The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

While I've long been a critic of the BMI (Body Mass Index), I was still shocked to see my latest such score when stepping on the scale at a recent doctor's appointment. At 5'9'', I weighed 200 lbs., which translates to a BMI score of 30, and registers as borderline obese according to the BMI chart. When looking at the increasingly popular waist-to-height ratio, as I have a 32'' waist, I registered at a 46.38, which is categorized as "healthy." Not only that, but my score was closer to "healthy slim" (42%) than "overweight" (53%). For one to be considered "obese," their ratio has to be at least 63%. Lastly, I checked out a body fat calculator. My numbers resulted in a score of 10.99%, which is categorized as "athletes," less than half the percentage of what is considered to be "obese" (25%+). So, let me get this straight. According to the traditional BMI chart, I'm borderline obese. Accordi...

It may sound like an oxymoron for a person to say they're politically logical (this is often times the case), but it is definitely possible. I'm sure most everyone could point to two positions of another individual and rightfully state that the positions don't line up or mesh well with one another. However, while this may be the case with me on occasion, I try to stay as consistent and logical as possible. I know other people whom are the same way, yet know many whom often times make less sense to me with their political logic and rationale than quantum physics to a pre-schooler (Sheldon Cooper possibly being the lone exception). This is especially the case with extreme right-wing conservatives. Allow me to provide some examples. Issue: Abortion Even though the majority of self-described conservatives are anti-abortion (or "pro-life" in their view), they also often times support abstinence-only education and disapprove of contraception coverage on women's ...

Whenever someone says that the United States was founded on Christian values, I have to wonder if they've ever read the Bible (or the Constitution for that matter). In the Bible, there's this thing called the Ten Commandments. These Commandments include things like: Don't sleep with others' wives, don't worship other people or things, don't kill people, oh yeah, and don't steal. Die-hard Christian conservative: "This country was founded on Christian values!" Me: "How was it founded again?" Die-hard Christian conservative: "By stealing it from the Indians!" Me: "What about that 'Thou shalt not steal' bit in the Bible?" Die-hard Christian conservative: "Yeah, so? What's your point?" Me: "So, this country was founded on Christian values, yet it was founded by going against one of the Bible's Ten Commandments by stealing it from other people; is that correct?" Die-hard Chri...

In a move that shocked conservatives all across the country, after attending a Bible reading which was made mandatory through legislation backed by the Republican majority in both the House and the Senate, the Republican Party has decided to renounce Jesus. Realizing the inevitable backlash from supporters that the party was going to receive, the Republican National Committee mailed a letter to every registered voter, which said this: "Dear patriot, As sad as we are to say this as Republicans, we can no longer call ourselves the party of God, faith, or religion. After attending a Bible reading, we realized Jesus' teachings and beliefs aren't in line with our own and have decided to renounce him. We just ask that you still trust us, give us money, vote for us, and regardless of how our actions may showcase otherwise, believe us when we declare to the world that we're Christians. God bless you all and God bless you the United States of America. Sincerely, RNC...

Over the past 20-30 years, it's become increasingly clear where the two political parties stand on the issue of authority. While Democrats have tended to say things such as, "Government can help. We can do some good. We can make a positive difference in people's lives," Republicans have tended to say, "Government is evil! Don't trust anyone! Everyone is out to get you! We're now living in a police state!" Yes, I may have slightly exaggerated there, but you get the point. This is why I've been so befuddled by many conservatives' responses to the non-indictments of police officers Darren Wilson and Daniel Pantaleo, in the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Such individuals have defended the police of their actions by saying things such as: - "They were just doing their jobs." - "What else were they supposed to do?" - "You shouldn't say anything to the police. Everyone knows that." - "Ga...

Former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron may have officially lost it. Whether he had "it" to begin with is highly questionable. The former actor and atheist found religion (Jesus) when he was 17 and has been a fundamentalist ever since. His latest venture to spread the word of the Bible as he sees it is through his limited-release film Saving Christmas . He recently made the following comments about the film to the Christian Post : - "I'm making 'Saving Christmas' because I love Christmas, I love everything about it. I'm a sucker for all of it, and of course the nativity, and there's a lot of people who really want to put a big wet blanket on the celebration." - "It starts this time of year. You have people who want to pull down nativity scenes, you have lawsuits showing up in schools that can't have Christmas performances. It has to be winter break or holiday break or sparkle season ... they want to take that out of Christmas so the...

