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Ireland Challenged on Abortion Law — in European Court
STRASBOURG, France — In a case that is being referred to as "Europe's Roe v. Wade," three women have taken the Irish government to a European Union court in an attempt to change the nation's abortion law.
The women, known only as A, B and C, have petitioned the European Court of Human Rights, sitting in Strasbourg, France, to create a "right to abortion" in the European Convention on Human Rights. They want to see that "right" overrule the right to life guaranteed in Ireland's Constitution, which "acknowledges the right to life of the unborn" and commits the State to protect that right, but permits citizens to travel freely to other countries to obtain abortions.
The European Court of Human Rights, which is the same court that ruled last November that the crucifixes hanging in every Italian public school classroom were a "violation of the freedom of parents to educate their children according to their own convictions and of the religious freedom of the students," began hearing A, B et C v. Ireland in mid-December. The plaintiffs, who traveled to the United Kingdom to obtain abortions, have challenged Ireland's law, saying the expense and hardship involved in going abroad for the procedure constituted a violation of their human rights. They argue they should have been given access to abortion in Ireland.
One woman, who is recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, has children in social care. She said that to continue her pregnancy would have jeopardized her chances of regaining custody of her other children.
Another woman was told that she was in danger of an ectopic pregnancy. The third was undergoing treatment for cancer.
One woman is Latvian; the other two are Irish.
The three have not attempted to take the case through the Irish court system, opting instead to go to the European court for judgment.
That troubled Bill Saunders, senior vice president of Americans United for Life, a consultant in the case who was in Strasbourg for the hearings. He pointed out that the European Convention on Human Rights requires requires that all possible domestic remedies be exhausted before the European Court of Human Rights has jurisdiction. In this case, the plaintiffs were able to go to the court's Grand Chamber, bypassing its lower chamber.
The European Court of Human Rights has dealt with abortion law before. In 2003, the Tysiac v. Poland case was brought against the Polish government by a woman seeking an abortion who claimed that her deteriorating eyesight was caused by her pregnancy. One general practitioner supported her claim; five expert doctors found that there was no connection between the two.
After the birth of her child, three more experts again found no connection, but the European Court of Human Rights ignored those eight expert opinions in favor of the one expressed by the general practitioner. The European Court of Human Rights ruled against the Polish government in 2007 and imposed a fine.
But Saunders said that the Irish government had put forward its case well. The plaintiffs advanced a series of unprovable assertions and questionable claims, such as "The Irish people want to liberalize abortion," he said.
Saunders said the case could determine whether the court will take a step back from deciding on signatory states' policies on issues like abortion, or whether its judges will exploit the Tysiac finding to force countries like Ireland to justify why they do not have abortion like most European Union member states.
The Irish Family Planning Association declined comment, referring the Register to its website, where a statement contends that Ireland has breached the women's human rights under various articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. The organization cites in particular Articles 2 (Right to Life), 3 (Prohibition of Torture), 8 (Right to Respect for Family and Private Life) and 14 (Prohibition of Discrimination).
But the court's mandate is to enforce implementation of the convention, and Article 2 says that "everyone's right to life shall be protected by law."
The Irish government, which is defending the case, did not wish to make any statement pending the outcome of the case.
Precious Life, an Irish pro-life group, issued a statement noting, "Any decision on abortion in Ireland should only be made by the Irish people, who have the sovereign right to decide on issues of national importance. This is not a matter for a foreign court to decide."
Citing Ireland's low maternal mortality rate as proof of the safety afforded pregnant women in the country, Precious Life contended: "No woman in Ireland is refused legitimate medical treatment for any complication during pregnancy. For example, medical treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is a perfectly legitimate procedure in Ireland."
Though the judicial outlook is mixed, one thing that pleased Saunders was seeing a lot of young people from Ireland outside the court carrying pro-life posters.
The case is due to be decided in the spring.
Gareth Peoples writes from Derry, Ireland.


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The Lakewood Ranch Republican Club will hold its monthly meeting May 15 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd.
Registration for the event starts at 11:30 and the program and lunch begins at noon.
This meeting's guest speaker will be developer Pat Neal of Neal Communities, who will be discussing, "Here comes the inflation. Thank you, President Obama!"
Lunch costs $20.
For reservations, visit www.lwrrc.com or contact Craig Trigueiro's office at 753-7843.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chevy, a 25-pound dog discovered trapped in the engine compartment of a Chevrolet Silverado in San Clemente in sweltering heat Oct. 1, has a new owner. And a new name – Houdini.
"He escaped death," new owner Jaime Magaña said.
On Friday, the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter signed over adoption papers to Magaña, a building-restoration supervisor from Chino who had driven his company pickup 110 miles on a 95-degree day before getting a feeling that something might be horribly wrong under the hood.
Magaña, 52, said he parked at McDonald's in San Clemente, turned off the ignition, still felt movement, stepped out to investigate and feared the worst upon realizing that a hidden hitchhiker had been riding up front.
"I didn't want to open the hood," Magaña recalled. "He was next to the pulleys and the belts. Just a little move over to that side and he would have been chopped on those belts."
The year-old Keeshond/Tibetan spaniel mix had survived the entire morning cramped inside the hot engine. Fresh air from the fan may have saved him, authorities said.
Magaña, who said he recognized the dog from seeing it in his neighborhood a couple of days earlier, was in shock but ecstatic as he gently pulled him out from under the hood. The dog was uninjured and seemed fine except for a terrible thirst that Magaña quickly quenched.
He called the authorities. Shelter officials, marveling that the dog had come through the ordeal unfazed, nicknamed him Chevy.
Chevy went up for adoption after the San Clemente/Dana Point shelter contacted a shelter in the Chino area to put out word of a missing dog; no owner came forward.
On Friday, it was smiles all around as Magaña was awarded his new companion, known henceforth as Houdini.
"It's a happy ending," said Kim Cholodenko, the shelter's general manager.
Magaña and animal-control officials who inspected the truck surmised the dog had climbed into the engine compartment through an opening above the left front wheel and got stuck. Luckily there was just enough space for him to emerge unscathed.
The shelter screened an undisclosed number of adoption applicants. The dog's story had spread nationwide, so interest was high.
Cholodenko said it was clear that the Magaña family would make an excellent match after Magaña and his wife, Isabel, visited Saturday with their dogs Dexter and Dakota.
"I couldn't just let him go," Magaña said of Houdini. "I have two dogs, but after what we went through with this, it has to be ours."
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com or 949-492-5127


text:
October 10
- At 5:46 a.m., fire units responded to a structure fire call at 413 Riverside Drive. The shop foreman on scene advised that he had entered the building and found black soot throughout the building and heavy smoke. No active fire was found, but a cold fire involving a trash truck was located at the rear of the structure. The trash truck had apparently burned some time during the night or previous evening and self extinguished or burned out. The cause is under investigation. The building was also ventilated.
October 6
- At 7:59 a.m., fire units arrived at a rollover accident with four parties involved on Interstate 76. Upon arrival, one party was still in the vehicle and five were out of the vehicle, and the vehicle itself was in the median on its wheels. Three were transported to Sterling Regional MedCenter in two ambulances. No other hazards were present on scene.


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Slash your phone bill by 90% – Get an HTC Evo 4G with 100% Free Talk, Text, and 4G Data
FreedomPop is now offering 100% Free Talk, Text, and Data on Android Smartphones. Founded a little over two years ago by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom with the idea that "The Internet is a Right, and not a Privilege." Since then, it's added coverage with Sprint's Nationwide network. Deal hunters have described the small carrier as a great way to save money every month. Consumers can save up to 90% on their smartphone bills, which is something larger carriers just can't replicate.
You might remember that we previously featured a deal for a mobile hotspot from FreedomPop. As I just mentioned, though, FreedomPop recently added smartphones to its lineup, and so we are partnering up with it again for a deal on its smartphone offerings.
The device in question is the HTC Evo 4G, which may be an older device, but is also worth a look for a light smartphone user that would like to save hundreds of dollars a year on a smartphone plan. For only $10.99 per month, you get unlimited voice and texts. Compared to Verizon's ALLSET prepaid offering that costs $45 per month, FreedomPop is a steal. With this promotion, you can get unlimited talk and text plan for free for the first month. As with all of FreedomPop's plans, there is no contract involved, and if you find that you won't use more than 200 minutes or 500 texts in a month, you can always drop down to the free plan before that first month is up. That's 200 minutes, 500 texts and 500MB of data for FREE each month. These plans and services are available on Sprint's 3G and 4G WiMAX network. You can check their coverage map here.
Something to keep in mind about all of the FreedomPop plans is that once you get within 100MB of your data limit for the month, you'll automatically "top-up" with 1GB of data for $10 unless you turn that setting off. That isn't a bad price by any means, especially since the $10 is added as credit to your account and never expires. If you stick with the free plan and go over your 200 minutes or 500 texts, you will be charged 1 cent per minute/text.
Does FreedomPop sound like something that might work for you or someone you know? Our special offer this time around includes the refurbished HTC Evo 4G, one month of unlimited talk and text, 500MB of data and free shipping on your order, all for just $79.


