by Dr. Frederick Meekins

As culture passes through various stages of technological development, the science fiction of a particular point in history often reflects the concerns regarding the horrors discerning intellects at the time feared could possibly be inflicted upon the earth should what is then considered new knowledge get out of hand. For example, throughout the 50’s and 60’s, speculative literature often focused on the impact of radiation as embodied by the origins of Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four.

Though these characters still remain at the forefront of popular culture, in some instances their origins have been slightly reinterpreted to reflect the concerns of the new generation of authors putting their own creative spins on them and to capture the imaginations of a contemporary fan base. For example, in the Spider-Man films, the arachnid conveying its abilities to an unsuspecting Peter Parker is no longer just an average one accidentally bombarded with radiation but rather one deliberately tinkered with at the genetic level that somehow escapes lab captivity.

Though tastes in entertainment may differ on both sides of the Atlantic, it is pretty safe to say that Doctor Who is a venerable sci-fi icon among fans irrespective of their country of origin. Even though I myself am a relatively new fan as classic episodes use to air well past midnight on the local PBS affiliate when I was a youth, much of the appeal of the crumble-coated space-fairing time traveler has been because of the unique manner in which the show’s creators project ethical concerns against unique cosmic backdrops and circumstances.

For example, one episode of season three of the revived series dealt with the frustration those of us dwelling in urban areas have to contend with in the form of what seems to be unending traffic congestion. In this story, commuters on what was a second earth set millennia in the future literally spent much of their lives in contraptions that looked like a cross between a flying minivan and a cramped apartment where it could literally take years to travel just a few miles.

Tucked away between that amusing tidbit and a complete singing of “The Old Rugged Cross” that was rendered with such seriousness that one could see tears in the eyes of the characters was another narrative detail that just jumped out at the viewer in tune with where science and philosophy might be headed if concerned people of common sense don’t soon put a stop to it. Though the geriatric lesbian couple was shocking enough, their risqué union seemed outdated and quaint in comparison to that between two of the other commuters the Doctor came across.
(more…)

Crossposted from Flopping Aces

Obama often spoke about his uncle, who was part of the American brigade that helped to liberate Auschwitz. He said the family legend is that, upon returning from war, his uncle spent six months in an attic. “Now obviously, something had really affected him deeply, but at that time there just weren’t the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain,” Obama said. “That’s why this idea of making sure that every single veteran, when they are discharged, are screened for post-traumatic stress disorder and given the mental health services that they need – that’s why it’s so important

Video:

Baldilocks in the Hot Air comments found that his great uncle and grandfather were in the service around that time so maybe he meant his great uncle PLUS a different camp since Auschwitz was not liberated by the US. But either way, its another gaffe to go along with whole smorgasbord of gaffes:

• Claimed Selma was what moved his parents to fall in love and have a child named Barack Obama. Problem is he was born four years prior to the Selma movement.
• Claimed translators were missing in Afghanistan because of the Iraq war. Problem is they speak two different languages.
• Claimed 10,000 people died during a tornado when the real number was….12
• Claimed he sees dead people
• Claimed to have visited 57 states during this election campaign. Problem is we don’t have 57 states.

Lots of gaffes with little front page news on them. Hillary’s sniper story gets splashed everywhere. But not Obama’s gaffes. No way can the messiah be blasphemed in such a way. Jim Geraghty:

Dan Quayle gets defined by one foolish moment where his misspells “potato,” and George W. Bush is forever mocked as a dunce for his (admittedly classic) “Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.”

If the MSM would either A) be more forgiving of Republican officials who they don’t like or B) be a little tougher on Democratic officials they do like, the world would be a better place. In this case, I don’t think Barack Obama is deliberately lying, or trying to pull a fast one. It sounds like a family “legend” in which the specific horrors of war witnessed by his uncle are mistaken as the years go by. It happens, and Obama only deserves the lightest of metaphorical slaps on the wrist for it. But it would help if his fans in the press actually paid attention to what he says.

Pay attention? Come on…they are too busy fawning over his every “charisma” to actual care what he says.

More here and here.

UPDATE

It was Buchenwald, not Auschwitz.

And the WaPo takes him to task…..about freakin time:

Granted, it is getting late in the campaign. The candidates are tired, and prone to making silly mistakes. Many Americans might have problems distinguishing Buchenwald and Ohrdruf from Auschwitz. But should we not expect more from a Harvard-educated presidential candidate? Is it too much to ask that an aspiring commander-in-chief knows (1) that Auschwitz (like many of the other Nazi death camps) is in Poland, and (2) that the eastern advance of the U.S. Army in World War II stopped on the river Elbe? Let me know what you think.

also:

San Francisco/San FranSicko a Decaying American City

The city of San Francisco, once one of America’s finest cities around, has become most perverted, socially ill and decayed. It’s simply amazing to what lengths that city and some of its inhabitants will go to, to publicize, act, and pervert that city and themselves in public.

