Bristol Palin caves on daughter's name change. Dakota Meyer's name now added to birth certificate.

Courtesy of People: 

Bristol Palin has agreed to her ex-fiancé Dakota Meyer's court petition to have their 4-month-old daughter's last name changed from Palin to Meyer. 

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE Palin and Meyer's daughter's name is listed as Sailor Grace Palin on her birth certificate, and will now be legally changed to Sailor Grace Palin Meyer. Meyer is also now listed on the baby's birth certificate. 

Palin's lawyer told PEOPLE in a statement: "Bristol consented to the change of name some time ago," adding that both Palin and Meyer are "talking directly and just being parents without involving the lawyers."

They are "talking directly and just being parents without involving the lawyers." Really? Because Dakota Meyer filed for his name change in court, which ABSOLUTELY involved lawyers.

And in fact it was her "not involved" lawyer who gave that statement to the press.

I kind of want to see this as a win for Dakota, and give him credit for keeping all of this in view of the public because THAT is what keeps the Palins from screwing with you.

But what bothers me is that birth certificate. If Dakota was the father, and Bristol KNEW that, why was his name not already on the birth certificate?

The reason of course is because he either refused to sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity, or he was never asked to sign one.

So one would hope that the DNA test that Bristol's lawyers claimed proved he was the father by a percentage of 99.9957, were indeed accurate.

Because if not Dakota Meyer has just become the latest victim in a long line of people victimized by the Palin family. Actually it could be argued that such is the case even if he is the father. 

According to Gawker Ted Cruz's wife is disgusted by Iowans. Wait, SHE'S disgusted?

Courtesy of Gawker:  

“Heidi has repeatedly been complaining about how disgusting the voters and whole scene in Iowa is,” our source told Gawker. “She says everyone smokes cigarettes, eats horribly, and wants to hug and touch her all the time. She said that she has to go back to the hotel and take a shower multiple times a day due to this environment.” 

According to Heidi’s Twitter, meanwhile, meeting all those Iowans has been “so wonderful.”

So wonderful to meet so many Iowans today! #CruzinToCaucus pic.twitter.com/397GX6ahUt

— Heidi Cruz (@heidiscruz) January 9, 2016

Oh yeah she REALLY looks like she enjoys meeting these people.

Personally I would think that anybody who allowed Ted Cruz to touch their naughty bits would have a rather high tolerance for disgusting.

Though to be fair Heidi HAS had a long time to become immune to Ted's special brand ofick.

Remember it was only back in 2005 that police found her by the side of the road with her head buried in her hands. 

I guess after eleven years you can learn to tolerate anything.

So just hang in there Iowa, someday Heidi Cruz will be able to handle you without having to fight her gag reflex.

Sadly the same cannot be said for the rest of us when it comes to her husband.

New study finds that non-religious kids are more generous than children raised in religious homes. Gee, no kidding.

Source

Courtesy of The Oregonian:

A new study in the journal Current Biology found children in religious households are significantly less generous than their non-religious peers. 

At the same time, religious parents were more likely than non-religious ones to consider their children empathetic and sensitive to the plight of others. 

It's a common assumption in the United States that faith goes hand-in-hand with goodness. The Pew Research Center reported last year that 53 percent of Americans think it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. 

Americans overwhelmingly elect Christian representatives, and they distrust atheists. 

This study challenges those attitudes. It was the children in non-religious homes most likely to be generous toward a stranger. The longer a child had lived in a religious home, the stingier he was compared to his secular peers. 

Here is another obvious fact that people cannot accept without a study to back it up. And let's face it religious people are not going to accept it even WITH a study to back it up.

Clearly if you are raised to expect rewards for good behavior (Heaven) and dire consequences for bad behavior (Hell), and taught that you are constantly under surveillance (God) to monitor those behaviors, then you are going to have a severely underdeveloped morality.

Generosity and goodness cannot be forced on children through threats or rewards. They learn that by observing the example of those around them.

And those who are constantly struggling with doing the right thing, and who openly admit that their morality comes from their fear of a supreme being, set a very poor example indeed.

The non-religious among us give and take care of each other because it is the right thing to do, not to earn passage into eternal life.

To do it with the expectation of reward, cheapens what it means to be human.

President Obama on his Alaska trip, "I've got to come back here once I'm done being President."

You have not seen the last of me Alaska.

Okay so I don't want any credit for being clairvoyant or anything but I predicted yesterday that Alaska was going to get under Obama's skin, and it seems that it has done exactly that:

Right off the bat, I’ll note that I’ve got to come back here once I’m done being President. 

You just can’t see Alaska in three days. 

Well that's the understatement of the year.

Look I know that for many of the people in the lower forty eight Alaska's reputation has been forever besmirched by Sarah Palin. (Why do you think we all worked so hard to distance ourselves from her?)

