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Dozens Receive Gay Marriage Licenses as WA State Legalizes Same Sex Unions

Dec. 6, 2012 7:03am Billy Hallowell

SEATTLE (AP) — Two by two, dozens of same-sex couples obtained their marriage licenses in Washington state early Thursday, just hours after Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a law legalizing gay marriage.

King County, the state’s biggest county, opened the doors to its auditor’s office in Seattle just after midnight PST to start distributing marriage licenses. But hundreds of people had lined up hours earlier, snaking around the downtown Seattle building on a chilly December night.

“We knew it was going to happen, but it’s still surreal,” said Amanda Dollente, who along with her partner, Kelly Middleton, began standing in line at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Washington State Gay Marriage Law Goes Into Effect

The first couples to receive marriage licenses in Washington state pose with King County Executive Dow Constantine, who signed their licenses, during a short ceremony at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 AM PST to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election. Credit: Getty Images

Washington state now joins several other states that allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election on Wednesday afternoon, as they were joined by couples who plan to wed and community activists who worked on the campaign supporting gay marriage.

Because the state has a three-day waiting period, the earliest that weddings can take place is Sunday. Same-sex couples who previously were married in another state that allows gay marriage, like Massachusetts, will not have to get remarried in Washington state. Their marriages will be valid here as soon as the law takes effect.

“This is a very important and historic day in the great state of Washington,” Gregoire said before signing the measure that officially certified the election results. “For many years now we’ve said one more step, one more step. And this is our last step for marriage equality in the state of Washington.”

Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states – New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont – and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.

Referendum 74 in Washington state had asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed earlier this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54 percent of voters approved the measure.

Brendon K. Taga (L) and Jesse Pageat, the second couple to receive a same-sex marriage license in Washington state, at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 AM PST to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time, after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election. Credit: Getty Images

The law doesn’t require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn’t subject churches to penalties if they don’t marry gay or lesbian couples.

King County, the state’s largest and home to Seattle, and Thurston County, home to the state capital of Olympia, opened at 12:01 a.m. Thursday to start issuing marriage licenses.

Asked whether the middle-of-the-night marriage license roll-out was necessary, King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “People who have been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to wait one minute longer.”

In Seattle, the mood was festive. Volunteers distributed roses, coffee and fruit. Couples canoodled to keep warm. Champagne was poured. Different groups of men and women serenaded the waiting line, one to the tune of “Going to the Chapel.”

“We waited a long time. We’ve been together 35 years, never thinking we’d get a legal marriage. Now I feel so joyous I can’t hardly stand it,” said 85-year-old Pete-e Petersen, who with her partner, 77-year-old Jane Abbott Lighty, were the first to get a license.

After meeting 35 years ago on a blind date in Sacramento, Lighty and Petersen will get married on Sunday. The couple has been out buying shoes and clothes for their wedding.

Maryland’s law officially takes effect Jan. 1, however couples can start picking up marriage licenses on Thursday, as long as the license has an effective date of Jan. 1. Whether clerks of court issue a postdated license is up to them, however. They are not required to do so. Maine’s law takes effect on Dec. 29. There’s no waiting period in Maine, and people can start marrying just after midnight.

In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across Washington state this weekend, Seattle City Hall will open for several hours on Sunday, and several local judges are donating their time to marry couples. Aaron Pickus, a spokesman for Mayor Mike McGinn, said that more than 140 couples have registered to get married at City Hall, and weddings will begin at 10 a.m.

SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 6: Several of the first couples to receive same-sex marriage licenses in Washington state pose with King County Executive Dow Constantine (Top,R), who signed their licenses, at the King County Recorder’s Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The office opened at 12:01 AM PST to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election. Credit: Getty Images

Washington state has had a domestic partnership law in place since 2007. The initial law granted couples about two dozen rights, including hospital visitation and inheritance rights when there is no will. It was expanded a year later, and then again in 2009, when lawmakers completed the package with the so-called “everything but marriage” law that was ultimately upheld by voters later that year.

This year, lawmakers passed the law allowing gay marriage, and Gregoire signed it in February. Opponents gathered enough signatures for a referendum, putting the law on hold before it could take effect.

There are nearly 10,000 domestic partnership registrations with the secretary of state’s office. Most same-sex domestic partnerships that aren’t ended prior to June 30, 2014, automatically become marriages, unless one of the partners is 62 or older.

That provision was included in the state’s first domestic partnership law of 2007 to help heterosexual seniors who don’t remarry out of fear they could lose certain pension or Social Security benefits.

Among those getting marriage licenses Thursday was gay rights activist Dan Savage, who will marry his partner on Sunday with other couples at Seattle City Hall.

“It’s been a long fight but it ain’t over,” he said. “We still have to fight (the Defense of Marriage Act) and there’s 41 other states were same-sex couples aren’t allowed to marry.”

