I just wanted to make a quick posting here about the fact that Roy Disney (the nephew of good ol' Walt--a patron saint of the furry universe) died yesterday at 79 years of age. I not only wanted to acknowledge it because he was sort of the last link to the old Disney anthro-realm that we, as furs, all love or at least appreciate, but also because I had a personal connection to it, albeit slight.

It's just that I met Roy Disney once. It was when I worked for Sun Sportswear and we had done some sample artwork and had gone down to Burbank to make a bid for licensing rights to do shirts for "The Lion King". I was included in the party and it was not only my first trip to California, but my only visit to Disney Studios. We had lunch in the building with the 7 Dwarves holding up the roof, and during the meeting we saw, before anyone in the general public got the chance, the rough cut of that stunning trailer for TLK that can still make the hair on the back of my neck tingle. ANYWAY, Roy Disney came in to meet us and I got to shake hands with him and I just remember thinking, "I am shaking hands with Walt Disney's nephew as well as the director of the animation division!"

It was really my only brush with the Disney universe (other than meeting Herbie, of course--love ya Herbie!), and it was in the person of Roy Disney. And so his passing makes me sad. I hope it isn't also the passing of Disney Studios from ALL its anthro and hand-drawn animation work--although, the new "Princess and the Frog" movie gives me some hope that people still believe in classic Disney...

Sorry I've been quiet again lately. I was sick all last week--really bad cold. No, it wasn't swine flu--but it still kicked my ass all over the place! Good thing I had lots of sick and vaca time saved up (in spite of Bel's recent medical adventure), because I ended up haven't to stay home all last week. The REALLY annoying thing is that I couldn't even manage to get anything done because I was so miserable and exhausted the whole time. I had been hoping to take some vacation time off to do some work...but instead it all got used up and I didn't even get to enjoy any of it.

MEANWHILE, as I am busy being a pathetic lump I hear about this Fort Hood shooting. I was surprised it took me a few days to hear about it, but I hadn't really been watching the news and not being on the computer, I wasn't even seeing Yahoo news bulletins, so I came to the story late. By then they knew what had happened and had time to dig up all this stuff about the shooter that made me wonder what the hell the DOD does with it's time! Apparently there should have been red flags all over this guy--he was in contact with radical groups and religious leaders and the Army seems to have even KNOWN about it! But hind-sight is always 20/20, so I'm not even going to go there. What I am really interested in understanding is:

What the FUCK is wrong with these people??? I mean seriously, how does a guy even get to a point where he thinks it's OK and even a GOOD thing to go and murder lots of people? FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, no less! I honestly cannot understand how these psychotic pinheads even have the audacity to define themselves as moral human beings. If there REALLY was a god, who really cared so much about what we mere created types think of Him, I think that he'd get off His Holy Ass and smite the FUCK out of these dickheads! At the very least, their Jihad bullshit should be worth a plague or two. I mean, come on! This is a god who supposedly dooms otherwise moral people to Hell for being queer...it seems he should really take offense to being used as an excuse for cold-blooded murder.

Sorry...I just honestly will never be able to grasp how otherwise rational people can allow themselves to be manipulated to the point where these sick, extremist ideas are somehow justifiable. Because they aren't. Ever. Period. Whether it's murdering soldiers or picketing funerals, it all comes down to one simple thing--HATE. Nothing else.

I am now officially a member of a semi-secret society! Last night I was initiated with due semi-sacred ritual into C.L.A.W. (The Cartoonist's League of Absurd Washingtonians) as member no. 9!

Watch for further updates!

