Friday, July 09, 2010

Friday Photo Dump

Have a great weekend!

First, some interesting sign combos


If you pay them enough...



I understand the Tournedos Rossini special is fabulous!



Nothing to see here...



Oh... that's what He died for! They told us in catechism it was for our sins. Although Dunkie's coffee is a sin as far as I am concerned...



Apparently embryos are also Egg McMuffins

And yet you're still a queer Blanche!



Another McDonald's entry


And here are a couple of new products...


Holy Thongs Batman!



Friggin' Hello Kitty Maxi-Pads!



SpongeBob SquarePants Rectal Thermometer

Get out the Yikes Meter again!

My hubby, the paparazzo, has this thing about getting yearbook photos of celebs that he is on assignment to photograph. He goes to the local high schools and colleges and digs up these flashback photos and they usually do quite well on the "tab" market. 

JoeMyGod had an excellent post today (well more than one actually). The one to which I am referring is a yearbook photo of someone for whom I have a lot of respect as she is a smart, erudite, politically savvy woman with her own show on MSNBC; Rachel Maddow. I will say that I did not expect to see what I saw. 

And now for your viewing pleasure Rachel Maddow... then and now:



House Party Tomato News

Last year, you may recall, I was given a pair of Topsy-Turvy Tomato Planters by my dear Mom-in Law Deb. I planted them and posted my results in this blog as seen here, here, here and here. As the local papers were warning of a tomato blight affecting tomatoes sold at big stores, I decided to buy my plants at a local place called CapeAbilities Farm which is manned by folks from the community that are challenged in daily life. I tended them faithfully, watering them daily, pinching, fussing, you know the drill. You can see video of the progress here. I really was getting a great crop of tomatoes then illness struck.

After having this very lunch with The Contessa di Pomidoro at The Outer Bar at The Wequassett Resort I went home feeling a little tired and took a nap. By 6pm I had a temperature of 102 degrees and was quickly falling into a terrible case of pneumonia. It was to last three long weeks (in August) and the loss of my voice for those three weeks and for two more besides. It was dreadful. Anyway during my illness my hubby, Mr. B, took good care of me but completely neglected my tomato plants so that when I emerged from my sick bed my plants were basically dead and all of the tomatoes were either rotten or dead. 

This year without thinking I went to a nursery to look at some annuals and I saw San Marzano Plum Tomatoes (the kind that Lidia Bastianich is always raving about) and thought that I would raise them and can them for use this winter. I had completely forgotten about the blight warnings from last year about buying tomato plants at nurseries.

I planted them and soon afterward one of the plants developed some black edged leaves and some of the branches were sort of wilted even after a good watering so I thought that I'd better get out the pruning shears and get busy. I hacked off anything that looked suspicious on that plant. (I planted two new, fresh Topsy-Turvy planters again this year.) The other plant looked fine but I did keep a watchful eye on both. Then the second plant started developing the same symptoms. I did the same with that one; hacking off anything that looked suspicious. Now, while the plants are not as large as they were last year I am starting to get some fruit being set on the vine. I found my first tomatoette this morning! I am going to be very diligent with these plants so that I will get at least 1 quart jar of tomatoes out of them if it kills me and them too. 

I can taste the marinara sauce already!

Federal Court in Boston rules Section 3 of DOMA "Unconstitutional"!!

From the Boston Globe:

A US district court judge in Boston yesterday declared unconstitutional a 1996 law that bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Judge Joseph L. Tauro, ruling in two separate challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, declared that the law “induces the Commonwealth to violate the equal protection rights of its citizens’’ and “plainly intrudes on a core area of state sovereignty, the ability to define the marital status of its citizens.’’

“This court has determined that it is clearly within the authority of the Commonwealth to recognize same-sex marriages among its residents and to afford those individuals in same-sex marriages any benefits, rights, and privileges to which they are entitled by virtue of their marital status,’’ Tauro wrote.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who brought one of the two challenges, said the decisions would apply only to the approximately 16,000 same-sex couples who have married in Massachusetts since gay marriage became legal here in 2004. They will now become eligible for the same federal benefits extended to married heterosexuals, she said.

“Judge Tauro’s decision does not technically apply to other states,’’ Coakley said. “It doesn’t change anything in terms of how they treat marriage or how they’re treated by the federal government.’’
But opponents as well as proponents of same-sex marriage predicted that the Obama administration will appeal the rulings to the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston and that the constitutionality of the law will be decided by the US Supreme Court. During an appeal, it is likely that the law would remain in effect, lawyers said.

