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Archive for May, 2009

Deb’s House Concerts

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Watch Dolly Parton on Larry King Live

Dolly Parton Discuses Rumors She is Gay

KING: You — you’re unusual in many respects. You’re a great entertainer. And I mean, the Kennedy Center Honors don’t happen to many. You also have a lot of gay fans. You’ve even dealt with gay rumors yourself. What is your appeal, do you think, to the gay community?

PARTON: Well, I think the gay people have always liked me because I have always been myself. I’m not intimidated by how people perceive me. I don’t judge nor criticize people. I think that’s another reason that they at least know that I’m sympathetic. I think all people have a right to be who they are. We’re all God’s children and God should be the one to judge, not other people. So I have a lot of gay friends, lesbian friends. I work with a lot of people. I am not gay. I have been accused of that. But I have been happily married for 42 years to the same man. And he’s not the least bit threatened, you know, by the fact that I may be gay. And he knows I have a lot of friends. But I love everybody. It doesn’t matter to me.

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin Has Photos

In sharp contrast to yesterday’s aggressive breakup of a peaceful Slavic Pride march in Moscow by riot police, a “Rainbow flash mob” of between 100 and 250 LGBT people and supporters marched peacefully today in St. Petersburg.

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Jeremy, at Good-As-You posted a video of the spontaneous, joyful celebration in San Francisco just over a year ago when legal marriage became an option for same-sex couples.

CastroInTheStreets posted this:

On May 15, (2008) the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry. I followed the celebrations around San Francisco all day and talked to people about what this means to their lives.

Related:

Yesterday, the court in California chose not to overturn Prop8.

Why the California Court’s Decision Is Good for Gay Marriage
Prop 8 Decision: We Won’t Back Down
California Marriage Equality — How We Will Win
What Will Marriage Equality Supporters Do During the Prop 8 Rallies?
Why President Obama Hurts His Own Cause By Not Addressing Homophobia in the Black Community

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Deb’s House Concerts
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Memorial Day 2009

I want to post about three things today, Obama’s Memorial Day Weekend video address, General Wesley Clark’s support of Beyond Tribute and D.A.D.T. (Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell).

Obama’s Memorial Day Weekend Address

SAT, MAY 23, 12:00 AM EST

Weekly Address: Sacrifice

On Memorial Day weekend, President Obama calls on the American people to join him in paying tribute to America’s veterans, servicemen and women – particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice – and their families.
(Includes video.)

Gen. Wesley Clark

General Wesley Clark wrote an article for Huffington Post. He is encouraging us spend our Memorial Day shopping dollars at stores that have made a commitment to give part of their sales receipts to “medical treatment and family support for veterans.” It’s called Beyond Tribute.

Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell.

How much do UNequal rights cost?

Gays Have Served Honorably in the War on Terror

It’s time to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

DADT-761067

More Memorial Day Posts:

Obama Honors Troops On Memorial Day (VIDEO)
Obama’s Memorial Day Celebration At Arlington Cemetery
Memorial Day Roll Call Honors 148,000 Veterans
An Insult to Service
Rev. Irene Monroe: Who celebrates our queer servicemembers on Memorial Day?

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Start Here

** Watch Mike Rogers on The View **

Mike Rogers Threatened On Let’s Talk Live

I watched Mike’s interview onWashington, DC News Channel 8’s Let’s Talk Live (video online), and I found it interesting that Doug McElway was so passionately opposed to Mike’s work that he said he wanted to “punch you across the face.”

I Did Not Take It Seriously

I did not take the threat seriously at first. I saw it more as an indication of Mr. McElway’s own discomfort with the topic of homosexuality, especially the topic of hypocrisy and living a double life.

Following the Story on BlogActive

Since then, I’ve been following the story on Mike Rogers’ website, BlogActive. For about five years, Mike Rogers has made it his work to ‘out’ politicians who live a ‘gay’ life and vote an ‘anti-gay’ life. He said he is not in favor of ‘outing’, but he is opposed to hypocrisy.

