Rambling of a Normal Guy: You know what they say about Opinions....

Welcome to another addition of ramblings of a normal guy. This is my special column, where I go off on wild rants complaining about the things that happen and effect my (and ours) every day life. Because of the excessive amounts of stupidity that will be featured, a large amount of inappropriate language will most likely be used. Also expect a large helping of calling out and "I don't give a crap". Rated M for mature, and read at  your own risk. 

So if you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably figured out two things about me. The first, is that I do not write often because of time, work and all around laziness. The second is that when I do write, it is because of something that is very important to me. So why I am writing today, right smack in the middle of programming my own game? Well you see, while I was on Facebook looking over various post of cats, cats, and more cats (did I mention cats?), I found a random post by a friend. It was a picture of a news article about a woman speaking about the evils of "the gays". True, we have freedom of speech in the US, so she is welcome to say what ever she wants. But while everyone is entitled to their opinion, everyone is also entitled to respond.. especially when they are being a whiny bitch. The image below is the article in question, I highly recommend reading it first... despite that nature of the article.

Ramblings of a Pagan Guy: Really Fox? Really? AGAIN!

Over the years, I have found that many a person has this strange idea when it comes to the Pagan faiths. It as if, you know as soon as one converts, they [the pagan] are thrown back to the middles ages. People have this rather quirky notion that pots and pans turn into wands and broomsticks, that tables and chair turning to sacrificial altars and stone circles. At best, many people think that once one devotes themselves to the God and Goddess, reality bleeds away is magically replaced with Hogwarts schools and Weasly like houses. At worse, they believe that our God and Goddess are just whores, or the Christian devil. With this miniblog series, it is my hope to not only document my time growing as a Pagan, but to address these and many more misunderstood concepts so that we will be see as people. We are not the demons some people try to make us out to be.

Special thanks to Jennifer Arend for giving me the heads up. Stay strong and awesome sister! 

Back in my day, which is surprisingly not that long ago, journalism meant something. It was a group of people and organizations that worked hard to seek out the truth of a story and report on it. Opinions where kept to talk shows, and fast (actual facts) where presented with out political influence. Sites like policofacts really wasn't needed because reporters where ready to fact check the hell out of everything. But now a days? Not so much. Now a days, we have idiots on NBC (or what ever BC it was) making the absolutely rubbish claims that Normans where nothing more than sex crazed prostitutes. Seriously man, you're not Bill O'reilly, stick to reporting on facts, and facts that can actually be backed up.  (Protip: We know where the moon and waves come from)

So what's the point of today's post? Well, it seems our darling Fox News is up to some silly crap again. Meet me past the break to share my surprise.

Ramblings of a Pagan Guy: Stupid Cliches We Use (2)

Over the years, I have found that many a person has this strange idea when it comes to the Pagan faiths. It as if, you know as soon as one converts, they [the pagan] are thrown back to the middles ages. People have this rather quirky notion that pots and pans turn into wands and broomsticks, that tables and chair turning to sacrificial altars and stone circles. At best, many people think that once one devotes themselves to the God and Goddess, reality bleeds away is magically replaced with Hogwarts schools and Weasly like houses. At worse, they believe that our God and Goddess are just whores, or the Christian devil. With this miniblog series, it is my hope to not only document my time growing as a Pagan, but to address these and many more misunderstood concepts so that we will be see as people. We are not the demons some people try to make us out to be.

When I first came up with the idea of this blog, and even this series, a few things quickly came to light. The first, which I'm sure you can guess, is my utter lack of proper spelling and grammar.  Hey this is Amerikca, I can does what I want! Coming in a very close second place, was the realization this would take up a lot of time creating. I can't tell you how many times I had to write, rewrite, disregard and start anew something just because I hated even just a single word or phrase. Even now, I want to stop writing this installment to completely rewrite everything on my blog. Thanks scumbag brain!

As I pressed on, continuing to write about this or that experience, working past personal inadequacy and such, something completely unexpected happened. Just days after posting my first issue, I started receiving emails about my ramblings. This in itself wasn’t all unexpected; in fact you might even say I was awaiting "you're stupid die" emails. So, unsurprisingly, I ignored my email box, unable to bring myself to even look at it. Working in customer service, and having to deal with joyful customers on a daily basis, you can imagine the things I conjured up with. But you know what? My curiosity got the better of me. It's like saying "don't press the big red button"! As I read over them, one by one, I got a feeling I never thought I would get. Email after email was filled with words of encouragement, of stories relating to my own, and of thanks for doing what I did.

How awesome sauce is that?

Ramblings of a Pagan Guy: Really Fox? Really?

Over the years, I have found that many a person has this strange idea when it comes to the Pagan faiths. It as if, you know as soon as one converts, they [the pagan] are thrown back to the middles ages. People have this rather quirky notion that pots and pans turn into wands and broomsticks, that tables and chair turning to sacrificial altars and stone circles. At best, many people think that once one devotes themselves to the God and Goddess, reality bleeds away is magically replaced with Hogwarts schools and Weasly like houses. At worse, they believe that our God and Goddess are just whores, or the Christian devil. With this miniblog series, it is my hope to not only document my time growing as a Pagan, but to address these and many more misunderstood concepts so that we will be see as people. We are not the demons some people try to make us out to be.
 

Keeping touch with various liberal and progressive groups on facebook, as well as there respected news sites, I get a lot of stories that make my head hurt. In fact, it's getting to the point where I just want to stop following everything all together. I'm sick of the political undertones, of the opinions being regarded as facts, and anyone with a over sized mouth is automatically right. But until the day when I finally throw up my hands and say to hell with it all, I must press on. After all, being a good red blooded Irish American I can always fancy myself a drink, a love of life, red heads and a good fight.

So we press on. 

When the muse hits me and I write my ramblings for what ever reason, I try to be direct and least insulting as possible, especially when it comes to religion. While having a go with the "elect" members of the WBC, I must know and remember they do not represent all of the followers of Christ. Just like pedophiles, "holy" murders and so on. The moment I forget myself and this, I become no better than them. Do I slip up from time to time? Sure I am only human after all, and to claim perfection on my part would just be stupid. But like I said, I know who the good ones are, who the bads ones are, and never willingly apply the few to the whole.

But you know what really pisses me off? Like "Omg I just my hot topic membership card, I am so Wiccan now." piss me off? When we have grown adults, who are responsible and portray "fair and balanced" aura on national TV, resemble nothing more than a pack of immature children in order to obtain ratings and attention. Honestly if all you are after is cash, then please refrain from calling yourself fair and balanced reporters of the news. But what the hell am I talking about? On February 15th, Fox and Friends aired what contained one the biggest demonstration of ignorance I have seen this year. Not only do the openly mock another faith, my faith, while whining about being persecuted, they do with mirth seen at good times with friends. How professional of them...

The whole thing was so horribly wrong and painful to watch, that I'm not even sure I'll get to it all in this posting... but I shall try me best.