Here's what really chaps my furry butt: this weekend as I was driving home from Half/Price Books (I was selling more of my treasured art-books and graphic novels because I'm broke again *sigh*)--anyway, as I was on my way home I passed a large demonstration on all four corners of a major intersection of men, women and worse yet, children, all smiling and waving and flourishing the same sign--"Reject Ref. 71, Protect Families. Marriage = One Man & One Woman"

For anyone who doesn't know, Ref. 71 is on the ballot to uphold Domestic Partnership laws. It makes it possible for gay couples to have many of the rights that married couples have--except being "allowed" to legally refer to their relationship as a "marriage", but that's a different debate. the point is, because of domestic partnership laws, many of my friends who are in non-LITB (Leave-It-To-Beaver) relationship are able to cover a partner under their insurance, or inherit, or become the legal parent of their child if something should happen to the biological parent...that sort of thing. The kind of thing that helps families, and doesn't do a single, solitary thing to hurt any straight, "married" family. At all. Period.

This is why I was annoyed to see these people, with their children in tow, standing on the street corners with their big smiles masking their hate-filled and bigoted agenda. And I'll wager that every single one of them was a Christian. Why do I think so? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that every time I see a group trying to malign or tear down progressive legislation that in any way benefits gay citizens (and by benefit I mean merely that it corrects some injustice or inequality--NOT conferring "special rights" as Conservatives tend to mislabel it), there is ALWAYS a Church leader or official organizing it. Whenever I hear about the State Congress listening to testimony against gay rights laws, it's ALWAYS "Reverend" or "Pastor" Somebody or another.

And so, here these people were, with signs (probably bought by the $200,000 an Evangelical organization donated to the "Oppose Ref. 71" group) teaching their children that people who don't conform to 1950's sit-com domestic ideal are inherently evil and that their feelings for one another are sick and wrong. That those families aren't real families and don't deserve to benefit from the privileged status of a "normal" family. Passing on to the next generation their bigotry and bile because it's something they don't understand and if they can't understand it, it must be evil.

Thanks a whole fucking bunch, you ultra-conservative Christian boobs! (With apologies to the many Christians out there who are not ignorant and too blinded by their own beliefs to allow others the privilege of thinking for themselves.)

I had an interesting situation crop up during the week. I have a Facebook page. I have "Friends" on my FB page--most of whom are people I went to high school with, and have been sent invitations from merely because I am an alumni of that HS. End of backstory.

The other day I was listening to a gay podcast I like and they mentioned several recent situations where gay couples, usually male, have been kicked out of public venues for kissing. Additionally, at least two of these couples were followed into the street and called names and threatened. This upset me. I think that it should go without question that anything a straight couple can do in public, a gay couple has the equal right to do in public. Basic civil rights.

After hearing this story I went on my FB page to check things out and I saw the box up at the top that says, "Tell us what's on your mind", or words to that effect, so I did. I wrote a brief statement that I had heard this story and was saddened that in 21st Century America, there should even be a question of gay people having basic civil rights, such as being able to show affection to their date or partner or "spouse" in public. A simple enough statement and barely even controversial the way I phrased it.

Well, one of my "Friends" (in actuality a guy from my HS that I haven't spoken to in 26 years and didn't know very well even then) immediately posted a rant (no other word for it) that my statement was irresponsible and that I was promoting perversion and that that kind of sick deviant activity should be kept in private and shouldn't really be practiced even there. He insisted that what I was promoting was the same as saying it was ok to "go around drunk all the time or to abuse children". Seriously, I kid you not.

I replied as calmly as I could and received another rant. Fortunately several people I am ACTUALLY friends with came to my defense, but he dismissed all of us as "liberal deviants". Finally after his last rant about his concerns that homosexuals might target his preteen sons, he booted me off his friends list so I can't see him anymore and he isn't subject to my deviant ideas about basic human rights. I had told him he was spouting hate and monumental ignorance as well as outright bigotry. That was as strong as my replies ever became, and I don't believe that I was wrong about that assesment. I figured that ended the flame war.

But Bel is still ON his "Friends" list. She showed me the last post he made to his FB page in which he said that people on FB should think carefully about making statements on there boards that promote ignorance and hate in seemingly innocent terms. So...he was acusing ME of promoting ignorance and hate with my suggestion that it wasn't OK to be a homophobic bigot. He used the tired and completely ignorant arguement that gay sex is unnatural and sodomy is evil. Oh, and HE was the one that brought gay sex into the discussion in his first posting. I only mentioned kissing.