On Sunday, National Journal 's Ron Fournier told Fox News host Chris Wallace that "the fastest growing voting bloc in this country (the Latino community) thinks the Republican Party hates them. This party, your party, cannot be the party of the future beyond November if you're seen as the party of white people." This was in response to the recent immigration debate. In response to Fournier's comments, Alabama Representative Mo Brooks (Republican), said this: "This is a part of the war on whites that's being launched by the Democratic Party. And the way in which they're launching this war is by claiming that whites hate everybody else. It's part of the strategy that Barack Obama implemented in 2008, continued in 2012, where he divides us all on race, on sex, greed, envy, class warfare, all those kinds of things. Well that's not true." He also said the following: "Democrats, they have to demagogue on this and try and turn it in...

So, yesterday, I read an article entitled, "Ten Things to Avoid When Hitting On Me" by Melanie Curtin, and sarcastically commented on it in a blog I wrote. I then came to read another one of her articles - this one titled, "Ten Things I Find Sexy About Men (That Have Nothing to Do With Looks)," and while I was perplexed by reading several contradictory points in yesterday's article, I'm even more flummoxed after reading this one. First off, here's a list of the ten things guys should avoid when hitting on this woman: 10. "Don't neg" (don't say anything negative about her, even this list) 9. "Don't lead with your money" (she cares about how much a man makes, but doesn't at the same time) 8. "Don't put yourself down" (she believes everyone sucks, but it's a turn-off for a guy to talk about how much he sucks - it's her job to find out for herself, because that's fun or something) 7. ...

I just read an article by one Melanie Curtin entitled "Ten Things to Avoid When Hitting On Me," which I found to be, I'll say "interesting." When first glancing at the article, I immediately thought to myself, "Is this young woman publishing a strange personal ad of some kind here?" I'm curious how many responses she gets from males whom tell her, "Ooh, pick me! Pick me! Give me a chance! I don't do any of these ten things!" What are these ten things? 10. Don't neg.: "In other words, it works on women who suffer from low self-esteem. This means that in fact, negging is manipulative, underhanded, and in some cases downright mean. I, on the other hand, will not respond well to you insulting my outfit, hair or drink of choice. Not only is it annoying, it makes it screamingly obvious that you are trying to run game on me... which is really not going to work." Yeah, speaking of annoying - the word "negging" ...

So, Happy Easter, everyone! On that note, let me also say that this country - the United States of America - has never been, isn't now, and never will be a Christian nation. Sure, the majority of people in this country classify themselves as Christian. However, in my mind, that still doesn't make this country Christian any more than a disloyal husband saying he's faithful does. Let's look at The Ten Commandments and see how they apply to today's world in this country. 1) "I am the Lord thy God and thou shalt not have strange gods before me." I'd like to believe that most "Christians" in this country follow this commandment. However, it does seem that many of these self-described "Christians" worship money and/or material things more than God. 2) "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." I think most everyone has been guilty of this at least once in their lives. I can't say I hear many ...

Whenever someone starts a sentence by claiming he or she's not racist, sexist, homophobic or the like, and then adds the conjunction "but" following that line, there's a 99.897% chance he or she is going to contradict themselves by uttering something which would be seen by most as racist, sexist, or homophobic. An example of this would be, "I'm not a racist, but that n***er over there better not look over here or else I'll knock him flat on his backside." It's as if these people feel that by preceding their "-ist" commentary claiming they're not an "-ist," it excuses them of the inevitable "-ist" comments they're about to make. I'm sorry, but things don't work that way. That would be like if a guy told his girlfriend, "I'm not going to make out with that girl over there," and then started making out with the lady he said he wasn't going to make out with. Does his preceding the ...

I think that Meat Loaf would sound quite confused, to put it nicely, if instead of singing "...but I just won't do that," he sang what he essentially means with those before-mentioned words by singing: "I would do anything for love, Oh, I would do anything for love, I would do anything for love, But I won't do anything for love." Rumor has it that when Meat Loaf was asked if he'd take his lawfully wed ded wife, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold for as long as they both shall live, he responded with: "I do, I do, I do, But I don't."

A study conducted by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) just recently reported that atheists and other religious skeptics are often times not treated equally in societies around the world. This is especially the case in some Islamic countries, where such individuals can be put to death. While the punishment may not be nearly as severe in some European countries and the United States, such individuals are still often times not treated equally. As the report states: "...In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament. While freedom of religion and speech is protected in the United States, the report said, a social and political climate prevails 'in which atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans.' In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional pro...

Former Ron Paul aide Eric Dondero added to the chorus of angry conservatives following the re-election of Barack Obama. He went above and beyond all those before him, however. In a post he made on the site LibertarianRepublican.net, Dondero wrote: "All family and friends, even close family and friends, who I know to be Democrats are hereby dead to me. I vow never to speak to them again for the rest of my life, or have any communications with them. They are in short, the enemies of liberty. They deserve nothing less than hatred and utter contempt. I strongly urge all other libertarians to do the same. Are you married to someone who voted for Obama, have a girlfriend who voted 'O'. Divorce them. Break up with them without haste. Vow not to attend family functions, Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas for example, if there will be any family members in attendance who are Democrats. Do you work for someone who voted for Obama/ Quit your job. Co-workers who voted for Obama....