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Comments (100)

vaman
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 7:54am
These stories of logical progress are great on the blaze. The religious crazies can’t stand to see equal treatment. Why does the happiness of others make you people so angry? Don’t you find enough solace or anger or fear from your bible? You always have to lash out, like a child.

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Jimmy_Stewart
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:44pm
Oh how sweet! They call evil good and good evil!

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- iampraying4u
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:06am
  I hope they all move there
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:13pm
  If it is a “license”….where do you screw it on or “to” ??
  
  Report this comment
Bohump
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:45pm
What’s NEXT ?…… Marrying your Puppy Dog ?

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- Jimmy_Stewart
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:47pm
  Don’t be silly it will only stay from human to human. Maybe they should marry themselves.
  
  Report this comment
- iampraying4u
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:12am
  and in the last days
  
  Report this comment
flipper1073
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:24am
This Story is very misleading.
The headline says
“State Legalizes Same Sex Unions”

But then the Pictures show them holding up MARRIAGE Licenses.
Civil Unions an Marriage are NOT the same thing.
Civil Unions grant everyone the Same Rights under the Law.
But not the WORD Marriage.
Marriage is a Religous Ceremony Joining 1 Man an 1 Woman.
in Holy Matrimony not to be Redifined by Politicians.
If You’re going to Issue Licenses make them Civil Union Licenses.
NOT Marriage Licenses.
Issue them to Everyone Then You take Your License to a Church
an get MARRIED.
Some Churches will marry same sex MOST WONT !
But it Takes the Government OUT of the Equation.

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- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:47am
  I have been saying the same thing for a while. Get the government out of marriage. Let the churches marry who they wish and turn away who they wish and let the sponsored, sanctioned and subsidized contracts be properly named as civil unions.
  
  Report this comment
- ronin_6
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:59pm
  I am with you two.
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:24am
Here comes their demands to adopt children. Children should have a right to be adopted by a married mom and dad. The rights of children should outweigh the demands of gays.

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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:33am
  @Hi
  
  “Children should have a right to be adopted by a married mom and dad.”
  
  I may be unaware, but are children not allowed to be adopted by a married man and woman? As stands, children do have that right. It’s just not exclusively to a married man and woman.
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:17am
Here comes the closing of churches due to discrimination that they refuse to marry gays.

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- AvengerK
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:31am
  Any institution or enterprise that doesn’t buy into their fantasy will be attacked or litigated against citing “discrimination”. The militant homosexual lobby will not be satisfied with merely being allowed to have same-sex marriages. Watch and see.
  
  Furthermore…this article cites Dan Savage the founder of the “It Gets Better” project. Savage is a rabid leftist and homosexual who forcibly “outs” people that want their homosexuality under wraps and consistently insults Christians with vitriolic outbursts..but the media ignores those parts. This isn’t about homosexual marriage, this is about desensitizing society to the sexual mores and proclivities of homosexuals..including their preferences for youth and children. Lo and Behold…Savage has a “reality” show on MTV where he’s allowed to troll colleges for nineteen year olds and talk about kinky sex.
  
  Report this comment
jay1975
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:26am
Who cares? Marriage isn’t about religion in the US anyway. You don’t need a preacher or need to be a member of any religion and you can divorce and re-marry if you want (several times if you were the former Speaker of the House). Marriage in the US is a secular contract, recognized and subsidized by the government, therefor it is not, and cannot, be a religious joining, in the government’s eyes. As long as your religion doesn’t change it’s archaic views, what’s the big deal?

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- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:57am
  Who cares??? I care, Jude 6-7 show the fate of all those whom seek strange flesh is the eternal lake of fire. I don’t want to see that happen to anybody.
  
  Homosexuality is sign of when a country reaches a point of perversion that it actually collapses
  
  People, read and understand Romans 10:9-10 before it is to late. The resurrection/rapture http://youtu.be/ahEVxIzlxwo is at the door as evidenced by Isaiah 17:1, Isaiah 19, Zech 12, Psalm 83
  
  Report this comment
- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:13am
  Uh, you are using the bible to justify your rant? Ok, you go right along and do that; meanwhile, I will continue to go on living in the real world where people don’t live in fish or become zombies.
  
  Report this comment
- NONCENTS
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:23am
  Marriage has NEVER been an exclusively secular contract, even from prehistoric times and it’s not now. What God has joined, let no man sunder holds a lot more weight than “What the state has joined….well, who really gives a crap.”
  
  Report this comment
- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:28am
  Noncents, you may think that, but the law in the US says otherwise. Your religious ceremony holds no sway in the eyes of the law if it is not licensed, sanctioned and later subsidized by the government. You may hold a religious ceremony in the manner your religion dictates, but if it is not licensed and recognized by the state, then under the laws of man, you are not married. Take that as you may, but it is simply the way it is.
  
  Report this comment
- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:26pm
  JAY
  
  Isaiah 17:1, Isaiah 19, Zech 12, Psalm 83 are all being fulfilled right in front of the worlds eyes just as prophesied by the bible.
  