I find this irritating. So, after my posting, he wildly overreacted and went on rant after rant basically telling me I am a deviant (and he used the word 'perversion' in EVERY posting) and am basically as much of a threat to society as drunks and child molesters...simply for being gay. And now he's blogging on his FB page that I'm the one promoting ignance and hate.

*sigh* I also find it interesting that one of my actual friends, who happens to be a straight, conservative, Republican, Evangelical Christian came to my defense saying that he was wrong and that Christ would welcome civil debate. So, it isn't all bad. But I can't help but still feel sad about having the stories of continued hate for gays so pointedly demonstrated.

Tacoma's Pride Festival is this coming weekend! The 11th at Wright Park starting around noon. Anybody in the local area going? I missed the Pride events in Seattle this year, so I want to make it a point to go to this one--I mean damn, it's practically in my back yard! And it IS the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall. I want to make SOME gesture of Pride.

Anyway, if you are going to be there, let me know so I can purposefully bump into you and give you a big hug!

^0^

Well...for the past couple of days, Bel has been bugging me to go to the doctor. I don't know what started it, but suddenly she's all worried about me. Then yesterday she emailed me an article about Billy Mayes, the TV spokesbear (although he wasn't gay, he was definitely a bear!) who died last weekend. Turns out he died of complications caused by his high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. The very same thing that I have.

:P

I've definitely noticed that I have been having shortness of breath and headaches and nausea and several of the other symptoms that are associated with hypertension disorder lately--more than I normally have I mean. I'm turning 45 this month and even though Billy Mayes was 50...that's ONLY 5 years older than me--and he was at least 50-75 pounds lighter than me. Mind you, I don't spend my time yelling at everything...that might help.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just feeling down because of the way things have been going lately and shouldn't let all these morbid thoughts bother me. But of all the celebrities dropping dead lately--Billy hit closest to home.

Guess I'd better make that doctor appt.

Here's what happened to me the day Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died. I got replaced on the one mainstream comic I was working on. I had completed the first book and was about a third of the way through the second and continuing to work on it each night, but for some reason during that fateful day, I checked the publisher's website and saw an article about the book I was working on. At the bottom of the article I saw that the book was being penciled by...not me. So I called...no reply and finally wrote an email.

I got a brief email back explaining that I wasn't working fast enough and that other arrangements had been made.

Now...I can understand him decided that I took too long. He's right, I was taking too long based on the schedule that they tend to work by. I had several projects I was dealing with, plus my full time job and to be entirely honest, I was having trouble getting enthusiastic about the work because the actual "script" (and I use that word very liberally) kind of sucked.

Also, I had been promised a much cooler book to work on, but it had been given to another artist and I was told I could do covers...and then the other artist did the covers too. Also, I have never been compensated for ANY of the work I had already done for them. So perhaps my lack of diligence can be undestood. Anyway, even though I was hurt by being replaced, what really bothered me was the fact that I wasn't even told. I was still working on it even though they already had another artist redoing everything I had done.

THAT is why I'm really pissed. Also I learned a while ago that the gay porn publisher I was going to work with on a couple of projects had to put them on hold indefinitely...so that publishing prospect had dried up as well.

So suddenly my one mainstream publisher and my (human) gay porn connection were gone. I gave it a try. Except for RSR, I have had poor WerePuppy waiting in the wings while I gave these other avenues a look-in, because I'm TRYING to build a new career for myself so I'm not still working as a staff artist at a t-shirt place when I turn 50 in FIVE more years!!!

