Monthly Archives: February 2012

“What a lot of Americans, what a lot of Floridians, want is someone who will actually go into Washington, kill the shark and let Americans swim freely again in that pond of American economics.”

– Governor Rick Perry, promoting Newt Gingrich in an interview with a Tampa, Florida TV station.

I’m certain, in an alternate universe, this statement actually makes sense.  But, when I consider the source, trying to figure it out makes my head hurt.

In Michele Bachmann’s home district, evangelicals have created an extremely homophobic environment.  After the suicides of several gay/lesbian teens, some are beginning to fight back.

Personal note: I’m glad Bachmann didn’t even get close to earning the GOP nomination for President!  I could go into further detail on my thoughts about her, but I don’t want to offend any farm animals.  On top of that, you’d think these evangelical Christians would have better things to do than harass a bunch of damn queers – stuff like, oh, donating money to food pantries, volunteering at animal shelters.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” – Matthew 7:1

“She said, ‘If we just say it’s about investigations, we can defund Planned Parenthood and no one can blame us for being political.’”

— An unnamed source at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, pinning the blame for Komen’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood on former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel.

Ah hah!  As expected, the finger-pointing begins!  I have a couple of fingers for people who make medical decisions based on politics.

Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, 2012

10 A.M.to 4:30 P.M.

National Museum of the American Indian

4th St. and Independence Blvd. SW

Washington, D.C.

Next weekend The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) celebrates one of the world’s most beloved foods, chocolate. “Theobroma cacao” was for the Maya and the Aztec people, as its Latin name indicates, a “food of the gods.”  Chocolate – a product indigenous to the Americas – literally has a bittersweet world history.  Once Europeans discovered it, they couldn’t get enough.  But, for the native peoples enlisted (enslaved) to harvest the cacao crops, it became a curse.  The upcoming festival presents an opportunity for visitors to explore chocolate’s complete culture and history.  I know this is short notice, but for anyone in or visiting the Washington, D.C., area, it would be worth the effort.

“It’s a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach.”

— Alabama Republican state Sen. Shadrack McGill, offering a novel argument against raising teacher salaries. But McGill, who was speaking at a prayer breakfast, defended a 62 % pay hike Alabama legislators approved for themselves in 2007.

And, God forbid that we should pay our educators a livable salary!  That would ruin the whole concept of teaching.

Dallas is finally starting to recognize the contributions of Mexican-Americans with an exhibit at The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture in downtown Dallas.  In conjunction with the Dallas Mexican American Historical League, the museum presents a photographic exhibit documenting the history of Mexican-Americans in Dallas since 1900 that opens on February 10, 2012 and will run through May 27, 2012.  As a Hispanic/Mexican/German-American, I have to say it’s way past time for such an exhibit!