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Obamabotch: Webb blasts health reform process
"This country is bitterly divided," says U.S. Senator Jim Webb, whose recent comments fix much of the blame on the Obama administration over its handling of the recently passed health care reform legislation.
"We moved forward without a clear-cut plan," said Webb. "A really good example of how not to pass a bill."
Webb's comments came March 31 in the UVA classroom of political science professor Larry Sabato, who played host less than a month ago to another leading Democrat with a similar rebuke to the Obama administration's methods. On March 3, former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder told the poly-sci students that he'd have finished health care reform by then. The massive health care overhaul spent about a year in Congress before it was finally signed into law on Sunday, March 21.
Webb told Sabato's students how the Administration leaned on him last year for his vote–- something he eventually offered because he believes in health reform and found "more good than bad" in the bill.
"I said specifically to the White House last June, 'How do you expect me to support a concept that does not yet exist?' said Webb. "And that is how, in my view, this country became so divided."
While Webb reserved some of his criticism for Republicans, he noted–- and Sabato later confirmed–- that he voted with Republicans more than any other Senate Democrat on health care amendments because he remained distrustful about the projected costs.
"He's absolutely right," says Sabato. "The Congressional Budget Office numbers are a joke. They were told what they could consider and what not to consider."
Webb's view, the "screwed up" process included "7,000 pages of contradictory legislation" plus the spectacle of senators–- long known as the nation's calm, deliberative body–- having to take 43 votes in two days on the Senate floor, a marathon Webb blasted as "vote-a-rama" that went as late as 3am one day. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"There's an old saying that the administration proposes and the Congress disposes," Webb told the crowd gathered in the Wilson Hall Auditorium. "If you're going to pass something that is this complex, that affects this many elements of our society and our economy, the presidential administration needs to make the proposal."
But isn't that what doomed the so-called "Hillarycare," the First Lady-driven health care reform quashed during Bill Clinton's administration?
"Neither the Clintons nor Obama found the golden mean," says professor Sabato, "The White House should outline the essential elements of a health care bill to Congress and permit Congress to shape the details."
"The process was mucked up from the beginning," continues Sabato, "I've talked to enough senators and congressmen privately to know that's a widespread sentiment."
One of the high points of Sabato's class came in the introduction, as the well-known professor read a nearly 40-year-old account about the heroic Marine-turned-senator.
Six days before the crew of Apollo 11 landed on the moon and two decades before the gathered students were born, Jim Webb was single-handedly taking out enemy bunkers and absorbing grenade shrapnel to save his platoon mates in Vietnam, a deed that earned him the coveted Navy Cross.
In other comments during the March 31 talk, Webb enthused about the new G.I. Bill that he patroned and passed two years ago over a reluctant George W. Bush, and lamented the Senate's inaction on his effort to curb executive pay for the largest users of TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or bail-out bill.
And though surprisingly never mentioning drugs, Webb expressed cautious optimism about his pending bill to reform drug laws in the criminal justice system. Perhaps equally surprisingly, nobody in Sabato's classroom–- presumably including dozens of marijuana smokers, if the statistic is true that one third of collegians partake of the plant currently listed as illegal–- asked Webb about the bill, S.B. 714.
44 comments
The health care reform was written by insurance companies, for insurance companies. The individual mandate, forcing people to buy insurance if they are uninsured, will legally require people making more than about 40k per year to buy health insurance. As insurance can run between 15-20k per year depending on how many people are on the policy, many people will be spending more than half of their after-tax income on health insurance. They could pay a fine at the end of the year instead, although they won't get anything in return for that money, and it isn't cheap.
I am still amazed that anything was passed at all. There is nothing that is going to satisfy most people. This is a major compromise, but that in itself, in this vitriolic political climate, is a miracle. Now the real work begins; to refine this to bring universal coverage to all the people. At least this is a beginning.
I will never vote for Obama or Periello again but until I read this I was a still a supporter of Jim Webb, now I am having second thoughts.
What happened to the Democratic Party I knew and loved and supported for the last 30 years?
Third world economics, delusional leadership.
Industrialized nations tend to have national health care systems. The US was the exception.
They also "tend" to have higher taxes, a cost of living for the standard of living that is out of control, month long vacations, and governments that depress(and compress) and control their citizens- and oh, "constitutions" that are extrememly fair..........
I hope that the US continues to be the exception-
I never once mentioned "democrats" but you do make a good argument.
Sounds like the libs are going to loose big time in 2010 and 2012,
then we need to try them for treason.
Wow, went to post, and see now for some reason, I can't.
Oh, I didn't realize that using an idea from the GOP was the same as making a real effort to get GOP involvement when that's just a tiny sliver of a huge farking bill (law), where there was no GOP involvement allowed in the actual crafting of the legislative language, no GOP amendments were accepted from the Dems (and were forced through to a vote with little or no debate... as Webb criticizes in the article), and it being foisted upon the rest of us by one party rule. Did they make a real effort to get GOP involvement? No.
re:ââ?¬Å?The process was mucked up from the beginning," continues Sabato, ââ?¬Å?I've talked to enough senators and congressmen privately to know that's a widespread sentiment."
This is what I mean. Anyone that browsed the gosh-darned drudgereport in the last 12 months new that "The process was mucked up from the beginning" and "that's a widespread sentiment." But Sabato makes it sound somehow special by letting us all know that "he's talked to enough senators and congressmen privately" to be able to tell us that's the truth.
WOW! Thanks for that incredible insight! Really. I mean, gee... you're REALLY working those contacts for some juicy tidbits aren't you?
College Professors are supposed to be able to impart true wisdom, aren't they? I mean, do you become a nationally known political science professor by offering up this lukewarm hokum? Sounds like a good racket.
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Who you vote for is your business. Keep it to yourself.
around and around, do you support the bribes for votes of your administration?
We still keep hearing how insurance cost will be going down for us. Insurance benefits are now taxable. WOW! cost just increased!!! But the increase goes to Obama buddies.
Hey Jim,
Perhaps you should lead the charge to repeal it.
If it wasn't right why did he vote for it? Is our country going to settle for "good enough"?
It's hard for me to sympathize with either Mssrs. Sabato or Webb here. President Obama did, in fact, provide a broad outline of what he wanted to see in a health care reform bill, and then asked Congress to fill in the details. If anything, the president was far too accommodating to Republicans, and too patient with the Senate Finance Committee in letting them eat up valuable time negotiating with the likes of GOP legislators like Sen. Grassley who never bargained in good faith.
I agree that President Obama let the process get away from him, and he made some mistakes in managing the politics of the issue. Nor am I entirely happy about the resulting law. However, if health care reform was easy, other presidents would have done it long ago. The fact is that he did actually manage to achieve something historic, and even Senator Webb acknowledges that the final bill contained "more good than bad."
Given that President Obama has barely been in office for just over a year, and it's only one of the most difficult jobs in the world, I'd say his learning curve has been impressive thus far. It's unrealistic to expect any chief executive to get everything perfect the first time he tries to accomplish a feat on the scale of sweeping health care reform. If anyone comes out of the last round of negotiations looking bad, it's the Senate. From Ben Nelson in Nebraska to Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas, I've never seen so much grandstanding and pettiness.
Senator Webb:
I cannot understand why you would vote for a bill you feel this way about. I am saddened you would do such a thing. The American people should have been first & not passing a bill. You should have know something was wrong when you were pressured. This should have been a warning something is wrong. You voted for it, so saying it wasn't a good thing now, is too little, too late.
I will not be unkind to you but I am very disappointed in you, as a citizen of the state of Virginia. I expected more of you. You have helped assure the people's distrust of government. All of you must take the blame. We need people who will stand up & do what's right even under pressure. This is a mark of a true politician. When the majority of Americans were against it, it was arrogant to feel all of you know better. How sad for all of you. You should have stood up & voted against this bill, no matter what your party thinks.
Is our country going to settle for ââ?¬Å?good enough"?
Jim Webb will, but our country won't.
He made a real effort to get GOP involvement
Hahahahaha, you almost had me. I thought you were being serious. Good one.
bratman, I don't support the charge of treason for one party or another. Such hyperbole tells me that you don't have a reasonable argument to make.
Tell me which "bribe" you're talking about, please. Clearly you are one to take an extreme position ("Democrats are traitors"). Therefore I'm not going to allow you to put words in my mouth.
Please spell out the exact bribe that you are referring to. Bribery is also a crime, so please be specific in your allegation of criminal activity.
"Sounds like the libs are going to loose big time in 2010 and 2012,
then we need to try them for treason."
The punishment for treason is death.
Sounds like a new GOP bumper sticker! "Let's defeat the Democrats so that we can round them up and kill them!"
The GOP has become the party of whining, crybaby sore losers. They cannot take their numerous defeats like responsible adults so they lash out every way they can and display constant petulance and refusal to participate. They are like the crying little boy taking his ball and running home to his mommy. The thought that they may want to change their policies, rhetoric or strategy would take too much brain power for them. Instead, frantic tirades are the order of the day.
Turdburglar!!! Hush now! Don't confuse him with "facts"!! He already has his opinion.
if you want to get together and trade links than let me know i love the stuff you did
If the wind blows left, Webb goes left, if it blows right, he goes right.........he does not vote the way his constituents wish him to vote. He does not listen. He has to realize that this is not a doubling dipping career.
Third world economics, delusional leadership.
The end result will not bring better health care but it does beckon a national biometric ID card necessary to prove you are not an illegal and deserve your rationed treatment. More bitter disappointment is ahead. On every front our power elite promises or says all sorts of things to cover over the overextension and autocannibalism in play. The Wars, Wall Street, Copenhagen Summit, Health Care and further waves of productive collapse.
Albeboy, I've see worse that cr@p....however, I have seen responses swallowed by the 'system' not really the Hook..computer hiccup.
The Hook swallowed my response. Go figure.
Clean up your language and try again.
My language wasn't bad... I can only imagine it's because I said "piece of cr@p". I'm not about to re-wrote the whole thing. Oh well.
You cannot seriously be this obtuse. The reason this became a referendum on the Presidency in the first place is because the Republicans made it so by refusing to participate. If the GOP was at all serious about healthcare reform, they would have tried to work to improve the bill instead of stonewalling to make sure that NOTHING passed. Instead, their caucus leaders made it clear that they wanted no part of reform if it meant that the Obama administration was going to be able to take any credit. They gambled on abject failure, so the President played the hand they dealt him.
By the way, compared to the alternative of a single-payer plan, this is a moderate, market-based (at least the GOP once toted it as such) approach. The lunkheaded GOP leadership should have realized that they weren't likely to get a better deal and played ball.
I so wish Sen. Webb had resurrected some of the courage from his younger years to stand against this travesty of a bill. If he was smart enough to recognize that it was a fiscal disaster, he owed it to his constuents to vote against it so it could be rewritten. I am deeply disapponted that he sold us Virginians out. Sad to say but Sen. Webb is just a partisan lackey.
So what? Everyone in DC thought that:
"One caucus member told POLITICO that Obama won him over by ââ?¬Å?essentially [saying] that the fate of his presidency" hinged on this week's health reform vote in the House."
"We went in there already knowing his presidency would be weakened if this thing went down, but the president clearly reinforced the impression the presidency would be damaged by a loss. He was subtle, but that was the underlying theme of the meeting ââ?¬â? the importance of passing this for the health of the presidency."
"The White House is raising the stakes so high, they are basically telling [House Democrats] that failure is not an option unless you want to sink the president."
They realize that if HCR goes down, so does Obama. They just didn't realize that if HCR passes, he still might go down. Besides, that has nothing to do with trying to get GOP involvement.
"If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him," - Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
I can see how you might interpret such statements to indicate a willingness on the part of Republicans to compromise on healthcare - IF you have completely lost your grip on reality.
"Hahahahaha, you almost had me. I thought you were being serious. Good one."
Well, um, the private mandate WAS a GOP proposal... in the early 90's.
Legalize it, senator Webb! We are counting on your leadership. De-criminalize it! Seriously, legalize marijuana.
What courage! He voted for this junk. I hope he enjoys life as a former Senator. He's toast.
Too little too late Senator Webb. You own it. Please let me know when my rates will decrease $2500 and when the deficit will go down like Pres. Obama promised. Senators Webb and Warner were non-factors in the debate.
what a hypocrite
Sabato: ââ?¬Å?The White House should outline the essential elements of a health care bill to Congress and permit Congress to shape the details."
This is EXACTLY what the President attempted to do! Freaking Sabato... what an ego.
Obama gava a general guideline of what he expected in the bill but remained flexible about the details and let those flow from Congress. By so doing, he was able to get the cooperation of the entire caucus - including conservative Dems (because they had a say in the outcome). As we quickly learned, Republicans were NEVER going to cooperate, but imagine the hostility if Obama had handed Congress a bill and said, "Here, pass this."
Blue Dogs Dems would've revolted and the whole thing would have been DOA.
Was the process messy? Sure. But to do it any other way would not have passed a thing.
I love Jim Webb, but I think his criticism smacks of the armchair QB with 20/20 hindsight.
I have to agree with ntk.
There was no health reform! Turn-coat republica- he was even paid as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, then as Secretary of the Navy- UNDER REAGAN!
Give me a break- he doesn't represent anyone but himself. Didn't even listen to his constituents, who were overwhelmingly against what he calls "health reform". Health reform would be just that- not college loan reform, etc.
Obama- Learning curve? We don't need a leader who is "learning". We need a leader who has paid his or her dues- someone who knows how to at least salute properly...........and who can gather their own thoughts and not get lost on a heads up display (telepromter for the uninitiated).
You watch- Webb will be a republican in a couple of years.
The basic facts are Obama never held a tenured job not even on the tenure track as an academic. He was not vetted, like Bush he had no executive skills and a very limited intellect. Obamas goal was to get anything passed that would allow him to have a Roosevelt legacy.
The healthcare bill like every other social program will become bloated due to abuse and the usual suspects.
The next national crisis will be when Washington understands that our naitonal infrastructure is crumbling as it has not been maintained while we pursued more idealistic goals. It has been ignoed for over thirty years and is now a crisis in the works.
As for the so called healthcare bill it will become Medicaid on steroids and we will end up with a national sales tax to fune our crippling debt.
For those keeing score we pay excise tax (gas, tires), real property, personal property, sales tax, two income taxes. for most people making 40,000 and up that is 48% and up on average. After the national sales tax it will be about 55% tax on most workers. When in law school in Boston we did the research and in that area the overall tax bill is about 55% as of 2000.
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Any early sun will give way to increasing clouds Tuesday. A shower is possible in the afternoon but not every town will see one. High temperatures will be in the 60s to around 70 degrees.
On Wednesday clouds will break for some sunshine. That sun will stick around all day Thursday.
If you're looking for a warm-up, we'll eventually score a little one later this week. On Friday highs will climb into the mid-upper 70s. Temperatures like that could remain in place this weekend depending on how a nearby storm behaves itself. If the storm creeps north into our region we could a period of clouds and showers. We'll keep a close eye on it for you!
Forecast Details:
Tuesday: Increasing clouds, chance for an afternoon shower. High: 65-70, Low 60s for the shoreline.
Wednesday: Clouds break for some sun. High: 65-70.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 67-73.
Friday: Mostly sunny, warmer than recent days. High: Mid to upper 70s.
Saturday: Partly cloudy, watching a storm to our south for possible clouds and rain. High: Low to mid 70s.