Well, WerePuppy is coming out of retirement! I am going to work on a Professor Chronofur book to be published later this year and an entirely new anthology that I hope to turn into a continuing series! It will feature short stories with a variety of different characters and even styles. The stories will NOT be serialized--each story will be a complete moment from those characters' lives. They may reappear from time to time, but always in a complete narative. Each story will be accompanied by a pin-up "cover piece" and the actual cover will represent the first story in the book.

Another aspect of a new WerePuppy presence will be that I have been approached by RV to offer portfolios of prints for purchase on their website nd I am going to pursue that as well!

So, repeat with me, my furry children--the mainstream sucks! Long live Furry Porn!

I am starting back to work today after the slightly-more-than-a-week visit of my niece and nephew. This would probably not have been such a traumatic thing--except they were traveling without parental supervision! So Bel and I (and Edmund) had to be parents of a 14 YO young lady and a 10 YO monster...uh, I mean boy. LOL MAN, do I have lot more respect for my sister--who has three boys of her own, all under 11! :P

My nephew isn't a bad kid or anything--he's really great. But he IS 10. In addition to being cute, clever and sweet...he also managed to be manipulative, annoying and stunningly frustrating! He also is a bundle of energy that needs constantly to be watched and entertained. I was sooooo tired after they left.

Ironically, I relate better to my niece. She's 14 and very smart and very progressive. She knows I'm gay and how our family situation is and has no problem with it. We watched Gravitation together, we talked about Twilight and other genre things like that and got on really well.

It was a great visit, but I am glad to be trying to get my life back in order!

The other event that occurred was that I nearly fell through my stairs when one of the top risers sheared off and fell while I was busy standing on it. I didn't drop to my death or anything, but I did manage to injure my foot, which swelled up and caused me to spend the week trying to keep up with two kids whilst hobbling.

I miss them. But I'm glad to be able to unpack my porn and get back to work again!

*Whew!*

Wow. I was really devastated to hear about David Carradine's death yesterday. Maybe most people these days think of him as "Bill" from the Terentino movies, but I will always remember him as Quai Chang Caine from Kung Fu. More and more, people and things from my childhood are resurrected...or die. Star Trek, good! David Carradine dying...bad.

I'll tell you what tho--I'll be happier if it is ultimately determined that it was a case of auto-erotic asphyxiation rather than suicide!

I made a few deletions from the gallery...just thing I felt were excess baggage, or didn't really belong. I may go through and remove a bit more later. Just FYI.

Just a note to let all my fellow sci-fi geeks in fandom know that Majel Barrett-Rodenberry, wife of Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry died today. She had been battling leukemia since earlier in the year. She was 76.

I haven't met all of the original ST people. I never met Gene or Mark Leonard or Deforest Kelly--who are all dead. I HAD met James Doohan before he passed a few years back. And I had met Mrs. Rodenberry. I want to say that she was one of the most gracious and personable stars I have ever encountered at a sci-fi con. She was genuinely nice and funny and she signed a wonderful autograph for me on a drawing I had done of her and Marina Sirtis.

Of course, most of you younger types probably just remember her as Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna Troi, on Next Gen...but I still think of her as Nurse Chapel from the original series...and even as "Number One" in the pilot episode "The Cage".

She is also the only actor to have been in ALL the versions of ST--as the voice of the Star Fleet computers. I wonder if she was in the new movie. I hope she saw it before she left us...and I hope she liked what the people who have taken over her husband's legacy are doing with it.

Good bye, Majel!

Well...one more sucky weekend. Our truck was totaled Saturday morning at about 3:30 as it sat parked in front of the house. The compact car that hit it must have really been moving, because it knocked a mid-sized truck with its parking brake on backward about ten feet and 3-4 feet up onto the curb AND broke the wheel off. And that was AFTER it had sideswiped the car next door. The offending Suzuki ended up sideways in the road (also totaled) and the driver got out and ran away.

I guess we're "lucky" though. Our old Kia WOULD have been damaged too if it had been in its normal spot directly behind the truck, but another car had been behind the truck when Bel got home and they parked behind it. When it left, there was enough space between cars so the Kia was untouched when the Dakota was knocked backwards by nearly a car length.

