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FFRF, three students sue S.C. school
Class voted to pray at graduation
From left are Irmo High School students Jacob Zupon, Matthew "Max" Nielson and Dakota McMillan, student plaintiffs in FFRF's suit challenging graduation prayers in South Carolina.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit May 30 in U.S. District Court in Columbia, S.C., against School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties over a district policy that sanctions graduation prayer. Matthew "Max" Nielson, 18, who graduated May 30 from Irmo High School, was named as principal plaintiff.
Nielson has received a $1,000 Catherine Fahringer Memorial Student Activist Award from FFRF and will speak at FFRF's 35th annual convention in Portland, Ore., Oct. 12-14. (Read more about the case from Nielson's perspective on Page 5. You can listen to a June 2 Freethought Radio interview with him at ffrf.org/news/radio/shows/.)
On June 11, FFRF filed an amended complaint adding two new plaintiffs, Jacob Zupon and Dakota McMillan. They will graduate respectively from Irmo High School in 2013 and 2014, keeping the lawsuit ripe. Zupon and McMillan "reasonably anticipate constitutional injury" similar to Nielson's due to prayer at their upcoming graduations. All students describe themselves as "religiously unaffiliated," meaning "they subscribe to no particular organized, institutionalized religion, nor other prescribed set of beliefs."
A district policy titled "School Ceremonies and Observations" sets guidelines for benedictions and invocations at graduations and athletic events: Use of prayer "will be determined by a majority vote of the graduating senior class with the advice and counsel of the principal."
Nielson was forced during his senior year to participate in a "vote" by graduating seniors on whether to pray at their 2012 graduation. That vote was organized, distributed and tallied by teachers and other staff. He met with Principal Rob Weinkle and Superintendent Steve Hefner to express his concerns. FFRF formally objected, but the district refused to remove the scheduled prayer. FFRF filed suit on the day of the graduation.
The prayer at the graduation, written by the district but delivered by a student "volunteer," was addressed to "Father." The prayer asked for the "Lord's guidance, protection and mercy," asked students to be "touched" by "the Lord," to be led "on the path you intend for their lives to lead," and thanked a deity for "the teachers, parents and administrators that were here through our 12 years of school."
The students and state-church watchdog FFRF, with over 18,000 members and 130 in South Carolina, allege the district's written policy violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar vote on whether to host prayer at school events violated the Establishment Clause in the case Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe. The Supreme Court explicitly ruled in the year 2000 case that "a student election does nothing to protect minority views but rather places the students who hold such views at the mercy of the majority . . . . Fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections."
Student activists (left) Jacob Zupon, Max Nielson and Dakota McMillan, plaintiffs in FFRF's suit in South Carolina, make a lighthearted statement about the ramifications of taking an unpopular stand in their high school.
The plaintiffs, represented by South Carolina counsel Aaron Kozloski, ask the court to declare the district's policy null and void and to enjoin the district from further school-sponsored prayers. FFRF seeks to enjoin the district from further school-sponsored graduation prayers and to award damages, costs and attorney fees. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will preside over the case.
The legal complaint states:
"The clear purpose of the policy is to promote religion; it hardly lacks a secular legislative purpose; and it cultivates, fosters and fertilizes a most excessive governmental entanglement with religion. The mere passage by the District of this policy evidences a purpose and perception of government establishment of religion. The policy's text and the circumstances surrounding its enactment reveal that it has such a purpose. The District's implementation of an electoral process that subjects the issue of prayer to a majoritarian vote has established a governmental mechanism that turns the school into a forum for religious debate and empowers the student body majority to subject students of minority views to constitutionally improper messages. The award of that power alone is constitutionally repugnant."
"We are really proud of our trio of impressive South Carolina students who are willing to stand up for the Constitution despite community pressure," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
She noted that students and FFRF should not have to sue over long-settled law. "The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled for more than 50 years that school prayer is inappropriate and specifically found unconstitutional class votes on whether to pray. School graduations should be secular and inclusive," Gaylor said.
State/Church Bulletin
Town ditches prayer before judge's order
Vermont Superior Court Judge Martin Maley ruled June 2 that the town of Franklin may not start its annual town meeting with prayer. Town resident Marilyn Hackett sued to block the prayer in March. The town decided not to have a prayer before the judge had ruled.
"The hardship on the Town is small — it can no longer include a prayer in town meeting — while the hardship on Plaintiff if the Court fails to grant the injunction is great — continued violation of her constitutional rights," Maley wrote in issuing a permanent injunction.
Hackett teaches in Richford, where she said she is harassed by teens daily, reported the Burlington Free Press. "They say 'I love Jesus. God bless you, Miss Hackett. God save you, Miss Hackett.' The only thing I can hope for is that years from now they'll remember that there was an adult who stood up for her point of view."
VTDigger.org quoted Hackett: "Every year they gaveled the meeting to order and anyone who didn't want to listen to the prayer could step outside. My response to that has been: 'I'm not the one breaking the law of the land. I'm not the one who should be asked to leave.' "
N.D. freethinkers win Commandments ruling
The 8th Circuit U.S. Appeals on May 25 reversed a lower court decision by a federal judge dismissing a lawsuit by opponents of a Ten Commandments monument on city property in Fargo, N.D. The appeals panel ruled 2-1 that the Red River Freethinkers lawsuit should be allowed to proceed.
The freethinkers group alleged a constitutional violation because the city gave the monument a religious purpose in voting three years ago to keep it.
Appeals court: Town prayers too Christian
The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled May 17 in Galloway v. Town of Greece that Greece, a suburb of Rochester, N.Y., didn't make a good-faith effort in seeking non-Christians to participate in town meeting invocations.
The Associated Press reported the town violated the constitutional ban against favoring one religion over another by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity. The appeals court overruled a lower court's judgment against two female plaintiffs. The lower court decided other faiths weren't intentionally excluded.
"The town's process for selecting prayer-givers virtually ensured a Christian viewpoint," ruled the three-judge appeals panel.
The town and the Alliance Defense Fund both announced they would appeal. Linda Stephens, a member of FFRF, is principal plaintiff.
Baltimore abortion rights take hit
A Baltimore ordinance requiring a Christian "pregnancy center" to post notices it offers only "limited services" that exclude abortion referrals and birth control violates its free speech rights, a federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., ruled 2-1.
Plaintiffs included the Pregnancy Center, which has two locations that promote abstinence and bible studies with prenatal classes.
Judge Robert King dissented, calling the decision "indefensible" and adding "these proceedings have thus followed a course more fitting a kangaroo court than a court of the United States," reported Bloomberg News.
King cited evidence that the centers engage in "deceptive practices" that create health risks for women.
High court denies free exercise certiorari
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 29 denied certiorari in other cases involving challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, reported Religion Clause. The petition in one of the cases, Seven-Sky v. Holder, had raised a free exercise challenge to the ACA.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals held that the appellants had "failed to allege facts showing that the mandate will substantially burden their religious exercise."
'In Jesus' name' ruled out in Charlotte
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg [N.C.] Police Department has asked its chaplains to make prayers nonsectarian, the Charlotte Observer reported June 21.
"This is not in any way an effort to demean anybody's Christian beliefs," said Maj. John Diggs. "It's to show respect for all the religious practices in our organization. CMPD is not anybody's church."
If a chaplain is uncomfortable with nonsectarian prayer at an event, Diggs said a replacement will be found. The department has about 2,000 employees.
Churches can use New York schools
New York can't refuse to allow religious groups to use city public schools for worship services, U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ruled June 29 in a lawsuit brought by Bronx Household of Faith.
The dispute dates to 1995, when the Bronx Household of Faith sued the city for allegedly violating the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment by denying it use of a school while giving other community groups access to campuses for their activities.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan sent the case back in February to Preska, who had temporarily allowed the church to keep meeting at the public school. Bloomberg News reported Preska made that permission permanent, saying the regulation that allows community groups to use public schools for activities outside normal school hours, while banning their use for religious services, violates the First Amendment.
"We strongly disagree with the district court's view of the facts, including its finding that the high rents in New York City require the government to provide religious organizations government-subsidized space for purposes of worship," said Jonathan Pines, deputy chief of the general litigation division of New York's law department, in a statement. He said the city will appeal.
Ellwood City looks at holiday lottery
The Borough Council in Ellwood City, Pa., where FFRF has repeatedly challenged a nativity scene in front of the Municipal Building, voted 4-3 June 18 to further consider an ordinance that would institute a lottery system to determine the content of holiday displays.
The Beaver County Times reported that any borough resident or taxpayer could submit a permit application. If no resident applied, it would be opened up to outsiders.
With multiple applicants, the borough would hold a lottery to pick one applicant, who would get to choose the display.
Marisa Bunney, who chaired a study committee, opposes a lottery. "My fear is that somebody is going to be picked in the lottery and not put up the nativity."
North Dakotans not so worried about religious freedom
A so-called religious freedom amendment on the North Dakota ballot that stated "Government may not burden a person's or religious organization's religious liberty" was defeated June 12. Results were 107,680 (64%) NO and 60,465 (36%) YES.
Bishop Samuel Aquila of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo was on the sponsoring committee.
"It would be different if people's rights were being trampled," said Tom Fiebiger, chairman of North Dakotans Against Measure 3. "The average North Dakotan has the same religious liberties they have always had and will continue to have."
Missourians to vote on prayer Aug. 7
Missouri voters will decide Aug. 7 on a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to pray in public places. The amendment reaffirms that students can pray privately in public school, but it would not allow the schools to hold class prayers, Reuters reported. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1962 that school-initiated prayer amounted to establishing religion in public schools in violation of the Constitution.
The amendment also says students could not "be compelled to perform or participate in any education assignments or presentations" that violate their religious beliefs.
The prayer amendment passed 126-30 in the Missouri House and 34-0 in the Senate.
Anti-gay churches pass plate in Maine
As many as 200 Maine churches passed the collection plate on Father's Day to fight a November ballot initiative legalizing same-sex marriage.
Protect Marriage Maine has been in contact with about 800 churches across the state. Denominations include Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Nazarene, Church of God, Wesleyan, Evangelical Free, Advent Christian and others.
Meet an Intern: Dustin Clark
Name: Dustin Clark.
Where and when I was born: Champaign, Ill., Jan. 23, 1988.
Family: My mother, Laurie; my father, Randy; and Tyler, my older brother.
Education: Millikin University, Decatur, Ill., philosophy, class of 2010; University of Wisconsin Law School.
My religious upbringing was: Methodist. I was full of existential angst for a few years because I thought girls found the brooding sexy (I was wrong). That phase faded away, and I realized I am an atheist. I was pretty passive about my nonreligion aside from the occasional irritation at an irrational action in the name of some old dusty god. I thought it was odd to become impassioned about a nonbelief. Then, some friends and I were sharing a pizza, and I made some offhand, off-color remark, and a friend laughed and said, "Yeah, I could see you doing that because you don't care about anything because you're an atheist."
Hurt, I asked my friend if he thought I did not care about him. It was at that time that I realized that misconceptions like my friend's abound around the subject of atheism, and I have a duty to help eliminate those misconceptions and make sure that our rights are respected and protected.
How I came to work as an FFRF legal intern: I had not heard of FFRF until a spring law clerk position was posted on the Law School's career website. I became excited at the prospect of gaining actual legal experience while helping a cause I stand behind.
What I do here: I conduct legal and factual research into potential church/state violations. I draft legal letters for the staff attorneys.
What I like best about it: I can keep the state from making a kid who already feels different from everyone else feel even more alone.
Something funny that's happened: They hired me.
My legal interests are: I would like to be a civil litigator. I enjoy labor and employment and tort law.
My legal heroes are: Well, no one is perfect, but I have always liked Judge Learned Hand and Justice Hugo Black.
These three words sum me up: Salty, pink (inside a blender or black hole), amiable.
Things I like: Golf, weight lifting, stand-up comedy (performing and watching), Prague.
Things I smite: Brussels sprouts, ice giants, Nietzsche.
Photo Roundup
Meet a theatrical member: Tobin Atkinson
Sgt. Tobin Atkinson (left) and members of his Army unit at Kandahar Airport on New Year's Day 2003.
Name: Tobin Atkinson.
Where I live: Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was born and raised.
Family: I've been married to northern Virginia native Marynell Hinton since 2008.
Education: B.S. in theater and history, Southern Utah University; master's in directing, University of Utah; MBA in entrepreneurship, American Military University.
Occupation: Education specialist, Veterans Administration; artistic director, Meat & Potato Theatre (meatandpotato.org). The name Meat & Potato stems from the meaning "of fundamental importance: basic; also: concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something."
Military service: U.S. Army Infantry, 2000-04 (special assignment to Army Entertainment, where I was tasked to take a play to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea and Japan). I was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Fort Belvoir, Virginia. One month before my separation from the Army, I joined the Atheists in Foxholes march on D.C., a small, but fun-loving group. We had a great time.
How I got where I am today: Hard work, clean living, pure heart and a winsome smile. LOL! But seriously, it's good people that kept (and keep) me honest. This includes parents, NCOs, theater directors, teachers and an incredible wife.
A quotation I like: "There is nothing more satisfying than watching the self-righteous fall." (My mother after watching a news story on Ted Haggard)
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." (Evelyn Beatrice Hall)
"You put your hand on the bible and swore to uphold the Constitution; you didn't put your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the bible." (Maryland lawyer/now-state Sen. Jamie Raskin, testifying on a same-sex marriage bill in 2006)
These are a few of my favorite things: I've always loved the theater, on which most of my education has focused. I'm a member of the actors' union, and I co-founded Plan B Theatre and Meat & Potato Theatre in Salt Lake City.
These are not: Religious hypocrisy (seriously, if you're going to look down your nose at me, you had better be living a better life than I am, but most aren't).
My doubts about religion started: I grew up in a nonreligious family, so doubt started very, very early. Being a freethinker in the theocracy of the Beehive State forces you to start defending your nonbeliefs at a very early age.
Early high school was my first encounter with "I don't have to explain why I don't believe in god. You're the one saying there's an invisible man up in the sky. Explain that, Jack."
