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Fred Phelps, the hate-happy pastor of Wesboro Baptist Church, has, rather belatedly, discovered Lady Gaga- and now is calling for a boycott of the hussy's "pretentious prancing." If this weren't so crazy, it would be a masterpiece of absurdist prose: I think we can do no better than to quote the Reverend's press release in its entirety: "Thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed...Will He reserve His anger forever? Will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest." Jer 3:3,5 "Art" and "fashion" are the euphemisms, the guise...

Everyone will remember Michael Phelps and his eight medals and his new condos and all his nice endorsement deals from the Beijing Olympics, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda. But what about Mike Cavic? Not sure who he is? Me either. That is, until, our Beijing bureau sent over this video of the Serbian swimmer lamenting his one-hundredth of a second loss to the American superstar in the 100-meter butterfly. Oh yeah: that dude. Some highlights: On what he would give up for a rematch: “I would give my left testicle.” On Phelps: “When you think a guy’s unbeatable, you...

German Paul Biedermann has ended Michael Phelps's domination of the men's 200-metre freestyle, smashing the American's world record on Tuesday en route to a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome. Biedermann raced to a time of 1 minute, 42 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 1:42.96 the American set at last year's Beijing Olympics. Phelps finished a full body length behind the German in 1:43.22. Russia's Danila Izotov took the bronze in 1:43.90. -Phelps is coming off a long layoff that included a three-month suspension resulting from a photo fallout showing the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana...

KANSAS CITY, MO. - The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Missouri's appeal to allow the state to enforce it's law restricting protests near funerals. The law targeted a Topeka Baptist church that protests military funerals. The Westboro Baptist Church filed a lawsuit against the state after it passed two laws creating a no protest buffer zone around funerals and processions. Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka protests the funerals saying soldiers deaths are God's punishment because of U.S. policy toward homosexuals.

On the day that Michael Phelps returned to the competitive swimming arena, he loudly announced his presence by winning the 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly at the Charlotte UltraSwim Friday evening. After receiving his gold medal for the 100m butterfly, Phelps walked into a throng of reporters and photographers for a brief chat about his first day back. “When I woke up from my nap I felt kinda weird,” said Phelps, alluding to a few hours of shut eye he got after eating at Subway for lunch. “I don't know what it was. I got in and I wasn't...

The Westboro Baptist Church, whose members tour the country protesting at military funerals because they claim America is tolerant of homosexuality, is thanking God for record flooding in North Dakota. “God sent the flood waters to cover the evil people of Bismarck and Fargo, ND, where you flipped off God and raised your hands against His anointed by criminalizing WBC’s gospel preaching against” gays and their supporters, declared a statement released Wednesday by the church, which is in Topeka, Kan. The statement referred to House Bill 1040, a North Dakota state law passed in January 2007 that bars protestors from...

They're grrrreat! Michael Phelps: Olympic Record Breaker View SlideshowMichael Phelps broke a 36-year-old record for most Olympic gold medals. Now he's apparently been caught smoking a bong. A month after Kelloggs dropped Olympic champion Michael Phelps' endorsement contract, a California food bank has gotten a sudden windfall: two tons of Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes with the gold medal winner on the box. The boxes, featuring Phelps flashing his pearly whites, flew off the shelves at the San Francisco Food Bank and employees even kept a few as souvenirs, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Ridiculed for Phelps investigation, official hits back in teasing speech Critics have accused Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott of trying to grab his 15 minutes of fame while investigating U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. So Monday, Lott took a few of those minutes — to ridicule the comedians, dopers and pundits who lampooned his probe of the gold medalist, shown in a newspaper photo with a marijuana bong at a Columbia party. Donning a messy blond wig — a nod to Newsweek’s error in describing him as having blond hair — a bulletproof vest and three bronze medals, Lott set...

Six churches and Christian groups have spoken out against US anti-gay hate group Westboro Baptist Church, who proposed to picket in the UK on Friday. But some of them have been challenged about their own policies and attitudes to gay people. The churches issued their statement after British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she had decided to prevent members of the Church from entering the country. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Evangelical Alliance UK, Faithworks, the Methodist Church of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church and Bible Society-funded thintank Theos said: “We are dismayed that members of Westboro...

An anti-gay U.S. Christian preacher and his daughter have been barred from entering Britain as they could spread "extremism and hatred," the British government said Thursday. The Reverend Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, had been due in Britain to protest at a play about the murder of a gay man. But British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she had decided to prevent Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from entering the country....

