Something to Watch Out For While You Are Waiting For The Wii

Leonid meteor shower nears peak

(Space.com) -- The annual Leonid meteor shower could produce a strong outburst this weekend for residents of eastern North America and Western Europe.

A brief surge of activity is expected begin around 11:45 p.m. ET Saturday, November 18. In Europe, that corresponds to early Sunday morning, November 19 at 4:45 GMT. The outburst could last up to two hours.

At the peak, people in these favorable locations could see up to 150 shooting stars per hour, or more than two per minute.

"We expect an outburst of more than 100 Leonids per hour," said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Cooke notes that the shooting stars during this peak period are likely to be faint, however, created by very small meteoroid grains. (I-Report: Send us your Leonid photos)

Elsewhere people will see the typically enjoyable Leonid display of a few meteors each hour, weather permitting and assuming dark skies away from city lights.

Ancient debris

The Leonids are bits of debris left behind by repeated passages through the inner solar system of the comet Tempel-Tuttle. Each November, Earth crosses various trails of debris, which have spread out over centuries and millennia. Dense debris trails have caused incredible meteor storms in years, past, notably 1998 through 2002.

Since then the show has been back to normal. But recent computer modeling suggests a brief outburst.

"For parts of Europe, Africa and eastern North America, a far more prolific Leonid show could be in the offing this year," said Joe Rao, Space.com's Skywatching Columnist.

This year is not expected to be as memorable as some but well worth a look, astronomers say. The Leonids are known for producing bright fireballs, which could occur at any time.

The Leonids are so-named because they appear to emanate from Leo. The meteors can race across the sky in any direction, but trace each one back and it'll point to Leo.

Since Dann and David will be waiting outside tonight, maybe they can have fun watching this show. Take it there is no one trying to mug them, shoot at them or cut them in line. It's supposed to be pretty cold tonight and even cloudy, so you might just be staring at the back of some geek's unmanaged neck hair!! Have fun! I'll keep your drinks safe at the bar. Hmm, maybe I'll go have some sushi instead, with some nice warm sake. ;)

Say It Ain't So!

Shanghai Pooches Get Pampered While Country Dogs are Buried Alive

The mass slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals shows the harsh divide between China's urban and rural life

By HANNAH BEECH/SHANGHAI

Posted Wednesday, Aug. 09, 2006
Vacationing in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan last week, I received the question people inevitably ask when they hear I live in China: Do the Chinese really eat dogs? The answer to this question — as I told my worried Bhutanese guide, who like many in the staunchly Buddhist country considers canines to be only slightly below humans in the karmic heirarchy — was yes, but. Yes, Chinese, particularly in the south, do have a taste for fresh dog meat. But in recent years, urban pet ownership has skyrocketed, as yuppies (or Chuppies, as they're locally dubbed) find a poodle or a schnauzer or a schnoodle (a cross between the two breeds) the perfect accompaniment to their modern lives. Just a couple years ago, my own miniature schnauzer, Cassius, used to be mistaken on the streets of Shanghai for a rabbit because of her extravagant ears and gray coat. No longer. Everyone in Shanghai, it seems, now knows someone who owns a xue-nai-rui, as the German breed is known in Mandarin.

Little did I know that as I was extolling China's new pet consciousness to my Bhutanese friend, a puppy massacre was taking place back home. Spooked by a rash of rabies outbreaks—China is second only to India in the number of rabies cases — officials in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong and the southwestern province of Yunnan had turned dramatically against their canine populations. Instead of vaccinating people's pets to prevent further spread of the disease, local officials marched through village streets banging pots and pans. Whatever barking that ensued was quickly silenced by a bash to the dog's head. Bureaucrats in Yunnan's rural Mouding County reported that 54,429 dogs, or 99% of local canines, had been killed since July 25. And in Shandong's agricultural Jining County, many of the estimated 500,000 dogs who lived in a 3 mile radius of existing rabies clusters were also slaughtered, mostly by burying them alive in mass graves. "It's a government decision," a spokesperson for the Jining Sanitation and Anti-Epidemic Station told TIME. "Things are controlled now."

