Tattoo of Leviticus 18:22 forbidding homosexuality: $200. Not knowing that Leviticus 19:28 forbids tattoos: Priceless.

Mississippi State Rep. Andy Gipson (R.), the man who denounced gays by quoting from the famous biblical passage on homosexuality found in Leviticus (20:13), has refused to retract his remarks. Mr. Gipson wrote this morning on his Face Book page, “To be clear, I want the world to know that I do not, cannot, and will not apologize for the inspired truth of God's Word. It is one thing that will never 'change.'"

Good for Mr. Gipson. We are all getting tired of pusillanimous, limp-wristed Republican politicians, conservative voters, and religious leaders who speak up against the gay menace in this country, but then back down the minute there is the slightest peep of a protest from liberals.

ebaumsworld.com

I still think Matt Taibbi's takedown was the best on Friedman, but this is still pretty damned hilarious:

Washington | May 10

AP - Department of justice files lawsuit against Arpaio over claims his immigration patrols in Arizona amounted to racial profiling.

Federal authorities have sued Joe Arpaio, America's self-proclaimed toughest sheriff, after months of negotiations failed to yield an agreement to settle allegations that his Arizona police department racially profiled Latinos.

The US department of justice officials said the agency filed a lawsuit only once before in the 18-year history of its police reform work. The lawsuit escalates the standoff with Sheriff Arpaio, and puts the dispute on track to be decided by a federal judge.

Reuters, By Chris Michaud, May 1

New York - Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.

The end of the Mayan calendar, which spans about 5,125 years, on December 21, 2012 has sparked interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.

"Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming," said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.

how Christian Fundamentalists and Muslim clerics will view the fact that God/nature disagrees with their agenda.

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h/t Susie Madrak

In memoriam: After years of health problems, Facts has finally died.

By Rex W. Huppke | Apr 19

A quick review of the long and illustrious career of Facts reveals some of the world's most cherished absolutes: Gravity makes things fall down; 2 + 2 = 4; the sky is blue.

But for many, Facts' most memorable moments came in simple day-to-day realities, from a child's certainty of its mother's love to the comforting knowledge that a favorite television show would start promptly at 8 p.m.

Over the centuries, Facts became such a prevalent part of most people's lives that Irish philosopher Edmund Burke once said: "Facts are to the mind what food is to the body."

To the shock of most sentient beings, Facts died Wednesday, April 18, after a long battle for relevancy with the 24-hour news cycle, blogs and the Internet. Though few expected Facts to pull out of its years-long downward spiral, the official cause of death was from injuries suffered last week when Florida Republican Rep. Allen West steadfastly declared that as many as 81 of his fellow members of theU.S. House of Representatives are communists.

Facts held on for several days after that assault — brought on without a scrap of evidence or reason — before expiring peacefully at its home in a high school physics book. Facts was 2,372. more at Chicago Tribune

h/t Nate

Mr. Dan: The Supreme Court. Where noble conservatives fight for freedom!
Dogboy: What kind of freedom?
Mr. Dan: Freedom from . . . health insurance.
Dogboy: But what if you get sick?
Mr. Dan: That doesn't matter because we are free (not to do anything about that).

If there is anything at all one can count on in this world, it is that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will announce they're getting married will never get married.

Dammit, looks like Tennessee was right.

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If you suspect this ABC News story about a "Teen Girl Exorcism Squad" of wannabe-Buffy preppy evangelists will turn your stomach then perhaps you'd be better reading Charles P Pierce's snarky staking of the story.

The latest meme.

THE WINNER! "OccuPeep D.C."

Our sixth annual Peeps Diorama Contest brought in hundreds upon hundreds of entries. After whittling by a panel of judges and voting by journalists in The Washington Post newsroom, we have a winner: "OccuPeep D.C.," created by Cori E. Wright, 38, of Falls Church, Va.
Deb Lindsey / view other entrants at WaPo

David Shukman | April 2

BBC - A renewed attempt to develop ways of making power stations greener is set to be unveiled by the government.

For the second time in five years, £1 billion will be offered for schemes to trap and bury carbon dioxide.

An earlier competition collapsed after all nine entrants pulled out, most citing cost as the main problem.

My favorite April Fool's of the day: Conan as written by Jane Austen! (H/t John Scalzi)

Google Japanese version here !

When Congress is in session, the Missed Connections section of Craigslist isn’t just for misunderstood subway glances and grocery clerk crushes.

Thought Catalog, By Sloan Schang, March 29

You: Filibuster Brown.
Me: Shrinking junior member in the last row.

Your recitation of whole episodes of Murder She Wrote was brilliant. Didn’t want it to end but I fell asleep in hour 16 and when I woke up, you were gone. Email me, I want to hear what matters to you.