Why I'm a freethinker: I was raised as one. My father quit the Mormons at about age 16. My mother quit even earlier. She started asking questions in Mormon Sunday school, and the next week she was ushered into the nursery to take care of babies while mothers were in sacrament meeting. It was the last time she went to church.
I grew up being taught to rely on my own cognitive abilities, so that's the way I lived life. People have always accomplished more than god. Hard, intelligent work has done more good than a billion prayers ever will do. ("No supernatural ingredients were used in the making of this life.")
Ways I promote freethought: Over the years, I've adopted a much more subtle, almost subversive, approach to promoting freethought. Gone are the days of the toe-to-toe arguments. I let characters in the plays I write have those rants. Instead, I will usually have an exchange in private with someone. I've found that it gives them the opportunity to open up and really say what they're thinking.
I try to use humor to call attention to religious hypocrisy, an illogical religious assumption or a lie. I'm surprised at how many closeted liberals there are in Utah, and when I find one, I always remind them that no one knows whom they vote for when they go into that booth.
Most of the plays we produce with Meat & Potato promote freethinking. We did a "1984" in which party members' armbands had a Christian cross in a white circle on a field of red (akin to the Nazi armband). In a recent adaptation of "The Odyssey," we purposely never mentioned any of the Greek gods from the original text. Odysseus and the others created and solved their problems without being able to blame them on some supernatural power.
There's also an incredibly subtle thing we do with plays to promote freethinking. We always admit that the thing we are creating and you are watching is a play. It even states in our mission that we will create plays that are overtly theatrical: farces, musicals, dumbshows (pantomime), puppets, masks, etc. Why? Because doing so invites the audience to participate in the event on stage.
We take as our cue the idea that thousands of years ago, theater evolved from one person of the tribe sitting on that side of the fire telling a story to people sitting on this side of the fire. There is no "fourth wall" (the imaginary boundary between a fictional work and its audience).
We never ask audiences to "suspend their disbelief," because that's religion's job, not ours. (Suspension of disbelief is when people know that those are actors on stage, they know it's not real, and yet they are willing to accept that what is happening is real.) Our job in the theater has always been to entertain, to tell a good story, to watch a hero struggle so that we don't have to. And when the play is over, we know what we saw was fantasy.
Our audiences never walk out of our theater thinking that that really, actually happened — unlike those who read certain religious texts.
Religion's bucket leaks like a sieve - James A. Haught
This essay by longtime Charleston [W.V.] Gazette Editor James Haught, a FFRF member, is part of an upcoming book edited by John W. Loftus titled "Christianity Is Not Great."
The worst aspect of Christianity is that it makes no sense, and most of its 2.2 billion believers around the planet cannot see the illogic. Let me explain:
More than any other faith, Christianity teaches that an all-loving, all-merciful, all-powerful, benevolent father-creator made the universe and everything it contains. Ministers focus on God's special fatherly love for his favorites: people.
But if a supernatural spirit made everything, he also made breast cancer that kills women, leukemia that ravages children, brain tumors, malaria, tapeworms, spina bifida, Down syndrome, flesh-eating bacteria and many other torments that sicken or kill his human offspring. Further, he must have made tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, floods and sundry disasters that mangle and maim great masses of people. Remember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that drowned 200,000, mostly children? Did "our father which art in heaven" just watch as a spectator?
How many desperate parents pray fervently for God to save their cancer-stricken children — to no avail? Their anguished hopes find only silence.
In addition to this cruelty toward people, the animal kingdom that the loving creator supposedly made — "every living creature that moveth" — is a hell of killing and eating. Tennyson wrote of "nature, red in tooth and claw." Did you know that rabbits scream when ripped by a fox's fangs? I heard it once, and I still feel my shudder. Also, with my grandchildren, I put corn in trees for squirrels, until a hawk swooped away with a muncher.
Mark Twain wrote: "The spider kills the fly, and eats it; the bird kills the spider, and eats it; the wildcat kills the goose; the — well, they all kill each other. It is murder all along the line."
Charles Templeton, a brilliant Canadian evangelist who toured with Billy Graham, later lost his faith and denounced the absurdity of believing in a kindly father-creator. Here's his observation:
"All life is predicated on death. Every carnivorous creature must kill and devour another creature. It has no option. . . . Why does God's grand design require creatures with teeth designed to crush spines and rend flesh, claws fashioned to seize and tear, venom to paralyze, mouths to suck blood, coils to constrict and smother — even expandable jaws so that prey may be swallowed whole and alive? . . . Life is a carnival of blood. . . . How could a loving and omnipotent god create such horrors?"
Some insects even plant their eggs inside others, so the hatching offspring can devour the hosts alive, from within. If a mighty Intelligent Designer devised all these things, he's a monster, not a merciful father. No human would be so cruel. Why would anyone worship such a vicious creator, and insist that the heavenly father is Pure Love? See what I mean about illogic?
Rationality doesn't rule out a malicious, sadistic creator-god, but it definitely scuttles the possibility of a merciful one. In philosophy, this inescapable conclusion is called the "problem of evil." It was first articulated 24 centuries ago by Epicurus in ancient Greece.
Ever since, holy men have twisted themselves into pretzels trying to concoct rebuttals that hold water, but they all leak. A successful rebuttal is impossible. Instead of trying to warp reality to fit theology, a wise person concludes that there is only one believable answer: An all-loving, all-powerful father-creator cannot exist. Nature alone wrought the world's evils.
Freud explains religion
Christianity is illogical in various other ways. Consider these:
• The bewildering dogma of the Trinity says father, son and holy ghost are separate, yet the same being, and all three have existed eternally. Does this mean that Jesus impregnated his own virgin mother, causing himself to be born?
• Homo sapiens sapiens has existed in fully modern form for perhaps 100,000 years, more than 3,000 generations. But Christianity has existed only 2,000 years. Some churches say Jesus is the only conduit to heaven. So what happened to the 2,940 generations of people who died in the preceding 98,000 years? Posthumously, were the "saved" among them declared retroactive Christians?
• Hundreds of past gods and religions have vanished, such as the Aztec faith, whose priests sacrificed victims to an invisible feathered serpent. Are Christianity's three gods (or one) less perishable?
• Many Christian end-of-the-world predictions, including one in 2011 by an American evangelist, proved false. New predictions undoubtedly will emerge, and be just as silly.
• No scientific evidence supports any of the church's miracle claims. The only supposed proofs are ancient writings similar to mythology tales.
• It's often asserted that Christianity makes people better. If so, why do hundreds of priests and evangelists molest children and commit other "black-collar crimes"? And why did believers inflict centuries of faith-based killings in Crusades, witch hunts, the Inquisition, Reformation wars, pogroms against Jews, drowning of Anabaptists, etc.?
• Most of the brightest thinkers throughout Western history — philosophers, scientists, writers, democracy reformers and other "greats" — have doubted the church's supernatural claims. Current skeptics stand alongside those towering minds.
In the face of such evidence, why does much of humanity still believe in a father-god? Sigmund Freud saw a clear explanation, as follows:
Tiny tots see a huge father looming over them, loving them, punishing them, protecting them. The image embeds in the infantile subconscious. Years later, when their biological father has lost his awesome majesty, they're told that an invisible, divine father looms over them, loving them, punishing them, protecting them. Bingo — the buried subconscious image makes the god claim seems true.
"The god-creator is openly called Father," Freud wrote. "Psychoanalysis concludes that he really is the father, clothed in the grandeur in which he once appeared to the small child. The religious man. . . looks back on the memory-image of the overrated father of his childhood, exalts it into a deity, and brings it into the present and into reality. The emotional strength of this memory-image and the lasting nature of his need for protection are the two supports for his belief in God."
When all evidence and knowledge are tallied, thinking people should reach the inevitable conclusion that all gods, devils, heavens, hells, angels, demons, miracles, saviors and other supernatural entities are just fairy tales — fantasies that grew in the fertile human imagination.
Evangelist-turned-skeptic Charles Templeton ended his book, Farewell to God:
"I believe there is no supreme being with human attributes — no god in the biblical sense — but that all life is the result of timeless evolutionary forces. . . . I believe that, in common with all living creatures, we die and cease to exist."
An honest person can reach no other conclusion.
From a Baptist minister to atheist member
Name: John Senter Compere.
Where I live: Chandler, Ariz.
Where and when I was born: Ellisville, Miss., Oct. 17, 1934. When I tell people I grew up in Mississippi, I usually add, "Please don't hold that against me. I left as soon as I found out you could!"
Family: Joyce Compere, wife; Layne Starling, daughter; Virginia Starling, granddaughter; LouAnn Vaughn, daughter (husband Scott Vaughn); Padgett, Rachael and Sydney Vaughn, granddaughters; Lee Compere, son; Shelly Baldenegro, daughter (husband Art Baldenegro); Ashley and Lindsey Baldenegro, granddaughters.
Education: Central High School, Jackson, Miss., 1952; Mississippi College, Clinton, Miss., B.A. in English and history, 1956; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C., bachelor of divinity, 1961; School of Pastoral Care, Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, N.C., certificate in pastoral counseling, 1963; Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, M.A. in psychology, 1969; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Ph.D. in clinical psychology, 1972; Jung Analytic Institute, Zurich, Switzerland, post-doctoral training in psychology, 1977.
Occupation: Clinical psychologist and professional speaker (retired).
Military service: During graduate school, I was a civilian auxiliary chaplain at a North Carolina Air Force radar station.
How I got where I am today: I was ordained at 18 and served as a student summer missionary in Alaska (1952, 1955). I was pastor at rural Baptist churches during college and youth minister at a campus church during seminary, then full-time pastor at two Baptist churches. I left the ministry in 1967 at age 32 and went back to graduate school.
After receiving my Ph.D., I taught psychology at Wake Forest University, 1972-77 and maintained a private practice from 1972-89. I started speaking professionally in 1981 and still speak occasionally on my journey from fifth-generation Southern Baptist minister to atheist.
Where I'm headed: I'm clearly headed where we all are headed, to the oblivion of death, for me, sooner than later. I do not fear it, though I cannot imagine not existing. Until then, I will continue trying to live each day to the fullest, with honesty and kindness to people and animals.
Person in history I admire: Nelson Mandela, a true statesman if ever there was one, and American Revolution-era writer Thomas Paine.
A quotation I like: "The world is my country. To do good is my religion." (Thomas Paine)
These are a few of my favorite things: Classical music (including good religious music), babies and young children, Yorkshire terriers, cats, well-written editorials, tennis, raquetball, cycling, seeing (or helping) someone live up to his/her potential, Low Country barbecue (vinegar-based sauce), well-delivered oratory, a poignant story, serious programs about cosmology.
These are not: Violence in movies or on TV, people talking loudly on cell phones in public, rap music, auto races, most conservative politicians.
My doubts about religion started: In my freshman year in college. I was already an ordained minister and was preparing to deliver a sermon in a large "First Baptist" church. Out of the blue, I found myself asking if there could possibly be such a thing as eternal punishment for finite "sins." I had not met or read or talked to anyone who challenged religion and had always taken what I learned in church as the absolute truth.
Once the questions began, I couldn't stop them. I continued in the ministry and the faith for 14 more years, before I admitted to myself that I no longer believed any of the dogma I had been taught and had been preaching. I knew many of my liberal minister friends had asked some of the same questions I was asking, but they had somehow been able to stay in the ministry, while casting doubt and joking in private about many of the faith-based tenets they were professing in public.
I had to leave the ministry to avoid doing that and becoming what I call "publicly phony and privately cynical."
Why I'm a freethinker: I'm basically a scientist at heart and believe in evaluating evidence. Once the blinders were off, my study of the bible made it clear to me that this book was anything but a "holy" book. In fact, it's a horrible book, with a few inspiring passages in it. It's a collection of myths and suspicious "history" from Bronze Age ignorant people and has little, if any, relevance to the real world of today.
Ways I promote freethought: I'm vice president of the Valley of the Sun FFRF chapter and a member of the Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix. I've published a book, Towards the Light: A Fifth-generation Baptist Minister's Journey from Religion to Reason, and I am asked fairly often to speak on subjects of the various chapters in my book. I'm also one of the early members of the Clergy Project and coordinate the screening process we use with new applicants to our private online site.
Mirthful Montana myth
Each Good Friday, the Miles City Ministerial Association sponsors "Walk With the Cross," during which Christians gather at a church at one end of Main Street and march a large wooden cross to Riverside Park at the other end of the street. A service is held and the cross is planted in the public park for Easter weekend. FFRF member Kelly Thibault has protested with an FFRF banner in the past, and this year was no different. Thank you, Kelly!
Yahoo! Answers: How to save your child from atheism
Yahoo! Answers lets readers online ask questions which other readers respond to.
Q. What is the best way to stop your child from becoming an athiest [sic]? I don't want any of my children to be punished by God.
A. David M.:
Do not educate them, or expose them to critical thinking, logic or science. Lie to them constantly about how the world works. Feed them a steady diet of mumbo-jumbo dressed up like real knowledge — the [creationist] jumbo jet in the whirlwind, for example — and pretend that it is deep wisdom.
Make them loathe their own natural bodies and functions. Convince them they are small and weak and worthless and need redemption. Tell them everything enjoyable is grievously wrong to even think about, and that their only fun should be in grovelling to an invisible friend.
Ensure that they resent anyone who is not like them in every way — skin color, nationality, political opinion but especially creed. Make such people out to be evil and vile and give them — impotent minorities all — the fictional power to somehow oppress and persecute the vast majority who do think like you.
Teach them to laugh at and dismiss out of hand any faith but their own. Early — early mind you — make sure they are taught the difference between superstitious deadly error — that one raving lunatic in the desert told the truth about a vicious god who killed people, and divine eternal truth — that another raving lunatic in the desert told the truth about a vicious god who killed people.
Instruct them with all severity and import to never question for themselves — to never think for themselves — to never live for themselves — but to seek answers only in one — just one — particular set of semi-literate Bronze Age folk tales.
Above all, and this cannot be overemphasized, make sure they cannot spell, use correct grammar or understand basic English words.
That should do the trick.
FFRF's latest legal victories
Colin Mueller, a junior at Walton High School, Marietta, Ga., was denied approval from his school in April to start a new student group titled Freethinkers for Cooperation Acceptance and Trust (FACT). The school has more than 70 approved student groups, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Muslim Student Association.
Proposals for creating new groups were heard April 18 by a school committee. FACT was one of several groups denied approval for the next school year. After receiving a letter from FFRF, the school reversed its earlier decision and granted FACT student group status.