But Chinese citizens' outrage at the mass puppy culling hasn't been so successfully controlled. The topic is now the second-most discussed issue on China's largest online portal, Sina. The Beijing Youth Daily reported on Wednesday that 81% of the 127,780 people who voted on their website opposed the drastic measures. Netizens were particularly irate that even dogs who had been vaccinated against rabies — 4,000 in Mouding alone, according to local statistics — were also killed. For his part, a local Mouding official maintained that the vaccine was not 100% effective, thereby justifying the extreme action.

Many Chinese pet owners are still upset. "Since I have a dog, I felt very sad when I heard what happened to all those other dogs," says Shanghai restaurateur Xue Feng, who gave his golden retriever a French name — Victor, as in Hugo — because he says the French are well-known for their superior treatment of dogs. Like any proper Shanghai pooch, Victor goes for a bath, blow-dry and pedi-pedi every 10 days. That kind of pampering—either for themselves or for any future canine companions — is well out of range for farmers in Yunnan or Shandong provinces, who make an average of $335 per year, $100 less than Xue paid to buy Victor as a puppy. "What happened in the provinces would never happen in Shanghai," says Xue. If anything, China's dog scandal only underlines the disparity between China's urban rich, with their well-groomed pooches, and their largely powerless country cousins. My Bhutanese friend can only hope that neither he, nor any of his friends, will get reincarnated as a rural Chinese dog. With reporting by Bu Hua/Shanghai.

This is from a blog posted on CNN here. Obviously the eating of dogs is not so rampant, as many would like to believe or such drastic measures would not be needed. I think China is an excellent case study for population purposes in that it has shown us the problems with overcrowding (the human and non-human variety). Supply shortages, the quickness with which a disease can spread, and the drastic measures often used to curb these situations. If anything, this should show Westerners the importance of spaying/neutering their pets. Growing up in Oklahoma one can see plenty of displaced animals. My own apartment complex has about 5 cats (three kittens) including the "devil cat" (it really does not like me). And as many joke, the Thai restaurant next to me will not eat them, I've talked to them and they prefer the nice matured meat of white men. Rich in flavor and full of nutrients, it does wonders for accenting that curry meat dish or adding some kick to some Pad-Thai. Hhhhhmmmm, human infused Thai food.

I Think I Might Need Some Protection While Waiting For The Wii Release

Crowds, gunfire greet release of coveted PlayStation 3

NEW YORK (AP) -- Days of waiting paid off for Sergio Rodriguez, one of the relatively few able to buy Sony's PlayStation 3 when the coveted console went on sale early Friday.

He was among the die-hard gamers and entrepreneurs across the country who braved foul weather and heckling by passers-by all week for the chance to shell out $500 or more for the sleek game machine.

With shortages resulting from production problems, many had camped out for days without knowing if they'd be going home empty-handed. At some stores, the crowds got rowdy and stampeded for the shelves, injuring a man in Wisconsin and forcing authorities to shut down a Wal-Mart store in California.

In Connecticut, two armed thugs who got wise to the PS3's high price and tried to rob a line of people waiting outside a Putnam Wal-Mart store at 3 a.m. One person who refused to give up the money was shot, state police said. In Lexington, Kentucky, four people waiting outside a Best Buy were hit by BB pellets, though none was seriously injured, according to television station WKYT, whose own reporter was hit as she interviewed buyers.

Rodriguez had been waiting outside the New York Circuit City store since Sunday for the a midnight launch event, and he was the first to walk away with the PS3 as people still standing in line outside the store cheered.

"This is the best game ever. It's so worth the wait," the 25-year-old graphics designer said. "Some people may call me crazy, but I really love to play."

With Sony promising only 400,000 systems for the nationwide launch, the chance of disappointment was high. While retailers tried to keep expectations low, lines snaked around the block at many stores -- even those that weren't going to begin sales until later Friday.

Saby Madrigal, an 18-year-old college student who worked for a month at a liquor store to save for a PS3, waited in line outside the Circuit City for 24 hours without success. Still, she vowed to keep looking.

"For the work we had to do to get all the money to get the stupid system, I'm going to search every single store in town," she said. "I don't care, I'm going to get it."

Read the full story at http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/17/playstation.ap/index.html.

This is craziness. David, who is about to cream his pants waiting for the release of the Nintendo Wii on Sat at midnight, has asked me to wait with him or at another location (motherfucker!). It is supposedly supposed to be about 35 degrees at midnight that night. Give me a gun and a bottle of Rumple. Do not worry about chilling it, it will be plenty cold. Luckily, Nintendo is not as greedy as Sony and has shipped more stations to the U.S., all the while being almost $ 300 cheaper. Some Playstation 3's have already reached $1,800
on E-bay!!

