Those of you who came to my Furry Fiesta concert recall me performing a song from my Furst Album entitled "Still Me." I choked up in the middle of the song... and dedicated it to a particular fur who was on one final farewell tour, and who through the graciousness of his friends, was able to see America, and to come to Furry Fiesta.
Now, it turns out that all that pomp and circumstance, all that emotion invested in him by all of the kind furries in Europe and in North America, was all due to a lie.
If all of the above is true, this is unforgivable. All I did was dedicate a song to him based on a lie. Others spent hundreds, even thousands of dollars and weeks of their time hosting him, helping him travel, throwing parties for him, etc., etc., etc., based on a lie.
I know July 4 has come and gone... and I wasn't able to make an Independence Day post thanking all the brave Shopwreckers who have served and are serving our great country... fighting for my freedom to go to a furry convention on July 4th weekend...
Was watching the morning news this morning... they interviewed the lady that went to the legislature and pushed them to pass primary seat belt enforcement in Arkansas. Turns out that it was a lady who lost her daughter in a car accident because she wasn't wearing her seat belt. The parents had taught the daughter to wear her seat belt, but that day she wasn't wearing it because she was riding with her boyfriend and wanted to be "closer to him."
Okay. So this one young lady endangers her life to be "closer" to her boyfriend, and she loses her life, and now all 2.8 million people in Arkansas are subject to basically having their cars inspected every time they pass a cop on the highway.
There have been cases made here where a person not wearing their seatbelt actually does endanger other people besides that person (due to not staying in one's seat/car during accidents), and as such, I'm not arguing that seat belt use is not the best thing for everyone. However, consider that there are some people for whom seat belt use is very uncomfortable, either due to their size or due to a recent injury or some other reason. Also consider that there are some seat belts that ratchet/lock all the way down, basically pinning the driver to the seat; this action can seriously impair the person's ability to drive by restricting his or her movement to check blind spots.
Not trying to speak ill of the dead. I just thought it was telling that everyone in Arkansas is subject to routine interior car inspections pretty much because one young woman was acting in an irrational manner.
Just a final reminder that a good time to find me at Anthrocon is in the Artist's Alley on Friday (assuming I get a seat.)
At this location I will have both my CD's with me so you can check them out. For just $10 per CD you can wreck shop anytime you want ^^ You can check out the CD's designs right here. You can even order them from that page if, for example, you can't make it to Anthrocon and want them delivered to your door instead ^^
Saturday and Sunday I will be pretty busy so I won't be in the Artist's Alley... but definitely check me out on Friday :) I hope to see you there. Have safe travels and a fun con!
Starting tomorrow, failure to wear a seat belt becomes a "primary offense" in Arkansas. This means that a law enforcement officer can pull a driver over and issue a ticket just for observing that the driver or certain passengers are not properly buckled up.
At the surface, I 100% do not agree with this. Primary enforcement would only mean more government interference and control in our lives. I think Arkansas got it right with the old law. I really like New Hampshire's law: you don't have to wear a seat belt at all there. Truly "Live Free or Die," and I am cool with that. Adults know full well the risks behind not wearing a seat belt, and it should be their right to choose to ignore that. No one else is harmed because an adult chooses not to wear a seat belt.
I understand that insurance premiums can be raised and health costs can be needlessly increased due to failure to wear a seat belt, but last I checked (at least in the policy I'm under) insurance companies can decline to cover injuries resulting from failure to wear a seat belt... please correct me if I'm wrong here.
And no, I do not want to be protected from myself. I drink three bottles of Mountain Dew a day, and I know that is bad for me. Why isn't there a law saying "only one bottle of Mountain Dew a day?" Monster now has warnings saying "no more than three cans a day." By that logic, everything that's bad for you should be banned. Smoking??? B&. Alcohol??? B&. We the People Bureaucrats have to protect us from ourselves, right?
And another thing that I don't get is: why do drivers and passengers have to wear a seat belt, but motorcyclists do not have to wear helmets??? As the nephew of a man who will never be whole again after his near-fatal motorcycle accident, I'm pretty sensitive to this issue.
Sure, the majority of U.S. states already have primary seat belt enforcement. That doesn't make it right. By that logic, the majority of U.S. states have laws or amendments banning same-sex marriage.
However, it was then mentioned by a couple of Shopwreckers that wearing a seat belt can keep a driver secured to his or her seat and keep the driver in control of the car during a minor accident, and this in itself can keep a minor accident from becoming major. I have no problem with this reasoning, and as such, I guess I have no problem with primary enforcement after all. Besides, I mentioned twice in full disclosure that I wear my seat belt. hehe
And just another plug: this entire conversation was had yesterday on Twitter. You could have been a part of this discussion realtime if you were there too. :p
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the GLBT rights movement. Today, GLBT people are still fighting for equal rights and full acceptance in American society.