The application for FACT included information on the group's purpose, activities, a list of 10 prospective members and a faculty supervisor. The application described the club this way:
"The purpose of the club is to bring freethinking students together who are surrounded by a predominantly religious society; together the students will be able to find a support group and help each other with problems associated with being a freethinker (such as 'coming out' to your parents that you are not religious, or seeing the meaning in life). The mission of the club is to show the Walton community that freethinkers (atheist, agnostics, Unitarians or other non-mainstream religious affiliates) can very well live a life of high morals and be genuinely good people without reporting to a higher power."
Colin received a rejection letter that said:
"There are so many clubs existing at Walton that part of the decision-making process includes making sure that clubs do not compete for the same members. Additionally, we cannot accept a club that holds or espouses any particular religious, political or philosophical beliefs, is physical in nature or does not have a service or curriculum component."
Colin appealed but was told that the denial was final and that the committee only approved the "best" of the proposed groups.
After the denial, FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott sent a letter of complaint to the Cobb County School District. Elliott wrote that the denial was a violation of both the federal Equal Access Act and the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The Equal Access Act provides that schools receiving federal funds cannot deny equal treatment to noncurriculum student groups on the basis of their religious, political or philosophical views.
Elliott said, "If FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] is allowed club status, then the school may not censor FACT. . . . Minority views are protected under the First Amendment. It is not permissible for a committee to vote on group approval based on which views will be the most popular. The school should train any persons who make approval decisions, whether staff or students, on how to make decisions in a viewpoint neutral manner."
On April 29, Colin was informed that his group was approved. Ironically, his initial application focused on the mistreatment of atheists: "This club would not be formed if it were not for the lack of acceptance of freethinkers in the USA. In this day, there are still 50% of Americans who say that they would not vote for a well-qualified atheist candidate solely based on the grounds that said candidate is an atheist."
Florida school ends adult-led prayers
After receiving a complaint from a student and FFRF, Highlands County Schools, Sebring, Fla., took action to limit the reach of a Christian group that was interacting with Lake Placid Middle School students before school.
A student reported that an adult from a group called Youth for Christ was regularly in the gym playing Christian music and leading students in prayer. All students were subject to the music and prayers because students who arrive early to school are required to be in the gym.
In March, FFRF sent a complaint stating that the school's grant of access to a minister to proselytize a captive audience violated the Establishment Clause. Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott also wrote, "This predatory conduct is inappropriate and should raise many red flags."
John McClure, Highlands County Schools general counsel, replied, saying that use of the gym for prayers has been stopped. But his letter also said that the school will allow the meetings to continue if the group is operated as a student club not run by adults.
McClure said, "Upon becoming aware of the circumstances, the school principal has changed the meeting place and reinforced with the club the requirement that the club be student led.
"Further, the Deputy Superintendent of Schools is publishing the issues at the monthly principal's meeting so that the requirements can be reinforced throughout all schools in the school district, which I think was one of your primary concerns."
'9 Commandments' judge loses robes
FFRF started fighting a proposed Ten Commandments display and the judge pushing it in July 2010 at the Hawkins County Justice Center in Rogersville, Tenn. It was a pet project of Juvenile Judge James "Jay" Taylor, whose personal website was plastered with piety. As it turns out, all that piety blew up horrendously in his face after FFRF took an interest in the case.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Hawkins agreed to resign May 1 in an agreement with the Tennessee Court of Judiciary, which charged him with taking $9,000 from clients for personal gain. "He is a charlatan, and his charlatanry is about to come to an end," said Morristown lawyer Paul Whetstone, who represents two clients who have filed civil suits.
The Court of the Judiciary earlier sanctioned Taylor for lobbying the County Commission to support the "Foundations of American Law and Government" display and fundraising for it.
A county committee had approved the display, heavily weighted with religious elements, including the Ten Commandments, all obviously meant to show that America is a Christian nation. Besides the constitutional violations, as FFRF noted in a follow-up complaint, shouldn't a decalogue that's supposed to be historical at least have ten commandments? Taylor's proposed plaque listed only nine (omitting adultery — hmm — see below), and mixed up the Roman numeral XI for IX. Local media neglected to pick up on the errors, which Taylor corrected after FFRF's letter pointed them out. The display, which has never been put up, also contained numerous historical inaccuracies.
A petition for discipline filed in February by the Board of Personal Responsibility alleged Taylor used about $6,000 of display donations for his personal use.
Taylor is also the subject of a $3 million lawsuit by a former employee alleging he violated her civil rights, made "unwelcome and unwanted" sexual advances and unlawfully fired her.
FFRF starves out N.C. church discount
An FFRF complaint put an end to an illegal church bulletin discount at the Fisherman's Quarters II in Asheville, N.C. The restaurant regularly offered a 10% discount to church-going patrons. The promotion was at the top the list of discounts on its website.
Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt first wrote to the owners in October 2011: "Fisherman's Quarters II's restrictive promotional practice favors religious customers and denies customers who do not attend church as well as nonbelievers the right to 'full and equal' enjoyment of Fisherman's Quarters II."
After Schmitt sent two follow-up letters, a restaurant representative said in late March that the discriminatory practice had ended.
Religion stripped from Ala. sheriff's sleeve
Chilton County, Ala., Sheriff Kevin Davis will no longer send his constituents an overtly sectarian Christmas card, thanks to FFRF's action. Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt first wrote Jan. 20 to Davis that his card was "grossly inappropriate."
It showed Davis and his family in front of a Christmas tree and was signed "Sheriff Davis and Family." The card also contained a religious poem ending with "The Christmas gift given to us is Jesus Christ's gift of love."
Schmidt added, "We strongly urge you to consider your status as one of the highest elected officials in Chilton County and the importance of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state before you send out holiday cards promoting your personal religious beliefs and viewpoints."
Davis spoke with Schmitt on March 19 and assured her that the card will be changed for the upcoming holiday season. He said he had "no intentions of offending anyone."
FFRF opens Nevada libraries on Easter
The Washoe County Library System in Reno, Nev., will be open during Easter next year.
FFRF and a local complainant took issue with the library's holiday closure policy. Before FFRF's involvement, all county libraries were closed each Easter Sunday, even libraries that had typical Sunday hours.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote to Library Director Arnie Maurins on Feb. 16: "Easter is neither a federal holiday nor a Nevada state holiday. It is unconstitutional and inappropriate for a public library system to close on Easter."
FFRF learned that library employees are forced to make up the hours they missed for the mandatory Easter shutdown by working at another branch unless they took vacation time. "Government employees should not be inconvenienced or punished so that Christian employees can celebrate a holy day," asserted Markert.
Maurins replied March 12 and said the policy will change in the future, and staff would be directed to "take the necessary steps to enable libraries with Sunday hours to be open on Easter."
FFRF letter muffles Christian rock band
Lewis County Schools in Weston, W.Va., canceled a Christian concert after receiving an FFRF letter of complaint. Both the Lewis County middle school and high school were scheduled to interrupt instructional time to host the Jason Lovins Band, a Christian rock group with a clear mission to "take the focus off themselves and point it to the One they sing about."
Lovins is known to "testify" at performances and frequently insists "life begins at conception." He claims he was conceived as the result of rape and warns students against abortion. The event was sponsored by Youth Alive a student Christian club.
"We are concerned that this assembly will be utilized by the Youth Alive club and their guest to push their religious agenda and religious values on a captive audience of students," wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt.
A school representative confirmed March 9 that the middle school assembly was canceled. While the high school assembly took place, "no religion was brought into the assembly," the school said, assuring Schmitt that it will "stay within the proper guidelines of separation of church and state."
FFRF hunts down Tenn. Easter event
FFRF persuaded the city of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., to stop promoting "the Great Easter Bash," a Christian event set to take place on April 7 in a public park. The city Parks and Recreation Department was the designated host, with Friendship Community Church as a co-sponsor.
The city advertised the event on the department's website and on mass-distributed postcards. Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt wrote April 4 to Parks Director Jay Cameli to protest city sponsorship of a religious event.
Schmitt received confirmation April 6 that the city removed all information about the event: "[The Parks Department] removed the city logo, as well as all references to the 'City of Mt. Juliet' on the printed materials that will be distributed at the event." Employees were instructed to treat the event as they would any other.
Bible-pushers banished at UW Hospital
The University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wis., will no longer allow Gideons International to unlawfully distribute bibles on public property, thanks to FFRF's vigilance.
Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt sent an advisory letter March 22 to UW Hospital President and CEO Donna Katen-Bahensky: "Permitting members of the Gideons or other bible distribution organizations the privilege of passing out their religious literature in the entrance of a state-run hospital constitutes blatant state endorsement of these Christian publications."
A local complainant noted that security officers regulated the area in question, but claimed they were unable to take any action because it was in "a public space," even though it was by the main hospital entrance. Many of the security officers stated that "they were getting a lot of complaints" and admitted being upset about the situation.
Katen-Bahensky sent a positive reply April 9: "In reeducating our Security Department on the nonsolicitation policy earlier this year, we did discover that there had been some confusion with respect to the Gideons, but that confusion has been clarified. All solicitors, including members of the Gideons, will be asked to leave the area if they are soliciting there."
FFRF had protested the practice on behalf of patients, families and staff for many years.
FFRF to Ga. judge: Send aid, not bibles
A judge in Douglasville, Ga., was ordered to stop using county resources to promote Christianity after Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt sent a complaint letter April 13. Magistrate Court Judge Barbara Caldwell was soliciting donations of new and used bibles in the county newsletter and collecting bibles at the courthouse.
An aide to the chief magistrate promptly responded to Schmitt and confirmed that bibles will no longer be accepted at or delivered to the courthouse. She added that there will be no more newsletter bible ads.
'Homeboy' Jesus loses N. Carolina homeroom
An eighth-grade teacher at Starmount Middle School in Booneville, N.C., will no longer proselytize to her students. The teacher said in class that "God is the only creator of the universe," and "Evolution is not allowed to be considered." She also used skeletons adorned with T-shirts as teaching aids, including shirts that said "Jesus is my Homeboy" and "Mary is my Homegirl."
The Secular Student Alliance sent two emails to the teacher, asking for the removal of the offensive shirts. A third email went out to the school principal but garnered no response. FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert intervened on Feb. 28: "Public schools are prohibited from teaching creationism or 'intelligent design.' Courts have routinely found that such teachings are religious and unconstitutional."
In a March 8 reply, Superintendent L. Stewart Hobbs confirmed that the shirts had been removed.
FFRF 'deletes' biblical emails in Georgia
Inappropriate use of employee email at the Harris County School District in Hamilton, Ga., ended after FFRF's involvement. The school district allowed "principals and other leadership staff to send emails to their subordinates which include bible passages."
One correspondence took place between an elementary school principal and the district's director of transportation. The emails contained "relevant" bible passages intended to "guide" the recipient.
Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt wrote to Superintendent Craig Dowling on March 15: "No public school employee may urge religious points of view on students, parents, or employees. This includes bible verses and talking about 'following God.' "
Dowling responded March 23: "The Harris County School District will take such action as it deems appropriate regarding such communications to fulfill its responsibilities to avoid the advancement of religion and remain neutral in respect thereto."
Mandatory school staff prayer is stopped
The Wichita Falls [Texas] Independent School District has barred sectarian prayer at mandatory staff events. The district held its August convocation at the First Baptist Church. Local complainants told FFRF that School Board President Reginald Blow delivered the sectarian prayer "in Jesus' name" at the mandatory meeting.
FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt wrote three complaint letters, starting last August, before Superintendent George Kazanas answered March 7 that "future convocations will not include a prayer."
'Faith & Family Day' ousted at Ohio college
FFRF informed a Cleveland university that faith does not mean family Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, sponsored "Faith & Family Day" on Jan. 7 during a men's basketball game. It was promoted with a logo featuring several Christian crosses.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote to CSU President Ronald Berkman on March 13 about the inappropriate religious endorsement. The school responded March 26:
"Immediately upon being notified of this, all posters, fliers and marquee messages within the Wolstein Center were removed [and] appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that there will not be any future advertisements or promotional events sponsored by the university that will in any way suggest that the university endorses religion or any religious preference."
'Pagans' remove Gideon bibles from Hagan
Hagan Elementary School in Williston, N.D., will no longer permit representatives of Gideons International to distribute bibles to students.
In a letter of complaint to Superintendent Viola LaFontaine, Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt took issue with fifth-grade students getting bibles. Students returning one day from music class found bibles on each of their desks. The teacher then led the class in a discussion of the bible.
Schmitt wrote that Williston Schools may not allow Gideons or any other religious group to enter school property to distribute religious literature, or to engage in bible discussions.
In an April 9 response, LaFontaine wrote, "Please be assured this will not happen again and bibles will not be distributed in any of the Williston Public School District #1 Schools."
FFRF stills Kentucky loudspeaker prayer
FFRF stopped a preacher from delivering pregame basketball prayer over the loudspeaker March 6 at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School in Madisonville, Ky. A local complainant informed FFRF about the pastor's Christian prayer, which was allowed even though the school was warned last fall about it.
FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor sent a statewide memorandum to all Kentucky superintendents prior to the 2011 athletic season. Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert followed up with Superintendent James Stevens in a March 12 letter: "As was made clear last fall, it is illegal for a public school to organize, sponsor and lead prayers at public high school athletic events."
A school district attorney responded March 20: "We appreciate your reiterating [the law] and we have taken steps to ensure compliance with federal law on this issue." The district directed Stevens to address the issue with all principals and administrators to ensure compliance.