Hhhhhhmmmmmm. Expensive Fungus!! Tastes Good.

Hong Kong property tycoon pays US$160,406 for giant truffle

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 14, 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - A Hong Kong property tycoon and his wife have reportedly paid $160,406 for a huge Italian white truffle, which may be the world's most expensive ever.

Gordon Wu and his wife outbid connoisseurs from France and Italy to win the 1.5-kilogram (3.3 pounds) Alba white truffle from an international auction on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Ritz-Carlton hotel, which hosted the Hong Kong part of the auction, said Tuesday.

It was the second time Hong Kong bidders won a pricey fungus at the annual auction, held in Grizane, Italy and satellite-linked with Paris and Hong Kong.

Last year, a group of bidders in Hong Kong paid Eu95,000 (ed. - apprx . $121,000) for a 1.2-kilogram (2.7-pound) truffle, a purchase later named by Guinness World Records as the most valuable truffle bought at an auction, said Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Claudia Hardt.

Guinness World Records officials couldn't immediately be reached to confirm the claim.

White truffles, known for their extravagant price tag and strong, garlic-like scent,
grow underground with tree roots. They're eaten uncooked or shaved into pasta, salad, omelets and other dishes.

"They're very unique. They're found all together and they've got a beautiful shape," said hotel cook Umberto Bombana of this year's prize truffle, made up of three palm-sized portions.

Bombana will prepare the giant truffle for a five-course banquet hosted by Wu on Thursday.

Proceeds from the auction _ which also featured five smaller truffles weighting 220 to 520 grams (7.7 to 18.2 ounces) sold to other Hong Kong bidders _ will go to Mother's Choice, a Hong Kong charity that cares for pregnant girls and organizes adoptions, Hardt said.

MAybe Why I Am Not So Touchy-Feely, or Maybe I Just Really Don't Like You

Chinese slow to embrace 'free hugs' campaign

BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- The Chinese appear not to have warmed to a "free hugs" campaign aimed at cheering up strangers by hugging them on the street, with some huggers even being hauled away by police for questioning, media said on Monday.

The campaign hit the streets of Beijing, Changsha and Xi'an over the weekend, with participants opening their arms to embrace passers-by and brandishing cards saying "free hugs," "care from strangers," "refuse to be apathetic," the Beijing News said.

In the capital, police moved in and took away four huggers briefly for questioning, baffled by their wacky, Western-style activities on a busy downtown shopping street.

In the ancient capital of Xi'an, home to the terra cotta warriors, no more than 20 people, mostly children, had volunteered for the free hugs in two hours.

"Passers-by showed interest and curiosity, stopped and asked, but most of them walked away after hearing the explanation," Xinhua news agency said, quoting a local newspaper.

"Embracing is a foreign tradition. Chinese are not accustomed to this," a man named Li, a Xi'an citizen, was quoted as saying.

The ancient city of Changsha, capital of Hunan province, fared better, a local affairs Web site reported.

"Though some people refused (to be hugged), I hugged 20 people in one minute," one girl was quoted as saying.

The Free Hugs campaign started in Australia and gained fame with a music video this year.

Copyright 2006 Reuters.

Sometimes I liked being touched, but most times I don't ( I am working on it!). My mom was not very giving with the physical love. But hey at least I am better than my sister Felicia, who most describe hugs like a limp doll.

And We Are Surprised That They Want Us To Leave?

Soldier pleads guilty in Iraq killings

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping an Iraqi girl last spring and killing her and her family pleaded guilty Wednesday and will testify against the others.

Spc. James P. Barker agreed to the plea deal to avoid the death penalty, said his civilian attorney, David Sheldon.

The killings in Mahmoudiya, a village about 20 miles south of Baghdad, were among the worst in a series of alleged attacks on civilians and other abuses by military personnel in Iraq.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez and Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, both members of the 101st Airborne Division with Barker, could face the death penalty if convicted in the case in courts-martial at Fort Campbell.

Former Army private Steve Green, 21, pleaded not guilty last week to charges including murder and sexual assault.

Green was discharged from the Army for a "personality disorder" before the allegations became known, and prosecutors have yet to say if they will pursue the death penalty against him.