Sheryl Nuxoll - Republican Idaho State Senator - just recently stated that the states, through the electoral college, can still refuse to election President Barack Obama to a second term in office, while giving the next four years to Republican nominee Mitt Romney. What is Nuxoll's reasoning? She said that the "states are going to have to stand up for our individual rights and for our collective rights," because Obama is "depriving us of our freedoms." Of course, she's wrong. As even the wacky right-wing conspiracy website World Net Daily noted, "Since this column was posted it has been discovered that the premise presented about the Electoral College and the Constitution is in error. According to the 12th Amendment, a two-thirds quorum is required in the House of Representatives, not the Electoral College." What I find both so appalling, yet hilarious, is the fact that Nuxoll is asking the states to take away the voters' rights - you kno...

The past couple of times I've ventured to a bar, Meat Loaf's hit song "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" has made its appearance known via a jukebox. From the first time I heard that song 19 years ago to this past Friday night, I laugh during the chorus. Why? Because it makes absolutely no sense. Granted, there are many songs with lyrics that don't make a whole lot of sense unless a person is high on coke, drunk on Everclear, and involved in an orgy at four in the morning following a show in New York City. However, I think why I laugh so hysterically at the before-mentioned song is the fact that it's the chorus - the portion of the song that gets repeated more than "I love Jesus" by Rick Santorum at church on Sundays - that doesn't make a bit of sense. Time and time again, Meat Loaf sings, "I would do anything for love. I would do anything for love. I would do anything for love, but I won't do that." I do...

It's always flummoxed me why so many "Christians" opt to vote for Republican candidates over any other, Democratic ones in particular. Many religious leaders have seemingly brainwashed these individuals into thinking that if they vote for a candidate who is either pro-choice or pro-gay marriage (or both), they'll be voting against God's wishes. Those have been the two issues that these religious leaders have centered their political messages around. Forget war, education, the environment, the economy, etc. It's all about abortion and gay rights. This is the reason why many die-hard Christians won't vote for Democrats. On the other side of things, since Republican politicians have generally been more outspoken about their alleged Christian faith, this has also made the Republican candidates more attractive to them than the Democratic ones. Why a candidate's spoken words that he or she is a Christian is of greater importance than he or she illustrating t...

Mittens Romney has stated that he plans on cutting taxes by 20% for all Americans, including the wealthiest of Americans. On NBC's Meet The Press  Sunday morning, Romney said the following: "Well I can tell you that people at the high end, high-income taxpayers, are going to have fewer deductions and exemptions. Those numbers are going to come down. Otherwise they'd get a tax break, and I want to make sure people understand, despite what the Democrats said at their convention, I am not reducing taxes on high-income taxpayers. I'm bringing down the rate of taxation, but also bringing down deductions and exemptions at the high end so that the revenues stay the same, the taxes people pay stay the same -- the middle income people are going to get a break, but at the high end the tax coming in stays the same..." Eh, what? Under him, the wealthiest of Americans, like everyone else, will see their taxes decrease, but won't be receiving any tax cuts and their ta...

In one way or another, we're all hypocrites. It doesn't matter what job one has, what gender they are, where they come from, what orientation they have, we're all hypocrites. I think it's kind of funny in a way when we really look at it, because deep down, I think we all know what we believe is right or wrong. Most of us aren't shy to speak about those beliefs either. If a friend has a problem or makes a complaint, most of us won't even think twice about it and blurt out what we believe to be true. But at that very same time, when the person blurting out the truth is put into the same situation as the individual they were speaking to, they may do the exact same thing their friend did and then complain to this friend about it. This is all especially humorous to me, at times, because I don't forget things. When a friend, girlfriend or family member of mine tells me something or does something, chances are good that I'm going to remember. If someone mak...

Gotta love the folk who say one thing and do another. It's like they're blind in one eye and see 20/20 in the other. Yeah, I think we've all done this a time or two. But some are so consistent with it, that they are nothing more than a walking, talking contradiction. Pretty much everything they say, you can expect an action that contradicts those words. I don't know, I think that when we give others advice, many times we state what we want to believe. Our conscience speaks and it can even be surprising in hindsight, when we look back at what we said, thinking, "Wow, I said that? Huh. I guess that is true, isn't it?" But it's different when we're taking part in what we spoke about to someone else. We tend to look at the situation differently, tend to be blinded by our inner biases toward a person, place or situation, and don't go with that same gut instinct we went with to advise another person. But I would hope that somewhere down the line,...