But Alaska is truly a unique place, whose beauty transcends ideology or political differences.

Sure we have perhaps more than our fair share of lunatics and stupid people, but this is a VERY big state. Fd you don't want to see them, trust me you won't see them.

But if instead you want to meet the nicest, most giving people anywhere, well you really cannot avoid meeting them.

Because they are everywhere.

And the scenery?

Yeah, well you would be hard pressed top beat our scenery.

So of course President Obama is coming back. How could he not?

And just like he will not be able to forget us, we also will not be able to forget him.

Sadly for him however the portion of his trip that will be forever ingrained in our memories is the time the fish jizzed on his boots.

Because THAT was too damn funny!

Guess who made Time Magazine's Top 100 Influential People? And then guess who didn't.

Julianne Moore as described by fashion designer, director, and now Time Magazine contributor Tom Ford: 

Fearless. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Julianne Moore. Of course, the words beautiful, elegant, smart, loyal and steadfast can be used to describe her too. 

I was fortunate enough to witness Julianne’s incredible skill as an actress firsthand when we worked together on a film that I directed called A Single Man. I remember looking through the camera lens before the first take and realizing that she projects something very rare: an actual luminosity that is dazzling in life and that can be captured on film. This is the difference between an actor and a star. 

Julianne’s character off set is just as magnetic as her onscreen presence. She has an inner beauty that will never fade. She is down to earth and real. For my 50th birthday we went white-water rafting in Idaho, where we had no baths or toilets for five days. She seemed just as comfortable in the wilderness, stripped of the trappings of stardom, as she is in front of the camera. 

Julianne is one of the greatest actresses working today, but she’s also a wonderful human being. I am honored to call her my friend.

Well that is a rather glowing description. However it seems to fit the talented individual we have been hearing about for all of these years.

There are equally glowing descriptions (And some not so glowing descriptions.) of 99 more influential Titans, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, and Icons. These include such eclectic choices such as Lorne Michaels, Janet Yellen, Emma Watson, Amy Schumer, Chris Pratt, Tim McGraw, John Oliver, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, Kim Jong Un, and even, believe it or not, Kim Kardashian along with many others.

However one name missing from the list, as it has since 2010, is Sarah Louise Palin.

You know it's almost as if constantly teasing that you might consider running for high office, and then never actually going through with it, while repeatedly taking to Facebook in an obvious attempt get attention by attacking more accomplished people than yourself, over time diminishes your credibility in some way.

But that would mean the entire Sarah Palin model for continued relevance was flawed in some way.

And that can't be right. Can it?

Just a selfie with a bunch of baristas.

Our first selfie President strikes again.

For those wanting to know this was apparently taken at a place called Charmington's in Baltimore.

Gee, it's just too bad that Obama is so aloof and unfriendly right?

Well that's how the Right Wing media describes him at least.

Video of massive Black Friday crowd outside Urban Outfitters.

Seriously aren't we better than this?

Allowing retailers to turn us into animals fighting over table scraps is pathetic.

Here is another one from yesterday featuring fights and at least one arrest.

New GOP ad sets out to convince Americans that Republicans are people too. Nice try.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

A new video from a veteran of Mitt Romney‘s 2012 campaign seeks to end the “partisan vitriol” aimed at the GOP by helpfully informing people that there are Republicans out there who read the New York Times in public, drive hybrid cars, have dark skin, and/or have a beard and tattoos. They also sometimes purchase and then put together Ikea furniture.

Well according to this advertisement Republicans are just like the rest of us, and supposedly they have feelings too.

Really? Then how do you explain this guy?

And here's the thing, if you have to actually create an ad to convince people that you are also people, doesn't that say something fundamental about your humanity?

Just another reminder as to why I don't shop at Wal-Mart.

Just add this to my previous posts about why I avoid this store.

Seriously if they filmed a reality show about Wal-Mart shoppers nobody would believe it.

Well besides Wal-Mart shoppers of course.

God Loves Uganda. Christianity's impact on Africa.

This film seems to focus mostly on how missionaries have brought a dangerous type of homophobia to Africa which has resulted in the deaths and persecution of many its citizens.

However that is only ONE negative aspect of evangelism within the "dark continent."

Courtesy of the Guardian:

Children accused of witchcraft number in the thousands in the DR Congo, the Central African Republic, southern Nigeria, and parts of Angola. Anthropologists have identified the combination of crises as the underlying cause for the epidemics of witchcraft accusations against children. Economic hardship, conflict, urbanization, displacement, family breakdown and HIV/AIDS have spread insecurity in large parts of Central Africa and have profoundly undermined many communities. In parallel, revivalist and Pentecostal churches have proliferated in many parts of Africa, offering spiritual stability in times of uncertainty. 