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A large part of the immune system's job is to distinguish "self" from "non-self"—while the latter might be harmful, the former most probably is not. In order to help the immune system achieve this discrimination, cells chop up a subset of their protein contents and display the fragments on their surface for immune cells to inspect. If the cell has been infected by a pathogen, these cells will recognize a piece of the invader's protein as "not-self" and initiate an immune response.
Cells use proteins that act as dedicated holders to display the protein fragments on their surface, called HLAs (for human leukocyte antigens). Unfortunately, when things go wrong, these HLAs can lead to an overactive immune response; some HLA types are also associated with increased risks for autoimmune diseases. Now, a paper in Nature describes how some forms of HLA lead to an immune response to specific drugs.
HLA genes are among the most genetically variable proteins in mammals, with their different sequences and structures determining which protein fragments they will present. If there's an unfamiliar protein fragment attached to an HLA, the immune system will respond. But it will also respond when there's a familiar fragment stuck on an unfamiliar HLA molecule. This plus the genetic diversity of these molecules is what makes finding an organ donor who won't set off an immune response so challenging.
Most drugs aren't proteins, but there are still cases where a drug can interact with HLAs to set off an immune response. Abacavir is a drug used to treat HIV, and it induces a hypersensitivity syndrome only in patients with a particular HLA type. It turns out that when abacavir binds to this HLA molecule, it lays across the bottom of the cleft where the HLA usually holds the protein fragments it is presenting.
This changes the shape of the cleft and therefore the types of protein fragments that will fit neatly into it. Abacavir thus changes the "self" protein fragments that can be displayed by these HLA molecules, having them show proteins that they otherwise wouldn't. This creates an "altered immunological self," and along with it, abacavir hypersensitivity syndrome. Although the protein fragments being presented are still "self," the presence of abacavir changes their presentation so that the T cells don't recognize them as such.
The researchers showed that this mechanism is not unique to abacavir. Carbamazepine is a mood-stabilizer and anticonvulsant used to treat mania, bipolar disorder, and epileptic seizures. In some people of Asian descent, who are more likely to have a particular HLA type, it can cause a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Like abacavir, carbamazepine changes the properties of the protein fragments that these HLA molecules present to T cells.
The authors refer to a "drug-induced altered 'self.'" Although their choice of phrase might not necessarily bring to mind the immune system, they do show convincingly that drugs can alter immune response by dictating which proteins bind to specific HLA molecules.
Nature, 2012. DOI: 10.1038/nature11147 (About DOIs).