The driver has yet to be apprehended. He was probably drunk and definitely going WAY too fast down such a populated major street. I hear these boneheads every night roaring up and down our street, tires screeching and music systems throbbing so loudly that it literally shakes our house when they get close.

I thought Xmas last year was bad--this one is mounting up to be a real crapfest. Too bad I can't blame God or the Devil for my troubles. *sigh*

The Annual X-Mas Controversy has once more reared it's ugly head here in Washington State. The last couple of years it centered on what decorations, if any, would be put up at Sea-Tac International. This year it's moved down to Olympia to play out the "drama" in the state capitol building.

The Faithful were busy since last year, suing and working the legislators to make sure that they'd be allowed to put up a Nativity display in the capitol building this holiday. Of course, since they insisted on being able to post grand displays of their specific religion, others had to be allowed to as well. So there's a Minorah (sorry--not sure how to spell that), but there's also a plaque that was posted by an Atheist group which wished everyone a Happy Winter Solstice and went on to mention the viewpoint that Christianity is superstition and mythology. A viewpoint with which I agree.

Of course, the religious Right went berzerk! To the point where syndicated blow-hard, Bill O'Riely posted the Governor's office number on his show and called her names for half an hour.

So, the moral of this story is--when Christians are not allowed to display their religious views in state buildings, it's a violation of their 1st Amendment right to free speech, whereas, if an Atheist IS allowed to display an opposing viewpoint, he should be immediately censored--to wit, the Republicans in our local legislature are already working up a bill to force the removal of the Atheist material...but no body'd better touch Baby Jesus!

Today's lesson in religious hypocrisy is now concluded.

Happy Winter Solstice. ^0^

I just read and signed this petition: Review the 501©(3) status of The Church of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons)

Basically, the Mormon Church was a major contributor and sponsor of the California anti-gay rights legislation that just passed. Once again, a bigoted religious organization is working to legislate their own arbitrary moral standards to the rest of us, and while I don't live in California (at the moment)--we should try to stop this kind of interference with our basic rights where ever it rears its ugly face!

You can view this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell.....friend/2280372

If anybody knows where there's a petition to sign regarding the truly disgusting and vicious anti-gay rights legislation that passed in Arkansas, please let me know.

*Hugs* to my furry gay brothahs and sistahs!

FUCK YEAH!!!!

^0^

In 2001 the US was handed a challenge: to continue to be the greatest bastion of liberty and hope on this planet in spite of those who wish to destroy us, and because of the narrow-minded policies of a weak, hate-mongering, ignorant and reactionary President, this country has nearly suffered exactly that fate.

Now we can start again. And this time we will do things the way they should have been done. We can meet hate with justice. We can meet fear with compassion and we can meet ignorance with knowledge and respect. Most of all, we can meet dispair with hope...real hope!

Fingers crossed everybody!

PS: Looks like I won't have to move to Canada after all.

I wish you all the best on this All Hallowed Eve! BUT--I gotta rant!

I saw a news story OL yesterday that I found as amusing as I found it to be annoying and offensive. The Vatican issued new guidelines for the vetting of future members of clergy in the wake of all the sex scandals with "improved" emphasis on psychological evaluation. So far so good. But one of the psychological traits that they plan to focus on is sexual orientation--specifically they said that any potential priest showing homosexual tendencies would be removed from consideration.

SO...what they are saying in effect is: homosexuals are pedophiles. Period. Never mind that the vatican's own psychologists have determined that homosexual men are at no greater risk of being pedophiles than straight men--statistically speaking. They consider homosexuality to be sexual deviancy and sexual deviants are automatically suspect.

