Finally here and hardly worth the wait is the long-sought-after video clip of Mike Matthews of Down with Absolutes! making an utter fool of himself at a protest in Seaford, Del. Present are the loveable God Hates Fags clan from the Westboro Baptist Church.
In short, the video sucks. It cuts off toward the end. I didn’t feel like editing it, so when it ends, it ends. The sound sucks, as well. Have no fear. My friend Justin an I have discussed some of the kinks and are actually looking into making DWA a more multimedia-enhanced web venture. Stay tuned for future news.
As for the video, there was no way I was going to let this 40 MB file suck up my bandwidth. Therefore, I’ve decided to post it on YouTube, which seems to be the best place for this kind of stuff.
Enjoy. I know I didn’t. I’m sure there’s some kitschy, low-budget-feel kind of attractiveness to this piece of junk.
PS…I’m the big fat guy in the tan shirt.
PPS…(or is it PSS)…As of 7 pm. the video is NOT working. It takes several minutes for the site to add the video. That’s why you may be getting a denial message. Check back later.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Dumb stuff at 7:10 PM PDT
I was going to talk about the reports out of Guantanamo Bay alleging that dozens of children have been held for more than four years. However, Dana at Delaware Watch beat me to it. Dana points me to one good citation out of The Independent that cites Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Commander Jeffrey Gordon as saying that no one now being held at Guantanamo is a juvenile.
Funny play on words, Lt. Commander! Of course there are no LONGER any children at Guantanamo. They’ve been there over four years, you dumb fuck! They’re adults now and, thanks to you, probably more screwed up and possessing harsher anti-American feelings than they did when you kidnapped them and brought them to Club G’itmo.
Now, I know what you conservatives are thinking. The United States and its soldiers should have some immunity here, shouldn’t they? But, wouldn’t that be inconsistent with your love of spreading democracy across the Middle East (well, Central Asia in this case)?
So, this must be torturous for you righties. Prosecute the soldiers under Afghani law or just brush this incident under the carpet and shuffle the wrongdoers home? Because, let’s face it. Democracy Afghani style probably ain’t too sweet. I doubt there’d be a lengthy appeals process if the US soldiers were found guilty. Conservatives like it that way anyhow, right? Found guilty? Just shoot ‘em in the head at high noon in the town square the next day!
Remember, we can thank George Bush for our ongoing adventures in Afghanistan.
I have so much on my mind and so much I have to say. I also have a video I need to post.
Unfortunately, school is KILLING me. Thankfully, tomorrow is my last day of work; that is, my last day of substitute teaching. I’m taking the rest of the school year off to complete projects for school as well as to get back to blogging.
Please be patient and give me some time. I’ll be back soon enough!
Posted by Mike Matthews in Personal at 11:03 PM PDT
George Bush is a funny, mystical man. He clearly plays to the polls. Realizing that there’s nothing he can do to salvage his failed presidency, he’s literally come clean. With British fool, Prime Minister Tony Blair, by his side, Bush admits he was wrong when he offered the “bring ‘em on” taunt to insurgents in Iraq.
Somewhere, Bush apologists continue with their nonsense. It’s funny. Even when Bush self-corrects it seems like he’s playing America for foolish retards. Maybe we are.
“Clearly all of the evidence shows Seaford is the City of the Damned,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper, an attorney for the group, which believes God is killing U.S. troops to punish the country for tolerating homosexuality.
“Seaford has less than 1 percent of Delaware’s population but has 18 percent of Delaware’s dead soldiers.
“The wrath of God has been particularly harsh on that city.”
I know you all are waiting (patiently) for the video of the protest. Again, it won’t be ready until early Thursday. Once I get it I’ll have it posted as soon as possible. I’m anticipating the file to be quite large, so I may choose to post it on a hosting service like YouTube as opposed to placing it directly on my server.
In the meantime, PLEASE check out the awesome coverage by WDEL’s John Collins. I met John over roaring anti-gay epithets and fluorescent-colored signs on Sunday. His coverage is pretty awesome. Check WDEL’s video section and select either “Delaware pays last respects to Cory Palmer” or “Protestors riot in Seaford” to check out Collins’ work. Good stuff. At least until my disgusting piece-of-filth video hits the net!
Update I: Damn. I effed up big time. Long story short: I had a 30 minute presentation on Mental Retardation last night. I’m a procrastinator, so I really didn’t start working on it until yesterday. Never had time to pick up the video. As it turns out, the Digital Factory is CLOSED until Tuesday! Damn shit motherfucker!
One would think that such a protest as that led by the Westboro Baptist Church shouldn’t be deserving of such a cool, crisp and beautiful day. But that’s exactly what Rev. Phelps’ clan of whackos got; a day in which one could walk with the breeze and feel free to breathe in some divine fresh air.