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Horror Express
This early '70s British/Spanish co-production is more interesting than most of the other horror/sci-fi flicks its countrymen were putting out in its day. It's also the best Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee flick of the '70s. Horror Express plays like a mad mesh-up of The Thing, Murder On The Orient Express, Night Of The Living Dead, and Nigel Kneale's Quatermass series. It may be a wacky low-budget affair, but it's actually an eerie little genre masterpiece.
Anthropologist Alexander Saxton (Lee) boards the Trans-Siberian Express in 1906 with a crated fossil of what he believe to be the "missing link." A mad Rasputin-like monk (Alberto de Mendoza) becomes obsessed with it, declaring it the devil and waking it from its deep slumber. When it escapes and starts killing passengers, Saxton must team up with his rival, Dr. Wells (Cushing), to destroy it. The scientists study its retina and learn that it came to ancient Earth from outer space a la The Thing. And also like The Thing it seems to be able to take the form of the people it mind-melds with, causing the killing to continue.Continue Reading


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Tony Blair has launched his long awaited Faith Foundation in New York, saying that he wants religion to be seen as a force for good in the world. It will focus on inter-faith understanding and action to fight poverty and disease.
The annual Channel 4 Political Awards offer an entertaining entree to the world of parliamentary politics, says Simon Barrow. But an award to a controversial lobby group raises questions about how politics is conducted - not least by Christians.
Among secular groups there is puzzlement and annoyance that government continues to 'pander' to weakened churches in areas like public service provision. This is because, says Jonathan Bartley, they have not grasped the mutual interests involved. These are as much a threat to the churches as an advantage.
Former PM Tony Blair is meeting religious leaders confidentially to establish plans for an international inter-faith foundation to promote greater cooperation between the faiths and to work against extremism practiced in the name of religion.
UK PM Gordon Brown's administration has received a warning in the strongest possible terms about following the current US-led geopolitical strategy, as a leading British research organisation says that the 'war on terror' has been failing and will continue to fail unless it is redirected.
Transformational diplomacy is not about entrenching Western interests in Palestine-Israel, says Michael Marten. It is about encouraging advice from regional experts, engaging with 'the enemy', treating Occupier and Occupied as such and working towards a just resolution.
The UK government's efforts to build a coalition to back sustainable development in Africa is being undermined by attempts at the G8 summit to fudge a deal on climate change, says Britsih-based agency Christian Aid.
The USA is preparing to scupper a global deal on slashing greenhouse gas emissions at the G8 summit in Germany, infuriating thousands of protestors who have taken to the streets to put pressure on the world's rich nations.
Ahead of a report on 4 June 2007 with Practical Action, Oxfam and Tearfund - illustrating why a 2°C limit to global warming is essential for poorest - Christian Aid is urging industrialised nations to take proper responsibility.
As the World Bank reels from the Wolfowitz scandal and Tony Blair steps into the shadow of Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, rumours abound that he is on the list to head up the international loans institution.
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RICHLAND, Mich. (Detroit Free Press) — MSU 2014 receiving target Drake Harris of Grand Rapids Christian withdrew his verbal commitment to MSU on Monday.
"Since I'm just playing football now," Harris told reporters after his regional basketball game Monday at Gull Lake High School. "I want to play at a bigger school, win a national championship."
Harris reportedly has been at Michigan the past three weekends.
Harris, a football/basketball standout from Grand Rapids Christian, told the Free Press in January that he was still committed to MSU but was no longer considering playing college basketball. He planned to visit other schools, including U-M and Ohio State.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Harris, ranked the country's No.1 receiver in the class of 2014 by recruiting guru Tom Lemming this week, committed to MSU last summer.
Harris first gained notoriety as a basketball prospect before his junior football season, in which he set the state record for receiving yards in a season (2,016). He became just the 12th receiver in the country to eclipse 2,000 yards.


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Parkvej 10
8660 Skanderborg
Téléphone:98 52 20 77
Dear visitors!
Captain Bøgh and his crew look forward to welcoming you aboard the tour boat Dagmar.
During the summer we offer sailing tours of Lake Skanderborg. On the tour you can buy ice cream, hot and cold beverages. Enjoy seeing the old town of Skanderborg from the lakeside and listen to the stories about the monks on Kalvø (Calf Island), about Skanderborg Castle and the young king Christian IV, about Denmarks most beautiful music festival and about exciting initiatives at Vester Mill.
If you wish to go all the way, the tour lasts about one hour and 30 minutes, but you can also get off and on at the four stops.
See the timetable here.
Adults DKK 100,-
Children (4-11 years) DKK 50,-
May and September:
Adults DKK 90,-
Children DKK (4-11 years) DKK 50,-
Welcome aboard - a lovely experience awaits.
For further information about times of departures, please got to Dagmar M/S' own website: http://www.dagmar.mono.net/9319/Fartplan
Parkvej 10
8660 Skanderborg


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized clarifications to mortgage rules Wednesday, improving consumer protections in qualified mortgages and mortgage servicing.
The corrections, clarifications and amendments were first proposed in April. Of those, the rules focuses on the Ability-to-Repay rule, which protects consumer from irresponsible mortgage lending by requiring lenders to make reasonable determination that prospective borrowers have the ability to repay their loans.
Additionally, the mortgage servicing rules will establish protections for homeowners as they repay their loans, and especially for distressed borrowers facing foreclosure.
"We know that effective implementation helps our rules deliver their intended value to consumers," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray.
He added, "We are listening closely to feedback on our rules, and today's clarifications show our willingness to make appropriate adjustments to achieve that goal."
The finalization of the current mortgage rules clarifies how to determine a consumer's debt-to-income ratio.
Under the new rules, several factors can be used to calculate a consumer's debt-to-income ratio, including a consumer's employment record, income, business credit reports, social security income and non-employment related income such as from a property rental.
Additionally, the rules explain the CFPB's Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act rule does not preempt the field of servicing regulation by states.
The preamble to the CFPB final mortgage servicing rules made clear that Bureau authority on servicing, from the RESPA rule, does not preempt the field of possible mortgage servicing regulation by states.
However, the CFPB is adding a comment to expressly state this point and explain how the RESPA act preemption will work.
Additionally, the rules establish which mortgages to consider in determining small servicer status.
For example, loans serviced on a charitable basis will not be considered in determining whether the servicer qualifies as small.
Furthermore, the rules clarify the eligibility standard of the temporary qualified mortgage provision.
Under the ability-to-repay rule, a loan may be a considered QM if it is eligible for purchase, guarantee or insurance by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or by certain federal agencies — provided the loan does not contain certain risky loan features and meets certain limitations on points and fees.
The new rules clarify the standards that a loan must meet if the creditor is underwriting it based on government-sponsored enterprise or agency guidelines.
For instance, where a loan is eligible for both enterprise or agency purchase do not need to satisfy the types of procedural or technical requirements that are completed unrelated to the consumer's ability to repay.
Click here to read the final rules.