  The resurrection/rapture is also prophesied and once you are left behind you will have to live through the most horrific period of time this world has ever seen.
  
  Read, understand, BELIEVE Romans 10;9-10
  
  Report this comment
- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:47pm
  Rapture, the Jews said you are wrong. Besides, the so called “rapture” is a relatively new concept designed to keep the sheep scared. I have been hearing that we are in the end times my whole life, yet nothing has happened. No god has ever shown himself to be real let alone care. It was the end times when Israel was formed in the 40′s, it was then end time when they went to war in the 60′s, it was the end times when Saddam invaded Kuwait, it was the end times when the toilet at the mall got stopped up, blah, blah, blah. Go drink your Jonestown kool-aid and leave the sane people alone there, Harold Camping.
  
  Report this comment
- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:57pm
  Jay
  
  I am not a follower of Harold Camping and I soundly denounced him as a false teacher. 1 Thes 1:10, 1 Thes 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:50-55, Rev 3:10 are NOT RECENT teachings.
  
  Christ is a 1st fruit and is called this for a reason and if you had any biblical or Hebraic studies you would you would know why He is called that
  
  How is it that a person like you offers expert opinion on subjects that you have no expertise in? You have zero studies on anything biblical.
  
  So why offer an opinion that just qualifies you as an idiot for making such statements without knowledge of the subject???
  
  Report this comment
- DoseofReality
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:33am
  Therapture….I dont need to be a biblical scholar to KNOW that all of a sudden one day millions of people will disappear with no reason. A toddler knows that…..its just silly on its face. Do you need to study the Koran to know that Muhammed didnt ride a magical flying horse? Do you need to be an islamic scholar to know that when a matyr dies 72 virgins await him in heaven? Of course not, becasue its foolish on its face. Just like the rapture…COME BACK TO REALITY!!!
  
  Report this comment
- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:10pm
  DOSEOFREALITY
  
  Really, so the fact that the bible is filled with a full 1/3 predictive prophecy means nothing? You are told what happens before it happens.
  
  Right now as I type this prophecy is in the process of being fulfilled Isaiah 17:1, Isaiah 19, Zech 12, Psalm 83
  
  You can actually watch the news with your own eyes and see these prophecies being fulfilled is stunning detail
  
  Tell me, do you have any real Hebraic or biblical studies behind you to make the expert claims that you do?
  
  Report this comment
- DoseofReality
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:04pm
  Rapture….do you have any islamic studies experience to deny the claims made in the Koran? I can deny your end times fantasies just as simply as you can dismiss those made in the Koran. Just for the recoerd, they are both obiovulsy incorrect and based on bronze age myths, but i think you get my point dont you?
  
  Report this comment
- DoseofReality
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:06pm
  Again rapture, i dont need any “expert” experience in order to KNOW that all of a sudden millions of people are just going to disappear out of thin air. Do you know how ridiculous/childish/delusional that is? Serioulsy man, think about it….
  
  Report this comment
- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:55pm
  DOSEOFREALITY
  
  There you see, you make statements as an expert when in fact you have no studies in anything biblical. You do understand that making statements without expertise in the subject makes you an idiot.
  
  I have studied many cults and NONE of them give prophecy as authentication like the bible does. Like I said before, the bible tells you whats going to happen before it happens as AUTHENTICATION it is from God.
  
  By your comments and your lack of study (expertise) you only show that you do not even belong in the conversation.
  
  That’s ok, when the resurrection/rapture takes place, you can explain to people how it is not real and is not a prophecy in the bible.
  
  Report this comment
- DoseofReality
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 3:36pm
  Ok buddy…enjoy your life of waiting to mysteriously vanish into thin….youll be waiting a long time, Ill be living in reality. I cant believe Im actually having this conversation with a grown adult.
  
  Report this comment
NONCENTS
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:24am
My problem with this is that I don’t think the government should “license” anyone, married or not. I am not an animal or a prisoner and I don’t like being treated as one. So if homosexuals invite the government into their bedrooms, what’s going to stop it from going otherwheres?

Frankly, I think proponents of this are being duped into regulation. It’s a bad move, any way you look at it.

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loveyouall
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:15am
Isn’t that nice. Now they can all start families . . . oh, wait, that’s not how human biology works. Hmmmm, so what is the point in them getting married?

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- Pantloadian
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:33am
  Yes, yes . . . biology. Guess that means infertile heterosexual people should not get married. You want to tell them or shall I?
  
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- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:52am
  The same point of someone who cannot have kids marrying someone of the opposite sex; love.
  
  Report this comment
- loveyouall
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:30am
  I’ll tell them — if you know you are unable to procreate, there is no point in entering into a “marriage” sanctioned by government. The only justification for civil involvement in marriage at all is to establish the legal standing of children. One doesn’t need to get the government involved in order to love someone.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:38am
  Yes yes…intellectual bankruptcy PANTY/WANGO/HORSIE…compare infertility in some to the outright impossibility of conception of homosexuals. While you’re at it…explain why homosexuals comprise 61% of new HIV cases in this country each year while making up only 0.7% of the population. Oh it must be because their sexual behaviour is perfectly normal and safe right? Shall I tell you you’re an idiot or shall you?
  