I See Mike’s Point

When I watched the interview with Doug McElway, I thought maybe he was hyper-sensitive, because he was hiding something. Since then, I’ve seen in posts on BlogActive.com that Doug McElway has a history of speaking in a hostile manner to and about lgbt persons on his television show.

Catch Up on the Story

Thursday, May 07, 2009Anyone have a face mask?

Friday, May 08, 2009Back on Let’s Talk Live Monday and those threatening emails ,UPDATE: THEY JUST CALLED AND CANCELED. NO REASON.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009AOL exposes McKelway and his onair tirade…

Thursday, May 14, 2009 – Time to turn up the heat…

Saturday, May 16, 2009 – Now this is odd , Bringing you up to date on the Doug McKelway campaign

Monday, May 18, 2009 – Keeping in touch

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 – Prepping

Thursday, May 21, 2009 – Busy Day Tomorrow

Friday, May 22, 2009 – Today, I Told a Fib, The View … Video

What I Realized

I realized, over the course of a few days, that this is not about Doug McKelway’s fear of people being ‘outed’ against their will. This is about his abusive speech directed towards a guest on his show, a guest who happens to be gay. And he, as a public figure and television personality, may well be showing by example that it is okay to bully gay people, or worse.

What I Did

I went back to my post from the other day and added an update saying this:

UPDATE: May 22, 2009

I was wrong to imagine that Doug McKelway was simply uncomfortable with the idea of public figures being ‘outed’, and that was why he was so hostile towards Mike Rogers.I’ve read more about him over the past couple of weeks, and I now believe he has demonstrated a pattern of hostility towards lgbt persons.

As a public figure and potential ‘role model’ (a negative role model, showing others that it is okay to bully people who are different in some way), he has crossed the line in a way that should be addressed.His open hostility and suggestions of violence against an openly gay man would not be tolerated if they were directed at someone because of race, religion, national origin or any other way that people are diverse.

He did not behave with journalistic integrity in that piece, and it now looks like he has a pattern of misbehavior.

I believe a public apology by Doug McKelway, to Mike Rogers, is in order.  I should have revisited this sooner.

I hope Doug McKelway’s employer will address this issue with him soon.

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Yanni Concert in Raleigh, N.C.

In late April, I had the opportunity to hear Nathan Pacheco in concert with Yanni in Raleigh, N.C.  I had hoped to go with a group of people, but I’d not asked them to buy a ticket for me ahead of time, because I thought my schedule would not allow me to go.

Great Schedule, Perfect Timing

As it turned out, everything worked perfectly, and I was able to go to Raleigh for the Yanni Voices concert. We arrived about an hour before the start of the show.

My First Ever Yanni Concert

I’m old enough to be in Yanni’s core fan base, but until this past April, I had never been to a Yanni concert. I was not sure what to expect.

Yanni’s Loyal Fans

What I saw was that Yanni’s loyal fans are mostly over forty years old. From what I saw of the crowd in Raleigh, the core fan group is of an age group that probably has adult children who are at least as old as these new, young singers.

Yanni’s New Fans

I imagine that Yanni is trying to expand his audience by reaching out to younger listeners. He’s made a good decision, in my opinion, by bringing out young, talented singers and writers to draw in a younger crowd.

Yanni Voices Are Reaching Younger Listeners

I couldn’t prove it by all the gray hair I saw in the audience in Raleigh, N.C., but I believe younger listeners are tuning in to Yanni and the Yanni Voices: Nathan, Chloe, Leslie and Ender.

How Do I Know Young People Are Listening?

Since I talk about Nathan Pacheco, and how amazing and wonderful his voice is, I hear from people who also love his voice, his music and his presentation. I have heard from a fan who is a teenager. And, I personally know a fan who is in elementary school.

Not a Bad Seat in the House

The Yanni concert I attended was in a coliseum location. It did not seem like the best possible venue for a  music show, but it was still good. As it began, my thought was that there could be no bad seat in the house.