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City spending millions on new fire trucks from chief's former employer
Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones worked for Keystone Fire Apparatus until 2005
Before Darryl Jones became fire chief in Pittsburgh, he was a salesman for a small company called Keystone Fire Apparatus.
For years, that company tried to sell the city fire trucks, but it never won a contract until after Jones became chief. Now, Keystone has won three straight contracts, even though they've never been the initial low bidder.
Pittsburgh firefighters responded to a high-rise fire in March using brand-new trucks. The city may have financial problems, but it's on a fire truck spending spree that includes purchasing eight trucks in the past two years, with nine more on the way. The total cost: $8 million.
All of the fire trucks were purchased through Keystone Fire Apparatus in Kennedy Township. They are the local dealer for a Michigan-based manufacturer.
Jones said he worked for Keystone for about three years. State records show Jones was a licensed salesperson for Keystone from 2000 to 2005 -- two years before he went to work for the city.
Van Osdol: "The last three bids have all gone to the same company?"
Jones: "That's true."
Van Osdol: "And it's a company you have a history with?"
Jones: "I have a history with that company, that's true. There's no changing that, but I did not influence the bids."
But after Keystone won its first contract two years ago, four competitors sent the city Equipment Leasing Authority a letter that has been obtained by Channel 4 Action News. It details complaints about the bid process, including that the city used a "highly proprietary specification that favors one manufacturer."
Days later, Jones sent an email to Keystone President Thomas Ball saying he had talked to Jake Harvey, of First Vehicle Services, which is the company that repairs all city trucks. One of the company representatives who signed the complaint letter also does work for First Vehicle.
"I told Jake to rattle his cage," Jones said in the email.
"What I did after that letter went out is I called each one of the manufacturers and said, 'Hey, is this the way you guys do business?'" said Jones.
Van Osdol: "Were you retaliating against this company for writing this letter about you?"
Jones: "No, I don't retaliate. I believe in negotiating and talking and working this out. Retaliating is not my thing."
Harvey did not return Van Osdol's calls. Dan Coyle, one of the people who signed the complaint letter, declined to comment.
Last year, Keystone won another contract to supply trucks even though a bid from a different company, Precision Fire Apparatus, was $15,000 cheaper.
Jones said Precision's bid was tossed after a committee of firefighters found 64 items of concern in their proposal.
But in an email to Jones, Precision said most of those were "typographical errors or oversights," nothing that would prevent the company from meeting the city's expectations.
"Even if they are typos, it's not my responsibility to make sure of the quality of your proposal," said Jones.
Jones said he disclosed his connection to Keystone with members of the Equipment Leasing Authority. The agency purchases trucks with input from the fire bureau.
Van Osdol: "It was your belief all the members were aware of that?"
Jones: "Yes."
City Councilman Bruce Kraus is a member of the authority.
Van Osdol: "Did you have any idea the chief had a previous relationship with this company?"
Kraus: "No, you brought it to my attention. This is the first I'm hearing of it and it was not disclosed to me."
Van Osdol: "(Kraus) was not aware of your history with this company."
Jones: "I don't know, but that's my understanding, is they were aware."
Two years ago, when Keystone won its first contract to sell the city fire trucks, 10 companies bid on the deal. But earlier this year, when the city was looking to buy more trucks, just two companies submitted bids, including Keystone, which won the contract after the other, lower bid was thrown out.
City Controller Michael Lamb said that when only two companies bid on a multimillion-dollar contract, prices go up and taxpayers lose.
"You get to a point after a number of bids where competitors stop bidding because they feel the decision's been made," said Lamb.
Ball said his company has won millions in city business on its own merits without the help of his former employee.
"They were tired of just being a number out there and they wanted that more personalized feeling, and we're giving it to them," said Ball.
"It really raises real questions when he used to work for the company that ends up winning a bid," said Lamb."The perception is not a good one."
The fire chief in Latrobe told Van Osdol that he was shocked that only one other company besides Keystone even tried to bid on the most recent contract in Pittsburgh. He told said that even a department as small as Latrobe requires at least three manufacturers to bid on trucks to make sure they get a good deal for taxpayers.


