Damn, I thought I was being original with the title of this thread. Then I went and read the GQ article that started the shit storm I was addressing. They used it first. Bastardos!!!! But I am digressing.
When the "controversy" started I was all set to jump on the band wagon and start pillorying Phil of Duck Dynasty. I have always been a supporter of the gay community. (I hesitate to use the 'one of my friends is gay' line because so many of them are and it sounds trite.) It is none of my business how another person lives their life. Much like my view on religion, if it doesn't make them an evil person it is ok with me.
So, what exactly did Phil say that was so bad A&E suspended him? From what I read in the GQ article it was his answer to the following the question "What, in your mind, is sinful?".
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
Ok ... homosexuality leading to beastiality ... that is a stretch. Mind you, he did slam a lot of others in this answer. Not just homosexuals. He also said;
“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
Heh. This actually made me laugh when I first heard it. I laughed again when I read it. It pretty much sums it up for me.
So, from the GQ article this is the only stuff I could find that anyone may consider offensive. I stand to be corrected but this is it.
If this is what has A&E's panties in a bunch, as well as others who are calling for Phil's head, they are fucking idiots. It is the guys opinion. It isn't like he is a Westboro Baptist saying "God hates fags" and the rest of the shit those hate mongers spew. They REALLY expected something more from a right wing bible thumper? That is what Phil is.
It was kind of disappointing to see that it was just this that has people riled up. I was hoping for something I could build up some righteous indignation about. Instead, it is just much ado about nothing.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Corruption or Incompetency?
Wrote this one a while ago but never posted it. Oops.
The headlines blared:
Revenue Canada corruption feared over $400K cheque to Nicolo Rizzuto.
It turns out that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) gave a rebate check of $400,000 to the mob boss even though he owes them $1.5 Million. After the media dug this nugget up the fit hit the shan. All of a sudden there are fears of CRA corruption allowing for the payment. An investigation is being done and will be completed by the end of the year (3 months away).
This story reminded me of one of my favourite sayings "Never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity" but bastardized.
"Never attribute to corruption that which can be adequately explained by incompetency."
Based on my experience with CRA I can easily believe this happened because of bureaucratic bullshit and incompetency. As mentioned on another blog I have had my own problems with CRA since August. Even though I have filed tax returns since I returned in 2010, which should have changed my status from non-resident Citizen to resident Citizen, the branch of CRA that deals with expat Canadians WAS NOT TOLD. I had to contact them.
It has taken them a month to get back to me. Just to tell me that things are being reviewed and they will advise me of what they decide. Why it couldn't have been reviewed in a month I don't know.
Did Flint return to live in Canada in 2010? Yes.
Did he file taxes in Canada in 2011? Yes..
What about 2012? Yes.
2013 too? Yes.
Was he living in Canada and working at the time he set up the Tax Free Savings Account in 2012? Yes.
Paying taxes? Yes.
Does he owe us money for the TFSA? No.
What the fuck else is there to check? This couldn't have been determined in a MONTH by simply looking at my files at CRA?
So, while the mob boss getting the $400,000 could be due to corruption I think it is more likely a case of bureaucratic incompetency. How the hell they think they can investigate and resolve that in 3 months if they couldn't solve my problem in 1 month is beyond me.
The headlines blared:
Revenue Canada corruption feared over $400K cheque to Nicolo Rizzuto.
It turns out that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) gave a rebate check of $400,000 to the mob boss even though he owes them $1.5 Million. After the media dug this nugget up the fit hit the shan. All of a sudden there are fears of CRA corruption allowing for the payment. An investigation is being done and will be completed by the end of the year (3 months away).
This story reminded me of one of my favourite sayings "Never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity" but bastardized.
"Never attribute to corruption that which can be adequately explained by incompetency."
Based on my experience with CRA I can easily believe this happened because of bureaucratic bullshit and incompetency. As mentioned on another blog I have had my own problems with CRA since August. Even though I have filed tax returns since I returned in 2010, which should have changed my status from non-resident Citizen to resident Citizen, the branch of CRA that deals with expat Canadians WAS NOT TOLD. I had to contact them.
It has taken them a month to get back to me. Just to tell me that things are being reviewed and they will advise me of what they decide. Why it couldn't have been reviewed in a month I don't know.
Did Flint return to live in Canada in 2010? Yes.
Did he file taxes in Canada in 2011? Yes..
What about 2012? Yes.
2013 too? Yes.
Was he living in Canada and working at the time he set up the Tax Free Savings Account in 2012? Yes.
