Talk To Me Campaign

In the US, September 4 -10 is National Suicide Prevention Week, leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th.

The Trevor Project

Help spread awareness.

Global Directory of crisis centres:

http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

and

http://www.suicidepreventionhelp.com/directory/index.php

BOG OFF

My fix this week just has to be Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa's I'll Take Care Of You. Such an amazing voice and fantastic guitar playing. I just love it!

And this is not about the chickens

In the UK, Bog off is an uncool way of saying go forth and multiply, or words to that effect! It also means buy one, get one free. Hope that's the same elsewhere.

Have We Been Here Before?

I’ve never had an imaginary friend. Or so I thought. I’ve reached a fair old age living in the real world. I’m a woman, married, 2 kids. Facts I’ve made quite clear during my on-line activities. Jase, as we all know, is a 60 year old Tupperware salesman who lives with his mother and eight cats in Illinois. Or did I just imagine that? It’s impossible to definitively know truths within any online community. I don’t particularly wish to inhabit a different persona—I’m not good at living a lie and probably couldn’t remember what I’d previously said. I do admit that I struggle to understand those who feel the need to do so. It just seems an endless flow of lies and deceit, allegedly. What’s the point?

Yes, We Have No Bananas

A preschool in Iowa has told all employees to reapply for their jobs. The reason? Perhaps the change of name from Happy Time Daycare to Point of Grace Children’s Academy will give you a clue. The school previously operated out of the church but religious affiliation was not pushed.

Questions on the application form include: 

The new guidelines also include the following non-negotiable clauses: 

1. You are currently living in a marital relationship and are faithful to your spouse, or are single and not currently in a sexual relationship with someone whom you are not married, or in a cohabitational living arrangement with someone that is not an immediate family member of the opposite sex.  

2. You are not currently practicing a homosexual or bisexual lifestyle.  

3. You abstain from the use of illegal drugs or the abuse of controlled substances, such as prescription or over-the-counter drugs.  

4. You abstain from viewing pornography online and pornographic materials in any form.  

5. You either abstain from the consumption of alcohol, abstain from the abuse of alcohol and/or monitor your consumption of alcohol to avoid intoxication. 

Katie Roberts, 18, of Waukee, was one of the Happy Time employees who received a letter late Friday afternoon. She said a member of the church staff informed them, without any prior notice, that Happy Time was closing.

Roberts said the magnitude of the change grew as employees read through the new job requirements.

“One of my co-workers is a lesbian and she said, ’I can’t reapply. You can’t be a homosexual,’” Roberts said. “It’s ridiculous. She was just doing her job.”

How the hell can churches in the US remain exempt from employment law and continue to be allowed to discriminate in such an abhorrent manner. I hope parents chose to move their children to another provider. Sounds as though The Happy Satanist Preschool and Tattoo Parlour or Gaddafi's Despotic Daycare might be preferable to leaving them to be brain-washed at such a young age by these so-called Christian bigots.

Is it surprising to know that earlier this month, Michele Bachmann, spoke to the church congregation and listened as its pastor Jeff Mullen, railed against homosexuality as "unnatural," and "immoral." The pastor has endorsed Bachmann for president. As an outsider, US politicians terrify me.

Saying that, though, religion and what people are prepared to do in its name terrifies me. I'll stick with atheism. It's much better than believing in fairy tales.

Dara Ó Briain is one of my favourite comedians. Hope you can understand the broad Irish accent. There's a short clip of Scots comedian, Frankie Boyle, at the end of this video. An even broader accent.

Soup for Breakfast?

It's been well over a week since our last post and I had considered just not returning to blogland. But here I am. Nothing much to say. Nearly 4am here and I'm cooking pea and ham soup for some strange reason. Almost ready to start on a carrot cake. Insomniac cooking. Lovely. 

Anyway. What can I share? Hope you don't mind another collection of nonsense. 

I'll start with swimmers. 

Life guards. What's not to love? Well, apart from the condom-hats, that is.

And wearing such tiny shorts means that it's important to check for slippage occasionally.

But then there is this

And this

Koala mens swimwear

Admittedly, these last two have a built in cock-ring & butt plug!

On a totally different track, pirating. Illegal downwriting.

Spotted at a Barnes & Noble “pirating” cook books. 

And I'll finish today with some safe sex advice

Even a vegan can find a decent condom.

Tables. Not just for Tea

I've already given away that I have a love of maths. Would it surprise anyone that it carries over into science? Just look at periodic tables, for example.

Aren't they perfect?

What about a Table of Biscuits (cookies)?

I love a good dunkable Abernethy personally. What about you? 

Also love the Periodic Table of Irrational Nonsense on this site. Astrology and Bunyips--pah! There's something comfortingly British about seeing the words bollocks, gobshite and dipshit. Feels like home.

Or a Queeriodic Table?

Click to look at this closer on the developer's site. Great idea. Love 089 SM. The lovely Dan Savage still working his magic, I see.

Take a Break

No bad news here today--there's enough on TV and my heart goes out to everyone affected by the riots. But... we need crap and nonsense. Well I do.

Starting, though with this lovely photo/giffy-type thing by Jamie at From Me To You. Magical.

I'm digging out my camera as we speak and will be trying hard to reproduce this stop-motion effect. 

Next on my cheer-up fest has to be chocolate

Cookies ‘N Cream Oreo Fudge Brownies

mmm gooey

1 box Brownie Mix
eggs & oil (as called for by the brownie mix)
1 heaping half cup (6 oz) Cookies & Cream ice cream
1/4 Cup hot fudge topping (chilled or room temp)

Preheat oven & spray an 8×8 baking dish generously with cooking spray. Combine brownie mix, eggs, and oil as directed on the back of the box, but do not add the water. Add ice cream and hot fudge to the brownie batter and stir to combine. Pour half of the brownie batter into the baking dish, layer with Oreos, then top with remaining batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes or as directed on the back of the box.

You'll be pleased to know that it's entirely calorie-free.


Next, headlines. Whilst sad for the individual concerned, I still can't read this and not snicker

You know you want to.

And finally, my latest squee, Richard Madden

Not sure if Sirens has been seen outside the UK as yet but he was also in HBO's Game of Thrones (must read that book one day soon). So gorgeous (& Scottish to-boot!).

Okay, enough on the gifs.