You know what I think is sexually deviant? Forcing thousands of men (gay AND straight) to remain celibate for the rest of their lives. THAT is not natural! Sexuality is a significant part of human nature. Sure, there are men who are less interested in sex than others, just like there are total horndogs that will hump anything with a pulse! And why is it that only straight men and women are supposedly able to separate their sexual lives from other parts of their lives? Why is it assumed that homosexuals aren't equally able to compartmentalize?

Not only that--but how many of those gay priests became priest because they were trying to sublimate their homosexual feelings, since they grew up being told that gays are inherently evil and damned?

Of course, the irony is that if they DO get rid of all the gay priests...they may find themselves severely shorthanded.

What goes around, comes around.

^0^

I had an interesting encounter on the bus the other day. I was riding the bus from my workplace to the train station at the end of a long and frankly disheartening day. Two women climbed aboard with a little 3 or 4 year old girl. They were African-American, fairly young and talking to each other animatedly while they scooched the little girl along the aisle.

I was surprised because when the little girl saw me, she smiled at me. Not just a shy, "oh there's a big, old white guy looking at me" type of grin, but a 100 watt, eyes lit up, "REALLY happy to see you" kind of smile. I was surprised because I don't usually illicit that sort of reaction from kids--especially kids I don't even know. So, naturally, I smiled back.

This didn't really prepare me for what she did next. As her mom was herding her by me, she came right up to me, wrapped her arms around me and hugged. Like I was her long-lost grandpappy or something. And still with the big smile on her face.

Her mom was mortified, of course. She was apologizing and stuff as she dragged her daughter away and on back to the middle of the bus...and neither of the adults looked at me again.

I realized what was going on at about the time the little girl dove in for the hug. She thought I was Santa Claus. I mean, I can't imagine what else it could be. Like I say--I don't get that reaction from kids usually, but I HAVE gotten that reaction before. In fact, one of my nephews believed me to be the jolly old elf when I visited them last X-mas--mind you, I was at least wearing a Santa hat then. I even made a joking remark to her, although I said it gently, "I'm afraid I'm not Santa."

It was a really sweet moment and it made me feel happy...but it also makes me wonder about the casual lies we tell children in this day and age. It took me a long time to finally admit that the existence of Santa was unlikely when I was growing up. I didn't want not to believe. I had even more trouble shaking off my belief in Christianity--which was made harder by the fact that the adults either DID believe it too, or would never admit that they didn't.

I just wonder if that little girl is destined to grow up with people taking advantage of her gullibility...or if she'll get burned and become cynical and dispirited by the overwhelming reality of the world. I suppose that's why some people will always need Faith. Something to cling to and believe in because the world lets them down.

I hope she finds a way to find joy in the world itself, and not just in its insubstantial delusions.

We are nearing the 10th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard. Actually, we are in the middle of it--since he was beaten on October 7th and didn't succumb until October 12th. I would just like people to take a moment to remember what happened to a bright, handsome young man at the hands of several other "normal" young men. They weren't terrorists or a gang of drug dealers or anything like that. They were a bunch of average rural kids brainwashed into the understanding that gay people are inherently evil and undeserving of the same consideration that "normal" people deserve.

Their lives are basically ruined as well as they are all in prison, and will be for life most likely. But they don't bear the blame alone. Until our society fully recognizes and vehemently rejects the hypocrisy and venom in its religious denunciation of homosexuals as being "abominations before God" and abnormal and even sub-human, this type of thing will continue to occur and the perpetrators will continue to think they are being unfairly punished because the fags obviously deserved it for being deviants.

Look at the trial of Matthew's assailants--they plead not-guilty by reason of insanity which they were supposedly "driven to by Matthew Shepard's sexual advances". Yep--"The Gay Panic Defense". As if someone's interest in them was just cause to murder them horribly. The very use of such a sickeningly ludicrous defense is proof that they believed they were justified in their actions...and they could only believe that because society makes it possible for them to.

Anyway...just take a second to remember. Take a second to think about what this world could be like if only people didn't hurt others because of bigotry and ignorance and hate--because that's what it is. Nothing but hate.