Cpl. Cory Palmer was a 20-year old Marine serving his country in Iraq. On May 6, the humvee in which he was riding was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) and he later died of his wounds sustained in that explosion. Palmer’s funeral was held on May 21, 2006. Besides the thousands of Seaford residents who were in mourning, there was a group of religious folk bent on ruining the day for this small, lower-Delaware town.
Roughly 10 members of the Topeka, Kan. based Westboro Baptist Church filed a request for a permit to protest at Cpl. Palmer’s funeral. Town attorney Stephanie Hansen told us they couldn’t legitimately turn down this request because the town could have been sued. So the permit was approved for a park several blocks away from the church. And why shouldn’t these people not have the right to protest? The First Amendment specifies the right to assemble. Poor taste isn’t specified in the Constitution.
Upon arrival several minutes before two, my friends and I noticed the crowd was quite overwhelming. So overwhelming that at first we couldn’t find the assorted fluorescent-colored hate posters the Church-folk were holding up in the crowd. The counter-protestors had come out in droves! One estimate puts the turn-out at over 2,000. And I believe it. The park on which the Westboro folk had obtained a permit was like an island. Surrounded on all four sides were streets. Cars were circling over and over to honk their horns, flip their fingers and shower obscenities upon the people holding signs that read “God Hates Fags” and “Thanks God for IEDs.” Most of the counter-protestors also didn’t enjoy seeing one of the Westboro-women wearing an American flag as a skirt and another wearing one on her foot. Another sign, which read “Semper Fi, Semper Fags” was clearly a shot at Cory Palmer, who was a Marine.
Once we parked our car and quickly surveyed the area, it became our goal to cross the street and confront the God Hates Fags bunch. This didn’t prove to be an easy task. The counter-protestors were out of control and totally hostile. Because of this, cops were keeping everyone out of the street and on the sidewalk. I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to cross the street and get to interview these upstanding and patriotic American citizens employing their First Amendment rights to the fullest. I asked a police officer if it would be OK if I crossed to speak to them. I showed them the video camera and digital camera. I was suddenly regretting not bringing my PRESS pass from 10 years ago as a student journalist at AI duPont High School. However, the cop let the three of us cross the street. Carefully, though. Cars were steadily streaming down the two-lane road.
After crossing the road, we were pretty much to ourselves. We set foot on this island of parkland like it was uncharted territory. We headed for the press area, though I would hardly consider myself a member of the “legitimate press.” I felt out of place with the other reporters from Salisbury’s WBOC and Wilmington’s own WDEL. But I trudged along, letting my inexperience shine just like the obscene posters carried by the Westboro members.
One of the members of the church, Timothy Phelps, was addressing the press. This was my chance. I flipped on the video camera and handed it to my trusty helper. Justin came along to take digital photos with his impressive 7.1 megapixel camera. I got up close to Mr. Phelps and immediately began questioning him. Except my questions weren’t like anybody else’s. I wanted to play a game with Mr. Phelps. A game called word association. I was going to hold up images that he may find offensive. He was to give me the first word that came to mind. The images I showed were quite interesting. Madonna and Britney. A gay kiss. Pope John Paul II. The Star of David. A rainbow flag with the cross in the upper-left-hand corner. And, just for good measure, a swastika. The problem with Timothy, though, was that he didn’t want to play games. He was totally unreceptive and downright rude! So I segued into my questions, of which he was totally uninterested. My first question: “If you all hate gays, then why are your posters in hot, fluorescent colors?” He wasn’t having it. He demanded I ask him a question with substance that wasn’t so ridiculous. So, I asked him: “If God’s wrath was behind Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami, then why hasn’t he destroyed the White House, that awful den of iniquity?” He had caught on to my game and I was doomed. He refused to answer that question, as well. So I shot at him with some good ‘ole Bible verse! I asked him what he thought of the verse “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” He replied with some drivel that gays can be judged because they’re breaking God’s law by fornicating with each other. Or something to that effect. I wasn’t really paying attention. I still had my mind on the Madonna/Britney kiss. I could tell I was done with Mr. Phelps. The “legitimate” press had moved in to ask him more “legitimate” questions.
To my right came forth a woman of magnetic beauty, pictured here. This divine creature of God was a bit more playful with me. She took to my game of association like a fish to water. Or a Christian to a straw man! After viewing each of the images listed above, she responded with a hearty “America!” Apparently, all of those photos make her think of that sin-infested and rotted-to-the-core America! If the Westboro Baptist Church says we’re all going to hell, then I suppose it’s true.
Yes, I know…I’m really late in updating you guys on yesterday’s protest. Unfortunately, my priorities are on school right now. I have class tonight and tomorrow night and am hurrying to complete several assignments.
I have the pictures sized and ready to go. I hope to have them up some time later this afternoon. I am taking the video to a place that can convert it and compress it into MPEG format. Unfortunately, they’ve told me it won’t be ready until at least Wednesday. I know you guys are waiting for this video in which I make a fool of myself (and the Westboro Baptist Church), so please hold tight. I WILL be getting this out to you.