This is a great day for marriage equality in this country. Now comes the knuckledraggers with their portents of the doom of the family and the horrors to be let loose on the children. 

 Cue the professional douchebag Kris Mineau:

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, called Tauro’s decision “another blatant example of a judge playing legislator.’’ “We believe it’s an egregious decision by obviously an activist judge, and it runs counter to previous federal decisions in other districts,’’ he said. “The federal government should have the right to determine [who receives federal] benefits.’’

Read the decision below and rejoice in the great day!

(The painting is Amor Victorious, by Caravaggio)

DOMA Decision

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Photo-Bombs

The Urban Dictionary defines Photo Bomber as:

" someone who either intentionally or unintentionally ruins an otherwise normal photo. The "photo bomber" will be doing such things as: making faces, gestures, naked, or getting naked, in a costume, or doing some other equally hilarious action. The photo bomber will usually work in the background of the photo."
 
Here are some particularly funny ones.
 
 We have this couple who apparently don't notice the two Latin guys having "face time"

  
You may have seen this one on TV

 
Those nasty boys!

I hope the window cleaner is coming sometime soon. 

Who would have thought that Professor Hawking was a photo bomber? That scamp!


Barnstable County Fair... in 10 Days!

It's only 10 days until the opening of the Barnstable County Fair! The opening act on the stage is The Village People. Frankly I'm surprised they aren't called The Village Centennarians. They must be 130 years old by now. Anyway I am looking forward to going to the fair this year. I went last year with The Contessa and B&T. I hope they are available this year too. We'll see. Hope to see you there!

More Diet Stuff

I work at a company on Cape Cod. If you are not aware of it, the Cape business community for the most part does not enforce strict guidelines for business attire. If you work at a bank, financial institution or a company that has uniforms you are typically required to dress for work but otherwise pretty much anything goes around here. It is called "Cape Cod Casual". 

Because of my Jenny diet I have been slimming down but I have yet to go out and buy any new clothes because I haven't settled at a new weight and don't want to spend any money on clothes yet. I have a couple of pairs of jeans that are from my fattest days and a pair from slim days.

I was getting ready for work this morning and I had decided that as it had cooled off a bit that I would wear jeans and a short-sleeved Oxford-cloth shirt. I had ironed and starched the shirt to within an inch of its life and the pleat in the back of the shirt was so sharp you could slice prosciutto with it. I slipped on the shirt and then the "slim days" jeans and while they fit well in the rear and the thighs, the waist was just a touch snug so I decided to wear a pair of the larger ones. I slipped those on and buttoned them. I reached for a belt to secure them and my pants fell right to the floor like a prom dress! What a great feeling... from being way too plump to having my old clothes literally falling off of me! 

La vida e bella!

Jenny Craig Diet Update, Week 14

It is Jenny report time again. Some background. Last week I neglected to report my results. I GAINED 0.4 pounds last week. Ugh! Not awful but I do like to keep it in the negative column. I went out to dinner in Provincetown with my gang on Sunday night. We went to Ross' Grille where I had a delicious Arugula Salad with a light White Balsamic Dressing that was tangy yet not overpowering and quite complementary to the salad. The salad was topped off with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. Oooo... it was yummy! Then I had Pan Roasted Cod sitting on Mashed Potatoes and surrounded by Wilted Spinach with Cannelloni Beans. Goodness was that delicious. I'd say that was one of the best meals I have had in P-Town in a long time. 

Then on Tuesday night, Mr. B suggested that we take a drive (it was a very hot day) with the top down on the Jeep to A&W Root Beer in Harwich for Coney Dogs ($.99 each on Tuesdays). I knew I was going to Jenny on Wednesday and I figured that all the sodium in hot dogs would skew my diet results but it was just one of those lovely times on Cape Cod that you just say "f*%k it" to the diet and do it. So "in for a penny, in for a pound" I ordered 3 hot dogs and I shared my husband's fries and onion rings with him. I did opt for the diet root beer though. 

Off I went to Jenny Craig yesterday and to my surprise I had lost 2.4 pounds! I was certain that I would have gained at least a pound or even more. I am delighted with the results. That makes 40.4 pounds in 14 weeks. Check back next week for the exciting results!

Robert Knight of Coral Ridge Ministries: Repeal of DADT will lead to forced abortions


There are times when religious right figures say things so nastily homophobic, so unbelievable that it's a waste to decipher the comment.

The only thing you can do is just allow the comment to speak for itself.