  Report this comment
- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:49am
  lovesome, the government, through tax subsidies, have made marriage more attractive to the bottom line rather than simply for procreation. You argument is weak at best. Besides, where in the bible does it say only to marry to have kids and not for love?
  
  Report this comment
- Jimmy_Stewart
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:43pm
  Too bad homosexuals don’t go live on an island somewhere for about 100 years, no heterosexuals allowed. Make sure it’s all males on one island and then all women on a separate island. Then after 100 years they all die off. Hmmm. if you believe in evolution they aren’t the fittest because they didn’t survive!
  
  Report this comment
- Jimmy_Stewart
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:48pm
  Jay1975,
  
  Easy “Be fruitful and multiply” told to Adam and Eve the first humans that’s in Genesis 1:28.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:56pm
  @Jimmy
  
  “Too bad homosexuals don’t go live on an island somewhere for about 100 years, no heterosexuals allowed. Make sure it’s all males on one island and then all women on a separate island. Then after 100 years they all die off. ”
  
  … but gays obviously had two parents of opposite sexes. After 100 years the rest of society will have a few new generations of homosexuals.
  
  I realize you’re likely just being sarcastic… at least I hope so…
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:19pm
  @ loveyouall
  
  “Isn’t that nice. Now they can all start families . . . oh, wait, that’s not how human biology works. Hmmmm, so what is the point in them getting married?”
  
  Assuming you are (or were) married, your point in getting married was to create children? Mine was because I loved (and still do) my wife of 30+ years. While I’m sure I wanted to someday have children, that had no play in my proposal.
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:23pm
  @ avengerk
  
  ” While you’re at it…explain why homosexuals comprise 61% of new HIV cases in this country each year while making up only 0.7% of the population. Oh it must be because their sexual behaviour is perfectly normal and safe right? ”
  
  By your logic, since 100% (or nearly) cases of sickle-cell anemia occur in the black population, that must prove that blacks are not normal or right?
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:29pm
  @ jimmy_stewart
  
  ” @jay1975 Besides, where in the bible does it say only to marry to have kids and not for love?
  @jimmy_stewart Easy “Be fruitful and multiply” told to Adam and Eve the first humans that’s in
  Genesis 1:28.”
  
  Huh? It says ONLY to marry for that reason? I think you are the one putting the confines of ‘ONLY’ upon that statement.
  
  Report this comment
- begreen
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:32pm
  Homosexuals purpose is due to an diabolical influence since there is no biological or genetic fact. Oh sure they’ll claim all sorts of bogus fruitless facts.
  
  Report this comment
john vincent
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:55am
What is the difference between a white oak tree and a gay person?

The tree can procreate. Nature proves it.

Isn’t it then obvious that the gay lifestyle is ‘unnatural??’ If the people of WA approve the ‘marriage’ thing, they do so at their own deserved isolation, but please do not expect fair minded Americans to think it is normal, natural, and acceptable.

If ‘gays’ are born ‘that way,’ then by default they would disappear, since they CANNOT reproduce; therefore it is a clear ‘choice,’ and even the voice of nature protests against them.

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- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:28am
  Gays, physically, can procreate.
  
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- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:32am
  Yep, it’s a choice, just like being an albino.
  
  Report this comment
- john vincent
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:00am
  jay-
  of course u are correct, but we are talking specifically of two men, or two women, who without the opposite sex, CANNOT reproduce; sure they have the POSSIBILITY.
  
  and the albino is not sexless
  
  Report this comment
- jay1975
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:16am
  The albino is not sexless, true, but the albino also did not choose to be born that way. I think it is ridiculous to say that gays “choose” to be so. Now, that’s not to say that some folks don’t choose to be gay to experiment or seem cool for a while, but those that live there whole lives gay certainly don’t seem to choose it. Besides, who would want to choose to be rejected by their families, get beat up in school, (until recently) be denied the right to serve the country and generally be looked at as a lesser citizen? The choice argument never seemed to make much sense.
  
  Report this comment
- john vincent
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:33am
  jay-
  
  ‘the choice argument never made much sense,’ probably because of a defective argument…..
  
  -There are men who ‘chose’ the alternate lifestyle, lived that life, then years later, reneged on the choosing, thus leaving room for the interpretation that they did make a ‘choice.’
  
  As to the persecution, that follows with all the issues of life: a man chooses the Mormon faith and he is ridiculed, a man chooses the christian faith, he is ridiculed, a man chooses to be a bartender, he is ridiculed, a woman chooses to work @ McDonalds, she is ridiculed, and the list goes on and on.
  