The indictment accuses Green and others of raping the 14-year-old girl and burning her body to conceal their crimes. It also alleges that Green and four others stationed at a nearby checkpoint killed the girl's father, mother and 6-year-old sister.

Barker has given investigators vivid accounts of the assault. An investigator testified during a hearing in August that Barker had said the soldiers drank whiskey and played cards while plotting the assault, that Barker, Cortez and Green took turns raping the girl, and that Green shot her and her family.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

As in all wars, women and children usually suffer the most. The machismo atmosphere of most battalions and war-torn areas leave many women and children defenseless against invading/occupying forces and men from their own neighborhoods as well. Innocents are not only killed in motar attacks and gun-fights. As the violence grows and all sides become more dejected, angry and feelings of hopelessness set in, the violence will only have more fuel.

Brave Brothers and Sisters

4,000 rally for Pride at Jerusalem stadium

SUMMARY: The event, moved to a heavily policed stadium for security reasons, goes off without a hitch; a handful of protesters are arrested elsewhere.

Israel's gay community braved vehement opposition from religious fundamentalists and held a large rally Friday in Jerusalem, complete with live rock music, dancing and declarations of pride.

The event -- originally planned as a march through the city -- was held behind fences at a university sports stadium on the Holy City's outskirts after organizers bowed to police fears of violent protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Nearly 4,000 revelers flocked to the stadium, about the same number as attended last year's Pride march in the city, where Jewish, Muslim and Christian opposition to the events runs high.

Participants were mainly dressed in regular street clothes -- making it a far more staid affair than Pride events in the more permissive city of Tel Aviv -- although one bearded man sported the black hat and jacket usually worn by ultra-Orthodox men, but with a magenta taffeta skirt and candy-striped tights.

Police said 3,000 officers were deployed to secure the rally. Five protesters, some of them armed with knives and batons, were arrested during a brief scuffle with a small group of gay activists who tried to march along the planned route, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Another was arrested after calling out homophobic slurs in the stadium, he said.

Last year's march was marred by bloodshed when an ultra-Orthodox man stabbed and wounded three participants.

In the past week, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews battled police and torched vehicles and trash bins in the streets to protest the planned march, and threatened further violence if the parade went ahead.

Police security worries spiraled after an errant Israeli artillery shells killed 19 civilians in Gaza on Wednesday and Palestinian militants vowed to carry out suicide bombings in Israel in retaliation.

Responding to those concerns, Pride organizers agreed to turn the parade into a rally, held inside the fenced-in stadium of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, which was ringed by mounted police and anti-riot units.

Read more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20061113/co_po/4000rallyforprideatjerusalemstadium.

Asian Chicken Salad?!?

Posted By:Margaret Cho

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

This is one of my friend's and I's favorite Cho segments. I think most Asians can truly appreciate the point she is making. In her description though, she forgot to mention soy sauce and water chestnuts (not that kind Dann).

Oh My Mother Fucking Gato!!! I Actually Won Something!!!

Read it and weep biatches!!! For the first time in my life I've won something of value. I get to meet Margaret Fucking Cho!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...She's one of my role models. Cloud 9. ;) ;)

Congratulations - You're one of the Margaret Cho ticket winners for her show tomorrow night!

Please message back with the name your 2 tickets and meet and greet passes should be left under at will call. You will need your ID to pick them up.

Show starts at 8pm at the Cotillion Ballroom (11120 W Kellogg, Wichita KS 67209)

You can head backstage immediately after the show to meet Margaret - there should be passes with your tickets.


Congrats!

Liam's Shoes

Kelly's other video "Liam's Shoes". I think I bust a gut.

Text Message Breakup

Robert showed me the shoes video, and now Margaret Cho showed me this one. She does a cameo. It has weirdos, vampires, roller girls and grandma. Hilarious.

Let's See How The Next Presendential Nominee Will Follow Through

Sen. Clinton won't oppose gay marriage in New York

by The Washington Blade

www.washingtonblade.com

NEW YORK -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) told a group of gay elected officials Oct. 25 that she would not oppose a gay marriage law in New York if a future governor and Legislature chose to enact one, The New York Times reported.

Clinton has opposed same-sex marriage, which has earned her criticism from some gay advocacy groups. Clinton has stated that she favors civil unions for gay couples and that each state should have the right to decide the issue for itself.