THE religious group that condemned Heath Ledger to hell for his role in Brokeback Mountain, is back – this time attacking the victims of the Victoria fires. The Westboro Baptist Church – founded by Reverend Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kansas - claims that sinning Australians are the cause of the bushfires that raged across Victoria, and plan to picket the national day of mourning on February 22. In a statement, the group says “God hates Australia” and “thank God for the fiery deaths of hundreds”. “The guilty Australians will not repent of their national sins of the flesh … even...

No charges will be filed against American swim star Michael Phelps from his being photographed with a pipe typically used to smoke marijuana, police announced on Monday. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lett said that after a full investigation into the November party at which Phelps was photographed, touching off a controversy that led to a three-month ban, there was not enough evidence to charge anyone. Police confiscated the bong, whose owner reportedly tried to sell the now-infamous pipe for 100,000 dollars on eBay, and questioned people regarding the party after learning it was staged near the University of South Carolina.

Uncle Jay takes the news each week and explains it so children of all ages can understand it. This week is one of his best!

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AFP) – Police have made eight arrests in connection with the party that led to publication of a photograph of Beijing Olympic hero Michael Phelps, television station WIS reported Tuesday. Phelps, the American swim star who won a record eight gold medals at Beijing six months ago, was not among those charged in a probe by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, according to the report. Seven arrests were made for drug possession and another for distribution of drugs, with arrests resulting from search warrants served by the sheriff's department as part of their probe, WIS reported. None...

There's a Michael Phelps backlash brewing among those who say the swimmer has gotten a bum rap. Boycott Kelloggs they say, targeting the maker of, uh, potheads' favorite snack foods: Cheez-Its, Frosted Flakes. Etc. It's the Munchies Backlash.

Michael Phelps takes a hit from a bong in the above picture and his world turns into a soap opera. Because of the infamous picture seen above, Phelps now has lost endorsements like Kelloggs and Subway, which did take Phelps back after his official apology. He’s also been suspended for 3 months from swimming competitions. We think it’s funny that Subway would even consider dropping Phelps knowing that they help fend off the munchies for stoners nationwide. That’s why the Meatball Subs are so popular. Now we see that Alex Rodriguez is being outed for testing positive for steroids in...

AN OPEN LETTER TO KELLOGG'S February 8, 2009 -- Whereas . . . 1) Kellogg's is a major manufacturer of cereal and junk food products including but not limited to Frosted Flakes, Pop Tarts, Cheez-Its, Froot Loops, Keebler's Cookies, Rice Krispies, Eggo Frozen Waffles, Famous Amos Cookies and many other products known to be a part of the diet of many marijuana using Americans. 2) The Kellogg's has profited for decades on the food tastes of marijuana using Americans with the munchies. In fact, we believe that most people over the age of 12 would not eat Kellogg's products were...

Despite being removed from the sandwich chain's website, Subway will not drop its endorsement deal with the Olympic gold medalist because of his controversial pot photos. "Like most Americans, and like Michael Phelps himself, we were disappointed in his behavior," Megan Driscoll, the rep for Subway, tells Usmagazine.com. "Also like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans."

Subway has officially de-linked Michael Phelps as they prepare to drop his recently announced sponsorship deal. Before Michael’s bong hits hit the headlines, Michael Phelps was featured on the Subway web site. However, since the swimmer’s pothead scandal, Subway has removed all links to pages featuring the Olympic swimmer.

And then President Obama, and then George W. Bush, and then Bill Clinton . . . Michael Phelps, the aquatic icon who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics, has violated the law. When a photograph of him smoking a bongful of marijuana was published, he admitted the crime. The same crime for which the better part of a million people were arrested last year. Shouldn’t Phelps be charged? Along with President Obama and his two predecessors, all of whom, it seems, used illegal drugs? If not, perhaps it is time to have a serious debate about the drug...

I guess one reason we keep marijuana illegal is that the ones who complain about it the most are stupid hippies. I hate hippies. Also, I find it funny when they complain. I don’t ever plan on smoking marijuana (I’m still not very cool), so I have nothing to gain from it being legalized, but since it will make hippies happy, I’m against it. Now, some might point out that being a supporter of freedom, it’s inconsistent for me to want an activity that doesn’t directly harm another to be illegal, to which I say, “That’s a good argument, but...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. (K) (K) says it will not renew its sponsorhip contract with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps because he has acknowledged smoking marijuana last fall. The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company said Thursday that Phelps's behavior - caught on camera and published Sunday - is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg."........"