  I will admit, there are instances where ‘influence’ plays a huge part in that choice; ie, a catholic priest taking the role of ‘father’ to a soft child who is extremely sensitive, and here is the salient poiunt that is usually left out: there is bad link between a person’s father and the child who then seeks an ‘alternate’ void to fill what a loving father left out: translating manhood to the youth.
  
  My humble analysis is there is a defect in a man or womans relationship with their natural parents which launches to a ‘choice’ to fill what should be natural.
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:16pm
  To those of you who insist homosexuality is [in all cases] a choice, is it not possible that we just do not know all there is about sexual preference and attraction? Perhaps there is some subtly difference in those that are gay that causes them to be attracted to the same sex. We certainly know that there are chromosome abnormalities in nature, so why could there not be other forms of differences that we just have not discovered yet?
  
  Chromosome non-choices we are born with
  XX = ‘normal’ female
  XY = ‘normal’ male
  but what about those born with:
  XO, XXY, XYY, XXYY, XXX, XXXY, XY/XO, XX/XO, XX/XY ?
  
  Report this comment
Common Sense 24
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:49am
What a bunch of confused fools.

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Locked
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:17am
If people sin, it’s their choice. Doesn’t affect me, my church, or my faith.

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- rangerskippy
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:37am
  but it does affect the nation, and God judges nations.
  
  Every nation in history that has accepted homosexuality as natural has soon after crumbled.
  
  gays are 2.5% of the population, they have 64% of the nations syphilis, they made up 57% of the nations new HIV cases last year, and they commit a third of the nations child molestations.
  
  The most basic unit of governance and education is the family. When the family falls, the nation falls. Homosexuality is an act against God, the nation, and the family.
  
  Like Rome, we will fall.
  
  gays will not stop at marriage. Once given the right to get married in every state, they will then move to making the age of consent lower. gay males want access to young boys. This is nothing new.
  
  gays will also move to stop home schooling, Christian Schools, and look to remove 1st Amendment rights from our churches. Their battle will continue after they get the right to marriage. They will not stop, until they completely destroy the nation.
  
  Report this comment
- Swalker
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:38am
  Not true, it will affect your Church if they make it a “Civil Right” ,, Then they can force your church to perform the marriage and your Faith will lose the choice of being true to their beliefs or pay the cost. The Lawyers will eat up your church and take away your right to say no..
  I could care less who lives with who, I will not allow this to become a Civil Right that trumps the Faith of my Church..
  
  Report this comment
- Jezreel
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:44am
  Praying, Lord Jeshua, bring your judgments. We all deserve to die anyhow, without Christ, we are all nothing and he is our only righteousness. Judgement has already started, people are just aware. It will get more and more painful and pretty soon, I hope that fault along the west north Pacific Coast breaks loose.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:04am
  @Rangerskippy
  
  “Homosexuality is an act against God, the nation, and the family. ”
  
  Marriage in the US already non-Christian. Non-Christians can marry (and it’s still called marriage). Married people can divorce (which is always a sin except in very few cases like adultery). Divorcees can remarry (which is ALWAYS adultery… by the word of Christ Himself). Sin is sin. Those who are divorced or remarried are living in sin every bit as egregious as gays who are married by the state.
  
  If God is going to punish us for turning our backs on marriage, we’ve had it coming since the government first became involved in the marriage business. Gay marriage may be a continuation of sin, but in no way is the beginning of the end.
  
  @Swalker
  
  “Then they can force your church to perform the marriage and your Faith will lose the choice of being true to their beliefs or pay the cost. ”
  
  Show me one case of this happening. I can think of an obvious reason that it won’t: a marriage ceremony is NOT a requirement for marriage. If you can show me one successful lawsuit where gays sued a church for not marrying them and won, I’ll be glad to agree with you. AFAIK, it’s never happened and I have no logical reason to think it will.
  
  @Jezreel
  
  “I hope that fault along the west north Pacific Coast breaks loose.”
  
  We may all be judged after our deaths, but I can’t imagine God will look favorably upon those who hope that suffering is brought upon others.
  
  Report this comment
- rangerskippy
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:29am
  Locked
  
  your statement “if God is going to punish us”
  
  Open your eyes, and look at the state of America. We are already receiving the punishment. Homosexualty is a punishment for unGodliness. Look at the state of our family, look at our crime, our child molestation, our STDs, our move toward socialism, the state of our public education.
  
  the nation is crumbling around us.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:46am
  @Rangerskippy
  
  I notice you changed the goalposts from your original response, but I’m happy to respond.
  
  “Homosexualty is a punishment for unGodliness.”
  
  Does this mean that homosexuality does not exist in Godly countries or communities? That Godly parents do not have homosexual children? I can accept that homosexuality is a genetic fluke or aberration, and that taking homosexual action is contrary to God’s will and a sin, but homosexuality has always existed, in all places, wherever humanity is found. That’s not based on Godliness or lack thereof. God gives all of us challenges to overcome. It’s up to us to accept our own challenges or fail at them.
  
