Remember To Vote This Election...

This is via Travesty In Training, my acoustic comedy duo. For more information, check the link to the right:

Wanna Puke? Or Maybe Load A Gun?

Which One Is Scariest?

In honor of the most godless of holidays... at least to the severely religious... Halloween, take a look at the following videos and tell me which one terrifies you the most... For me it's a tie between #1 and #3... mainly 3, but seriously, cupcakes?:

Awesome/Terrifying Website

GO HERE!

Baptism: Why? or Why Not?

My fiance' and I have been talking lately about the future (as soon-to-be-married people are oft to do), but we've had trouble coming to a "win-win" solution. Here's the question:

To Bapt or not to Bapt?

Now, obviously neither of us want to have a baptism for our children, but we both recognize that our families might feel different. My mother, I'm sure would probably want it and my fiance' seems to think her mother might as well.

While we're both in agreement that it's not something we want to do, we've split in one aspect of the discussion; Can't we just let our parents do it if they want it?

My feeling is that, because the ceremony has no meaning to anyone outside of that faith and the child certainly doesn't know what's going on, then what's the harm of letting our parents, the baby's grandparents, have their baptism? It doesn't change the baby and it certainly doesn't affect or hurt anyone in the least bit. The child grows up not even remembering the day, and the people we care about that feel it is a necessary ceremony will have their rest-easy feeling. My fiance' and I just won't be a part of that day. Our parents, if they want to have a baptism, can plan it and arrange it and take the baby to church and get them dipped. We won't be a part of it, but no harm in letting them do it, and why create an unnecessary fight or make any one upset over a sink of water?

But my fiance' thinks otherwise. If we don't want it, then we shouldn't allow it to happen in any situation... or should we? We're both unsure as to what to do. Both points valid and, I'm sure, arguable by anyone. Her main point being that, we're The Parents and we should raise our children the way we want to. I can completely see the point and we just don't know what to do when that time comes.

It's interesting to think that we both have the same reason for either not wanting it or not minding it. But here's the difference in opinion: Hers being that, because we don't believe in the ceremony, we shouldn't allow it to happen to our children. My opinion being that, because we don't believe in the ceremony, who gives a shit if they do it and it makes our parents happy.

So what to do?

Dip, no dip?

Let me know! Oh, and by the way, we are not I repeat NOT having children anytime soon. We were simply discussing it last night for when we do have children. Just wanted to make a disclaimer!

What The No-Hell Is Sarah Palin Trying To Say Here?

This quick clip boggles my mind. Palin (who can kill a 600 pound black bear simply by throwing a bullet) tries to make a joke... about Biden being old.... being old....OLD. When you have a running mate that has daily meetings with the Angel of Death, I don't think an "old man" joke works. When she tries to explain WHY the joke is at all a... joke... she really only manages to say she's a terrible candidate. Congratulations Sarah; I have an I.Q. of 142 and you have managed to use your fucking "folksy hockey-mom sensibilities" and make me drool from confusion.

I know I'm at risk of sounding like the meanest person on the webbynets, but fuck it: Now I know where Trig got his smarts.

Oh, Bill... It's Just Like You!!

I loved the Lil' Gordon Ramsey, but I think this MAY top it. I'm not sure, the Gordon was such a smooth production. Oh well, you decide:

Little Bill O'Reilly.

Ladies And Gentlemen; "McSame's Strongest Supporter"

If this doesn't make you sad to be American, I don't know what will:

SNL: Stop Not (making me) Laugh

Remember when SNL was funny? Remember when it was a great platform for a comedic generation? Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, etc. All on the show at the SAME TIME. Now look. We have... the guy that does this tame character over and over... that girl who does that character every week... that other guy who is in every sketch... that girl who everyone says is funny but I haven't seen it yet. (Kristin 'nintendo' Wiig)

The problem? The current cast has become so determined to create recurring characters that they have forgotten the main point of the show; Sketch Comedy. Not, "Isn't this chracter funny? I talk so funny! I look hilarious!" That's one step up from improv comedy and we know how 'funny' that is.

Are there any REAL shining cast members? I know, I know, Wiig is hilarious. I would say she's more just funny sometimes and when you compare that with the basically wall-paper level comedy in the rest, it stands out.

So why are they so focused on characters? I think it starts with the career take-offs that came with the mid 90's cast. The rocketing success of the likes of Mike Meyers and Adam Sandler showed that characters stick in the mind of the viewer and really CAN help a career. BUT... only if the characters are really creative and, more importantly, the characters DON'T BECOME A MOVIE!! That's death. Career and comedy death. No, using SNL as a springboard is fine, but you have to develope, move on, and create anew. Perfect examples being Sandler, who went on to develope a rather succesful career and basically being fun. He was able to take the character style that comes with SNL and expand that to a workable career. Mike Meyers did this as well, though more so because he was the only cast member to carry an SNL character over to film succesfully. (A minor example is Will Ferrel, but he's really just bringing more SNL characters to the big screen and with diminishing success. Try more Stranger Than Fiction, Will!)