Clinton met for more than an hour with the three-dozen officials from New York two hours after the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that gay couples were entitled to the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, the newspaper reported. The timing was coincidental.

Probably One of the Best Things From This Election

Roth elected to second term as Commissioner; Rice earns Senate seat

by Michael Bratcher
Managing Editor
mbratcher@hnokc.com


Climbing atop the bar at Cafe Nova on Tuesday night, Jim Roth claimed a victory and a second term as Oklahoma County Commissioner District 1.

Roth, who is openly gay, received 31,301 votes -- 63 percent -- to his opponent, David Mehlhaff's 18,216 votes, or 37 percent.

"This has been an incredible experience," Roth told hundreds of supporters who packed the Western Avenue restaurant. "Just like four years ago, with the emotional ups and downs, a lot of you have been generous from the beginning; 1,100 donors, hundreds of volunteers have helped us get out a very positive message. We ran five years ago on some pretty lofty ideas, by opening the Oklahoma County Courthouse to all people of every walk of life no matter where you live, what you look like or who you love."

Throughout the campaign, Mehlhaff consistently tried to make Roth's sexuality an issue, claiming that Oklahoma County residents did not need to re-elect a gay man to office.

"I don't define family by just biology, and I know a lot of us don't define families just by biology, but my opponent does," Roth said during his victory speech. "We saw that this cycle, and we saw some of that last cycle. It's encouraging to me in Central Oklahoma -- in the state's most populous county -- that citizens have given the numbers they've given tonight to those of us who think we all matter."

Supporters cheered as Roth introduced those who helped make his campaign a success. He also publicly welcomed the county treasurer and sheriff who attended the watch party.

Also in attendance was Representative Al McAffrey, the state's first openly gay legislator and longtime friend of Roth's. McAffrey received his office during the primary election earlier this year. He did not face an opponent in Tuesday's general election.

"Jim and I have been friends for 20 years, and he has not changed one bit during that time," McAffrey said. "He's always been Jim Roth and always been a very concerned person about the needs of the people of Oklahoma County. We're very fortunate to have him in District 1 as our county commissioner."

Just blocks away, Democrat Andrew Rice received cheers and applause at his watch party after learning he had defeated Republican Joshua Jantz for state Senate District 46. Rice has been a supporter of the gay community, even participating in Oklahoma City Pride events.

"We can, if we take bold stances ... people like myself who are honored to be an elected official for the State of Oklahoma, we can really restore a little bit of that confidence that people have lost in elected officials and government, and it starts with just being honest and genuine with people," Rice told his supporters.

Democrats swept nearly all statewide races Tuesday. Gov. Brad Henry was re-elected to a second term as the state's top leader, and Jari Askins defeated Todd Hiett to become Lieutenant Governor. At the national level, Republican Mary Fallin became only the second Oklahoma female to earn a seat in Congress. She'll represent the 5th District, having defeated David Hunter and Matthew Woodson.


I truly endorse Roth and think he is one of the few that hold standards and morals in office. Of course now that I say that, some story will come out with him, a videocamera and some giant sling. I do not think if you are sexual with consenting ADULTS that it will affect your political career, but this is Oklahoma. Anyway, I have met him many times and supported his campaign these last couple of months and I am truly happy something really good happened. As for the democrats changing things on the national level, I will not hold my breath. Many of those democrats are more right than some of our electees and it will be interesting to see voting on issues on gay rights, women's rights, affirmative action, and the environment (which all suffered due to referrendums this election). Don't count your cookies yet. Praise Buddah.

You Can't Bitch If You Don't Vote

A good, non partisan website to keep you informed. If you don't vote then you get what you deserve.

http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

or Some Reasons to Vote from the "Rock the Vote" Campaign.


Human Rights
1)In a historic decision in June 2006 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the military commissions at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay and affirmed the protections in Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions which ensure fair trial standards and prohibit torture and other inhuman treatment.

Gay Marriage
1)In October 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that gay couples have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples under the New Jersey State Constitution, but left it to state lawmakers to decide if such unions can be called marriage.
2)In 2004, voters in 11 states passed initiatives barring gay marriage. In 2006, 8 more states will consider similar ballot measures.