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Need a little spice in your life? These chocolate macaroon bites are perfect to flavor things up!
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In large bowl, combine flour, cocoa and cayenne pepper. Stir in coconut, chocolate chips and peanuts; mix well. Add condensed milk and vanilla extract; mix until thoroughly combined (mixture will be thick and sticky). Roll level tablespoons of mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on prepared cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart.
Bake 12-14 minutes or until cookies are set. Remove from oven; cool cookies on cookie sheet 2-3 minutes. Transfer cookies to cooling grid; cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookie mixture. Store cooled cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Makes about 50 cookies.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Lonely People Take More Financial Risks
Feeling left out could affect your finances.
A new series of studies has found that the fewer friends a person has, the more that person will make risky financial decisions.
People with more friends tend to play it safer. Researchers theorize that people who feel more socially isolated may take financial risks in order to fill up some kind of inner need that people with lots of friends already feel they've fulfilled.
Having a strong social circle means someone is surrounded by people who will help and protect them.
The bottom line - don't make big financial decisions after you've had a falling out with friends or a breakup.
--Rob Archer


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Tokina announces a new AT-X 116 PRO DXMonday January 30 2012
Tokina announces a new version of its wide-angle 11-16mm lens for APS-C cameras, featuring an aspherical element, an improved surface coating ,and an autofocus motor (AF-S equivalent) called SD-M (Silent Drive-Module).
Nikon D3100 and D5100 owners will be happy about this last addition because the previous version had to be be mounted on a motorized unit which isn't the case of these entry-level cameras.
In term of optical quality, this new model seems to be a very limited evolution of the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm PRO DX, so we expect this new model to be as good as its predecessor which we tested last week.
The Nikon version is announced for March 2012 for less than 900 euros, while the Canon version will follow in July.
Further readings for the Tokina announces a new AT-X 116 PRO DX
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
As we continue our survey of wide-angle lenses currently on the market, let's take a look at the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm PRO DX on a Nikon D7000 and on a Canon EOS 7D.
Added by kmt31 | October 20 , 2015
tokina 11-16 on Nikon D5200
Hi i own a kit lens (18-55) on D5200. Will the Tokina 11-16mm be any useful on D5200 seeing that i have a crop sensor body and 11mm will actually be around 17mm.
Added by stevenkg | July 14 , 2013
tokina 11-16mm on d800
I have just upgraded from d7000 to d800. Since it is DX Lense, do i loose a lot other than the vingenting happens at certain mm? Having spent $ on d800, if the quality of 11-16 on d800 is poor, i wouldnt mind spending extra bugs for upgrading the lense. Waiting for your valuable comments as usual.
Reply | Read all replies for this comment
First replies for this comment
Added by lilacxp | November 28 , 2013
Re: tokina 11-16mm on d800
Hi there,
there is no need to worry too much about this awesome Tokina on full frame. I have the same combo and always use the 16mm end on D800, and it just works perfectly. You need to stop down for landscape though, but the center sharpness is still fantastic wide open! Since this is the only possibility an ultrawide that can take filter on Nikon FX and works well in low light, this is one of the lens that I bring whenever I travel, the other one is the Tokina Macro 100 2.8.