As Big As IMAX

There were huge images that appeared behind the stage, like a backdrop behind the performers, that showed the faces of the singers as they sang. At times, I had to remind myself to watch the singers on stage, as well as watching the images of them. “You’re at a concert! Watch the person on the stage!” :)

Nathan’s Voice with Reverb and Amplification

You know I think Nathan has an amazing voice. Amplify that voice, add a little reverb, and it’s a “WOW!” experience. :)

Filled to the Brim

Nathan has, and is, a remarkable talent. During the opening to the show, when Nathan’s voice sounded throughout the theater, the feeling welled up in me, and I almost had tears in my eyes. Beautiful!

Such a Nice Man

Nathan is a super-nice guy. He is very humble. He loves to sing, and he loves the music. In spite of his great talent, he is not self-centered. He is truly remarkable.

Chloe, Leslie and Ender

Everyone did a great job. The singers are Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Leslie Mills and Ender Thomas. They are all very talented. I had the opportunity to visit with Nathan and to meet the other three singers after the show and visit with them briefly, too. They were all so sweet. I was really impressed. I liked them all.

I Should Have Bought a CD

I should have bought one of the cds. All the singers do a great job. There is a variety of styles of music in the show. If I had thought about it, I could have bought a cd and brought it home to keep the concert going. And, since I had the opportunity to speak to them all after the show, I could have had it autographed, too! (sigh) Oh, well! I’ll buy one the next time I see them in concert.

Take a Chance. Put Yanni Voices on Your Calendar

If you’ve never heard of Yanni, or if you’re not in the Yanni fan base, I hope you’ll step out of your comfort zone and check out this show. The show contains a few of Yanni’s crowd-pleasing instrumentals from years back. But, the focus is on these young singers: Nathan Pacheco,  Chloe, Leslie Mills and Ender Thomas

There Is Still Time

There are still a few more concerts around the USA.  The singers are doing a great job.  Discover them now, listen to them sing and see them in concert tomorrow.

Nathan Pacheco

Chloe

Leslie Mills

Ender Thomas

Yanni Voices Concert Schedule

Visit Yanni.com for information about upcoming concerts and appearances.  It looks like they’re offering 2 tickets for the price of 1 in a few cities. Lucky you! :) 2009 April Chloe-Ender-Nathan-Leslie Raleigh tight shot - brighter

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 9:02:33 AM
Subject: Feedback

Hi Nathan: If this note is really getting to you… I was so taken by hearing you in the YANNI concert in Reading, PA this past Sunday. You are an incredible performer and your music is just beautiful. Keep recording – your songs from the Yanni Voices CD have been stuck in my head. In fact, I do a lot of running and I hear them without the use of an ipod!

Lori

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Deb’s House Concerts

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I Love Stained Glass

I like the glass for the beauty of the glass. It is similar to liking a voice for the beauty of a voice or music for the beauty of the music.

Suncatchers

Maybe I like suncatchers so much because they turn and spin and capture the sun. I’m looking at the red cross with the bevel center right now. It is spinning in the sun. I’m imagining taking a short video of it to post. I wonder if it would show the changing beauty of the glass.

Glass and Flowers

Here are two photos of the glass with flowers. Pretty! :)

cross-red-bevel-with-lilies

cross-red-bevel-with-daisies

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Trying to Capture the Essense of Stained Glass

It is so difficult to capture the in-person experience of glass in a photographic image.

The Beauty of Stained Glass is Constantly Changing

The beauty of stained glass can be seen in every movement of the glass. and every ray of light projected through it and bouncing off of it.

Trying to Catch the Beauty

I keep trying to capture the beauty, so I can share it with you.  :)

More Photos of the Stained Glass Cross

cross-red-with-bevel-with-dog-blurry

cross-red-with-bevel-in-hand

cross-red-with-bevel-in-tree

cross-red-with-bevel-lava-drops-throughout

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Deb’s House Concerts

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A Mother’s Request

The mother of a boy whose first communion is today wrote to me asking if I could make 30 -35 crosses (stained glass sun catchers). She wanted something simple with red, and maybe bevels, about 4×6 or 5×7.