The American Civil Rights Movement is defined by Wikipedia as encompassing the years 1955-1968. (The phrase "American Civil Rights Movement" redirects to that page.) In 1954, blacks were segregated by rule of law in most American, especially Southern, establishments--including schools, restaurants, and public transportation. In 1968, the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President.
It took blacks about fourteen years of fighting alongside millions of non-blacks to go from de jure and de facto segregation, to equality under the law. Some say that blacks still don't have true equality, but the fact remains that the law is more-or-less colorblind and has been for about forty years.
In those same forty years, GLBT Americans have been fighting alongside millions of heterosexuals for equal rights, and the result has been states and even Congress passing laws further discriminating against GLBT Americans. The negative sentiment is so great that even a President hailed worldwide for being forward-thinking has not been able to stem the tide of bigotry just yet. Progress is being made, but there is still a long way to go, not just in relationship equality, but in employment equality, immigration equality, protection from crimes rooted in categorical hatred, and so on. Forty years later.
Perspective. It's always good to have a clear one.
I'm reading LJ friends entries and seeing MJ died this, MJ died that, MJ died oh noes!, MJ died so what?, MJ died now the children of the world are safe, MJ died whatever...
The Lead Shopwrecker hereby decrees that the moniker "MJ" shall hereby and forever, in all of Shopwrecker Nation, be applied to the person--and only the person--known as Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan is MJ. Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. It's a shame that even some Chicago-area Shopwreckers did not get this memo until now. Well, now you have the memo.
First of all, thank you all sooooo much for your votes and your support. Because of you, we pulled off the come-from-behind victory... the final margin was four votes. I don't think the next round starts for another couple of weeks or so... :)
I am thinking that Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. could become a regular time slot for ustreaming in the Shop... tonight went really really well ^^ was a lot of fun indeed
playing for four hours in fursuit can be tiring... but I got some really good practice in... maybe the songs on Shop Music are piano-adaptable after all with enough rehearsal XD
speaking of Shop Music... I need to post the lyrics and such... and get it on CDBaby and iTunes... it is time
I am absolutely in awe at Shopwrecker Nation right now. As of the last *pushes F5 again*, we are up by five votes. Wow... *blushes* It's not over yet though... hopefully we can keep it up and hang on. =^_^=
To try to say "thank you" for your support, tonight at 8 p.m. Central time I will fire up Ustream and get fursuited up and start playing your favorites and learning new soon-to-be favorites. Usually I'm making beats or recording vocals on Wednesdays, but right now I can't thank you all enough, so I will try to do what I can tonight to say "thank you." I'm going to get a movable webcam after work so I can have the laptop beside me while I'm playing so I can see your requests and your comments. If you have any nice ideas, feel free to comment with them below, and I will check them at work and put them on YouTube autoloop and see if I can learn them... I listened to "No Boundaries" yesterday at work and it took maybe an hour to practice and learn the song and make the video to it. I definitely have to learn some alien- and space-themed songs for Anthrocon. And I have a pretty nice holiday songbook for Megaplex but could always use more material. I also have other songs to learn, including one that is long overdue for a video, so the next few days will be busy ones :)
In other news... got a call during last night's Ustream that my cable and internet was about to be cut off. Nice job, cable company. Even nicer job to me for somehow missing a payment. But it's taken care of now, and the internet won't be cut off during tonight's concert, so I hope to see you there!
another shop wrecked by Paw Recognize Paw Studios in conjunction with Project Furban. DJ Fennec absolutely murdered this track. 100x better than the original. Dayyam. And I won't even discuss my part right now. You can discuss it right down below in the comments
This is the point where I wish I had voted third-party, or worse, just not voted at all. This is the point where I regret the fact that I voted for a man who lied to all of GLBT America. The single most influential reason that I voted for the current President...
...was all based on a f*cking lie.
At this point, I hope Obama suffers some major public relations disaster and is not renominated in 2012. I am done with him.
EDIT: On Feburary 28, 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama released an open letter in which he stated: "Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does."
RE-EDIT: In the same open letter, then-candidate Obama also stated that "I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system."
F*cking Liar Again, and no progress has been made on UAFA either.
Recently, the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of Tony Pietrangelo, a former Army captain who was discharged under the military's policy, enacted in 1993 and signed by President Clinton, which bans from serving in the armed forces anyone "members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts, state they are homosexual or bisexual, or marry or attempt to marry a person of the same biological sex." In praising the Supreme Court's decision, Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, said that "Military service is a privilege, not a right, not a right, and anything that detracts from the ability of our service personnel to fulfill their mission should be prohibited," and that "the sexual tension that would be introduced by forced cohabitation with homosexuals indisputably fits into that category."
