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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Women's Clinic Faces Arson Attack
Posted by Rob from VA at 2:13 PM No comments:
Labels: Terrorism, The Young Turks, Women
The Wrap-Up: May 31, 2012
|Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Conservative/Republican Super PACs are planning a $1,000,000,000 assault on the Obama administration between now and the November elections.
Despite the extremely un-American moves being made in Florida on voting rights, it seems like the mainstream media is turning a blind eye.
With Wisconsin's gubernatorial recall election this coming Tuesday, someone on Scott Walker's side is playing some dirty (and illegal) tricks.
The looming problem for the Republican party (as I have mentioned before) is the growing power of Latinos...and how poorly the GOP has treated them..
|Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA)
Currently, there are six states plus D.C. that have marriage equality. Compare that to the states where you can marry your first cousin (SPOILER: eww...).
A Missouri senate candidate doesn't want citizens to be able to vote for him. Maybe the people should take his advice and just not vote for him. Everybody wins that way!
Has Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) opposed judicial nominees for being gay? Stammering usually implies guilt and a poorly attempted cover-up. Just sayin...
California is closer to protecting against reparative "therapy." I seriously hope other states take up this call given the damage this "therapy" is shown to cause to its victims.
And lastly, A Texas judge is, well, not a good judge (to put it nicely).
Since today is my birthday, I won't be spending too much time working on the blog and there won't be a Wrap-Up tomorrow.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Bob McDonnell, Conservatives, Constitution, Election 2012, Ex-Gay Therapy, GOP, Latinos, Marriage Equality, Scott Walker, Wisconsin, Wrap-Up
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Life Without the Filibuster
Posted by Rob from VA at 9:54 AM No comments:
Labels: Senate, The Young Turks
The Wrap-Up: May 30, 2012
black people started what has since become Memorial Day. You're welcome for the long weekend folks.
While making a Memorial Day speech, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was heckled by a protester. I'm no fan of McCain for the most part, but there are times when he says things worthy of being heckled...and this was one of those times.
Tea Party darling Rep. Allen West (R-FL) has praised elements of the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"), meaning he probably won't be a Tea Party darling for long.
A Minnesota pastor may lose his church because he supports marriage equality. Of course this is happening at the same time that other churches who are using their pulpits to gather money to fight marriage equality retain their tax exempt status. Where is the justice in this?
A Florida high school is under investigation after a straight student attempted suicide because of anti-gay bullying (the state has an anti-bullying law that may have been ignored).
One of the victims of Florida's voting purge: a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge.
The European Union adopted a resolution condemning anti-gay laws in the continent. Hopefully Russia (among other countries) is paying attention.
The Boy Scouts will receive a petition some 275,000 signatures strong supporting a den mother who was ousted from her position solely because she is a lesbian.
And lastly, Liberty Council's Matt Barber thinks it is offensive and demeaning the the NAACP (the nation's oldest civil right organization) supports equal rights for ALL Americans.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Affordable Care Act, Allen West, Bullying, Europe, Florida, Homophobia, John McCain, Marriage Equality, Matt Barber, Race, Schools, Voting Rights, Wrap-Up
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Breaking Bread With Tony Perkins
Remember when Family Research Council (read: anti-gay hate group) president Tony Perkins said he had never been to the home of a same-sex couple? Remember when a same-sex couple extended him an invitation? Well, it looks like Mr. Perkins has (in principle) accepted.
Posted by Rob from VA at 10:22 AM No comments:
Labels: CNN, Homophobia, Parenting, Religion, Tony Perkins
Gay Soldiers
I would have posted this yesterday, but I didn't want the day to be too political for obvious reasons.
Posted by Rob from VA at 10:04 AM 2 comments:
Labels: GOP, Homophobia, Military
The Wrap-Up: May 29, 2012
not a good spokesman for Mitt Romney.
A New Mexico health official was asked to resign after advocating condom use (the governor is one of those abstinence-only deluded conservatives). P.S. New Mexico has the nation's highest teen pregnancy rate.
Letters sent to the judge of the Dharun Ravi case may have influenced the sentence he handed down (again, I'm using the word sentence loosely in this case).
A brutal hate crime took place at a high school graduation party in Minnesota.
While demanding the right to hold a gay pride parade, about 40 Russian activists were arrested in Moscow. Note to self: do NOT go to Russia.
implementation of marriage equality in England and Wales.
The state Supreme Court of Ohio has dismissed an attempt by social conservatives to stop a pro-marriage equality amendment.
North Carolina's "Concentration Camp" Pastor Worley faced a protest of well over a thousand people on Sunday (compared to a counter-protest of about 50).