Some of these churches, run by unscrupulous preachers and self-appointed prophets, have seized upon the fears of the population and are offering exorcism services at exorbitant costs. These rituals subject children to further violence and abuse and have become a lucrative business for some pastors. In Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State in the Niger delta, the explosion of witchcraft accusations against children have been traced back to a film produced by a prominent priestess, which has fuelled popular beliefs in child witchcraft. 

At the dawn of African independence it was widely assumed by modern elites and by development agencies that formal education, media, monotheistic religions, economic development and democratic political systems would sweep away traditional African beliefs. Instead, as the case of witchcraft accusations against children shows, traditions are being reinvented and adapted to the challenges and insecurities of a globalised world. 

Since the phenomenon of accusing children of witchcraft emerged only within the last 10-20 years (and in Nigeria more recently), there is hope that it has not yet become deeply entrenched.

Essentially in replacing the "pagan" beliefs of the African people with Christianity, the missionaries believed they would immediately transport them to the 21st century and transform their culture overnight into one that closely reflected the one these Americans enjoyed back home.

However they forget, or choose to ignore, the fact that Christianity has a long and bloody history of  oppression, genocide, and intolerance. Modern western Christians are viewing their religion from the coziness of their two story homes while sitting in front of their big screen televisions, and receiving religious instruction while sitting in a warm church on padded pews.

The African tribal people on the other hand are coming to Christianity in its infancy, and attempting to rationalize it along with their other superstitious belief systems. The moral framework from the Bible is one that teaches aggression against those who are labeled heretics, witches, or infidels. And without a strong set of laws to govern the people, there will be murder, torture, and harassment of those deemed different.

African Christianity may someday more closely reflect Western Christianity, but not at first. At first it will more closely reflect the older version of Christianity that burned witches at the stake, punished non-believers as Satan worshipers, and wiped out whole civilizations deemed primitive or pagan.

You know I once spoke to a missionary about her work.

She started off telling me of all the good she and her husband had done in Africa, China, and India, such as bringing in medical supplies, building schools, and of course "saving souls."

I asked what happened to those who did not accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and she casually explained that they would burn for all eternity in the fiery pit of hell.

"What happens to all of the people that you don't reach, and who DON'T even know about Jesus?"

"Oh well God will not abandon them, they will not be forced to suffer if they were never given the opportunity to accept the Lord." she explained.

"So let me get this straight. If you leave these people alone, and never tell them about Jesus they are assured some type of afterlife, and are spared the punishment of hell. But once you tell them there is a choice to make and they choose incorrectly they doom themselves to eternal torment?"

"Well sort of I guess." She replied.

"So what do you think your success rate is?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know. About two out of every hundred probably."

"Okay so to be clear, by reaching out to these people you have doomed roughly 98% of the innocent people who come into contact with you? I'm sorry WHO are you working for again? Because from my perspective it appears that you are sending the devil souls faster than he can think up new methods of torturing them."

As you can imagine that was the end of the conversation. And of the friendship.

You know sometimes we westerners simply assume that our way is the best way, and that every culture will be improved by our "correcting" them in how they live, how they raise their children, and how they believe.

That type of arrogance has done immeasurable harm in the world.

While I admit that our technological and medical breakthroughs have undoubtedly provided valuable assistance to many people around the globe, the fact that it often comes gift wrapped in religious doctrine and culturally insensitive attitudes poisons our contribution. And in some cases leave a people in worse shape than their "white saviors" found them.

Final thought of the day.

I occasionally find myself intolerant of people who are intolerant.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) July 13, 2013

Yeah me too Professor, me too.

It's count your blessings Friday.

Sometimes we just have to take a moment to re ember how lucky we are, and how we often take all that we have for granted.

Interesting perspective on violence.

I think the more and more homogenized we become as a people, the more we will witness these spurts of violence in a vain attempt to halt progress through bloodshed. But in the end our survival will depend on our similarities, not our differences.

(Source)

President Obama visits devastated Oklahoma. Update.

Courtesy of USA Today:

During a first-hand look Sunday afternoon at the devastation from last week's violent tornado, President Obama praised Oklahomans for their resolve while consoling victims and promising continued help. 

"I'm just a messenger here today, letting everybody here know that you are not alone, that you've got folks behind you," Obama said. "Obviously, the damage here is pretty hard to comprehend. Our hearts go out to the families who have been impacted, including those who had loved ones who were lost." 

Obama, who flew from Washington to nearby Tinker Air Force Base, spent several hours in the area. He walked through one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in the Oklahoma City suburb and toured the ruins of Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was destroyed by the tornado. He later visited a local fire station that has been used as a command post. There he thanked first responders and met with families of seven children who died at the school. 

