Tonight is the start of the 31st Annual Taste of Greece Festival at St. Pauls Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine.

There will be food, food and more food along with cooking demonstrations, carnival rides, games, music, boutiques, greek dancing lessons and a raffle. You could win 7 days in Athens or you could munch on a gyro and enjoy the entertainment.

Admission in $3, children under 10 for free
Located on 4949 Alton Parkway, Irvine
Friday: 5-10 pm
Saturday: 12-10 pm
Sunday: 12-9 pm

PA’ME NA’ FA’ME!

Personally, my dream is to submit a design and win. Then I would donate all of the money to NOH8T. Ooh ooh, or I could just blow all five thousand dollars on gay porn, cigarettes, booze, dildos and medical marijuana. I might also use it to send the oh-so-dreamy Mr. Warren a complimentary Bic razor (for that nasty goatee) and a gift certificate to Aveda (to deal with that nasty hair of his). Nah… On second thought, I think I would stick with the porn.

Will you be submitting an entry? Better hurry up they’re due 1 day and 23 hours from the time-stamp on this post.

Queerty picked up a story about how Orange County’s Corona del Mar High School has banned ‘Gay Characters’ in the Drama Department.

[sigh]

With all the shiz that is going on around the globe why are we obsessing over irrelevant crap like banning a play that features gay people when we should be obsessing over the x-rated pictures of Marlon Brando sucking a big uncut wang that just leaked. Obviously the link is NSFW.

Let them put on their play. Sheesh. Can’t we all just get along?

Essentially, the man has no credibility – and his goatee is just so delicious! Yummy (with a spoon)! In case you think David took the comments out of context here’s a link to the unedited Larry King segment and a link to Warren’s original statement on his site.

Dear Saddleback members: It’s time to put a muzzle on your mouthpiece. It’s YOUR church and YOU have the power to shut him up… or fire him… or boycott his church and all it’s related services. So many of his church members (ahem, that includes you Dave Share) tell me they don’t support his stance on this. If that’s true then I think it’s time to send him a message of love and tolerance by finding a new church. I know people disagree with me on some of my ideas about organized religion and the like. I am not saying don’t go to church, I am just saying put your money where your mouth is and go to a different one.

/end rant

They’ve “been in and out of court” ever since Bob Gunn (a worship director at Mariners in a prominent role) was outed by the church’s director of women’s ministries. Within in a week, he was fired by pastor Kenton Beshore. Nice. You can read Beshore’s “lawsuit-insiring” sermon if that interests you. You can also consume a fantastic article in OC Weekly, titled “ When Mariners Church Fired Choir Director Bob Gunn for Being Gay, It Sparked a Six-Year Legal Battle”.

Gotta love OC’s mega-churches and their mega-asshole pastors. As Dave said in his recent post, “I’m quite positive my wife and I aren’t the only normal ones of the 60,000+ Saddleback members.” Can’t we have some really nice, open-minded people from Orange County get national press? Why do we seem to have so many of the other kind of people?

Who can I pick on next? Robert Schuller seems ripe for the plucking. Wonder what he’s been up to lately- besides firing his son that is? Actually, Schuller refuses to attack gay people and welcomes everyone to the Crystal Cathedral. He states he has no desire to add to the problems heaped on gays and lesbians by society and has had “homosexuals as representatives of [his] church the last 40 years”. Well I guess they’re not all mega assholes – and I do like that sexy gray and purple robe he wears on the Hour of Power. Still, if Schuller is the best we can do for an “accepting” OC mega-church then we’re in deep trouble.

While President-elect Obama has chosen to ignore the troubling beliefs of the man who will spiritually usher in his presidency, Californians can not ignore Rick Warren and his Saddleback Church followers, based in Orange County.

I edited that so “Rick Warren” was not bolded
I take personal offense to this.
Before I get any comments telling me I should find another church because the church goes against what I’m fighting for, I’d like to say that in all the churches I have attended, I’ve always disagreed with different aspects of that church’s personal beliefs. I’m a fairly liberal Christian, and typically, the “fairly liberal” churches are kinda weird. Saddleback, as a whole, is a really great church (especially for new Christians or people who are unsure) with great people.
I hope, in time, Rick might see the error of his ways, but I fear even if he did, because of his position in the ranks, he wouldn’t be able to change his stance. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
To sum up, don’t judge a person by their church. (Remember when Obama’s pastor went crazy and everyone blamed Obama??)(Ahem) I’m quite positive my wife and I aren’t the only normal ones of the 60,000+ Saddleback members.

Our friend Chal Pivik at LA Metroblogs recently pointed out that Rick has wandered blindly out of Orange County and has somehow stumbled into West Hollywood. Oh how embarrassing. He’s one of those members of OC’s great big famiy I’d rather just forget. And going to WeHo? Really? That’s like pissing on your mother’s new carpet and then offering to take pictures of yourself down at the local Carpeteria as retribution. How bout you get down on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness huh? And while you’re down there…. kidding.

If you want to see a picture of Rick with his arm around (what can only be) a terrified homosexual click here. Take note of how, um, delightful Rick looks. Mmmmmm mmmmmm! Doncha just wanna dip him in honey?

This afternoon at the Irvine Spectrum Center as I took my break I was greeted by a large crowd and a cotton candy menorah. (last year it was made of donuts, I believe) Music was playing, people were dancing, people of all faiths and backgrund were dancing. A great time. It is the first night of Chanukah and the Chabad of Irvine is hosting it’s annual celebration at the Irvine Spectrum Center.

They will also be celebrating Tuesday evening at The District in Tustin.

[Photo of the tacky electric Menorah in my front window taken by Yours Truly]

Yes, I know, I am not supposed to have them all lit until the eighth and final night of Chanukah (not pronounced Can-ook-uh you dumb ass). However, I don’t plan on doing a nightly update of each torch being lit for the Metroblog, so for photo purposes you get to see the big show before the end. Think of it as me prematurely blowing my holiday wad.

I hope you all have a grand time kindling the Chanukah lights and reciting the Hanerot Halalu. Be sure to have some extra helpings of tasty fried latkes for those who don’t participate. Best wishes to all!

Even though I disagree with Pastor Warren on many things, including his position on stem-cell research, I am not hugely outraged.

I’m thinking this is a very strategic move on Obama’s part, and he seems to be a person who is focused on inclusivity rather than exclusivity. You can never win people over to your side unless you engage them in dialogue, and this could be a good start.

Go here for Chal Pivik’s take on the matter at LA Metblogs.