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Reprint: Why the world needs fat acceptance.
By Lesley | July 25, 2011
The following was originally printed in the Summer 2010 "Body Issue" of Geez Magazine, a Canadian publication dealing with progressive spirituality. I just learned last week that it actually won something: 1st place opinion piece in the Canadian Church Press awards. Wild, huh? Anyway, that reminded me that the full text of the piece never did make it online, so I'm reproducing it here.
When I was in the sixth grade, there was a boy in my class who was continually trying to put his hand up my shorts.
It was like a compulsion. His desk was beside mine, in the very back of the classroom, so we were largely unsupervised most of the time. I'd be sitting at my desk and I'd feel someone touch my knee, or the bottom part of one thigh. At the time I was too young, or too naive, to know that I should report this to a teacher. I was however old enough to believe I was somehow at fault, and that his efforts to touch me were embarrassing, even shameful. I took to surreptitiously punching the boy whenever his hand inched toward me. He was small for his age, smaller than I, and why he chose to harass me in this way, I'll never know.
One day, after many months of foiling his groping attempts, I was called on in class, and had to stand beside my desk to give my answer. As I began to speak, I sensed his hand creeping toward the hem of my shorts, and up my leg. In one smooth movement, ferociously intent on keeping this problem from becoming the public knowledge of the whole class, I stepped backward, crushing his hand between my considerable rear end and the edge of the desk. He cried out in pain, and only when the teacher inquired as to what was going on back there did I turn to look at him with a calculatedly blank stare.
He went to the nurse's office; I believe he may have had a minor fracture. I occasionally wonder what he told them by way of explanation. At any rate, he didn't try to touch me after that.
I spent a lot of time as a kid, as many girls do, negotiating the boundaries of my body — the ones I could set, and the ones others would try to set for me. Growing up as a fat kid made this all the more complicated, as I also had to negotiate cultural messages about the abnormality and abhorrence of fatness, and the attendant idea that fatness in a person is ultimately a symbol of a lack of self-control and/or moral character. As a fat kid, I knew my fatness made me bad, but I wasn't clear on what I had done to deserve my fate. I'm not proud of the violence I perpetrated against that boy. It was the instinctive course of action, sparked by a rage I felt but couldn't name. With violence, I might succeed in drawing a line. After all, by the sixth grade I'd already spent several years of my life perpetrating a kind of violence against myself, and my body, for failing to conform to my expectations, and the expectations of the culture in which I was living. My body had long been a site for battle.
I was dieting by the time I was eight years old, and though we now shudder in disbelief when we read studies in the news about kindergarteners who think of themselves as fat, and wonder what this world is coming to, it was already happening to me in the mid-1980s. Indeed, I had a keen awareness of my size even before that, but it was around age eight that I came to understand that there were few things in the world as terrible as being fat. As a child I'd sit in the bathtub, look down at myself, and envision neatly slicing away the small rolls on my belly. They were so unnecessary. Why couldn't they just go away? I learned body-loathing early and I learned it well, well enough that it would take me into my twenties to learn to do without it. I dieted, and when my growing body unfurled knifing pangs of hunger through my every cell, I felt satisfied that I was succeeding. Certainly, the pain meant it was working. I was drawing a line.
We are all participants, willing or no, in a culture that promotes and glorifies this kind of violence against ourselves, and which revels in that violence's effects. Even the language we use in discussing our body fat is steeped in violence; our fat parts are to be burned, blasted, destroyed, dissolved, eliminated, eradicated, or otherwise abolished. Let's think for a moment about the broader effects of regarding our bodies—even an aspect of our bodies—with such language and imagery. This thinking divorces us from ourselves, and from the wonderful mechanism which enables us to experience the world. It creates a divide where none should exist. It turns our bodies into enemies, or antagonists, or discrete objects to be controlled and restrained. It denies us healthful connections between the thoughts in our heads, our interactions with the world around us, and the physical form that enables us to connect and communicate. It does us harm.
When I first discovered the idea of fat acceptance, one of the most powerful aspects was the reclamation of sovereignty over my body, and the radical notion that hating myself for failing to be thin was not compulsory, but optional. The alternative was acceptance. Certainly, acceptance is not the popular choice. Being a fat person who is no longer invested in weight loss is choosing a life as an affront to nearly everything culture teaches us about "taking care" of ourselves. Fat people are accused of letting themselves go, failing to take interest in their appearance, or even, with the ultimate dramatic flourish, flirting with suicide. All of this takes place in an atmosphere in which our bodies are increasingly considered public property, open to criticism and debate by an entitled populace. People get angry about fat folks. Very, very angry. I've never understood the anger, but it's there. Once you've thrown wide the windows and doors to this anger, the importance of acceptance becomes vividly apparent.
Fat acceptance is not simply about individual choices, though that is an important aspect, and it's the one that tends to draw people in at first. For some of us, those who would identify as fat activists, it's also about changing culture, and confronting the social pressures that seek to either depress us into fruitless dieting, or shame us into living as invisibly as possible. Every day that I get up, get dressed, and go out into the world, I am making the case that fat people have a right to exist, to participate in life, and to be seen.
Over the holidays last year, I was walking through the parking lot at my local mall. As I tried to hustle between the slow-moving cars to get inside and do my shopping, I was cut off by a young driver who had decided I wasn't worth stopping for. A voice from the carful of teens shouted at me: "Jesus, you're fat!" People love to yell these things from cars. I expect it's the drive-by aspect that's so appealing; even if I am of a mind to defend myself, they can deny me the opportunity, because by the time I've spoken my response, they're already gone. This, too, is violence of a sort, a shot fired at my self-esteem, my right to be out in the world, unashamed, meant to take me down a peg or two, to remind me that some portion of the people whom I assault with my corporeal presence on a daily basis are disgusted by me.
This is just something I have to accept, if I'm going to go about my life being fat and persistently visible. It's a part of my day. But because I know these comments are explicitly intended to drive me underground, they actually serve as inspiration for me to be more ostentatious.
In this case, in that mall parking lot, the teens' escape was cut off; the car in front of them had stopped to allow a mother with two young children to cross the street, in that slow, thoughtful way that young children do. The kids in the car who'd thrown their insult had nothing else to add; once you call someone fat, you've played your hole card. What is there to say after that? Everything else pales. I smiled. I walked around the front of their car slowly. I swung my hips. Then, once I had my back to them I planted a deliberate and unhurried smack of my hand on my own ass. Grinning at first, and then laughing audibly, I entered the mall.
If I am to value myself, and my intelligence, and my contributions to the world, I must also value the vessel that enables me to engage with that world, and that helps me to experience everything that makes me the person I am, no matter how anyone else may try to tear me down. And if I am going to expect others to respect and value my body and my choices, I must value the tremendous diversity of all bodies in return. Fat acceptance isn't just for me, or just for fat people; everyone needs fat acceptance, because this is a lesson that benefits us all.
Fat acceptance doesn't simply advocate in favor of fatness. Fat acceptance is also about rejecting a culture that encourages us to rage and lash out at our bodies, even to hate them, for looking a certain way. It's about setting our own boundaries and knowing ourselves, and making smart decisions about how we live and treat ourselves, and ferociously defending the privacy of those choices. It's about promoting the idea that anything you do with your body should come from a place of self-care and self-love, not from guilt and judgment and punishment. It's about demanding that all bodies, no matter their appearance or age or ability, be treated with basic human respect and dignity. That's the world I'd like to build. For all of us.
32 Comments
Reading your work almost always makes me feel better about myself and the world, and this excellent piece is no exception. But this one has also made me profoundly sad. I wish I had known you or anyone like you when I was young. I wish I had read something like this when I was 15 or 17. Or even 25. I wish I had fought back, just once, against other children trying to hurt me in school, instead of somehow believing I couldn't because I WAS fat and therefore somehow deserved it. I wish I hadn't spent so many years hating myself. I wish I wasn't still so afraid now, of stupid boys in cars or their equivalent. What a terrible waste. But I'd like you to know that every word you write is helping me. Thank you.
This made my morning. Thank you.
Leslie, this sentence sums up what I love so much about the way you write and your blog:
It's about promoting the idea that anything you do with your body should come from a place of self-care and self-love, not from guilt and judgment and punishment. It's about demanding that all bodies, no matter their appearance or age or ability, be treated with basic human respect and dignity.
I feel like it might be less obvious, but even those of us who aren't fat need that. And this. And you!
This is so great Leslie! I may link to it on my weekly links roundup.
Also, just wanted to point out a small typo – "played your hole card" – not sure if that was intentional!
This was my favorite part, it even made me tear up a little, as I've been really hating on my belly that won't stop growing for the past 2 years. I want to stop, but it's hard.
"If I am to value myself, and my intelligence, and my contributions to the world, I must also value the vessel that enables me to engage with that world, and that helps me to experience everything that makes me the person I am, no matter how anyone else may try to tear me down."
"Hole card" as in "ace in the hole" I'm assuming.
"Asshole card" would work too!
Lesley, I've been reading your articles and following you on twitter for about 6 months, and I have to say that you lift my spirits every day. From giving myself permission to wear a cute dress, all the way to healing my young fat self through your articles. (with some video game & shoe fun thrown in the middle) Thank you for sharing your personal stories, they mean so much!
Amazing and inspiring as always! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your award 🙂
brava! brilliant, insightful and correct as usual.
Congrats on the award. Very well deserved. Awesome, moving piece.
I really respond to a lot of your posts, and I think you bring up some great points above; however, I really struggle with your idea about "should." I agree with you that the rhetoric that surrounds how we treat our body is violence, can cause violence, and does some harm to us, but I also struggle with your conjecture that pure acceptance exists. I would be curious, not because I agree with – seriously, to see you write something where you see what that language does for us. I am a pretty new fat acceptance person, and I am a giant fat… but I went to graduate school too. Although I went for English, I did spend a lot of time looking at rhetoric. Part of that experience taught me to distance myself from the value judgements of "should" and "bad." While I respect your perspective of this blog (after having read it and listen to Two Whole Cakes Fatcast every week – yes, I listen to the same episodes all the time because I find them reinforcing), I would be really curious to see what it leads you to look at differently. I would instead argue that we cannot completely dissengage from this dialogue as it is part of our culture from birth. At the same time, I wonder how that language acts on us – not just negatively – what do we get from it?
Along those lines, I would really enjoy having you write about what you feel you have learned. Especially having participated in a more public podcast world, I wonder how your perspectives have changed, refined etc. Thank you, as always, for a great post.
That was fantastic. It was a great summation of the thoughts I so appreciate you taking the time to hash out here and on the fatcast. I'm going to pass it on to some of my friends who haven't yet found their way to FA. And big congrats on the award.
I smiled. I walked around the front of their car slowly. I swung my hips. Then, once I had my back to them I planted a deliberate and unhurried smack of my hand on my own ass. Grinning at first, and then laughing audibly, I entered the mall.
YAY. so very much YAY! You are fabulous.
It's about promoting the idea that anything you do with your body should come from a place of self-care and self-love, not from guilt and judgment and punishment.
I'm still floored; my reaction to this was "wait, ANYTHING i do with my body?" I'm barely to the point of *occasional* self-love instead of judgment. Whew. Hard work but so effin worth it!
Thank you, again.
This article made me cry because the words resonate with me so much.
And yet when I try to stand up for my beliefs in my social circles – at work, online, with my family – I get nothing but crap for it. I will never stop believing in the importance of size acceptance. But every time I try to speak up about it, I get nothing but negativity. Short of online communities like Fatshionista or FuckyeahFatPositive, I find no safe space in my world to discuss size acceptance. And if that's the case, I'm beginning to wonder how much difference I'm actually making.
You may get nothing but negativity back, but i guarantee you that you have given those people something to think about, and that they will not ever think about/look at size matters in exactly the same way as before.
(I teach undergrads, and this past year included an essay about FA. lots of pushback, as expected, but a shocking amount of slowly dawning "Oh HEY! there might be something to this!" and later in the course, more than a few students referenced it in their writing; most weren't totally sold on FA, but they were all saying "I never thought about this like that before" and "there's something to what that Fattacus lady said" – it's a piece by Marilyn Wann in which she refers to herself as Fattacus – for some reason, that stuck with virtually every student. who knows).
Anyway, crooning in my best MJ, "you are not alone" and, in my own non-falsetto voice, I would bet that your FA conversations are having more of an impact that you may think.
Hear, HEAR!!!
fabulous article. undoubtedly a well-deserved award.
Congratulations! Great article.
Found this via Linda Bacon's Twitter account. The award for this piece was well-deserved. What a beautiful, beautiful essay. I love that it was placed in a faith-centered publication, as my interpretation of pretty much every religion is that we are called to love, which is exactly what your piece asks us to do. (Well, my interpretation of acceptance, anyhoo!) Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
If I am to value myself, and my intelligence, and my contributions to the world, I must also value the vessel that enables me to engage with that world, and that helps me to experience everything that makes me the person I am, no matter how anyone else may try to tear me down."
I needed to read this today and to remember it everyday. I'm getting better but still struggle – especially with dating. Thank you, Lesley.
Thank you so much for this.
Thanks so much. A well-deserved award.
"As a child I'd sit in the bathtub, look down at myself, and envision neatly slicing away the small rolls on my belly. They were so unnecessary. Why couldn't they just go away?"
Holy shit, I could have written this. Thank you. I didn't know there was something "wrong" with my body until I was 6 or 7, when a bunch of older boys cornered me in the school yard to shout at me about my fat body. What ever happened to just being a kid?
Any chance you could link the jane pieces you write somewhere in the sidebar?
This is such a wonderful piece of writing! I keep coming back here to read it again and again. Open-hearted and just effing brilliant, thats what you are! Thank You!
I heart this article so hard. What I especiallyu love is that it really demonstrates the power of personal experience and shows that when we tell our personal stories–big or small–things change for the better.
I've forwarded this link to a bunch of my thinner friends because yeah, it is something everyone needs to read. Thanks!
If only the thickheads at my school read this.
Very well written piece, and I'm very glad your perspective is reaching the hearts & minds of many who need to hear its inspiring message. I do, however, have an honest question for you – with no ill intent or ulterior motive… When does acceptance become enabling? Or is there no such thing as the latter (in your opinion) because acceptance should be unconditional? Is there a point where "accepting" an overweight person is encouraging a lifestyle which may lead to illness and possibly an untimely death? And I'm not talking about society playing a role in the health and lifestyle of complete strangers. I completely agree with you about it being a very personal, private decision (whether or not to undertake a weightloss effort). I'm talking about family & friends who care deeply for the overweight people in their lives. Do you believe that keeping silent while your loved ones continue to engage in habits detrimental to their health is "accepting" them? And always the best option? For personal reasons, I struggle very much with this issue. I'd love the perspective of intelligent, articulate people who can offer an insight I might not have considered before…
Thanks for this article. My cousin is 12 years old, and is visiting Australia from Korea for a few weeks. She's a bright lovely girl, but every second moment she's criticising her body in some way. She is not fat, at all. But one moment, it's "my nose is too wide", the next it's "I need to lose weight on my legs." Every time we go out and have chips or a burger or some other tasty treat, she starts talking about the calories and her need to lose weight. I asked her why she was concerned about losing weight, and she replied that she has to start wearing a school uniform soon, which consists of a skirt, and she has to have slim legs. What's more, this, in her world, is apparently completely the norm- She was surprised to see larger people wearing short shorts and skirts when we went out, saying that in Korea they wouldn't dare. All of these things she says in passing, with a bit of a giggle, and it didn't stop her from munching through delicious brownie/ice cream goodness during the day, but God it makes my heart sink. The pressure in Korea for girls to be skinny and look like dolls I think is much greater in Korea than in Australia (I've had other glimpses into what it's like). I'm sure that there are many exceptions… but It makes me want to cry.
Dear Leslie,
I come to this piece at the age of 25, via a rabbit hole of links from your piece on the daily mail. After twenty years of being "fat," I'm now a distance runner and a yoga practitioner, and I've grown to love whole foods in balanced quantities.* At 5'9″, I've been 275 pounds, and am now about 145-150 pounds, and hope to keep it that way as long as I live. It took me six years to lose 125 pounds, and it went up and down and up and down the whole time until very recently. I starved and binged, I drank and smoked cigarettes, I smoked pot every day for five years, I lost 30 pounds every summer only to gain 20 back every winter. Depression, desperation, and fear. Finally, for six months and hopefully for the rest of my life, I've stabilized at a weight the medical establishment deems "healthy."
The problem is the mind, which hasn't quite caught up yet. I've trained myself and practiced enough to love exercise and a clean diet, but not my body, not yet, I just don't understand it! My boyfriend, a vegetarian and a doctor, said to me last night: "you should go out and buy a pair of shorts tomorrow, it's going to be so hot and YOU'RE going to be so hot!" I said, "but I've never worn shorts before! I don't even know where to start!!" It's the truth. I've never worn a pair of shorts in my whole life because I was so ashamed of my legs and my shape and the eyes and judgements of strangers. It wasn't anything negative anyone ever said – I was always the smartest girl in the class, the musician, the one people came to when they had things that were hard to talk about, I was *loved* – it came from within, from a place of fear. Fear is a cage I built around myself, a cage so much larger than any physical attribute could have ever been, and I suffered.
Leslie, I'm not a fat girl anymore, but I can't tell you how much this piece has inspired me to embrace the body I have, whether it's 275 or 140 or anything in between. I had to get over a lot to get into my groove now – and I have a lot to get over still – but what you have written today is so inspiring to me and for human beings of all shapes and sizes, everywhere. It's just a simple human fact that self-love is freedom, and I applaud you for loving yourself and telling your story in a public forum. We are all worthy participants in the world, and we are all beautiful for our lives and spirit. We can all learn so much from you, your positive spirit, your lightness of heart.
Leslie, I'm going shopping for shorts now, thanks again!! 🙂
*This is not intended to be a judgement or highfalutin statements or medical advice, this is MY story, what's best for ME. I sincerely honestly from the bottom of my heart hope that no one reads this and reflects on themselves negatively, I share only for the purpose of explaining who I am today. And if I'm happy today, it's not because I'm a size 8, it's because my heart is full and my mind is free.