And lastly, Donald Trump is still full of crap (i.e. himself).
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: David Pakman Show, Hate Crimes, Marriage Equality, Mitt Romney, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Russia, United Kingdom, Wrap-Up
Monday, May 28, 2012
The Wrap-Up: May 28, 2012
|Bedford County, Virginia
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!! While you're out grilling and enjoying the day off, take some time to remember what this holiday is truly about.
The House Republican's Summer wish list read like a how to of taking the country back into recession.
A ballooning Hispanic population may turn North Carolina into a long term swing state.
Perhaps all is not lost with the Republican party as at least GOP candidates are refusing to sign "the pledge." Grover Norquist can't be happy about this, which means it must be a good thing.
When it comes to voting and voting rights, it's all but official that Florida is the worst state in the country.
|Monument Terrace in Lynchburg, Virgina
Kansas is the latest state to freak out over the non-existent Sharia Law threat.
In the past two weeks, over 300,000 people have thanked President Barack Obama for his public support marriage equality. I wonder if the opposition even bothered trying a counter petition this time (like their Starbucks failure).
Governor Scott Walker's (R-WI) recall opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), took him to task on a number of issues face-to-face.
And lastly, after saying he had never been to the home of a same-sex married couple in a resent interview, Tony Perkins has been offered an invitation. A response is pending (which I can't wait to hear about).
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Congress, Florida, GOP, Grover Norquist, Islamophobia, Kansas, Latinos, Marriage Equality, North Carolina, Taxes, Tony Perkins, Voting Rights, Wisconsin, Wrap-Up
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Tony Perkins Gets Grilled
Posted by Rob from VA at 4:40 PM No comments:
Labels: CNN, Marriage Equality, Parenting, Tony Perkins
Friday, May 25, 2012
LaVar Arrington on Gays in the NFL
On a DC radio show, former Redskin LaVar Arrington said that the first NFL player to come out as gay would (in time) be seen as a "national hero."
I know this, the first person that does it is going to be a hero. I know that. They may go through a lot of ridicule, they may go through a lot of different things, but this is one sport where you have not had a guy just outright while they were playing say look, this is what I am. I bet you he would turn out to be a national hero, if you ask me.
If you're a player that has played football for a long time, if you've played in high school, if you've played in college, and if you've played in the league, you gotta be clear that there's a strong possibility that one of your teammates is homosexual. I don't think that that's something guys should e naïve about. It's kind of that unspoken word type deal or you don't ask I won't tell type of deal. But I think it could go over a little bit better than what we would think, just based upon the fact that it would almost be like addressing the elephant in the room.
You can read the full report on Out Sports or listen to the interview.
Posted by Rob from VA at 9:28 PM No comments:
Labels: Sports
Lowlights & Highlights: May 26, 2012
Unless you live in a cave, you are probably aware the the sentence for Dharun Ravi - the Rutgers roommate of Tyler Clementi, whom he videotaped in an intimate incident with another man ultimately leading to Clementi's suicide - came down this week. I'm using the word sentence fairly lightly here. Ravi faced a possible 10 year sentence which I, and many others, deemed to be far too harsh if it came to that given the charges. however, the actually sentence he received was...a slap on the wrist seems like an understatement. 30 days in jail, a $12,000 fine, 300 hours community service, and probation. To put this in perspective, New Jersey law mandates 90 days in jail for shoplifting. There are people who go to jail for far longer for simple marijuana possession.
This is what I like to call an abortion of justice, especially given how the judge noted Ravi's lack of remorse and how he offered no apology. This sentence is a stain on the justice system.
Since the last time that I posted this feature, it appears there may be a huge change happening within the African-American community. It has been reported numerous times that black people, though generally more liberal and tending to vote as such, are quite socially and religiously conservative (i.e. against LGBT equality and homosexuality). This is becoming less and less the case however. Last Saturday, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officially came out as supporting marriage equality. This is a fairly big deal, especially given that this is the nation's oldest and best known civil rights organization. Of course, there were some naysayers but there has also been a huge positive response.
Not only this, but Outsports has been reporting that numerous people associated with the National Football League - from retired players (including former Green Bay Packer Ahman Green) to rookies (including Robert Griffin III who had a gay teammate in high school in Texas) - would have no problem with having an openly gay teammate. Many of the people that were asked were black. Perhaps the perception that black people tend to be homophobic is finally beginning to crumble, yet another bastion of homophobia going by the wayside. We have seen it with the military, we are seeing it in sports, and even in the religious community (even an increasing number of Evangelicals are in agreement with LGBT equality). Being someone who is black, I am absolutely thrilled to see this happening.