Today's piece by Coral Ridge Ministry writer (and perennial anti-gay) Robert Knight on DADT in the Washington Times is a perfect example. Here is a choice morsel:
Forcing open homosexuality on the armed forces would destroy the volunteer military and bring back the compulsory draft. Since women are now deployed close to combat, and the only legal reason they are not eligible is their combat exemption, a new draft could include our daughters. And some would face pressure to have on-base abortions in order to complete their tours of duty.

Chaplains would be the first victims of Mr. Obama's homosexualization of the military, followed by anyone who violated "zero tolerance" policies for homosexual acceptance. Bible-believing Christians would quickly find themselves unwelcome in Barney Frank's new pansexual, cross-dressing military.

Other fallout includes family housing, reduction in retention, recruitment and unit cohesion, an increase in homosexual sexual assaults and a boost to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

He forgot the rampant cannibalism and forced tattooing. Or does that come later? I wouldn't know because national headquarters hasn't sent me the latest copy of the "Gay Agenda" as of yet.

It's not surprising to hear Knight go off the deep end about lgbts. After all, what else can one expect from a man who freely cites the work of the discredited Paul Cameron; a man who believes that gays wallow in feces when we aren't sticking gerbils up our rear ends.

FHP's Headline of the Day

I am not going to touch this one!

The Perils Of Being A Wedding Photographer

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Whack-Job Gov. Jindal (R-LA) Signs Bill To Allow Concealed Guns In Church

What could possibly go wrong?

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law one of the more controversial bills from the recent legislative session, one allowing guns to be carried into houses of worship.

[...]
[State Representative Henry] Burns' [R-Haughton] bill would authorize persons who qualified to carry concealed weapons having passed the training and background checks to bring them to churches, mosques, synagogues or other houses of worship as part of a security force.

Oh yeah... he also signed a bill forcing women who have abortions to have an ultra-sound first. 

These people have shit for brains!

Connecticut Priest Embezzles $1.3M to fund lavish lifestyle and Rentboys!

It's getting to be that a headline like the one above is standard fare these days. But really... $1.3 million??!!?? That is one sick old fairy to be stealing that much money. Shame on her! (By the way... the photo at left is Pius IX's "tiara". No wonder all of those Catholic priests are seemingly queer... their Boss wears a friggin' TIARA!)

A Roman Catholic priest in Connecticut has been arrested on charges he stole $1.3 million in church money over seven years to use for male escorts, expensive clothing, and luxury hotels and restaurants. Waterbury police say the 64-year-old Rev. Kevin J. Gray was charged Tuesday with first-degree larceny. Gray is the former pastor at Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazon Parish in Waterbury.
The Hartford Archdiocese last month asked police to investigate after it discovered during a financial review that he might have taken more than a million dollars for personal use.
Gray was Sacred Heart's pastor from January 2003 until April 15, when he was granted a medical leave. He was later suspended but still lives there. Telephone messages were left at Sacred Heart and the office of his public defender.

Twice-Married, Twice-Divorced Governor of Hawai'i Vetoes Civil Unions Bill

Calling it "marriage by another name" Hawai'i governor  (and full-time "see you next Tuesday") Linda Lingle announced she will veto civil unions legislation (that's right... civil unions... not marriage) passed by both houses of the Legislature of Hawai'i. Obviously the twice-married, twice-divorced Lingle is so concerned about the sanctity of marriage (theoretically at least) that she cannot bring herself to let the will of the Legislature and the people of Hawai'i pass her desk. 

This is why, people, we need to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. The knuckle-draggers of this country want to make this country a theocracy with their own brand of Christianist worldview. The rest of us, Buddhists, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Wiccans, atheists and agnostics can just leave America, I guess. 






(Is my gaydar not working right or is that woman a big old Lesbian?)

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

The vultures are circling!

Watching the Republican Party self-destruct is one of life's pleasures on a hot Cape Cod day...

From ThinkProgress.Org:
This past Friday, video surfaced of RNC Chairman Michael Steele speaking at a fundraiser in Connecticut about the war in Afghanistan. While some of Steele’s comments at the fundraiser were clearly inaccurate — such as his claim that the war was of “Obama’s choosing,” when it was started by his predecessor — he also made reasonable, debate-worthy arguments that engaging in a prolonged land war in Afghanistan is unwise.
  • Leading conservative pundit and McCain presidential campaign advisor Bill Kristol called Steele’s comments an “affront…to the commitment of our soldiers” in Afghanistan and demanded that the chairman step down. [7/2/10]
  • RedState founder, leading movement conservative, and CNN contributor Erick Erickson said that Steele “has lost all moral authority” and he “must resign.”7/2/10] [
  • Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Steele’s remarks were “totally unacceptable” and said that he should “apologize and resign.” [7/03/10]
  • Former Bush State Department official and Keep America Safe founder Liz Cheney said that Steele’s Afghanistan comments were “deeply disappointing and wrong” and that it is “time for Steele to step down.” [7/4/10]
  • This morning on ABC’s This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said there was “no excuse” for Steele’s comments and told host Jake Tapper that “Mr. Steele is going to have to assess as to whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee.” [7/4/10]
  • Speaking on Fox News Sunday today, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) demanded that Steele “apologize to our military” and said that Republicans “need a chairman who’s focused.” [7/4/10]
  • On CBS’s Face The Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called Steele’s remarks “unwise” and said “we must win this war.” The senator was thankful, however, that Steele was “backtracking so fast he’s gonna be here fighting in Kabul soon.” [7/4/10]