Looks like Tony the Tiger isn't a party animal. Kellogg's said Thursday night it's dropping its Frosted Flakes endorsement deal with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps because of his pot-smoking scandal. "Michael's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg," company spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz said in a statement. After winning eight medals in Beijing, Phelps blew off Wheaties for a big-bucks contract to be the face of Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Michael Phelps has been suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

Advertising Age magazine is reporting that Kellogg is becoming the first company to drop Michael Phelps as a spokesperson because of a picture showing him smoking marijuana out of a bong. The company also said it will not renew its sponsorship of the Olympic team, which expired in December.

In his first interview since a photo surfaced showing him smoking from a marijuana pipe, Michael Phelps said yesterdaythat the intense public scrutiny has him contemplating whether he will swim in the 2012 Olympics. Phelps, who said that he "clearly made a mistake" and that the past week has been both embarrassing and uncomfortable for him, spoke with The Baltimore Sun inside Meadowbrook Aquatic Center after finishing his daily workout. While he still has goals he wants to achieve in the sport, he said, he's going to discuss it with his family and his coach, Bob Bowman. "This is a...

What if the Media had scrutinized Obama the way they did Michael Phelps? by MrArbitrage It's interesting to observe how the news media has latched on to this story of Michael Phelps being photographed while allegedly smoking marijuana through a “water bong”. If he is smoking marijuana, I think it is a shame but the part that intrigues me is what this reveals about our national psychology. Phelps is an example of how...

The Obama-Phelps Connection by MrArbitrage It's interesting to observe how the news media has latched on to this story of Michael Phelps being photographed while allegedly smoking marijuana through a “water bong”. If he is smoking marijuana, I think it is a shame but the part that intrigues me is what this reveals about our national psychology. Phelps is an example of how...

Key sponsors Speedo, Omega back Michael Phelps after apology for marijuana pipe photo Two of Michael Phelps' leading sponsors expressed support for the Olympic great Monday, a day after he apologized for being photographed in a British newspaper inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega termed Phelps' actions a private matter and "nonissue." Swim wear manufacturer Speedo called the 23-year-old American a "valued member of the Speedo team." Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared Sunday in the tabloid News of the World. Speedo gave Phelps a $1 million bonus for his record eight...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Olympic superstar Michael Phelps could face criminal charges as part of the fallout from a photo that surfaced showing the swimmer smoking from a marijuana pipe at a University of South Carolina house party. A spokesman for Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who is known for his tough stance on drugs, said Tuesday the department was investigating. "Our narcotics division is reviewing the information that we have, and they're investigating what charges, if any, will be filed," said Lt. Chris Cowan, a spokesman for agency.

Olympic great Michael Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper Sunday showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World. "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Olympic great Michael Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper showed him smoking marijuana.

THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history. In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong. The glass pipes are generally used to smoke cannabis. And after sporting chiefs announced laws which mean four-year bans for drug-taking, Phelps’ dreams of adding to his overall 14 gold medal tally at the 2012 games in London could already be OVER. GOLDEN BOY: Phelps at Beijing Those dreams seemed the last thing on his mind when he...

The Following is Lt.Col. Strobl's account of escorting the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. It deserves to be read in it's entirety.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If they had to live next door to a celebrity, American adults would most like to be neighbors with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and chat show host Oprah Winfrey. But trouble-prone pop star Britney Spears would be the worst celebrity neighbor, according to a survey published on Tuesday of the most and least desirable well-known faces Americans would have in their backyard.

When history books and TV documentaries distill 2008 to its bare bones — down to the handful of people who dominated the mediasphere 24/7 — who will we remember?

Want to witness a religious circus this holiday season? Look no further than the third floor of the state capitol in Olympia. A controversial Kansas church known for blaming American casualties in Iraq on nationwide tolerance for homosexuality has asked the state for permission to erect a sign stating that "Santa Claus will take you to hell." The sign would join a Christian Nativity set, three signs mocking atheism, and the one that started it all - the sign from the atheist group Freedom From Religion whose message that "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds" sparked a furious nationwide debate...

Today's Phelps-Roper v. Strickland upholds a ban on "'picketing' or 'other protest activities,' within 300 feet of the funeral or burial service, from one hour before until one hour after the funeral or burial service." ("Other protest activities" is defined as "any action that is disruptive or undertaken to disrupt or disturb a funeral or burial service or a funeral procession.") The court concludes that the ban is content-neutral, serves the important government interest in "protect[ing] the citizens of Ohio from disruption during the events associated with a funeral or burial service," including disruption in the sense of "unwanted communication...