I Told Her I Was Too Busy

I told her I was fairly certain I would not be able to make these items by the deadline, because of other obligations in my life. It sounded like a fun project, but my time was scheduled already.

Curiosity Got the Best of Me

I just really wanted to know if I could do it. Could I create the design she wanted, and turn it into 35 sun catchers, in a few days? Was it possible?

Here Are Photos of the Prototype Piece

It is so difficult to photograph glass and have it look the way it looks in person. You can easily see that by looking at my ‘Stained Glass’ page where there are many photos of the same piece, and none are alike. It’s all about lighting and placement.

cross-red-with-bevel-in-springtime

cross-red-with-bevel-with-tree-and-sun

cross-red-with-bevel-bright-sun-behind

Blessings to You and Yours

For all who have holy days, happy days and special days with family and friends, I wish you great joy, deep happiness and fond memories that last a lifetime.

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Deb’s House Concerts

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Meth vs Gladiolas, neck and neck, May 7th, 2009

May 7th was the day the number of hits on the Meth post equaled the number of people stopping by to look at the flowers. (sigh) I’ve loved having my post with photos of flowers from my yard as the all-time most visited post on this blog.

The Flower Photos Came First

Reality is this, I posted the flowers in the summer of 2007. I posted the meth post in January 2008. So, the gladiolas and purple flowers and baby bird had a 6 or 7 month lead. Over the past year, both posts have been my top posts on most days, but the meth post has usually had just a few more visits, and it has slowly crept up to a position where it is about to choke the flowers.

Am I Serious About This?

No, I don’t take all this as seriously as it sounds, but it has been gratifying to see that people enjoy my flower photos. And, it has made me wonder about the huge interest in meth.I hope that interest is from a hands-off perspective.

Meth Users – The Survivors, The Destroyed

I’ve seen users whose lives are no longer functional. The woman I mentioned in the post lost everything.  She was probably a really nice person at the start. Nice people do get caught up in drugs.  Chemicals can change lives in ways we can’t control.

I do know a couple of people who I met years after they stopped using. (They were the lucky ones. They were able to stop.) One is a wonderful person who lost a career because of it. The other is a wonderful person who has ongoing health issues that may or may not have come from meth use, but it is an unknown.

Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Medical Services

A few months ago, I talked with a law enforcement officer from a rural area. He was very diplomatic in the way he described the kind of crime they had, but I guessed what he was talking about. “Meth?” I asked. He said yes. Low population and wide open spaces. That used to be a good thing. Live out in the country, breathe fresh air, work hard.

When I took EMS classes, I learned that meth labs can kill. You don’t have to wait to use the drugs. The process of creating the drug is so toxic that rescue people have died when walking into the room. Don’t try to turn off the stove. Get out. It can explode and kill you. And, the fumes can kill you.

Small Children in In-Home Meth Labs

One really hard part of the job for rescue workers is knowing that people have their children right there in the middle of all that poison. When children are removed from meth labs, they not only lose their home, their parents and their pets. They lose their clothes and their toys. The fumes are so toxic, they take everything from the children and wrap them up in a clean blanket to transport them to the hospital. I don’t know how it is done here, but that’s what I learned a few years ago. Some ambulances and police cars have small stuffed animals to give children when they are removed from bad situations, a toy that is small and cuddly and soft to provide some comfort in a bad situation.

Parents Crash After Days of Meth Use and Leave Baby to Die

One of the terrible stories I heard in my first EMS class was of an infant in a bouncy seat, the ones that allow them to walk before they’re able to walk. The parents had been using meth, and they’d been up for days. When all the speedy effects ended, they crashed for hours and hours and hours of sleep. It was winter. The baby was unattended, seated in the bouncy chair. The chair was stuck over an in-floor heat grate. The heat was on.  By the time the adults woke up, the baby was horribly burned.