Disaster in the Gulf

  • “In the 77 days since oil from the ruptured Deepwater Horizon began to gush into the Gulf of Mexico, BP has skimmed or burned about 60 percent of the amount it promised regulators it could remove in a single day.” The disparity “underscores what some officials and environmental groups call a misleading numbers game that has led to widespread confusion about the extent of the spill.”
  • “The Defense Department has kept up its immense purchases of aviation fuel and other petroleum products from BP even as the oil company comes under scrutiny for potential violations of federal and state laws.” The company has “contracts worth at least $980 million” and “was the Pentagon’s largest single supplier of fuel” in fiscal 2009, providing nearly 12 percent of total Defense fuel purchases.

And now for a message about the TSA

Did you know...
  • According to GAO, TSA inspectors spend 33% of their time inspecting, 8% on incidents, 5% investigating, 5% on "outreach", and 49% of their time on "other." Other?
  • 10% of usable TSA equipment (worth millions) in transit is stored for 2 years or more due to poor logistical processes.
  • During the first 3 months of 2007, the TSA Logistics Center received eight explosive detection systems units at a cost of about $7 million.  As of January 2009, all eight explosive detection systems units remained in storage at the Logistics Center.
  • In December of 2009 TSA leaked a full copy of its 2008 S.O.P., screening protocol, and other security standards onto the internet.
  • In June 2007, investigators testing the TSA checkpoint screening process were able to smuggle prohibited items past security despite passing through secondary screening and pat-downs.
  • TSA has not deployed any of the 10 technologies it has created since 2002.
  • 50% of part-time TSA screeners quit their job in 2006.
  • 20% of part-time screeners left their job in 2008.
  • From 2002 to 2007, roughly 67,000 TSA employees quit or were fired from their jobs. There are roughly 44,000 screeners in the workforce.
  • In the period 2002-2006, TSA screeners lost 3674 badges and uniforms.
  • In 2005 TSA lost a portable hard drive, with data that contained social security numbers, bank data, and payroll for over 100,000 employees.
 Feel safer yet?
 

Creationism vs. Evolution


What you are about to see and hear are the comments made by a science teacher (that's right... I said a science teacher) reflecting on the trials of teaching evolution to a group of students raised in the creationism, bible-belt, shit for brains state of Ohio, in this case Dayton. (Also the state that gave us John "Spray-Tan" Boehner, Bob Ney and Ken Blackwell.) The teacher by the way is one of the "believers".

And people wonder why Americans are beginning to lag behind other countries in producing scientists. Amazing!


Correction: This was shot is Dayton, Tennessee, not Ohio. Please change reference to Ohio to Tennessee. Also, John Boehner is still an idiot and Noe and Nye are still crooks. 

Monday, July 05, 2010

FHP's Best Headline of the day!

From Huffington Post:


"A Coalition of the Heartless, Clueless, and the Confused"

That was the headline and photo that linked to Paul Krugman's column in the NY Times. 

Reposted for emphasis!

For the record:

I use an advertising banner program from Google Ads to populate the ads on my web page. It is easy to use and it has generated a very small yet viable revenue stream from my site. Google's web "spiders" crawl my page and grab key words from the site and then match ads to the site content. It works pretty well sometimes. Today is not one of the days I am happy with Google ads.

Why you ask? I was posting the pizza diet post and looking at the preview of the post when I noticed something horrible... something so anathema to me that I had to fire off this post immediately. There was an ad for Rep. Jeff Perry, R-Sandwich, MA, and his bid for US Congress to replace Rep. Will Delahunt!

Let me say unequivocally that neither Frenchy's House Party, nor Frenchy, nor any of his contributors endorses Rep. Perry for that position or believes that he would be an appropriate candidate for any public office considering what he has done (according to the public records).

I just wanted to set the record straight.