  “Look at the state of our family”
  
  I agree, this is an issue. Divorce is rampant, and single-parent households (even Christian ones) correlate closely with less successful children, more crime, and less education.
  
  “look at our crime”
  
  Kind of a poor example. Our homicide rate is the lowest in almost 50 years. In the past 20 years, overall crime has been declining.
  
  “our STDs”
  
  From the CDC (2009): Gonorrhea: The national gonorrhea rate is at the lowest level ever recorded. Continuing increases in chlamydia diagnoses likely reflect expanded screening efforts, and not necessarily a true increase in disease burden. For the first time in five years, reported syphilis cases did not increase among women overall.”
  
  (Cont below)
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:58am
  @Rangerskippy (cont)
  
  “our child molestation”
  
  Difficult to find out if this has increased or decreased over time; but judging by the amount of attention the Catholic church abuses received, I think society as a whole is moving away from ignoring the problem and into advocacy.
  
  “our move toward socialism”
  
  I have never seen anything in all my years that even approaches the socialism of the FDR administration. Social Security was the largest socialist program ever enacted and continues to be a continual problem for us. I’m certainly no fan of Obamacare, but it’s the tip of the iceberg; just the newest snowfall. I think the biggest issue is the growth of government and I’m completely for reform and reduction… including programs like SS that will benefit my retirement years.
  
  “the state of our public education”
  
  Atrocious, for multiple reasons.
  
  Now, all those said… are these because of God’s judgment? I doubt it. Nowhere in the Bible does it say “And lo, the Lord didst proclaim that the Western nations would score poorly on SATs as a sign of the end times.” Is it because we’re becoming a less moral (or at least, less overtly Christian) society? I could see an argument for that; we’re certainly less homogenous. But as said, this is absolutely nothing new. If we’re going to be judged, then the period that we should be judged for has been going on for a long while now.
  
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- Swalker
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:05pm
  @Locked
  right after New York passed same sex marriage this happened..
  http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/22/14624679-denied-dream-wedding-site-lesbian-couple-files-discrimination-complaint?lite
  
  This is the same when they get the Federal marriage act passed their way. It will be a Civil Right and the Law Suits Will Begin against Churches…..
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:23pm
  SWalker, Idiot a private business is not a Church. A business does not have religious beliefs or dogma. The farm was in clear and flagerant violation of the law and deserve the full force of the law coming down on them. No different than the Woolworths that refused to serve African Americans.
  
  But, than your side has no justification for its bigotry and will make any dishonest argument you can.
  
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- Swalker
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:02pm
  I guess a business owner has no rights. A land owner has no rights. To have a wedding on that farm requires entering into a contract, the farm owner does not have the right not to sign onto that contract?
  
  How is it you compare Same SEX marriage to the struggle for freedom of a race who went through what Blacks did. You have got to be kidding me. What a dud you are Progressive nut. What is it about you that makes you think there is any comparison?
  
  What ever happened to the Bill of Rights in this Country. Seems to me we are handing over all our rights to a system bent on force of the gun. My religious views are not open to discussion with the Government, the unalienable rights are just that. Nothing can force me to enter into a contract I choose not to enter into.
  It is not like I have a public store and block out those who I do not want to buy there, it is a private farm, they contract for receptions they choose to allow there. Are you saying I can not refuse to enter into a contract if my religious views are to be infringed upon by that contract.
  So you are saying that a Church or a minister can not refuse to hold a wedding in their Church because it is a violation of someone’s civil rights? Are you saying it is not their right? Get real Idiot.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:30pm
  @Swalker
  
  From the article: “The state’s Human Rights Law bans places of accommodation from discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation.”
  
  Frankly I think it’s bogus, but it’s 1) yet to be decided in court, 2) the state’s law, and 3) not a church like you posited before.
  
  “It is not like I have a public store and block out those who I do not want to buy there, it is a private farm, they contract for receptions they choose to allow there. ”
  
  I have no idea what you mean by “a public store.” A “public store” would imply that the government owns or has a stake in it somehow. In my view, private property is private property. If the gay couple had not been offered a quote yet, in my view, they have no court case. If the farm HAD given them a quote, that’s legally binding. But either way if the state had put anti-discrimination laws into effect then it’ll go to the courts.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:19pm
  Swalker, try to stay on topic. This farm was in the business of hosting weddings, their website promotes the farm for such functions. As such they fall under the NY State anti-discrimination law. It not as if the couple went to any random farm.
  
  As for the Church, I was clear a private business does not have a religious belief, a churhc is not a business. Churches are defined by their beliefs. No court has ever forced a church to marry someone from outside the Churches faith. Your argument has zero merit and is based on no real world facts, just fears Beck and others on the right have spoon fed you.
  