Where’s the Silver Lining in this Very-Not-Pretty Post

Well, I am happy to report (as I have done before) that people are discovering a new source of joy in the midst of all the difficulties of life. I believe that some music can heal and calm and inspire. Listening to certain music can bring joy and hope where it was previously missing.

Nathan Pacheco Saves the Day

I love Nathan Pacheco and the gift he brings to the world. Nathan sings and  wounded, sad and lonely hearts are soothed and comforted. Nathan sings and joy leaps in the hearts of those who hear him. Every time he sings, people are touched by the beauty of his voice, his music, his words and his passion.

Nathan Pacheco’s Music Soars and Lifts Hearts

I’ve only been writing about Nathan Pacheco and his beautiful voice for about a year now (May 2008), a year later than the post about my flowers (July 2007) and five months later than the post about the dangers of meth (January 2008). In spite of that, people are searching for Nathan Pacheco, and the initial post about him is rising quickly.

Read About Nathan Pacheco. Listen to Nathan Pacheco.

The people who spend the most time on this blog are usually reading one of these three posts. The people who click other links, often started on one of these three posts. I am happy when I look at the stats for ‘clicks’ and see that people are going to the Yanni Voices page and to youtube pages with recordings of Nathan’s music.

Some Day You Will Experience the Beauty

I know that not every person loves a classically trained voice. But, I do believe that most people love to hear a beautiful voice. And, most people love to hear an instrument with a beautiful sound played beautifully. That’s Nathan Pacheco. No matter what your musical preference, take a moment some day and listen to Nathan sing. It’s even better if you can see his face while he is singing.  You will see the joy in his music while you hear it.

Nathan Pacheco in Concert

Put it on the back burner, if you must, but keep it as a possible future plan. Some day, make it a point to see Nathan Pacheco perform live.  You will feel the joy. You will be inspired. You will remember it forever.

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Joy Behar Hosts Larry King Live

Joy Behar does such a great job when she hosts Larry King Live. She’s intelligent. She speaks well. She holds her own with anyone. She has a good sense of humor.

Gay marriage and Carrie Prejean on Larry King

Joy Behar talked with Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, Shana Moakler, Director, Miss California USA Pageant, actor Stephen Baldwin and Rev. Nicole Lamarche, former Miss California.

What I Liked Most. I Totally Agree With This.

Shanna Moakler, Director, Miss California USA Pageant, said this to Maggie Gallagher, head of the National Organization for Marriage:

I think you’re pursuing an opportunistic agenda. When you hire a 21 year old girl who has never even had a long-term relationship, and you put her in a press junket that she’s unprepared for, you are not only damaging her. This is a bright, young talented woman who is going to be left with a legacy of being an Anita Bryant. She should be back home in California, and she should be doing her responsibilities.

Well said, Shanna Moakler

Watch it all here:

Gay marriage and Carrie Prejean on Larry King

Related:

Shanna Moakler Resigns as Miss California Pageant Director
Maggie Gallagher, NOM, Institute for Marriage (how to get wealthy in the hate-gay-for-pay industry)

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Grace Unfolding * SisterFriends-Together

Anita, over at SisterFriends-Together.org weighed in on the Carrie Prejean, Miss California story. She has good things to say.

Lengthy Comments on the Carrie Prejean Story

I left two comments:

1) I may be one of the ones whose comments about all of this you don’t like. I agree that the question should never have been asked. It seemed unfair to ask such a loaded question. And, the mean comments about her should never have been put up on P.H.’s site. I’m with you all the way on that.

What I don’t get is how she jumped immediately into an “I have to save marriage” role, and she’s been on a whirlwind tour of tv interviews, talk shows and has been in an ad. That was not within the job requirements of her Miss California title. The fact that she’s hired a publicist (or PR person?), who also works with big-name religious people who are anti-gay, just seems wrong.