Iraq
1)Nearly 3,000 members of the American military have died in Iraq since 2003.
2)Over 600,000 Iraqi civilians are estimated to have died since 2003.
3)Over $300 billion dollars have been spent on the Iraq War.

Education
1)# Published prices for college costs are up 35% in five years -- the largest increase of any five-year period in the past 30 years.
2)In December 2005, Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act, which cut $12 billion in federal student aid money. Part of the plan includes a hike in interest rates on Stafford federal student loans (rose from 5.3 percent to 7.14 percent on existing loans and to 6.8 percent on new loans) and PLUS loans taken out by parents (from 6.1 to 7.4 percent on existing loans and to 8.5 percent on new loans).


Reproductive Rights
1)In 1973, the Supreme Court guaranteed American women the right to choose abortion in its landmark decision Roe v. Wade. In response, many states have enacted laws limiting abortion, including laws requiring parental consent and notification for minors to obtain abortions, laws mandating spousal consent and notification, laws barring state funding for abortions, laws banning partial-birth abortions, laws requiring waiting periods before abortion, and many more.

Global Warming
1)The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade. Scientists estimate that global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide .
2)According to the EPA, an increase in average temperature can increase the chances of severe droughts. It may also affect the frequency and intensity of other severe weather, such as storms, hurricanes, and floods.


So, give me one good reason you should not vote.

We All Knew It

Neil Patrick Harris, who starred in "Doogie Howser, M.D.," wants to dispel any rumors that he is straight.

'Doogie Howser' star comes out -- with pride
POSTED: 8:58 a.m. EST, November 4, 2006

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Neil Patrick Harris is gay and wants to quell any rumors to the contrary.

"(I) am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest," Harris tells People magazine's Web site.

The 33-year-old actor said he was motivated to disclose his sexuality because of recent "speculation and interest in my private life and relationships."

Harris stars on the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother." He started on TV as a teen, playing the namesake doctor on the series "Doogie Howser, M.D."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

Why Rats Should Not Be Used For Human Experimentation

And the Plot Thickens

Ted Haggard, left, denies allegations by Mike Jones, right, that Haggard paid him for sex.

Evangelical leader says he bought meth, but 'never used it'
POSTED: 2:24 p.m. EST, November 3, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- Rev. Ted Haggard, who resigned as one of the nation's top evangelical leaders, admitted Friday he had contacted male prostitute Mike Jones "for a massage" and bought drugs from him.

Haggard said he never had sex with Jones and never used the methamphetamine drug he bought.

He told reporters earlier this week that he did not know Jones, who claims to have had a three-year sex-for-money relationship with him.

Haggard, 50, resigned Thursday as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals -- a group representing more than 45,000 churches and 30 million people -- and he also stepped down temporarily from leadership at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

He was one of a group of religious leaders who regularly participated in conference calls with White House aides.

Haggard told CNN affiliate KUSA-TV Friday that he received Jones' name as "a referral" from a hotel where he was staying in Denver.

He did not name the hotel. "I did call him," Haggard said. "I called him to buy some meth, but I threw it away."

"I was buying it for me but I never used it. I was tempted, I bought it, but I never used it."

"He told me about it. I went there for a massage."

Earlier, Jones said he would not back down from his allegations despite a polygraph test that showed "deception."

Jones took the test voluntarily, answering questions about his alleged ties with the Haggard, who regularly participates in White House advisory conference calls.

Test administrator John Kresnik said the results "did show deception" but that Jones was physically and mentally exhausted. Kresnik said he would like to take the test again after Jones had slept and eaten, which could provide more trustworthy results. (Watch Haggard's response to whether he knows gay men in Denver -- 2:07 Video)

The Rev. Ross Parsley, who assumed leadership of Haggard's church, said Haggard had made "some admission of indiscretion -- not an admission to all of the material that has been discussed, but there is an admission of some guilt."

Time magazine named Haggard as one 2005's 25 most influential evangelical leaders and has close ties with the White House, participating in a regular conference call with other religious leaders.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett said Friday that the "revelations" are "shocking and disgraceful if they turn out to be true. I think it's important that we do find out exactly what it is right and what is wrong here and get to the bottom of it."

Haggard has put himself on administrative leave as senior pastor of the Colorado Springs, Colorado, with 14,000 members.