You better eat your . . . Frosted Flakes? Olympic legend Michael Phelps will appear on boxes of the Kellogg's brand sugar cereal, drawing sharp criticism from health experts worried about the message he'll be sending to children across America. "I would not consider Frosted Flakes the food of an Olympian," said nutritionist Rebecca Solomon of Mount Sinai Medical Center. "I would rather see him promoting Fiber One. I would rather see him promoting oatmeal. I would even rather see him promoting Cheerios." The announcement yesterday that Phelps, 23, winner of a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics,...

I was reminded today, while having lunch with a friend, that there is one thing that everyone shares - time. While some of us have more money than time and some have more time than money, we all have the same amount of time - 24 hours per day. It is up to each of us to determine how to spend our time. Will we make our time worthwhile or simply while away the hours? Her point was not that every minute had to be fun or enjoyable – just worth our time. Two very different people have become very...

Michael Phelps News *****Spoiler alert****

Phelps ties Spitz's with seventh gold By Steven Nelson Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 6:38 PM ET BEIJING -- Move over Mark Spitz. Michael Phelps won his seventh gold medal of the Beijing Olympics on Saturday, edging Milorad Cavic by .01 of second in the 100m butterfly. Spitz won his seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games. Phelps will try to beat the record in the 4x100m medley relay Sunday. "I've always marveled at the fact that in the last four years (since Phelps won six golds in Athens), he has had to live with a lot more expectations...

Another gold another world record!

Michael Phelps is 5-for-5 in his quest for eight golds in Beijing. After winning his fourth gold of these Olympics with a first-place showing in the 200 butterfly, his 4x200 freestyle team claims first for his fifth gold and a record 11th gold of his career.Breaking news headline only

Michael Phelps became the most successful Olympic athlete of all time by claiming his 10th gold medal in the 200 metres butterfly on Wednesday. Phelps collected his fourth gold of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing to add to the six gold and two bronze medals secured in Athens four years ago......

Michael Phelps carved his name among the Olympic greats on Tuesday, smashing another world record in the pool to join Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis in an elite group on a record nine career golds. ...Phelps joined compatriots Lewis and Spitz, as well as "Flying Finn" distance runner Paavo Nurmi and Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina with a total of nine golds. He could overtake them all on Wednesday when he swims in two more finals. "To be tied for the most Olympic golds of all time, with those names in Olympic history ... it is a pretty amazing accomplishment," he...

HONG KONG (AFP) - US swim legend Mark Spitz won't be on hand in Beijing if Michael Phelps breaks his record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics—because, he says, no one bothered to invite him. Spitz said the International Olympic Committee, a US television network or FINA—the international body that governs world swimming—should have brought him to the Games this year, with Phelps making a go at his record.

If Michael Phelps goes on to win eight gold medals in the Olympic swimming competition at the Water Cube, he will owe a huge debt of gratitude to teammate Jason Lezak. No, make that HUGE. In one of the greatest anchor legs in swimming history, Lezak reeled in boastful Frenchman Alain Bernard in the final 50 meters to bring the United States home to a breathtaking victory in world-record time in the 4x100 freestyle relay to provide a riveting finish to this morning's program. "It was a crazy thing to watch," said Garrett Weber-Gale, who swam the second leg for...

Dear God, please let the Patriot Guard Riders know about this ahead of time. The Phelps gang is ready to strike, and they outline their intent here.

Immediate Alert for Saturday Morning, Waterbury Connecticut, June 7, 2008 IN an e-mail alert from the Patriot Guard, there is supposed to be a presence of antiwar types at the FUNERAL of a fallen Marine from Waterbury TOMORROW morning early! If you can attend, be there before 9 AM maps to the location of the cemetery below, the presence of the antiwar types is supposed to be north of this location http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&dq=Riverside+cemetery+loc:+Waterbury,+CT&daddr=496+Riverside+St,+Waterbury,+CT+06708&geocode=15632629214542374654,41.548818,-73.046660&ll=41.548818,-73.046660&iwstate1=dir:to&iwloc=A&f=d The original Patriot Guard posting is here: http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/886371/view/topic/Default.aspx The Obituary for this Marine is located here: http://www.rep-am.com/Obituaries/346098.txt If you will not fight for right when you can easily...