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This fall the Seattle Mariners sent some of their top prospects to Arizona to compete in Major League Baseball's top offseason showcase league, the Arizona Fall League. With eight players on the roster, numerous Seattle prospects are in action each day, and while the crowds in Arizona are small, the quality of the eyes that are upon these prospects -- from scouts to baseball operations and player development staff of all MLB teams -- are powerful.
Players are typically sent to the AFL to focus on improving in certain areas, to make up for lost time during the season, or just for a club to get an extra look before determining a prospect's fate for the upcoming season. The Mariners' players are no different in this regard, with each having specific areas to focus on while a few are making up for lost time and a couple making their case for a potential 40-man (or maybe even 25-man) roster spot come next spring.
Moments after the Peoria Javelinas wrapped up their Arizona Fall League best 10th win this season on Wednesday with five Mariners farmhands in action, their Manager Dusty Wathan -- himself a former Mariners minor leaguer, the son of former Kansas City Royals Manager John Wathan and the current skipper for the Double-A Reading Phillies -- took some time to talk with me about the players on his roster from the Seattle organization, their areas of focus and how they've handled themselves.
First up, we talked hitters, and we started by discussing the club's top pick in 2012, catcher Mike Zunino. Zunino is one of 25 AFL hitters that has an OPS of better than .800 at this point (.848) in the season, is tied for 3rd in the league in RBI (9) and also ranks in the top-10 in total bases (21) through his first 10 games. Mike is also one of only two 2012 draftees (Richie Shaffer of Tampa Bay is the other) selected for a spot on the AFL rosters.
Zunino, who had a draft profile of being a polished, good all-around catcher and hitter without any real standout tools, has struggled a bit defensively, but has really impressed Wathan with his bat: "He's done a fine job with the staff. He has a bit of work to do behind the plate and that is one of the areas that we are having him concentrate on. The bat is special though, and it is going to carry him, in my opinion." Wathan mentioned that although Zunino is one of the least experienced pros, he has "definitely shown that he should be here" with his advanced skills.
Nick Franklin, who was alternating between starts at second base and shortstop for Tacoma during this season's second half, is seeing a similar pattern in Arizona, with four starts at second and two at short early on. Franklin is hitting .318/.423/.545 in 33 plate appearances including two doubles, a home run and four walks, all of which he drew on Wednesday while starting at designated hitter.
"Being able to handle second and short -- and he's looked good out there -- that definitely adds value." Wathan said of Franklin's defense. And fittingly, after his four walk game, Wathan said of Nick at the plate, "He's also shown a very patient approach, but he's aggressive when he needs to be. When he gets his pitch, he goes at it hard."
Originally assigned to Peoria as a member of the Taxi-Squad (only active for Wednesday and Saturday games), Seattle's Minor League Player of the Year Stefen Romero has seen extended action of late due to an injury on the roster, something that Wathan has enjoyed: "You never want to see anyone get hurt, but I'm happy to get the chance to play Stefen more than just on the Taxi Squad," he said.
Having seen starts at second and third base, as Romero hinted would be the case when I interviewed him in September, Wathan again pointed to Romero as a player expanding his versatility for the big club. And although Romero struck out twice Wednesday (just his 2nd and 3rd Ks in 26 plate appearances), about his bat Wathan said, "He puts the ball in play. He squares the ball up and puts it in play hard."
Vinnie Catricala was Stefen Romero before Stefen Romero was Stefen Romero, having put up very similar numbers and been named the M's POY in 2011. He had a down 2012 in Tacoma, but Seattle sent him to the AFL to work on fixing some issues in his swing and -- stop me if you've heard this before -- work on his defensive versatility. Catricala has started twice in left field, twice at third base and twice at first base and has driven in four runs.
"I don't want to speak for the (Seattle) organization, but I think versatility is key for Vinnie," said Wathan. "He's handled himself well here and has shown some ability," with the bat, despite nine strikeouts in 26 plate appearances.
The pitchers have a secret weapon, if you will, who has joined them in Peoria, as Jackson Generals pitching coach Lance Painter is back for a return gig in the same role for the Javelinas. Wathan stated that Painter is a huge help for all of the pitchers on the roster, but in particular plays a vital role for the Seattle arms. "He's been tremendous down here. And all of the Seattle kids have played for him (in Jackson), so everyone is comfortable with him, and that is a big thing down here."
Among those most familiar with Painter is left-handed starter James Paxton. Following a season and a half in Jackson, Paxton drew the Opening Day assignment as Peoria's "Ace", and with two great outings to start the year before being a bit off in his last outing, he hasn't disappointed. The big Canadian has 13 strikeouts out of the 34 batters he's faced in his first 7 2/3 innings of the AFL season.
"James has just been outstanding, both on and off the field. He's very professional. He had a little bump in that last start, but the first two starts were so good you give him that one." Said Wathan. Asked if he sees Paxton as close to big league ready he said, "Absolutely. He's working on his change-up down here, and when that comes, he's a top of the rotation guy."
Fellow left-hander Bobby LaFromboise has been in five games for Peoria and has been a shut down guy in four of those outings. In all he's struck out six in 5 2/3 innings, including four of the 10 left-handers he's faced. LaFromboise is a tall, long-limbed left-hander that has a bit of a sidewinding delivery, and that has been effective.
"He comes at you from a different arm angle and that's tough," said Wathan. Bobby was named the Rainiers' pitcher of the year after posting a 1.59 ERA and striking out 38 hitters in 39 2/3 for Tacoma. Not just a specialist though, that innings total came in 27 games. Wathan said he could see LaFromboise being more than just a specialist, "He's hard to square up. I think he definitely could handle pitching to both (left-handers and right-handers)."
Right-hander Carson Smith is the club's "exception player", coming from High-A to the AFL. Smith -- who ended the season on an absolute tear as High Desert's closer, posting a sub-1.00 ERA in the 2nd half of the season -- has pitched very well in five games for Peoria, allowing only one earned run while holding opponents to a .174 average.
Wathan likes that Smith hasn't been fazed by playing with more experienced players. "He's not intimidated. He's a big kid and he is strong and confident. And he can really sink the ball." A player who there have been some concerns around in the past because of his demeanor, Smith has had no troubles in Arizona. "He's been very professional on and off the field for us," said Wathan.
The last player Seattle has in the AFL, another right-handed reliever, is Logan Bawcom. Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Brandon League deadline trade, Bawcom got off to a slow start with Jackson following the deal but he has the 2nd most saves in MiLB over the past two seasons (53). And despite the 3rd highest ERA in the AFL thus far (9.53), there is promise there.
"It's tough," Wathan said about the stats. "Logan really just had one bad outing for us, but here he's only pitching once every four or five days, so it's hard to get it (the ERA) down." Outside of that one outing, Wathan likes what he sees and the results. "He's throwing the ball well. And from what I see and hear, he definitely has a future in Seattle."
And that is really all any of the players down in Arizona want.
The players playing in the sun in Arizona aren't the only ones in the Seattle organization playing offseason ball. The Mariners do a great job of giving regular updates on all of their players playing around the globe in various leagues in their weekly Mariners Winter League Report, and you can find a link to this week's edition by clicking here.
Looking for more Mariners prospect player interviews, news and articles? Want to keep up with which prospects are hot and cold for the M's? "Like" SeattleClubhouse on Facebook and follow SeattleClubhouse's Rick Randall on Twitter at @randallball.


