or flake is on the ground.



…what?



There… was a snowstorm, right? I get that meteorologists can fuck up their predictions sometimes but the news said there was snow!



Here’s a map with the three cities listed in the beginning of the article I linked. Minneapolis is right in the middle of that –



How...

How…





Apparently there’s snow all around me but there’s no snow in Minneapolis. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad there’s no snow but now I’m just scared that it’s waiting for me out there. Like, the second I get outside the snow’s all going to fall down in one clump like a cartoon and then the tow truck drivers come and tow my car for snow emergency because they’re a bunch of evil Satan-worshipping wizards!



…I’m putting on a jacket just to be safe.

Jerking Off for Awareness and Other Charitable Acts.

Many of you know that I participate in several charity events throughout the year. I do several charity walks (listed on the side bar of jenayoung.com) My next one is this Sunday with my son’s stepmother who has effectively gone deaf due to MS. If you’d like to donate, you may do so at http://tinyurl.com/JenaMS. I’d really appreciate it, as I haven’t managed to raise any money for this one yet.

My son and I at the 2010 AIDS walk.

My son and I at the 2010 AIDS walk.

For most people, all that walking sounds like a lot of effort. It’s not really. But I always get people that say things like “Gross. Is there charity work I can do that’s more fun?” Well, you can’t, but I can.

I also help organize and participate in a couple of gaming marathons with High Charity. The money from the gaming marathons goes directly to Child’s Play Charity, and organization that puts gaming consoles in the rooms of hospitals with long term care children. Playing video games helps bring a bit of normalcy into an environment that is often cold and stale and scary. Our next marathon is a Masocore Marathon over Memorial Day Weekend, where we play difficult and frustrating games. You should watch us at highcharity.org and give us money for doing stupid things.

But still, for some people, that’s just too much. “An entire weekend of gaming? Gross. Is there a Lazy-a-Thon or something I can do?”

    How about a Float-a-Thon to raise money for Ronald McDonald house?

    A Review-a-Thon, where you post as many reviews on Amazon as you can.

    And yes, there is an actual Laz-a-Thon, where every dollar donated is another minute the participants don’t do anything.

But as good as all this sounds, I think my all time favorite that I happened to stumble across this morning is the Masturbate-a-Thon. A marathon of masturbation to raise awareness for, well, masturbation. The goal is to put jerking off, rubbing one out, and wanking in a positive light. It’s produced by the Center for Sex and Culture, and I can’t tell you how tickled I am that there is one. They’ve done streaming and such in the past, though I can’t find anything on the event past 2011.

I guess they just tired themselves out.

Union Free Twinkies

Okay, guys. I know that Jason Collins came out of the closet and that’s groundbreaking and a huge deal but we need to talk about something important. Snack cakes.



It seems as if Hostess will be hitting the shelves again pretty soon. I found out from this image that’s been floating around facebook the last couple of days –



from the facebook post:  "Twinkies are back! (At least they will be by July.) Two companies have purchased the Hostess assets and will reopen four plants and hire 1,500 workers – and all of this will be done union free!! LIKE if you will buy a union free Twinkie to celebrate!"

from the facebook post: “Twinkies are back! (At least they will be by July.) Two companies have purchased the Hostess assets and will reopen four plants and hire 1,500 workers – and all of this will be done union free!! LIKE if you will buy a union free Twinkie to celebrate!”





This little gem came from the facebook group ForAmerica, the offical page of foramerica.org. foramerica.org is a nonprofit started by conservative pundit L. Brent Bozell III to serve the dual purpose of trying to repeal Obamacare via the use of memes –



*the viewpoints of foramerica.org do not necessarily reflect those of Tardar Sauce, aka Grumpy Cat.

*the viewpoints of foramerica.org do not necessarily reflect those of Tardar Sauce, aka Grumpy Cat.





and sucking the GOP’s dick through creepy fanfic –



This could totally be the beginning of a Republican porno.  "Trickle Down Her Back"

This could totally be the beginning of a Republican porno. “Trickle Down Her Back”





Also their website has a freedom meter. I don’t even know what that’s about –



maybe it's like a scientology e-meter.  You grab onto a couple of metal rods and somebody asks you a bunch of questions about eagles and fireworks or something.

maybe it’s like a scientology e-meter. You grab onto a couple of metal rods and somebody asks you a bunch of questions about eagles and fireworks or something.





Whatever. I’m not going to try to explain to them why unions didn’t cause the collapse of Hostess to these douchebags. Plenty of people have tried on the comment thread of the pic and failed. I will, however, say this. I don’t care that Hostess is coming back.



Turns out America didn’t collapse with the absence of Hostess. Sure, Batman had to work a little harder to get away from mummies but other than that I think we did alright as a country in the last few months –



Batman's been slipping ever since he found out he can bribe most villains with sweets.

Batman’s been slipping ever since he found out he can bribe most villains with sweets.





So sorry, ForAmerica. I think I’ll pass on the union free twinkies. I’m trying to cut back on sweets and bullshit union demonizing. Besides. If I really want some packed with chemicals and lard sponge cake Little Debbie has been my dealer since Hostess closed anyway.



OK so they're not union either but all employees are shareholders and Swiss Cake Rolls are better than Ho Hos anyway.

OK so they’re not union either but all employees are shareholders and Swiss Cake Rolls are better than Ho Hos anyway.

FINGERNAILS

Okay. Resolution Monday time. Let’s talk about nail biting.



When I originally decided to throw this one on my list of new year’s resolutions I figured it would be a slam dunk. It’s honestly not that big of a problem but I thought it would be one that would be easy to solve. After almost five months it turns out I’m having an easier time keeping off booze than I am keeping my fingernails out of my mouth.



It’d be so easy just to give up but I’m going to stick this out. Let’s see what options I have to help tackle this nail biting problem of mine.



HYPNOSIS
Pro: Could help me stop biting my nails through hypnotic suggestion.

Con: Once hypnotist has opened my subconscious for suggestion they can program me to do anything they want. Rob banks for them, assassinate their enemies. I’d be their helpless puppet.



WRAPPING HANDS IN TAPE
Pro: Wouldn’t be able to bite nails due to hands being wrapped in tape. If enough tape was wrapped around hands, could use them as a wrecking ball like some shitty comic book villain.

Con: Would need help going to the bathroom. Also would need help doing anything else in life that requires hands.



SETTING HANDS ON FIRE
Pro: Couldn’t bite nails due to hands constantly being on fire. Save on electricity since every room I’d walk into would already have two small fires burning. Light people’s cigarettes for them. Look incredibly badass.



Cons: I see absolutely no cons to my hands constantly being on fire.



Looks like I might be onto something here. I’ll try this out and get back to you guys if there are any downsides.