If she wants to be the “save marriage” spokesperson, she should give up the crown and take that job. If she wants to still be Miss California, she should stop the other work and focus on doing good as a beauty queen should. I do not think she was wrong to speak from the heart when she answered a question that should never have been asked. But, I do think that she has been wrong to do all the ‘marriage’ work she’s done since then. She needs to choose which job she wants, representative of the state of CA as their reining queen, and do the expected good deeds and volunteer work, or, she should choose to be a full-time “save marriage” spokesperson and quietly dismiss herself from the beauty pagent world.

She’s too smooth for me to think this isn’t at least partly about personal ambition and promoting her own career. She may truly believe that she is speaking for God. If so, maybe she’s just being passionate about something she believes. But, it certainly looks like she’s positioning herself to be in line for lucrative deals and career opportunities.

Oh, one more thing. One reason I’m no longer letting her off the hook is that I do not believe those photos were shot when she was 17. I do understand that she might have felt the need to have a portfolio when she was starting out, but I question the need for photos like that. And, more recent photos of her partying with people don’t suggest that she is living a quiet or conservative lifestyle.

It offends me when people use God or Christianity as their defense, and claim to be persecuted for being Christians, when people call them out for bad behavior. She’s not being persecuted for being a Christian. She’s being called out for lying and engaging in activities that directly contradict her appointed role as California’s chosen beauty queen. She should have to choose whether she wants to wear that crown and have the title or be an “I have to save marriage,” activist.

2) I posted Carrie Prejean: Anita Bryant for the New Millennium a few hours before you posted this. I commented and posted links to the parody and the real press conference speeches. That’s why I thought maybe I was one of the ones whose words you disagreed with.

After I saw this post, and left my long comment, I put up a link to this post on my post. In my post, I described her Trump-approved-press-conference as self-serving and nauseating, partly because of things mentioned here (calling P.H. self-promoting while doing the very same thing, and talking about “freedoms we all enjoy” while totally missing the point that she is on a mission to keep same-sex couples from having the same freedoms she enjoys). That’s why I liked the parody press conference speech better than the real one. It was closed caption or interpretive dance for the Prejean speech.

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Don’t Use Christianity As Your Defense

Miss California, you posed on a beach with your body exposed. You signed a legal contract with the pageant saying you did not. Now that the world has seen your pictures, you’re trying to call it persecution of you for your Christian faith. Please!

Christianity Is Not What You Were Selling

Nude or semi-nude photos are not advertising Christianity. I don’t care that you had those photos taken. I have no complaint against your desire to be a model. But, stop already with the ‘persecution’ and ‘victim’ ploy.

Victim or Just Not Telling the Truth?

If those ’semi-nude’ photos did not exist, they could not have been published. If you had not lied about their existence on your contract, there would have been no issue. People were not victimizing you because of your faith. Au contraire! People are calling you out for claiming Christian faith, and using it as your excuse for your attitudes, while not living up to the principles of that faith (by lying on your contract).

Parody or ‘Real’ Press Conference?

If you want the more believable press conference, the one that gives the ‘closed caption’ words behind the words, watch the parody.

If you feel the need to feel nauseated by more self-promotion and victim-crying, watch the pagent-and-self-promoting-Donald-Trump-presented press conference.

Keith’s WTF Moment

Here’s what Keith Olberman has to say. He’s even started a new “WTF Moment”in honor of this ridiculous “freedom of speech … agree to disagree” situation.

What Do You Think?

Leave a comment. Voice your opinion.

**

Related posts:

boxturtlebulletin.comMiss California Executive Director Quits
goodasyou.orgVideo: Despite Donald-lessness, this one def. Trumps the other
sisterfriends-together.orgMiss USA Pageant. Okay. I’ll Bite. Washingtonpost.com -Palin On Prejean
Larry King Live – Gay marriage and Carrie Prejean on Larry King * Stephen Baldwin*

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7-frogs-1-big-hand

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