I can't think of really anything that I agree with Tony Perkins on, but I will put this one up for adjudication by the most significant collection of voices out there--that of Shopwrecker Nation. As such, today's Journal People Poll to you LiveJournal readers is:
Poll #1413654military service
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All
Concerning able-bodied citizens who otherwise meet all qualifications for military service, what is your opinion?
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone comments you and asks— and, believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming. Nothing is exactly as it seems.
Kissed any one of your LiveJournal friends? — Yes. Been arrested? — No. Kissed someone you didn't like? — No. Slept in until 5 PM? — Yes. Fallen asleep at work/school? — Yes. Held a snake? — Yes. Ran a red light? — Yes. Been suspended from school? — No. Experienced love at first sight? — No. Totaled your car in an accident? — No. Been fired from a job? — No. Fired somebody? — No. Sung karaoke? — Yes. Pointed a gun at someone? — Yes. Did something you told yourself you wouldn't? — Yes. Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? — Yes. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? — Yes. Kissed in the rain? — Yes. Had a close brush with death (your own)? — Yes. Saw someone die? — No. Played Spin-the-Bottle? — Yes. Smoked a cigar? — Yes. Sat on a rooftop? — Yes. Smuggled something into another country? — No. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? — No. Broken a bone? — No. Skipped school? — Yes. Eaten a bug? — Yes. Sleepwalked? — Yes. Walked on a moonlit beach? — Yes. Ridden a motorcycle? — Yes. Dumped someone? — Yes. Forgotten your anniversary? — Yes. Lied to avoid a ticket? — Yes. Ridden in a helicopter? — No. Shaved your head? — Yes. Blacked out from drinking? — Yes. Played a prank on someone? — Yes. Hit a home run? — Yes. Felt like killing someone? — Yes. Cross-dressed? — No. Been falling-down drunk? — Yes. Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? — Yes. Eaten snake? — No. Marched/Protested? — Yes. Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? — No. Puked on an amusement ride? — No. Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? — Yes. Knitted? — No. Been on TV? — Yes. Shot a gun? — Yes. Skinny-dipped? — No. Given someone stitches? — No. Eaten a whole habenero pepper? — No. Ridden a surfboard? — No. Drunk straight from a liquor bottle? — Yes. Had surgery? — No. Streaked? — No. Been taken by ambulance to a hospital? — No. Tripped on mushrooms? — No. Passed out when NOT drinking? — Yes. Peed on a bush? — No. Donated Blood? — No. Grabbed electric fence? — No. Eaten alligator meat? -- No. Eaten cheesecake? — Yes. Killed an animal when not hunting? — Yes. Peed your pants in public? — Yes. Snuck into a movie without paying? - Yes. Written graffiti? — No. Still love someone you shouldn't? — No. Think about the future? — No. Been in handcuffs? — Yes. Believe in love? — Yes. Sleep on a certain side of the bed? — Yes.
...goes to Kansas City area resident Scott Roeder, who has been charged with the shooting assassination of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was serving at his church as an usher when he was shot and killed.
---------------------
Does anything further need to be said? This is terrorism. And I will not be affiliated with any terrorist organization. If that means Christianity, then so be it.
RE-EDIT: Upon further review, pounced.org has an 18+ policy. As such, unless someone presents evidence that Alan knew beyond a reasonable doubt that the kid was only 15, I'm treating Alan as innocent. Regardless, the kid's parents are just as guilty for not supervising their kid and keeping him off of sites that are clearly 18+.
I will reiterate that I had a splendid time at Morphicon. I got to meet and hang out with many close friends, some for the first time in person. I went fursuit bowling for the first time with some of those friends. Over a hundred furries are now listening to furry hip-hop music (or playing frisbee with it) thanks to Morphicon, who put on one of, if not the first urban-themed furry conventions in the fandom. The experience of being a Guest of Honor is one that I will cherish and am grateful for, and one that will help me to grow and to better serve my Shop in the years to come. =^_^=
I will go ahead and address this now, that I had many Shopwreckers and others ask why I accepted the invitation to Morphicon in the first place, given the reputation it had as an adult-themed convention. I will admit that I took the invitation into serious thought based on the comments I received from those who I told about it beforehand, and deliberated for a good while before I accepted it. I will also admit that I would have attended Morphicon last year had my graduation not been the same weekend, and I seriously considered skipping even that. My conclusion was that, in the end, I cannot allow myself to pre-judge a convention based on the comments of others who attended the convention and didn't like it (especially because of just the fact that it has an adult nature), when I myself have not attended the convention. Of those who I confided in, there were just as many that recommended Morphicon, and even said they love it and go every chance they get.