Yipes! Two days til RainFurrest!!!

I'm still frantically painting away on the "big piece" I wanted to bring. It'll get done tonight, but there's still the other stuff I want to do, plus printing I still need to do to fill out my print books and everything.

And on Thursday evening I'll be losing any last minute working time to going into Seattle to see Phantom of the Opera! I haven't seen it in something like four years, so I'm really excited, but man, the timing could be better. (I'm just lucky Bel didn't get tickets for Friday!!)

I look forward to meeting any of you guys who are going to be able to make it! It'll be my last con this year and who knows what cons I'll manage to get to next year. :P

SO...wish me luck, or come by and say 'Hi' (and buy stuff *EG*!)

*Snugs!*
da Pup

^0^

WOW...nothing stirs up a response on these blogs like a discussion about god. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. I suppose it's worrying to me because it IS such a hot topic--even to me! I will watch documentaries on the History Channel about biblical subjects like "End Times", or the Anti-Christ, or new perspectives on the life of Jesus... I get freaked out by news articles about Rev. Phelps picketing Aids victims or soldier's funerals.

The hype still gets under my fur!

I guess that's why I am interested in doing this whole on-line ordination business--not just for the irony of the whole thing, but a serious desire to point out the "Emperor-has-no-clothes" aspect of the religious debate. As I have puzzled over this question for 30 years, going from Christianity to Secular Humanist agnosticism bordering on atheism by reading, watching, learning and passionate consideration, I feel I have at LEAST as much to contribute to the issue as an Oral Roberts or a Sarah Palin (the newest ultra-conservative mouthpiece the radical Right would like to force on us.) BTW--she's MY age.

Also, the other reason for my interest in this new direction is that I want to add a spiritual aspect to my art--especially my furry paintings. I want to show my awe and reverence for the beauty of life and the universe. I want to show that you don't HAVE to worship forces that are greater than yourself to APPRECIATE and respect them. There's also the desire to live as ethical a life as I can manage as a mere flawed mortal and show that morality should come from within, not threats (of damnation) from without.

My fundamentalist Christian friend (who I worked on a comic with) tells me I have no "moral center" without Jesus. That I am definitely going to Hell (because I'm gay) if I don't repent and accept Jesus. It doesn't matter to him whether I'm a good person or not...it's all about dogma to him. I think that's wrong, plain and simple. And too many people in this world think his way, or in a manner that is even worse, ie Muslim fundamentalists, Rev. Phelps, etc. They aren't all violent and evil--but their intolerance and narrow-mindedness make it possible for people like that to exist and inflict the kind of terror and pain that they do. to that degree they are culpable.

All because they insist on believing in something without any rational basis AND often believing in the radical dogmatic interpretations of those core beliefs. At the very least--belief in a God should be a comforting thing, not a rallying point for hate. It would be nice if there were NO rallying points for those feelings, but Jesus, Mohamed, and God His-self should ESPECIALLY be exempt from teachings of hate!

I am reading a book called "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. It is leading me to realize that, while I am certainly not alone in my denunciation of religion as an agent of ignorance and fear, I'm up against a wall of prejudice that makes the Great Wall look like a speed-bump.

Once again--it's all about labels. Atheism is a label for someone who believes that there is no personal god--and by personal god I mean the type of deity postulated by Jews, Christians and Muslims. A god who not only created everything in the universe, but maintains it like a garden, even down to getting involved in the affairs of mankind.

People can accept a person who doesn't believe in "God", but they are freaked out when someone calls themselves and Atheist. Hell, Bel can easily accept my non-belief in a personal god, but absolutely refuses to let me call myself the "A"-word when we talk about it. It's the word that scares her. Now THAT is some amazing propaganda!