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- Swalker
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:49pm
  @Encinom
  First off you say “business do not have religious beliefs.” So if I own a Christian Book Store I do not have the right to decide not to sell books that favor the Gay Life Style? I believe I would have that right and would stand on my Religious grounds to defend it.
  Owning a Business does not force you to give up your Religious beliefs or rights. If I own a business I have the right to choose who I will contract with and who I will not contract with, it is not discriminating as long as that choice is based on my religious beliefs. You can not separate the business from the business owner, they are one in the same. How is it discriminatory to not participate in a same sex wedding and sanctioning it when the action is against your religious beliefs. They are not preventing the couple from getting married, they are saying they will not contract to provide the place and goods needed to have it done on their land and by their business. A private business is the property of the business owner.
  The business and owner are one in the same.
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:10pm
  Swalker, you are just anothe rconfused Christian.
  
  Look up public accomiodation laws. Here is the basic way they operate: Privately-owned/operated businesses and buildings. Privately-owned businesses and facilities that offer certain goods or services to the public — including food, lodging, gasoline, and entertainment — are considered public accommodations for purposes of federal and state anti-discrimination laws. For purposes of disability discrimination, the definition of a “public accommodation” is even more broad, encompassing most businesses that are open to the public (regardless of type).
  
  New York includes Sexual Orientation as a protected class and no where in the law does it say a private citizen or his business can discriminate because of the bigoted religious beliefs of the individual. A businees is not a person and is subjec to the laws of the State it operates in. The Farm Owners were in the business of hosting weddings, they should have made themselves awhere of the State laws before they let their bigoted beleifs get them in legal trouble.
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:09am
.
The Baby Jesus said don’t put that in your mouth…….

This place is turning into Sodem & Gomorrah and some of us know what God did to them……And I for one don’t want to pay for their sin…….

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- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:16am
  Now, now. We know in the story of Soddom and Gomorrah, God left a wayout for any believers. Why would it be any different?
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:06am
  You realize that we are a secular nation, the church does not pass the laws. When will you guys just leave and start your own backward theocracy.
  
  You lose the argument when you have to resort to mythical figures and fairy tales from the Bronze age. Should we bring back honor killing, forcing raping victims to marry their attackers or if the victim is in the city stone the victim along with the attacker. Why pick and choose out dated passages for the book of fairy tales. Cut your beard…stone him, tattooed…stone him. Ban wheelchair bound and other diaabled persons from church, according to the bible they are unclean.
  
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- TOMSERVO
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:45pm
  …says Blaze reader “Spankdamonkey.”
  
  LOL @ the irony
  
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TexasPigHunter
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:23am
At the end of the day we have such HUGE problems in this country that I have reached the point that if a bunch of ugly people want to get married I do not care. I think we need to have less concern about these social issues that do not directly effect me or my family and focus on the issues that DO effect me and my family.

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- checkmate0831
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:02am
  Yes you are correct. The US has bigger problems on the priority list. However, these issues DO affect you and your family, even if indirectly. The more acceptable it seems to accept unnatural behavior will proportionately increase in media and culture as a whole thus directly affecting your kids and how they are brought up and what they believe. Unless, of course, your family lives in a bubble.
  
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- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:17am
  We should live and let live. It’s not for any of us to tell others what they can/cannot do when it comes to consenting adults. If God is truly against homosexuality, He will punish it appropriately. He doesn’t need people to do that sort of punishment.
  
  While I personally think gay marriage is wrong (I believe some sort of civil union is fine, but it should not be termed ‘marriage’ as we have already defined that), who am I (or any of us) to judge that matter? If our courts have deemed it ‘ok’, then we must abide by their ruling.
  
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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:39am
  ‘If our courts have deemed it ‘ok’, then we must abide by their ruling’…
  
  Really…?!…You place man’s ‘ruling’ above God’s word…You might allow those who deem it ‘ok’ to rule your values, but I will not abide by some court’s ruling to dictate my values. Courts do not get to legislate a person’s morality, I do not need a court ruling to tell me whether abortion is murder…or ‘ok’…I do not need a court ruling to tell me I shouldn’t take another life, and I do not need a court ruling to tell me stealing is wrong.
  
  The so-called free thinkers of society have a collective mindset…”Because I said so” mentally…
  
  I will not fall in line with the ‘collective’…therefore I will not condone your sin…
  
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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:57am
  (correction) mentality*…
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:58pm
  “You place man’s ‘ruling’ above God’s word…”
  
  Our laws are secular, the bible is not a law book, the church does not pass laws. So yes the laws on this nation come from men not God, never have. Men pass our laws, enforce our laws and judge our laws. We do not live in a theocracy, we are not the uncivilized Taliban, though many on the far right would love for a Christian style Sharia law to replace the Republic.
  
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- jhrusky
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:15pm
  @ thegrtdcptn
  
  “Really…?!…You place man’s ‘ruling’ above God’s word”
  
  No, But at the same time, I don’t try to play God, either.
  
  “You might allow those who deem it ‘ok’ to rule your values, ”
  
  Can you show me where I stated I allow anyone to rule my values?
  