Paying taxes? Yes.
Does he owe us money for the TFSA? No.
What the fuck else is there to check? This couldn't have been determined in a MONTH by simply looking at my files at CRA?
So, while the mob boss getting the $400,000 could be due to corruption I think it is more likely a case of bureaucratic incompetency. How the hell they think they can investigate and resolve that in 3 months if they couldn't solve my problem in 1 month is beyond me.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Check Up Time Again
I had my annual check up yesterday. Had blood work done and all that good stuff. It isn't something I did before I went to South Korea but after the damage I did to myself I started it after getting home.
At one time I actually believed I would be dead or almost dead by now. Around 2007-08 I figured I had about 5 years left the way I was going. Strangely, that belief did not give me the impetus to change my lifestyle. I just didn't care.
I came back to Canada around 475 lbs with very high blood pressure and diabetes. Now, 3 years later, I wavering between 290 and 280. I am off of 2 pills I took for blood sugar with the remaining dose cut in half and down to 1/4 the dose for high blood pressure.
At one point in SoKo, around 2008 or 9, my doctor did a load of blood tests and found that my cholesterol was about 6-7 times higher than normal. Now it is not quite 2 times normal.
My doctor told me to keep doing whatever it is I am doing. It is working. I haven't been this healthy in a long time. Hell I haven't really been sick since I came home in 2010.
Life is good.
At one time I actually believed I would be dead or almost dead by now. Around 2007-08 I figured I had about 5 years left the way I was going. Strangely, that belief did not give me the impetus to change my lifestyle. I just didn't care.
I came back to Canada around 475 lbs with very high blood pressure and diabetes. Now, 3 years later, I wavering between 290 and 280. I am off of 2 pills I took for blood sugar with the remaining dose cut in half and down to 1/4 the dose for high blood pressure.
At one point in SoKo, around 2008 or 9, my doctor did a load of blood tests and found that my cholesterol was about 6-7 times higher than normal. Now it is not quite 2 times normal.
My doctor told me to keep doing whatever it is I am doing. It is working. I haven't been this healthy in a long time. Hell I haven't really been sick since I came home in 2010.
Life is good.
Monday, December 9, 2013
You are cranky!
Someone starts telling me a story about someone I barely know. They didn't follow through on something they said they would do for another party.
My reply is "Why are you telling me this?"
The person regaling me with the story retorts that they thought I would be interested. I let them know that I am not interested, the problem is between the two people and has nothing to do with me. In fact, it is none of my business, it is their business.
So they start to go on about it again. I cut them off and say "What part of I am not interested in this story do you not understand? It is none of my business. I am not even interested in it. It is idle gossip about someone I barely know. "
Their reply "You are cranky!"
To which I said "Seriously? What the hell does cranky have to do with it. I am now pissed off. Cranky? Your story didn't make me cranky it made me go from apathetic to insulted because you failed to comprehend that I don't want to hear your story. I am not interested in your gossip. If that is the only thing you had to talk to me about silence would have been better.
Fuck me! Why is it so hard for people to understand when someone is SO BLATANT about not wanting to hear about someone or something? Your audience is NOT interested. Try some new material before your show gets cancelled.
The person above does this a lot. I had enough of it today which is why I got "cranky". Hilda was this way. Odds are she still is. Hell, my mother does this a lot too. But I am more polite about it when dealing with her. It just boggles the mind that they keep doing it.
My reply is "Why are you telling me this?"
The person regaling me with the story retorts that they thought I would be interested. I let them know that I am not interested, the problem is between the two people and has nothing to do with me. In fact, it is none of my business, it is their business.
So they start to go on about it again. I cut them off and say "What part of I am not interested in this story do you not understand? It is none of my business. I am not even interested in it. It is idle gossip about someone I barely know. "
Their reply "You are cranky!"
To which I said "Seriously? What the hell does cranky have to do with it. I am now pissed off. Cranky? Your story didn't make me cranky it made me go from apathetic to insulted because you failed to comprehend that I don't want to hear your story. I am not interested in your gossip. If that is the only thing you had to talk to me about silence would have been better.
Fuck me! Why is it so hard for people to understand when someone is SO BLATANT about not wanting to hear about someone or something? Your audience is NOT interested. Try some new material before your show gets cancelled.
The person above does this a lot. I had enough of it today which is why I got "cranky". Hilda was this way. Odds are she still is. Hell, my mother does this a lot too. But I am more polite about it when dealing with her. It just boggles the mind that they keep doing it.
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