Church members who spoke with The Associated Press were stunned. "It's political, right before the elections," said longtime member Brian Boals, according to AP. Another, E.J. Cox, 25, told AP the claims are "ridiculous." "People are always saying stuff about Pastor Ted," she told AP. "You just sort of blow it off. He's just like anyone else in the public eye."

Full Story at CNN.com.

And Again!

Evangelical leader quits amid male escort's allegations
POSTED: 8:46 a.m. EST, November 3, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The president of the National Association of Evangelicals resigned Thursday after accusations by a male prostitute that the pastor paid him for sex over three years.

The Rev. Ted Haggard said he also is temporarily stepping aside from the pulpit of his church in Colorado Springs pending an internal investigation by the church.

The church official who temporarily has assumed Haggard's post said late Thursday that there has been "some admission of guilt," but not to all of the allegations. He did not give any more details.

In 2005, Time magazine put Haggard on its list of the 25 most influential evangelical leaders, noting his participation in a weekly conference call with White House staffers and other religious leaders.

The National Association of Evangelicals is an umbrella group for more than 45,000 churches and some 30 million members across the country. (Watch Haggard deny the accusations -- 2:07 Video)

"I've never had a gay relationship with anybody. I'm steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife," Haggard told KUSA-TV, a CNN affiliate in Denver, on Wednesday.

Haggard is married and has five children, according to the National Association of Evangelicals Web site.

Colorado is one of eight states where voters will consider bans on same-sex marriage in Tuesday's elections, and Haggard has been a supporter of the measure.

Haggard, 50, put himself on administrative leave as senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church.

Read the full story at CNN.com.

Oh Really?

Sen. Craig denies claim he's had gay relationships

by The Washington Blade

www.washingtonblade.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) called allegations from a gay rights activist that he's had homosexual relationships "completely ridiculous," according to a report in the Oct. 18 Spokesman Review newspaper.

Craig, who is married, denied the allegations through his staff, according to the report. Mike Rogers, a gay activist blogger, published the allegations on his web site, BlogActive.com, and repeated them on "The Ed Schultz Show," a syndicated liberal radio talk show.

Rogers refused to name his sources but said he is confident the incidents of consensual sex with a man did occur. Craig spokesperson Sid Smith said a lawsuit against Rogers "isn't out of the question" but to do so would be taking Rogers' allegations more seriously "than it deserves."

Rogers said he publicly outed Craig because he said Craig was being hypocritical for opposing gay rights and voting for laws that limit marriage to heterosexual couples.

"The senator says the story is completely ridiculous. Mr. Rogers has no facts to back up his story," Smith said.

Told of Craig's reaction, Rogers replied that it sounded like "a non-denial denial" because the senator wasn't denying the events occurred, according to the report. Smith said later that it is a denial: "They absolutely did not [occur]; there is no basis in fact."

Erin's B-Day Pics

Me so sorry! Me take too long fo pictures. Me so sorry. Now, shut the fuck up.

Same Problem Different Place

HIV infection rate climbs among gay men in China

by The Washington Blade

www.washingtonblade.com

YICHANG, China -- The rate of HIV infection among sexually active gay men in China is increasing dramatically, to nearly 1.5 percent, an expert on the issue told China Daily.

The increase is attributable to a lack of information about the disease and how to prevent infection, said Zhang Beichuan, a professor with Qingdao University's Medical School.

"The health authorities have to do something to curb the rising infection rate among gay men, who account for two to four percent of the sexually active adult male population," Zhang told an HIV/AIDS forum in Yichang, according to China Daily. The Chinese government's only official statistics on male homosexuality put the total number of gay men in the country between 5 and 10 million out of a total population of 1.3 billion.

Zhang said he found in one northeastern Chinese city that only 20 percent of the 215 gay men he interviewed used condoms and 90 percent of them ruled out any likelihood of having contracted HIV, even though half were college graduates.

Ladytron Concert

Here are some pics from Ladytron (about two weeks ago). The show was awesome. The drive sucked (there and back). I went at it alone, which the only set-back is that you do not drink at all so you can drive the three hours back cause of work the next day. Forgot about weekend rush hour traffic. Bleah. Ladytron's opening band was CSS (2nd and third pics), whom was a band from Brazil that played catchy, electronica-dance pop. They got the whole crowd dancing and pepped for Ladytron. Till the next awesome show.


The Big "D".