This is what the rest of America sees about San Francisco and there is no end in sight.

That’s why the rest of America has real apathy for that city and its inhabitants. It’s abnormal and sick behaviors that the rest of the country sees about the sickos in that city. (more…)

by Kathy

I am sure many of you have heard about this case already…

Four San Diego city firefighters have filed a complaint with the state saying their superiors forced them to participate in last month’s gay pride parade, where they became targets of obscene gestures and sexual comments. (source)

The four firefighters; Captain John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewitt, Firefighter Chad Allison, Firefighter Alex Kane have indeed filed a complaint (pdf here Warning Graphic).

The statements of these men indicate that they were ORDERED to participate in the parade even after informing Chief Pollard on multiple occasions of their desire not to participate. Excerpts from the right-to-sue document:

At 0900 hrs FF Chad Allison and I were in the kitchen cleaning up when the chief came in and told me that we were suppose to be at the parade grounds at 0930 hrs. I asked the chief if he was giving me and my crew a direct order to attend this parade, and he said “yes”. He was given a direct order from Chief Carle via chain of command that engine 5 and the on duty crew was to participate in the parade. I told the chief that we felt uncomfortable participating in the parade. I disapproved of this order and I was disappointed in the department’s decision. We did follow the chief’s order and took part in the parade to avoid any disciplinary action.

and this:

This whole conversation I had with Chief Pollard stressed me out because I felt like I was being harassed about being involved in the Gay Pride Parade. That if I refused the possible direct order that I had to take into consideration my future in my career and any possible promotional process or career opportunities. This wasn’t right! I was forced into a situation that would compromise what I hold true and what I believe in, my reputation, my character, my integrity, my morals, and my religion.

The San Diego fire department had forced its own employees to participate in an activity that had no relation to their job or workplace against their wishes. This situation gets even worse. These men were treated in a vile and vulgar manner from the crowd in attendance at the parade and ridiculed by their peers.

The firefighters, described by the law center as “devoted husbands and fathers,” claim to have been subjected to sexually suggestive comments from parade observers, including “show me your hose,” “you can put out my fire,” and “give me mouth-to-mouth.”(source)

(I suggest you read the pdf for the rest of the details.) To add even more salt in their wounds, they also lost their overtime pay because they had to be off duty to participate. The reason all this was done? The Fire Department wanted to appear politically correct and tolerant of “alternative lifestyles”.

“These firefighters dedicated their lives to save the lives of others,” Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the law center, said in a statement. “They did not sign on to become unwilling props to a controversial political and social agenda.” (source)

I am usually against suing each other frivolously just because you were made to feel “uncomfortable”. In this case however we have an employer who ORDERED employees into a hostile environment where they were harassed and abused. These men deserve compensation for the unacceptable treatment they were forced to endure for the sake of their careers.

by Kathy at Mister Politics.

From Reuters:

Administrators of a U.S. state school system apologized to a graduating student on Monday for blacking out a picture of him kissing his boyfriend in a high school year book.

Marion Bolden, superintendent of Newark Public Schools in New Jersey, said she “personally apologizes” to 18-year-old Andre Jackson, a student at East Side High School, “and regrets any embarrassment and unwanted attention the matter has brought to him.”

The decision to black out the photo was based in part on misinformation that Jackson was not an East Side student, and that led officials to focus on the “suggestive nature” of the photograph, the statement added.

Gay-rights group Garden State Equality said it was “speechless” that what it called a homophobic act had been committed by officials at Newark Public Schools, the largest school district in New Jersey with 42,000 students.

The group said Jackson had been humiliated by the school district’s efforts to black out the photo using markers, and that he would not accept the apology.

Garden State Equality called for a meeting between school district officials and a gay-rights committee that includes Jackson.

The district, which said it supports all students regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation, offered to provide original copies of the year book to any student who asks for one.

It is not discriminating against a student’s sexual orientation to NOT put a photo in the yearbook of personal moments. We do not need to see any students kissing anyone in the yearbook. Since when are we putting personal moments in the yearbook anyway?

What is wrong with highlighting the school achievements and extracurricular activities like football, basketball, and cheerleading? This school went outside the bounds and set themselves up for this; then tried to fix the problem at the last minute…. with magic markers…(that was stupid!)… they deserve what they get with this case.