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I present to you...
Beta [Last update: 06/5/2018] (GZDoom 3.3.x or above required.)
NOTE: To load the mod after downloading, add the .zip file to your load order. No need to unpack.
What this mod is about:
- Strategy and swiftness. It's essentially part-tower defence and part-ye olde RTS.
- Summoning a big enough army to defeat the big bad enemy Nexus.
- Particles. Lots of particles. Bump up your particle limit.
- Support for custom buildings, units, and maps.
Very important things to note before asking me about them:
- Currently there is NO multiplayer support. Ironic, I know. This may or may not change in the future. It's uncertain, so don't ask me about it.
- Units cannot be selected! I did attempt it, but the current AI is pretty dumb. This is lower priority right now, but might get to fixing it someday. We'll have to see.
- The AI is retarded. I'll probably have to rewrite it for units in the future. My knowledge is not that advanced, so don't expect a miracle.
- I am by no means a good mapper. There is currently only 1 map. If you want maps, you'll have to provide them yourselves. I'll gladly add them to the mod.
- This is a BETA VERSION! It will probably have bugs, the balance will likely be non-existent, and some things will be placeholders. This means I will not bump the thread for minor fixes.
- Read the F.A.Q. for the rest.
Extra keys you'll need:
- Reload: Cycles the unit/building.
- Zoom: Cycles the category.
Planned stuff:
- Make certain buildings spawn a special unit every x seconds. This is to make buildings by themselves more useful.
- Upgrades, maybe.
- Better and more specialized units instead of vanilla.
Spoiler: Videos. Caution: may contain outdated material!
Spoiler: F.A.Q
Spoiler: Known Issues


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Friday, April 16, 2010
Some more goodgoodies
22 comments:
it really is the most amazing gift, and a stunning piece of work. it has totally inspired me in my desire to make a square shetland. and all the best people love the fir cone pattern! the food was great wasnt it? so many lovely things.
- 16 April, 2010
You know what you should do with it? Wrap him in it for coming home. Every baby needs a coming home outfit.
Oh I think I might cry.
- 16 April, 2010
- missfee said...
that shawl is AMAZING and like Drk I am in awe and inspired and want to knit one too. It is my aim now to produce a shetland shawl to pass down in my family - of knitted friends
eat the head eat the head
I will always make you another one....
- 16 April, 2010
Bells thinks she may cry, and I just did. What a stunning shawl.
Your kiwi package is still in progress, but there will be more your you and Teddy.
And you deserve it, and are worth it. Yay you!
- 16 April, 2010
- 2paw said...
Oh my word, that knitting is just so beautiful, and I know it will be treasured!! Lovely Teddies!!!
- 16 April, 2010
- MadMad said...
WOW. With something that stunning, I'm always too afraid to actually use it... but wow. That is incredible! Love the teddies, too; you know you're gonna have to name him that, right? At least in blogland.
- 16 April, 2010
- Donna Lee said...
I have wanted to make a shetland shawl for a long time and have the pattern picked out and everything. I just haven't had the guts to start. That is so beautiful. I love the fir cone pattern. And I'm with bells, I'd wrap him up and bring him home in it. Things like that are meant to be used not put away for show. Use it with the love with which it was given.
- 16 April, 2010
- Leonie said...
The shawl is completely amazing, how much work is in that...Wow! Lucky Teddy, it is sure to become an heirloom.
- 16 April, 2010
- roxie said...
The Teddy biscuits look awesome!
If you start just with the ears, it might be easier to eat the head.
That shawl is sooo gorgeous. Coming home blankie, maybe christening shawl (if you do that sort of thing) Christmas family photo? You could put it in the family photo every year. When he's too old to use it, you could drape it across your knees, over your shoulders, swag it behind you as a scrim, . . .
- 16 April, 2010
Wow - that is AMAZING. Just, sigh, amazing. You lucky lucky duck being so spoilt. We shall catch up soonish me hopes....
- 16 April, 2010
- Geek Knitter said...
Oh my... oh my word.
That is just astonishing.
- 17 April, 2010
Wow, just wow. What an amazing present - such a work of art.
- 17 April, 2010
The ted cake is impressive, and the shawl is just wow! Elderly people sure can knit!
- 17 April, 2010
- 1funkyknitwit said...
You can freeze teddy head and forever look at him ;D
Shetland shawl is amazing & beautiful a true treasure!
- 17 April, 2010
- Lynne said...
That shawl is beautiful.
Cute teddy food goodies.
- 17 April, 2010
- kim said...
That is a truly special gift. One that I am sure will be cherished for years to come. Love the Teddy cake and cookies.
- 17 April, 2010
- kgirlknits said...
lucky babe, to be wrapped in that gorgeous, delicate shawl. what a lovely, lovely gift
- 18 April, 2010
- Alwen said...
That is just stunning. One day I hope to knit something like that.
- 18 April, 2010
- Shazmina Bendi said...
I am with Bells, I have tears! :) Such beautiful work and such a thoughtful gift.
ps. If you put the head in the freezer I promise to eat it when I am next in Sydney!! ;)
- 19 April, 2010
Good Lord, what a shawl! I'm just amazed. And I'm sure it's even more breathtaking in person!
Sorry, but I like eating the heads of little dessert animals first.
- 19 April, 2010
- Ann said...
The shawl is stunning & will be a treasure for a long time to come. I hope I can still knit when I am old.
- 20 April, 2010
- catsmum said...
who's the most spoiled girl in the world then ?
and who totally deserves every bit of it !
- 22 April, 2010