Having now attended the convention, and thus having full standing to make a judgment on the convention's merits and demerits, I will go on record as saying that I would not hesitate to attend Morphicon again. Heck, I'd go back just for the Nerf battle, which was paws-down the most fun I've had at a furry convention in a long time. :) As far as the adult aspects of the convention: I will also go on record as saying that I did not witness any adult/mature goings-on at Morphicon that I haven't witnessed at other furry conventions. (To preempt rebuttals, I was not present during the Atomic Spectacle of Doom; thus, I did not witness any alleged streaking incidents.) Even if I were at the Spectacle, or any other adult events/programming: I'm an adult. As such, I am pretty sure I have the ability to decide not to attend any programming I don't want to. Choosing not to attend the erotic art panel is no different than choosing not to attend the fursuit games. As far as whether or not Morphicon "represents" what the furry fandom should/shouldn't be: I don't know about you, but I don't claim to be the arbiter of such.
I am fully accepting of differing viewpoints on Morphicon here in this journal, as I have been in the past, on this journal and otherwise. (I've edited out a bunch of stuff that was posted here, and screened/frozen some comment threads related to what was edited out; what's done is in the past; we've apologized and moved on; there are too many Shops to wreck to sweat the small stuff.)
So my leo_lovely was so totally Guest of Honor at RCFM. Yes, this happened. :) In addition to many other things... which I don't have time to post about.
Huge shoutouts and big ups to Morphicon for a splendid weekend :) I will try not to knock down so many chairs at the Atomic Battle of Doom next time =^_^= Thanks for letting me chill with you all... I will never forget the awesomeness XD
RCFM retains its Kill-Me Con status through 2010.
Back in Texas this week... and once again I'm six days behind on LJ so yeah
“Livejournal, This is goin on Livejournal
This is goin on Livejournal
This is goin on Livejournal cause
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
This is goin on Livejournal
This is goin on Livejournal
This is goin on Livejournal
This is goin on Livejournal cause
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
D-R-U-N-K
D-R-U-N-K
D-R-U-N-K
D-R-U-N-K
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
Damn I'm fucked up right now
Damn I'm fucked up right now
Damn I'm fucked up right now
Damn I'm fucked up right now
I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk, I'm drunk up in this mothah fuh....
I'm drunk... *fades*
Ah shit”
...are hereby awarded to ken_redtail for unearthing some pretty damn good furry hip-hop... by a mundane, no less:
midwestcougar, thank you for watching the Keys with diligence. ken_redtail, guard the Keys carefully while they are in your possession. sumatrae gets to keep his Keys.
To hear furry hip-hop written by a furry, about furries, for furries, you still have about five hours left to pre-order Shop Music via PayPal. The CD's get mailed today!
To see furry hip-hop written by a furry, about furries, for furries... Morphicon, Friday, 7 pm. =^_^=
money you can bake, more time you can't make all the haters gon' hate ya if you're real or you're fake 'cause that's their life calling, only mission they could take go'on keep your tails waggin' dawg, let them boys hate more money you can bake, more time you can't make all the haters gon' hate ya if you're real or you're fake 'cause that's their life calling, only mission they could take go'on keep your furry swagger, dawg, let them boys hate
reminder... Paypal Preorders: $12 gets you Shop Music, $20 gets you Shop Music AND Orange and Black: The Furst Album. Offer good until May 13 at 11:59 a.m. Central. Shipped from my Shop to your Shop on May 13. =^_^=
EDIT: This post was supposed to stand on its own, but for some reason I inadvertently overwrote the 500 Youtube subscribers post with this one. My bad.
I've finally made it to Wednesday LJ posts, and read some of the flood of congratulations for Maine and Gov. Baldacci (who by the way just owned both Vermont and Iowa), and I had this thought:
The Constitutionally-based viewpoint that marriage should be left to the states directly contradicts with the federal Defense of Marriage Act that bans federal and interstate benefits to married same-sex couples or domestic partners, per the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution that states that the actions of one state have to be recognized in all the other states. This same clause renders the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Either that, or I do not understand the Full Faith and Credit clause.
Download and listen to Episode 52 - Widdershins and get your share of lulz as we answer e-mails and discuss issues and just plain have fun. Plus a nice musical interlude by yours truly :)
If you want to question my Christianity for appearing on KnotCast, feel free to do so, and I will feel free to summarily ignore you and laugh at your idiocy. (Yes, I went there.)
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