  “Courts do not get to legislate a person’s morality, I do not need a court ruling to tell me whether abortion is murder…”
  
  I think abortion is [normally] murder as well. However, I abide by the court’s decision. If I did not, I would morally have to prevent any abortion that I could. I don’t. I suspect you don’t either, as you have not yet made the news that I am aware of.
  
  “I will not fall in line with the ‘collective’…therefore I will not condone your sin…”
  
  I’m assuming you were not saying MY specific sin, as you don’t know me or know what I may or may not have ever done. Neither will I fall in line with the ‘collective’. But, I think you are equating the acceptance of a rule/law to be condoning that rule/law. That is erroneous.
  
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Swalker
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:19am
“”The law doesn’t require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn’t subject churches to penalties if they don’t marry gay or lesbian couples.”"

That is the most important line in the story, that is why they are not done yet, need to have it a civil right and then punish any church that will not perform a marriage for them, look at the farm in New York that does receptions, got a law suit when they refused to provide their service to gays.. The power of the law and the Civil rights club will be out in full force soon, another way to destroy the church and get even with God.

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- johnnylingo
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:55am
  There is one other who has a final say in this. Remember Sodom and Gommorah? When the creater calls these acts an abomination, I don’t want to be on the other side of the argument.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:14am
  “Remember Sodom and Gommorah?”
  
  Remember for what sins Sodom was destroyed? Izekiel 16:49.
  
  (Hint: it wasn’t homosexuality)
  
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- encinom
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:10am
  Big difference between a farm and a house of worship. The farm deserves to be brought ot its knees, its policiy is openingly illegal and discriminatory. The Farm is not a religious institution, its a business, business do not have religious beliefs. What if the farmer said no jewish weddings, would the Beckerhead crusaders still come to the defense of the farm?
  
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- AvengerK
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:57am
  stop it already LOCKED you idiot.
  The angel that went to Lot after Lot told God to spare the cities if he could find “ten good people” in Sodom or Gomorrah that would change their ways was targeted by solely THE MEN of Sodom for sex…
  Lot, in desperation to lead them off the homosexual rape that was about to take place and save both cities’ populations, offered his daughters to the SOLELY MALE MOB so that “they may know them” instead of the MALE angel. The mob scoffed at the offer and wanted the angel or else. You’re “I’m smarter than you” routine is tired you dimwit. You’re so myopically obsessed with exact phrases and sentences that you just can’t see beyond them. You’re a crushing bore.
  
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- Pantloadian
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:08pm
  AVENGECAKE . . . You’re upset. We understand. It’s not easy being so certain and so confused all at the same time, but you make a good effort nonetheless. And its right for you to rely on your “Big Book of Bible Stores” view of the Old Testament. I for one will never forget the illustrations in my own “ABC BIBLE MAGIC” book from Sunday School. Clearly you were similarly impressed.
  
  Don’t attack LOCKED for taking the reasoned adult view just because it contradicts your movieland memories of S&G. Just go with what you have rattling around in that room-for-rent soul of yours.
  
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- johnnylingo
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:34pm
  locked: read verse 50 too. Now define abomination. : Statement stands.
  
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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:18am
OK, Washington State, you are, like CA, NY, PA, and NJ, bringing the sin punishment unto yourself!

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- catty
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:06am
  and the revenue
  
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Pat Alexander
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:49am
The article should have been titled “Ugly people, unable to attract opposite sex marry each other.”

And I agree with blanc05. The lesbians in those movies are hot. What gives ??

I guess life does NOT imitate art….

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- catty
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:08am
  It should be titled Pat Alexander is a judgemental ass.
  
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- Pat Alexander
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:05pm
  That does have a nice ring to it…..
  
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KingCanon
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:41am
Sick. The whole bunch of ya!
However, there is hope for you yet.
Don’t expect to reproduce!

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- grantbud
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:47am
  Folks i got some bad news for you… You are marrying yourself!!!
  
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- jmcclena
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:03am
  lol, you realize gay people come from straight people right?
  
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- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:23am
  Except for the few ostracized gays who claim they were ‘molested’ or ‘groomed’ by another homosexual when they were younger. But no one every listens to them, and they are almost universally reviled by their culture.
  
  Bisexuals often get ostracized by homosexuals as well. Accused of straddaling the fence, gay and don’t know it. …or that they are somehow ‘acting out’, and by heterosexuals that think they are ‘gay’.
  
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- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:48am
  Of course you are right, their parents were most likely ‘straight’.
  
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blanco5
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:19am
Why aren’t there ever better looking lesbians when they do stories like this?

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Gary_K
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:18am
Perverts !

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SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:15am
We now have your names and are labeled you should have stayed in the closet.

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- vaman
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:13am
  So you have their names. Now what? Planning something? Or what do you think will happen?
  
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- vaman
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:15am
  One step further in the right direction. Soon it will be all 50. Hold on to your bibles.
  
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:07am
Jimmy Crack Corn……….

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- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:06pm
  In todays market it is to costly to crack the corn from now on Juan or Hitu will be crackin the corn.
  
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