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Diego Milito has thanked the Inter fans after the devastating knee injury that ruled him out for at least six months. "The first few days were very hard."
The Argentine international damaged knee ligaments and a tendon during the Europa League match with Cluj on February 14.
"First of all, I would like to thank the fans, as they are marvellous," Milito told Inter Channel.
"The affection of the people has been the greatest thing for me. The first few days after the injury were very hard and all this affection gave me incredible strength.
"It is also for them that I want to get back to my best. I have this objective in my head and will try to be at my best again so I can repay all these wonderful people.
"I am doing well now and started the recuperation process. Thankfully the knee is responding to all the exercises and we are on the right track.
"I do miss playing with the football. If all goes well, I hope that I can be in the pre-season training camp with the team.
"I'm spending a lot of time at home with the family, especially the weekends. I like staying home and do a few exercises or ice baths there to help the recuperation process."
Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow


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Visiting Team/Athlete Information Guide
Medical and Waiver Forms
The appropriate NGB forms needs to be filled out. They can be found here.
Athletic training support is provided by UP Health Systems-Marquette. On-line medical forms must be completed prior to any physical activity taking place. The athletic training office will assist guests with this process. Please visit the sports medicine page and complete the patient consent and the concussion waiver (concussion waiver is for those under 18). You must also follow the sportsware medical record link.
Waiver forms should be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com or faxed to (906) 227-2492.
Directions to campus
The NMU-NTS offices and training areas are located in the Superior Dome sports complex, which is illustrated on the campus map.
On-Campus Housing
Visiting teams will stay on the Olympic floor in Meyland hall. Meyland hall is located on the corner of Wright street and Tracy avenue. During the summer months other campus locations may be used.
- Residence Hall Policies:
- Alcohol is prohibited in the residence all at all times –regardless of age
- No weapons of any kind are permitted on-campus
- No tobacco products are allowed – cigarettes or chewing tobacco
- For a complete list please visit Housing.
- Check-in will be done at the Meyland/Magers desk. Upon checking in you will be issued a meal card. The meal card will also be used as outside door access. Meal cards may not be used by anyone besides the person who was issued the card. For more information about dining please see http://meet.nmu.edu/dining/
- Room changes may not be done without approval.
- A Resident Manager (RM) will be on the floor to assist you with any needs.
- A check-out time must be scheduled two days before you depart. Schedule your check-out with an RM.
- Waiver forms will be completed before a room key and meal card are issued. For all guest under 18 the waiver forms must be completed before arrival and can be found here.
Transportation to and from the Marquette airport and bus station may be available through the NMU-NTS. Please contact our offices for more information. Local transportation is the responsibility of the guest.


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This is the same when you need to choose a corporate lawyer. This is something that can be hard to choose, however it can be easy if you do it smart. It's why you should make sure that you know how to choose this type of legal assistance easier and smarter. These are some of these things that you should know and consider in order to make sure that you are making the decision of choosing this type of lawyer easy by doing it smart:
Think about the lawyer as your friend before you choose one
When it comes to attorneys and corporate lawyers, we are thinking negatively about them. There isn't really a valid reason for being negative about them because they are actually assisting us when we are in trouble.
Before you can start looking for a legal assistant for your business, you need to make sure that you are thinking about the attorney as your friend. You can't hire someone to assist you in your business if you are negative about it. Then, you will not be able to choose the right one.
Value for money
When you are being smart in choosing your corporate lawyer, you need to look for value for money. You don't want to hire someone that isn't going to be valuable and where you don't waste any money in paying someone money for a service that isn't up to standard.
You need to make sure that you are doing as much research as possible so that you can know for sure that you are going to get value for money. And, that you are able to know what to look for in choosing this type of attorney.
The amount of experience that the legal assistance has
You might think that all the corporate lawyers have the same amount of experience and that you can choose anyone. This isn't really the truth. There are some of this legal assistance that might be qualified, but they don't have the right amount of experience that your business needs.
It is essential to ensure that you are looking for an attorney that has experience in your kind of business. This is a smart way to choose an attorney. They need to know what your business is all about.
Making appointments with more than one
Don't hire the first and best corporate lawyer that you can find. This isn't going to ensure that you have the best one at your service.
You also need to make sure that you are comfortable with the person and that you know that they are working for you. And, not vice versa. When you are making appointments with more than one professional, you are going to find the one that is best for you and your business.
Take into consideration that you need to build a long-time relationship with them
You need to take in consideration that you need to build a long-term relationship with the corporate lawyer. This isn't a person that you are just hiring when you need their service. And, this is why you need to be able to work with the person without any problems.
This is just another reason why you should make an appointment with a couple of these lawyers. You need to make sure that you are able to work with the person for a long time. The longer your relationship with the legal assistance is, the better he will understand your business and be able to assist better.
There are different ways on how you can choose the best corporate lawyer for your business or company. However, if you want to choose one easy, then you need to think smart. And, this given information is the only way that you can ensure that you are thinking smart and choosing the best attorney for your business without any problems or hesitation. This is something that every business needs, so make sure that you find the best one easier than other people.


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Apple Music: Strategy, BlackTwitter & Knowing Your Audience
We are still evolving in the digital space and many companies with marketing teams are still getting acclimated to the evolution of marketing. Some are doing well and some, well, not so much.
Apple has always been a very cutting edge company, so it's not surprising that they are "going hard" in the marketing area as well with the promotion of Apple Music. They are, quite frankly "killing it" and all marketing teams, successful and otherwise should be paying attention to the moves they are making. I like the way they move. [Insert me singing, I like the way you move by Outkast] Sorry, I got side tracked.
Apple released an amazing commercial during the Emmy Awards that almost broke Twitter and it was such a strategically amazing marketing move, that it almost made me cry. Not really, but that did sound good, didn't it? In all seriousness, since I've witnessed lots of failed attempts a clever marketing, the digital marketer in me was super excited to see Apple knock this one out of the ball park, once again. I just love that this promotion immediately followed the equally successful viral Apple/Beats campaign, Straight Outta Compton movie release, which was also quite brilliant.
Apple created a commercial featuring the top three most recognizable faces in music and TV to promote Apple Music. The commercial was also directed by one of the most talented, up and coming directors in the industry, Ava DuVernay.
The Apple Music commercial, features Mary J. Blige who is a huge R&B artist, Taraji P Henson and Kerry Washington, both of whom are leads in the two most popular shows on network TV. Coincidentally or probably not so much, Kerry and Taraji's shows Scandal and Empire are both due to start a new season within a few days, so fans are clamoring to get at them. These shows are so very popular within the "Black Twitter" demographic, and it seems as if that was the target demographic for this campaign as well. If that were the case, as I suspect, that makes the release of the commercial that much more strategically brilliant.
The campaign strategy, the star selection, brilliant promotion and excellent timing is an indication that Apple is 100% on their game. They strategically and methodically pushed this commercial featuring some of the most recognizable faces, directed by one of the most amazing directors geared toward their target audience at the perfect time. On a side note, I would be very interested in seeing the ROI on that campaign. This is especially the case after reading how many people on Twitter planned to sign up for Apple Music because, the commercial "Gave Them Life " or "It Was Everything."
The Apple Music commercial is a piece of marketing magic, created by a team that is 100% on their A Game. I expect nothing less from Apple. Watch and learn marketing agencies, watch and learn.
As usual, I am available by way of Facebook, Twitter or Google+. I welcome all comments good, bad, ugly or indifferent.


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Genre: Puzzle
The real fun of Hexic is in creating special patterns to earn special pieces. Create a flower to earn a starflower piece. Use starflower pieces to make another flower and earn the elusive black pearl. Make a cluster or flower out of black pearls to win the game. Are you up for the challenge?
Click on a group of three hexagonal tiles to rotate them. Hit the SPACEBAR to change the direction of rotation.
The group of tiles will rotate until a match of three same-colored tiles is created. If no match is found, the tiles will rotate to their start position.
Earn bonus points for creating flowers and other special combinations.


text:
Clue: Word with bob or dog
We have 1 answer for the clue Word with bob or dog. See the results below.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
- It goes with runners
- Kind of dog
- Go-devil
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- Musher's need
- Bob in the Olympics
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- Winter toy
- Iditarod Trail transport
- Take to the hills?
Last Seen In:
- LA Times - October 30, 2017
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