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Any ideas on where i can get one
are there any PCMCI express wireless cards that work with BT2
In case some of you don't know
Any ideas on where i can get one
Code:http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=299617#These are the only ones i have found so far... Both are over priced !!!Code:http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=430-1558
I find it sad that they want to start a new standard and dont even have products to sell...
EDIT: Almost forgot... I do not know if these cards work i have not looked into it yet... If anyone have any other link please post them...
So, i guess im going to have to wait untill the products become more available
Hmm, the only reason i want a card, is becuase the ipw3945 doesnt support injection
Like buggs187 said, you are probably better off to find a USB wireless card at this point. I purchased a WUSB54G v4 and it works pretty well.


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
28th September 2013 07:10 AM #1
A Letter To My Pre-Breastfeeding Self
Recently, a number of my close friends have given birth to their first child and started their breastfeeding journeys. This has got me thinking, and reminiscing, about the time following the birth of my first son nearly three years ago now. If I could send myself a message, perhaps late in pregnancy, about breastfeeding what would I say? What knowledge would I want to pass on to make those early days easier? Could I make those early days easier?
The start of my breastfeeding journey was a particularly bumpy one with an undiagnosed tongue tie and the aftermath of a traumatic birth. I wish I knew then what I know now about breastfeeding. We made it through and breastfed happily for two and a half years which, I believe, has positively founded my relationship with my son in care, love and respect. However, the early days were not happy days as they should have been. This is what I would have liked to say to my pre-breastfeeding self.
"Your body was created to feed your children. Have confidence in the wonder of your body. You can, and will, produce enough milk to feed your children. So relax, and enjoy those early days. Stroke your baby boy's head as he quietly drinks his milk, without worry. He will grow and develop and be strong because your milk is what he needs.
You are all he needs. You will naturally know when he needs feeding. Shut out the other opinions about how and when he should be feeding and sleeping. He wants to be close - always. He wants to feed - lots. Feeding for comfort is a wonderful thing.
It will get easier. There is so much change at first so be gentle with yourself. You both need time to learn about each other and about breastfeeding. Keep asking for help. Then keep asking for more help. That is ok. It is ok to need time and support. You are giving your son a marvellous gift - Nature's Perfect Milk. Your tiny baby will become an active, bounding toddler on your breastmilk and he will be comforted, and know love, through your milk.
Take one day at a time; you will get there. With support, dedication and following your instincts your breastfeeding relationship will be firmly established and you will both flourish."
What would you tell your pre-breastfeeding self? How do you think this knowledge would have impacted your breastfeeding journey?
I look forward to reading your letters.
30th September 2013 07:08 AM #2
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- Jan 2012
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I love your pre-breastfeeding letter to yourself. Any woman reading it would be encouraged and enlightened.
My pre-breastfeeding letter would have looked something like this...
Learn how to breastfeed by watching others. Without the benefit of watching Aunts feed their babies, and without the closeness of Grandmothers and mother nearby (my mother passed away when I was 16), hook up with a La Leche League group and visit the groups during pregnancy. Watch breastfeeding videos, especially those which teach how to use compressions to fill baby more quickly, thus allowing nipples more exposure to the air during the first few weeks when they can be sore. Learn how to position bub properly so that there is little or no pain while breastfeeding.
If you run into a specific challenge, ask for help and look for videos which address this challenge (my challenge was inverted nipples that baby had a hard time pulling out and latching onto).
Put baby to the breast often, starting right after birth. This not only helps bring the uterus back down to size faster (breastfeeding causes mild uterine contractions) but it gives baby an opportunity to pacify at the breast, helps baby get as much colostrum as possible, and helps to keep the breasts from becoming hard and engorged with milk, once the milk comes in. (Much harder for a baby to latch onto a hard, engorged breast, than it is for baby to latch onto a soft breast.)
Get as much rest as you possibly can. Have meals prepared ahead of time, and be sure to have plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and high quality protein on hand (for me, this would be turkey, chicken, steak and fish).
If you start to over due it, not getting enough rest, your body may let you know by producing a low fever, which can be an indication of plugged milk ducts. If this happens, stop everything, and hop in bed, tucking the baby down next to you. Let the baby drink from the breasts often, especially if one breast has a warm red spot or seems quite tender. Keeping the breast well drained and putting warm compresses or breast warmers on it will help resolve plugged milk ducts. Feed baby in different positions so that all ducts are being drained, and avoid wearing bras or clothing which might compress the breast for extended periods of time.
Before giving birth, have a basket prepared with breastfeeding supplies like breast pads, lanolin, breast shells (helpful for keeping nipples aired out) and breast soothers.
You will use lots of clean towels, wash cloths or cloth diapers for burping and cleaning up milk when the let down happens and milk pours into baby's mouth so fast that he comes off, gulping and gasping while your milk squirts all over him (and you). It won't happen at every feed, but it does happen (unless you don't have a forceful let-down) and being prepared with cloth in hand is quite helpful.
Always remember that breastfeeding gets easier with time, and often if you've had a hard time with the first baby, you'll have no trouble at all with the next baby. If you ever feel like giving up, ask yourself if you will regret it if you do. If you think you may regret having the wonderful bonding experience of breastfeeding your baby, then don't give up.
I had 3 months of breastfeeding challenges with my first child, and enjoyed... REALLY enjoyed that breastfeeding relationship with her until after she was a year old. I had no challenges at all getting started breastfeeding with my other 4 children and enjoyed many, many years of a wonderful breastfeeding relationship with all of my children.
Last edited by 5Homebirths4Kate; 30th September 2013 at 07:11 AM.
1st October 2013 05:50 AM #3
What super advice - I hope that lots of our mums-to-be on the forum learn from your breastfeeding experience. In particular, I like how important you place the mum's rest and emotional well-being. As a new mum, it can be easy to be hard on yourself or down on yourself but this is (in my opinion) golden breastfeeding advice:
'If you start to over due it, not getting enough rest, your body may let you know by producing a low fever, which can be an indication of plugged milk ducts. If this happens, stop everything, and hop in bed, tucking the baby down next to you.'
Simple but true. That's all it takes really for a happy breastfeeding relationship (in by far the majority of cases). So often other factors or other people's voices and opinions come in and over-complicate matters.
Thank you Kate.