Thanks to Justin for joining me yesterday. He proved to be an invaluable help with the multiple pieces of electronics we trudged along with us.
Update I: Thanks to Justin for opening up a Flickr account and posting the photos. Check them out by clicking here. A summary to follow (hopefully) soon.
OK…last minute. I am –in five minutes– beginning the two-hour trek to Seaford, Del. to confront the God Hates Fags clan. I’m going armed with two FAAAAABULOUS friends of mine and a video camera with a fresh tape and full battery and a 7.1 MP digital camera. I hope to get PLENTY of multimedia to share with you right here.
Update I: Whew! We’re back. Plenty of stories, photos and video to share. It may take a day or two to get it altogether. Remember, I work with NO budget here, so converting photos and videos into something that you all can see is a bit challenging. Needless to say, the day was interesting. Unfortunately, we headed out right before the riot began. Oh well.
Update II: Until I get my shit together, be sure to check out WDEL’s video coverage of the protest. Their video is quite nice a polished and I’m pretty sure their video camera’s battery didn’t run out.
The $69 billion tax cut bill that President Bush signed this week tripled tax rates for teenagers with college savings funds, despite Mr. Bush’s 1999 pledge to veto any tax increase.
Under the new law, teenagers age 14 to 17 with investment income will now be taxed at the same rate as their parents, not at their own rates. Long-term capital gains and dividends that had been taxed at 5 percent will now be taxed at 15 percent. Interest that had been taxed at 10 percent will now be taxed at as much as 35 percent.
I try to keep my left-wing bullshit to a minimum here, but I couldn’t help it after I read this. Of course, The NYTimes is a left-wing piece of garbage, so all of this is lies. Right, conservatives?
So, to President George W. Bush, I offer you a hearty “fuck you!” This is funny. In 2000, Bush promised not to do any nation building. You Republicans seemed to enjoy that “flip/flop”bullshit you used on John Kerry in 2004. Care to extend to your emboldened hero the same label?
Delaware State Police late Friday named a 19-year veteran of the force as the target of an “exhaustive” investigation into drug thefts from an evidence locker at a barracks south of Camden.
State Police Superintendent Col. Thomas F. MacLeish said the agency suspended Sgt. Charles R. Mullett and began the probe immediately after officials learned that he tried to use his position as a trooper to obtain “drug paraphernalia” from Milford Memorial Hospital on April 23.
Investigators later found that Mullett, 45, had removed “drug evidence” from a Troop 3 holding area. A statewide check of lockers in other troops is now under way although Mullett, a criminal investigation officer, had no access to other evidence lockers.
Too bad he wasn’t a county cop. Then it would make more sense. We all know Sherry Freebery and Tom Gordon were doing the blow back when they had the New Castle County cops wrapped around their fingers (and political campaigns).
Anyone who takes this boring tripe seriously –or enjoys it, for that matter– should receive the same fate as the Priory folk systematically murdered during the film.
Yes, it was that bad. Catholics, you have nothing to fear. Your religion has not been tainted and Jesus still walked on water. Stop bitching. Let’s put it like this: I was so bored and offended by its stupidity that I, for one second, considered rejoining the Catholic Church and saying a rosary right when I stepped out of the theatre!
I get A LOT of jokes in my mail. But this one almost made me tinkle myself. Thanks to Susan for this wonderful way to start the morning…:
George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are flying on Air Force One.
The President looks at the Vice President, chuckles, and says, “You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out the window right now and make somebody very happy.”
The Vice President shrugs and says, “Well, I could throw 10 $100 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy.”
Not to be outdone, the Secretary of Defense says, “Of course, then, I could throw 100 $10 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy.”
The pilot rolls his eyes and says to his co-pilot, “Such arrogant asses back there. Hell, I could throw the three of them out the window and make 56 million people really happy.”
Posted by Mike Matthews in Dumb stuff at 8:34 AM PDT
St. John’s United Methodist Church 300 N Pine St. On Saturday, May 6, 2006, God snatched Marine Cpl. Cory L. Palmer from this life and delivered him directly to Hell, where the worm that eats on you never dies and the fire is never quenched and the smoke of his torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. All Cory wants now is for someone to go and warn his loved ones to OBEY the Lord their God, so they don’t end up in Hell with him! HE WANTS THEM TO LISTEN! Read Luke 16:19-31. God sent you a message - hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it! LISTEN UP! Mic 6:9 “The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.” Semper fi, Semper fags, they’re coming home in body bags.
Update II: The Phelps clan has a one-sheet for Cory Palmer’s funeral.
In a quick fit of spam-deleting rage, I accidentally deleted the fourth comment from this post. I forget who posted it. I just remember that several hours ago there were indeed “four comments.” I apologize to the commenter and I hope you’ll repost. Thanks!
Unrelated: for some fun, check this hilarious link. Thanks to Amie for sending me this and affording me some levity in my boring and busy life.
Move our ridiculously stupid president around by clicking your mouse.