I tend not to use the word atheist because I don't feel it's completely accurate. I don't believe in "God" or "Heaven" or "Satan" or "Hell". All the evidence suggests that these concepts are the creation of mankind--not the other way around. However, I can't say for absolutely certain that there is NO god of any sort at all. And I DO believe that there are aspects of this universe and of existence that we simply can't perceive. So, technically I am an agnostic. But not because I'm afraid to be an atheist...just that I don't have "Faith" in pure atheism. Faith being belief without reason.

But it IS scary how powerfully the word is perceived. For all those people who think words AREN'T dangerous--there's one you can be afraid of.

I have just been ordained by the Universal Life Church Monastery (via the internet, of course) and am now an official Reverend with all the rights and privileges thereof. Although I am not set up to perform weddings or other official rights yet--so don't ask until I'm ready. ;)

I will be working toward becoming a Doctor of Divinity, so that I can finally be called Doctor WerePuppy!

This does not mean that I have changed my views on religion in any way. Far from it. I will seek to quantify my exact position. The ULC is a non-denominational, non-theocratic organization. I am a Secular Humanist if any label must be given.

One thing I will say--read the Desiderata and consider the "Golden Rule" and you will know my basic ideals about human interaction.

I'll keep you up to date on further developments.

The Universal Forces bless and keep you all. ^0^

I was thinking about the graphic novels I have at home and I thought I'd jot down a list of my favorite GNs, whether I own them or not.

1. Kingdom Come (Great story, Alex Ross art!)

2. The Dark Knight Returns (Frank Miller at his best...or worst.)

3. Watchmen (Brilliant book...even if Mars is pink and the owl guy looks LAME. Thankfully he's cooler looking in the movie!)

4. Pride of Baghdad (Beautiful art, interesting plot...and talking animals!!! Need I say more?)

5. Blankets (Not well known 300 page illustrated memoir by Craig Thompson. He's not gay or anything. But it's a really amazing and beautiful book.)

6. Ronin (Frank Miller again...an original story he did before the Dark Knight Returns. It's bizarre and it's cool.)

7. Maus (It's a comic book that won a frickin' Pulitzer Prize! You gotta give it props for that if nothing else, but it's also a brilliant piece of work.)

8. Cerebus: Jaka's Story (Part of the overall epic that was Cerebus, but this specific novel within the NOVEL was an extraordinary story that really blew me away.)

9. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (What can I say...extraordinary! Ignore the movie!)

10. Bone (Technically not a graphic novel so much as the entire series crammed into a giant book, but it's such a fun read. Great characters, entertaining stories and beautiful artwork.)

Other faves include FM's 300 and Sin City, the Akira phonebooks, Ghost in the Shell, and A Contract with God by the immortal (although dead) Will Eisner.

Tune in next time when I go less cerebral and list my all time favorite porn comics! Yay! Porn.... *drool*

^0^

I took the train to work today...for the first time! Someone here at my muggle job sorted out the bus info needed to get from the station to the office, and so I thought I'd try it too. It means having to get up an hour earlier...it means not having a way to get around at lunchtime...and it means being stranded 30 miles from home without a clear idea of how to get back if I screw up and miss the bus back to the station, or something...

But I think it will be a good thing. I'm going to try and do it at least 3 times a week from now on. It will mean I am not driving so many miles every week...which in turn should mean I'm in less danger of being in an accident, or having the car suddenly crap out while I'm miles from home. I really don't think it'll save me all that much money, but maybe it'll save me stress and frustration and keep me from spending money I shouldn't during the week...because I won't be able to go anywhere. LOL

On the furry front, RainFurrest is fast approaching! Since I'm a GOH there, I've done a T-shirt design, which I'm pretty happy with, and will be doing a conbook cover and have to sort out the art I need to take to the artshow and dealer's den. I'll have copies of all 5 of the Rocketship Rodents books there for sale as well. I'll probably have a few copies of my Aeacus book too...in case anyone is interested. I will also have a little art-piece book to sell...sort of a con special. Further details will be forthcoming.

I hope I see lots of you there!!! But probably I won't be taking the train to it. (Too much to carry!)