The damage of this previous success is seen in the work of the current cast. They're more focused on the success to come and not SNL. You can see this in the amount of outside work that the cast is doing. Everyone seems anxious to become the next SNL cast member to 'break out' that they aren't being cohesive. The simplest reason that the mid-90's cast worked so well is that they were working TOGETHER. They had fun and you could tell when the cameras rolled. Even when the 'Gap Girls' couldn't manage their lines without cracking up, the sketch worked because we were able to laugh with them. Everyone worked the sketch for the sake of the sketch, not so one cast member could showcase a new 'hilarious' character.

Wigs and make-up and a funny accent don't create comedy, it's the originality and spark in the work. When you focus on the spotlight, you can't create that. Are all the sketches horrible? No. I still enjoy a sketch here or there. (As much as I don't want to admit it, Andy Sambergs Digital Shorts and SOMETIMES be entertaining and some of the cast manage to do a pretty good job fairly regularly. Mainly, I miss Tina Fey.) But the consistant question I ask my self every week I manage to catch the show is, "Why did that sketch make it on the show?".

So... SNL, I know the cast can be funny. You've proven it in rare moments. All of the cast is talented and I'm not arguing that at all. You ARE funny. Just focus on SNL, not what you're going to get from it. You have to be great before you can expect the label.

Obama The AntiCrhist?

This guy is Jim Bramlett. He's a former employee of CBN and Campus Crusade For Christ, you know, the college level nazi recruitment group? ANYWAY, Jim seems to have a theory about Barack Obama. Let's read shall we?:

Dear friends:

Barack Hussein Obama has taken the nation by storm. From obscurity, with zero executive experience, or much of any kind, he has vaulted into the position of Presidential frontrunner. It is stunning. On the surface, it appears attributable only to his eloquent oratory and his race. But an invisible factor may be a strong spiritual force behind him, causing some people to actually swoon in his presence.

I have been very concerned that he has publicly said that he does not believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. This makes both the Bible and Jesus a liar, and it means that Christ has died in vain. A person cannot be a true Christian who believes that there are other ways of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life with God. Only Jesus has paid the price for that.

Therefore, there is, indeed, another spirit involved. And this spirit has come into our national life like a flood. Last week at Obama's acceptance speech, that spirit exalted itself in front of a Greek temple-like stage, and to a huge audience like in a Roman arena. Omama was portrayed as god-like. His voice thundered as a god's voice.

At the end, Democratic sympathizer Pastor Joel Hunter gave the benediction and shockingly invited everyone to close the prayer to their own (false) gods. This was surely an abomination, but it was compatible with Obama's expressed theology, and Hunter's leftist leanings.

God was not pleased.

Well, he's definitely not happy. But what could save us from this heathen? I mean, surely this is a force to be reckoned with. We need SOMEONE!!

Enter Governor Sarah Palin. With incredible timing, the very next day, Sarah Palin also appeared out of nowhere. Her shocking selection as John McCain's running mate stunned the world and suddenly took all the wind out of Obama's sails.

We quickly learned that Sarah is a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, attends church, and has been a ministry worker.

Sarah is that standard God has raised up to stop the flood. She has the anointing. You can tell by how the dogs are already viciously attacking her. But they will not be successful. She knows the One she serves and will not be intimidated.

Back in the 1980s, I sensed that Israel's little-known Benjamin Netanyahu was chosen by God for an important end-time role. I still believe that. I now have that same sense about Sarah Palin.

Today I did some checking and discovered that both her first and last names are biblical words, one in Hebrew the other in Greek:

Sarah. Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. In Hebrew, Sarah means "noble woman" (Strong's 8283).

Palin. In Greek, the word means "renewal." (Strong's 3825).

A friend said he believes that Sarah Palin is a Deborah. Of Deborah, Smith's Bible Dictionary says, "A prophetess who judged Israel…. She was not so much a judge as one gifted with prophetic command…. and by virtue of her inspiration 'a mother in Israel.'"

Only God knows the future and how she may be used by Him, but may this noble woman serve to bring renewal in the land, and inspiration.

Jim

(His emphasis, not mine)

So what do we learn from this? That there are some amazingly stupid people out there. "Look! That person fits our narrow, ignorant lifestyle!" "She's from GOD!!!!". Maybe God shouldn't send someone who's down with killing animals from planes. Or maybe someone who blindly supports a pipeline regardless of the impact on Alaskan wildlife. Somehow, that doesn't seem Christ-like, does it? Would Jesus come down from heaven and tell Rape victims to cough up cash? Maybe.

Here's my letter:

Dear Jim,

You're a dumb, mildly racist fucking asshole.

Love,

Ray