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In a recent interview with host Andy Cohen, the former champion boxer revealed that the ear of fellow boxer Evander Holyfield "wasn't too tasty."
He joked and said it wasn't good because he was missing a staple condiment.
"I didn't have any of that Holyfield hot sauce on it," said Tyson. "That would have been a delicacy."
Tyson has impressively matured since his career took a turn for the worse. He isn't bitter about anything and has nothing negative to say about his former opponents or fellow boxers, and not even Don King.
"He's always a good dresser. He had a great hairdo, and he's very articulate," said Tyson.
He told Cohen of "Watch What Happens Live" that at this point in his life, he has nothing but respect for all of them.
Watch video below.
Find Out What Your Favorite Celebrities Did This Week On Instagram (07/15 – 07/21)
Find Out What Your Favorite Celebrities Did This Week On Instagram (07/15 – 07/21)
1. Lauren London1 of 2
2. Monica Brown2 of 2
One thought on "Mike Tyson Talks About the Infamous Ear Bite"
Tyson is such an honest dude….So refreshing to listen to him. Love how he turned his life around.


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Here's the latest monthly update folks - some quieter divisions, and some with lots of action. Fair few have left the rankings through inactivity so some new blood is in there.
With the likes of UFC, BAMMA, CWFC, Vision etc. there was a lot of great action in September, and October is going to be busy too! Keep 'em peeled.


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I have seen a many posts about parsing through all the data in SSLStrip to find the usernames and passwords. I created easy-creds a while back and it has an SSLStrip parser built into it. However, the definitions.sslstrip file that comes with the download is meant to be edited as new values for sites are found. I tried to include a good number of common sites, but it is not completely comprehensive.
If you look at the file it is easy to see what values need to be included. Sometimes it does spit back garbage (like for twitter). But that is easy to change.
Here's how I do it:
Browse to the login page
Fire up tamper
Put in username/password and login
Verify the values in tamper that contain the login info
Add those to the definitions file
For example:
www.concursolutions.com has a username value of "userid" and a password value of "password"
So in your definitions you would add:
concursolutions.com userid= password= logindomain=
The parser will then verify all 4 values exists, if they don't it won't return anything.
I am hoping that people will continue to add to the definitions.sslstrip file and that it can grow stronger. Please feel free to post new sites here...I'll check it out every so often and add them to the base.
Also, if you don't want to use easy-creds, you can cut/paste the parsing function out if it into its own bash file and run it standalone. All the code is there you just have to add the necessary #!/bin/bash and save it.
Happy hunting


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Architecture school encourages students to design buildings with strong organizing concepts that take novel, and sometimes whimsical, approaches to solving familiar problems. All of that changes, of course, when graduate architects face the reality of clients, budgets, and building codes. So why didn't Brian Johnsen, AIA, and Sebastian Schmaling, AIA, get the memo? Their young firm, Johnsen Schmaling Architects, has managed not only to maintain the creative energy of a design studio, but also to realize their engaging, stimulating solutions in buildings that get built—and perform—in the real world.
The firm's Camouflage House, named residential architect's 2007 Project of the Year, uses alternating vertical panels of siding and glass to echo the effect of moving through its forested site, recruiting the trees themselves to extend the perceptual trick. Ferrous House (which won a 2009 residential architect Design Award), accomplishes the impressive feat of redeeming a split-entry ranch by embracing, rather than effacing, the type's more idiosyncratic features.
The partners enjoy "pushing ourselves into new conceptual territory," Johnsen explains, "in scale, materiality, fenestration. We are very concerned about not resting on one's previous thoughts." A glance at the firm's recently completed projects and those still on the boards should allay any fear in that regard. The work percolates with ideas that are at once playful, coherent, and practical.
What is the most gratifying aspect of residential practice?
The blank-canvas aspect each project offers. The inherent scale of residential work allows us to explore fundamental architectural issues and reshape the paradigm of housing.
What is the most frustrating aspect?
Restrictive design ordinances that prohibit innovative design.
What is your mission statement or firm goal?
Think – Design – Build.
What is the most indispensable tool in your office?
Study models (X-Acto knife, chipboard, Sobo glue, Band-Aids).
What software does your firm use?
AutoCAD, Revit, Photoshop, SketchUp, InDesign, Rhino.
Who is your ideal client?
Individuals open-minded to the possibilities that any project, large or small, can achieve through creative thinking and good design.
What is your favorite building?
Leça Swimming Pools in Leça da Palmeira, Portugal, by Alvaro Siza.
If you didn't have the time to design your own house, who would you hire?
Karl Friedrich Schinkel.


text:
A minor in Film Studies requires six courses (18 credits) that
must include FMS 1010 (History of Cinema I), FMS 1020 (History of
Cinema II) and FMS 2010 (The Art of the Film). Other elective
courses include FMS 4013 (Cinema of the 60s), FMS 4010 (Documentary
Film), FMS 4000 (Major Influences in Contemporary Cinema).
Share this page


text:
WATCH: Metallica post full Antarctica concert video online
Listen to Metallica on iHeartRadio
Metallica fans can now experience the entirety of the band's recent concert in Antarctica.
The metal vets posted the hour-plus "Freeze 'Em All" gig on their MetallicaTV YouTube page Monday so those who weren't part of the select few who were actually there can enjoy it all free of charge and without all the extra layers.
The show took place December 8th on the heliport at the Carlini Argentine Base with an audience made up of winners from a South American Coca-Cola contest. The ten-song set list is also available to download in various audio-formats at LiveMetallica.com.
Check out the guys in Antartica below!


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Washington : Government Printing Office
|Chap. 844
|Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minn. Per capita payment to.
|Chap. 844
|Proviso. Payments not subject to any lien, etc. Acceptance, etc.
Page 97
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to withdraw as much as may be necessary from any funds on deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Red Lake Indians in Minnesota, and to make therefrom a per capita payment of $10 to each of the members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians of the State of Minnesota, living at the date of the passage of this Act, immediately payable upon the passage of this Act, under such rules and regulations as the said Secretary may prescribe: Provided, That the money paid to the Indians as authorized herein shall not be subject to any lien or claim of attorneys or other parties: Provided further, That before any payment is made hereunder, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota shall, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, ratify the provisions of this Act and accept same.
Approved, October 10, 1940.