I swear not since Bill Clinton has a president been this effective at comforting hurting Americans.

Even if he were NOT doing all that he has done for the country in the last four and half years he would probably still be remembered for this alone. I personally have great respect for those that can demonstrate compassion for their fellow man, and President Obama is EXACTLY the guy that I would want to show up and offer support if I were dealing with devastation the likes of this Oklahoma Tornado, or Hurricane Sandy, or any other disaster one might imagine.

Update: Wiping away a tear.

Photo courtesy of the Obama Diary.

A final word to ponder as we see 2012 come to a close.

(Source)

In response to questions about her dramatic weight loss Sarah Palin claims to be writing a book about fitness. Somebody needs to explain the difference between "fit" and "skeletal" to her.

Courtesy of People:  

New photos of Sarah Palin looking very thin have caused a stir online, and now the former Alaska governor and 2008 VP nominee tells PEOPLE she's just fine and is, in fact, working with her family on a new fitness book. 

In an email to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Palin – who's known to treat houseguests to a smorgasbord of homemade treats such as moose chili, chocolate cream pies, pecan pies and lemon meringue pies – wrote, "Our family is writing a book on fitness and self-discipline focusing on where we get our energy and balance as we still eat our beloved homemade comfort foods!" 

Palin, 48, says she will discuss the topics in "our unique and motivating book." 

"We promise you what we do works and allows a fulfilling quality of life and sustenance anyone can enjoy," she adds. 

It is unclear if Palin has a contract for the upcoming book or when the work will be published

Are you fucking serious? There NO contract!

Who in the hell would give this walking cadaver a contract to write a book on healthy eating?

This emaciated look is NOT due to counting calories and exercise!

That is due to either a chronic illness, a debilitating depression, or body dysmorphic disorder. (Anybody see Todd lately?)

According to Steve Schmidt, Palin was living on Atkins bars and diet soda during the  2008 campaign, and Frank Bailey and others have said that Palin often resorts to fasting in order to lose weight.

Those are not techniques that will sell any weight loss books I can promise you that!

Besides did she REALLY say that the whole family was writing this book?

Somehow I cannot imagine that Bristol, who claimed that she gained this much weight while exercising up to eight hours day, and who went to get lipo dissolve injections to help her lose weight during her short lived reality show.

Just another Palin lie. But a damn funny one I have to admit!

Did Ann Romney say "We've given all YOU people need to know and understand about our financial situation and how we live our life?"

Courtesy of The Atlantic:

"We've given all you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and how we live our life." 

Needless to say, using "you people" is pretty much never a good look -- at the very least, it comes across as patronizing and condescending. Dan Amira reviewed the tape and comes away arguing that's not actually what she said -- that in fact she just stumbled verbally. It's a tough call, but you can watch and decide for yourself. But who cares if Ann Romney had a brief slip? As verbal gaffes go, this one ranks pretty low. People who see this as proof of Romney's irredeemable snobbiness almost certainly felt she was irredeemably snobby already. Nor is it news that the Romneys aren't big fans of the media.

Okay I almost posted this earlier, but I came away unsure if in fact she had said this.  I am definitely partisan but I do try to be as fair as I can be, and I don't want to make crap up like the other side does all of the time, (And like WE get accused of doing constantly.)

However this thing has gone viral, and is all over Twitter, so I figured the least I could do is post it and give all of you the chance to make your own determination.

Did she, or didn't she?

P.S. Even if she DIDN'T actually say "you people" she STILL came off as terribly arrogant and condescending. In my opinion.

President Obama, placing the needs of people over politics.

Stephanie Miller of Sandusky, Ohio cries on the shoulder of President Obama at a campaign event at Washington Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Miller’s sister died of cancer and said that Obama’s healthcare plan would have given her better treatment options.

What people sometimes forget is that President Obama risked virtually ALL of the political capital he gained after his election on getting the health care bill passed.

He is clearly not an ignorant man, and he had to know that he was in danger of losing any hope he might have had of enjoying a second term. But he did it anyhow.

Personally I think he did it because he felt it was perhaps the most important piece of legislation that he could pass during his Presidency, regardless of how damaging it might be to his chances for reelection. In other words he did not do it for political reasons, he did it for humanitarian reasons.

(H/T to the Obama Diary.)

Flash mobs done right.

I just like how it slowly grows until it is a full orchestra and the joy reflected in the face of the people who suddenly realize that they are witnessing a seemingly spontaneous performance.

Click here to see source on YouTube.

Security cameras are designed to catch illegal activities, but sometimes they see so much more.

Coca-Cola recently compiled security footage from all over the world, but not the things you usually see on the news. 

Just when you think the world is going to hell in a hand basket, a reminder of just how wonderfully human, humans can be.