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Glacier Peak Wilderness > Mount David > Climber's Log
Mount David Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2015
|Switchback heaven but cool trail up on the ridge top. Worth the effort.
|Posted Jul 27, 2015 9:10 pm
|Mount David
Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2015
|It's a long slog, but the trail is in great condition. Thankfully, we had some high clouds, so it didn't get too hot. This trail would be terribly hot and dry on a sunny day - definitely need to get an early start.
|Posted Jul 27, 2015 8:22 pm
|Snidely Whiplash
|Trail Route
Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2003
|Spent the night in Leavenworth for an early start.
|Posted Nov 11, 2013 4:11 pm
|Great day out!
Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2011
|Headed up on an iffy-weather day not knowing how far we'd get. Got to within a few hundred feet of the summit, but were stopped short by a sketchy snowfield. Had lunch in the sun and then headed down, only to have the skies open up and drench us in rain for the whole hike down. 35+ fallen trees to negotiate over/under in both directions made for quite an adventure too. GPS watch recorded 13.5 miles and 5500 ft. gain/loss before running out of battery a few minutes from the bridge. Views that we saw were fantastic - definitely want to go back and get to the top on a sunny day!
|Posted Sep 28, 2011 5:02 pm
|Crap Weather
Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2008
|Hike up was great, but ran into fog about 500 feet from the summit. Had no view - I'm sure it's nice when it's clear though.
|Posted Aug 12, 2011 10:03 pm
Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2010
|Finally we get a sunny day in Washington and I was happy that I chose to make use of it on David. The trail is quite scenic as it snakes along the ridge between some serious obstacles and as a veiwpoint this peak is stellar. This is one I could even repeat.
|Posted Sep 26, 2010 10:04 pm
|Bryan K
Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2010
|Great hike!! The descent was killer on my knees, but worth the effort.
|Posted Sep 23, 2010 12:26 pm
Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2010
|A nice hike with Maria and Bryan. Definitely not 16 miles round-trip. It might be 14 but it felt more like 12. An inch of fresh snow covered everything near the top. No views on the summit, just clouds.
A film by Bryan:
|Posted Sep 21, 2010 10:00 pm
|Rainy Day
Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
|I'd been interested in David since first I saw him from the summit of Mount Fernow. The weather held until the summit which was socked in with high winds and pelting rain. Despite no views to what I assume is the more interesting north, it was a very nice climb. The trail is beautifully constructed and the views from the ridge were excellent.
|Posted Sep 21, 2009 4:49 pm
|Almost lost my dog
|My dog was bitten by a timber rattlesnake on the way down. Great peak though. Story of how we got the dog back and trip report, pictures and map at http://www.willhiteweb.com/washington_climbing/white_river/mount_david_014.htm
|Posted Sep 3, 2009 2:47 am
|Route Climbed: Mt. David Trail Date Climbed: August 1994
|I solo dayhiked this peak in late August 94, had great weather, and didn't see a single other person on the trail all day. I guess 5000' of gain scares off most people! Very nice summit. I especially like the stone outhouse. At first, I mistook it for a gaint cairn.
|Posted Apr 16, 2002 5:58 pm
|Route Climbed: Mt. David Trail Date Climbed: September 30, 2001
|16 miles and 5700' gain. A real slog to a great summit. I saw one person all day.
|Posted Mar 25, 2002 7:52 pm
|Bob Bolton
|Route Climbed: Mt. David Trail Date Climbed: August 2001
|Duane, his 6'5" son Scott, and shorty me did the 16-mile round-trip on a disappointing weather day. The views from that summit would have to be fabulous, and a return trip for better photo opportunities is an absolute must. Great trail, and well worth the day!
|Posted Nov 16, 2001 11:33 pm


text:
It is 3pm on Friday, and I can't wait to get home and watch the Hunger Games.I mean, the Olympics.It isn't my fault. I never planned to spend my sabbatical reading teen lit books; and I certainly would not have intentionally finished Mockingjay just as the Olympics kicked off.Except that i would, and I did. And now i cannot watch a single moment of it without making parallels between Katniss and Gabby. Between that Ceasar guy and--dear lord--Ryan Seacrest. He, and all the other … [Read more...]
Fearfully, Wonderfully
August 3, 2012 by 2 Comments


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"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere."
- Carl Sagan
Shelly Wattenbarger makes films, performs, sculpts and teaches under the alias Trixy Sweetvittles. As a full-time faculty member at the University of Southern California's John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts, she teaches undergraduate animation production courses and runs a directed studies class focusing on bringing animation education to the community.
Her multi-media sculptures combining ceramics and animation were recently featured in the New Town: Convergences exhibit at the Pasadena Armory Center for the Arts. Her animated films "La Mujer Lagartija," "Mermaids and Pickles," and "Dream Lover Fondue" were screened at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the Holland Animation Festival, and the SXSW film festival, among others. Her one-woman puppet show "Pudinella Parsnip" was showcased in the 1998 Jim Henson International Puppetry Festival.
Shelly's professional experience includes serving as animation director for Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues."She has over ten years experience teaching animation to K-12 students and working with non-profit youth arts organizations. From 2003-2007, she chaired the animation department for the California State Summer School for the Arts. She was a site instructor for the Community Arts Partnership Sony Pictures Media Arts Program from 2004-2006 and the CAP/Inner-City Arts High School animation program in 2006. Shelly holds a BFA in Painting and Ceramics from the University of Texas at Austin and a MFA in Experimental Animation from the California Institute of the Arts.


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One more week
OK, I could pun it up here: "I was weighed down by SCALE," or some other eye-rolling line to explain why I haven't written all week. The fact of the matter is that I have been swamped with work on what may end up being the best show yet for the Southern California Linux Expo SCALE 12X.
No, that's not hyperbole. And as scary as this prospect might be, I really need more than one of me to do the press work for SCALE 12X, which starts next week.
I'm going to need a bigger boat.
Why? Lawrence Lessig is coming to speak in the Friday night keynote. That's right: A Friday night keynote to augment the Saturday morning kenote by Brendan Gregg and the Sunday morning keynote by Leslie Hawthorn. There aren't three speakers who are better suited for a FOSS gathering than that trio.
That alone doesn't address the great range of speakers throughout the course of the three days.
So I've been a little busy stoking the publicity fires for SCALE this year. You need to come — three days, more than 90 speakers, more than 100 exhibitors. All that equals one great event.
Also, this will be a test show this year as well. ZaReason has sent me an UltraLap 440 and I am going to put it through its paces for the show, writing about it here from time to time. I've already replaced Ubuntu 13.10 — no one saw that coming, right? — on the UltraLap with Korora 20 KDE Peach. There's a good chance CrunchBang will happen upon the UltraLap soon as well. Heck, my daughter Mimi will probably purloin the laptop somewhere along the line and install the latest Linux Mint Cinnamon version, which is her favorite flavor.
[Insert Neil Young joke here: She is my Cinnamon Girl — I could be happy the rest of my life with a Cinnamon Girl. OK, I was just leaving.]
All of which is to say that while I have sort of been absent last week, expect for me to make up for it going forward with reports from SCALE.
You have been warned.
See you at SCALE 12X.
This blog, and all other blogs by Larry the Free Software Guy, Larry the CrunchBang Guy, Fosstafarian, Larry the Korora Guy, and Larry Cafiero, are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND license. In short, this license allows others to download this work and share it with others as long as they credit me as the author, but others can't change it in any way or use it commercially.
(Larry Cafiero is one of the founders of the Lindependence Project and develops business software at Redwood Digital Research, a consultancy that provides FOSS solutions in the small business and home office environment.)
February 16, 2014 at 7:13 am
FSG, please stop using big words like hyperbole and purloin. We are geeks not English
To hear Prof. Lessig speak (huge words) would make the nominal expence of SCALE a
cheap date. Next year I will do a Kickstarter for a trip to CA.
Your Cinnamon Girl needs to post here about her Valve/Steam experiences. Please.
Let us know where your "live stream" of SCALE will be, eh?


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I had same problem too and I searched google. You must init pulseaudio.
hello , this post must go in FAQ section
but somehow i do not have permissions to post in that section
so here i am posting in this section
my problem is i can't here sound from my system , before this i was running windows sp3 and i have run Ubuntu 10.4 for a quite long time and it was working fine with sound system but right naw i am running backtrack 5 Gnome/32-bit and i can't hear anything.
here are my information of lspci and dmesg
it was too big to be posted here so i used pastebin
if you could help me sort out this thing i'll be very thankful to you.Code:http://pastebin.com/SXjbUq7d
I had same problem too and I searched google. You must init pulseaudio.
Hello. I am still relatively new to backtrack. Been with it since 4R1, but just don't have the time to devote to learning it as I would like. However, my tip would be to type in "alsamixer". that brings up the volume controls and it could be that your sound is just down. Looking at what your posted it seems as if your card is installed...but I could be wrong.
pulseaudio is already installed :s
Code:root@bt:~# sudo apt-get install pulseaudio Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done pulseaudio is already the newest version. The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: libswscale0 libtwolame0 libdmraid1.0.0.rc16 libxcb-keysyms1 putty-tools seamonkey-mailnews python-pyicu liblircclient0 libdca0 libpostproc51 libcddb2 libass4 libdebian-installer4 libdvbpsi5 cryptsetup libecryptfs0 reiserfsprogs rdate libx264-85 libvlc2 libenca0 vlc-nox seamonkey-chatzilla bogl-bterm libupnp3 libdvdnav4 libiso9660-7 libdvdread4 ecryptfs-utils libdebconfclient0 vlc-plugin-pulse vlc-data libtar dmraid libvlccore2 libvcdinfo0 libebml0 keyutils libmatroska0 libfaad2 liba52-0.7.4 Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them. 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded
I'am having the same problem with gnomex64 but its worked on kdex32 its little weird.
i hope if you solve it with your system please tell us how you did it
and thanks a lot .
The Final Solution :-
How to Enable sound in Backtrack 5 Gnome :-
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install synaptic
Terminal--> Synaptic
Search --> Pulse audio --> Install all packages
Terminal--> apt-get install kmix
alt+f2 --> kmix
you will get kmix icon on top right