I gotta say though, given Griffin's support, it's sad to see him go to the Redskins...
Posted by Rob from VA at 6:00 PM No comments:
Labels: Homophobia, Justice, Race, Sports
Happy Birthday Sir Ian McKellen
Posted by Rob from VA at 4:03 PM No comments:
Labels: Birthday
No Bachelorettes Allowed!!!
It was recently reported that a Los Angeles gay bar called The Abbey had instituted a policy where they no longer allow bachelorette parties. A press release from the owner stated:
Every Friday and Saturday night, we're flooded with requests from straight girls in penis hats who want to ogle our gogos, dance with the gays and celebrate their pending nuptials. They are completely unaware that the people around them are legally prohibited from getting married. Over the past 22 years, The Abbey has been a place that accepts everyone, gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and everything in between. We love our straight girlfriends and they are welcome here, just not for bachelorette parties. It has long been a policy at The Abbey to deny admission to groups in costume, including Bachelorette regalia. Bachelorette parties had previously been allowed inside if they removed their costumes. The Abbey's Bachelorette Ban comes on the heels of a ban on Gay Marriage in North Carolina and a number of other states across the south. The Abbey encourages other gay-owned and operated establishments to institute their own bans as a sign of solidarity until Marriage is legal everywhere for everyone.
When I first heard about this story this morning, my reaction was rather tepid. I honestly didn't know how to feel about it. The more I thought about it however, the more I was against this policy. On the one hand, I get that the owner here (and other owner elsewhere that have instituted similar policies) is upset about the lack of marriage equality in this country. On the other hand, I do not believe that meeting discrimination with discrimination is the right way to go. Two wrongs don't make a right after all.
The women who would have their bachelorette parties at these gay bars are not very likely to be homophobic, otherwise being surrounded by gay people would just make no sense. On the contrary, for that very reason, they are very likely to be LGBT-friendly. As such, not allowing them to have their bachelorette parties there just comes off as misdirected anger. Potential allies are being punished for the deeds of truly homophobic people. To me, that is wrong.
Also, as I said above, this is discrimination. There is not much difference between this policy banning straight women from having bachelorette parties for political/moral reasons and someone (say a florist, musician, caterer, etc) saying that they will not provide their services to a same-sex couple for moral/religious reasons. The two scenarios are to close for my personal comfort.
There are far better ways to fight for marriage equality, but resorting to this policy is a step in the wrong direction. It makes us in the gay community look no better than those who would subject us to second-class citizenship.
Posted by Rob from VA at 3:14 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Discrimination, Marriage Equality
The Wrap-Up: May 25, 2012
significant push for the LGBT vote.
New York state is considering a ban on anonymous internet comments. I suggest they familiarize themselves with the a little thing I like to all freedom of speech
There a Catholic group that is (vainly) attempting to de-gay men by using sports. I'm no prophet, but I see failure as being imminent (for that matter, it might just confirm to these guys that they're gay).
A New Jersey mayor was caught (allegedly) hacking into the website of an organization seeking to recall him. I'm guessing this guy is unfamiliar with Watergate.
Mitt Romney received a less than warm welcome when he went to an inner-city charter school yesterday.
attempting to purge the state's voting rolls by up to 180,000 voters. Given what I have heard about Scott, I would not put this past him, especially as this seems to be a GOP theme.
The new Prime Minister if France is making some big promises to the French gay community.
I think Newt Gingrich was running for president of the wrong country.
While many are saying that President Obama's support of marriage equality is pretty much a wash, the evidence speaks to the contrary,
And lastly, another Palin related fail.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Catholicism, Education, Florida, France, Free Speech, Marriage Equality, Mitt Romney, New Jersey, New York, Newt Gingrich, Rick Scott, Sarah Palin, Sports, Voting Rights, Wrap-Up
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Fox Fail: Fox is For Idiots
Or is it idiots are for Fox?
Posted by Rob from VA at 8:51 PM No comments:
Labels: David Pakman Show, Fox
Sandra Fluke to a Conservative's Defense
|Sandra Fluke
I don't to remind anyone how despicable it was when Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut for advocating women's access to contraception. What was worse was how so many other conservative jumped on the bandwagon, including conservative women. So much for sisterhood. Well, maybe sisterhood does exist, it just isn't a two-way street.
In an issue of Hustler Magazine, notable conservative activist S.E. Cupp was the subject of a very NSFW photo-shopped picture. Supposedly, it was satire. I must be missing the joke. While I'm sure that some thought it was funny (God have mercy on them), there was an interesting source of defense for Cupp: Sandra Fluke. Fluke condemned the photo as marginalizing women, particularly those who are public figures, to nothing more than sex objects. To be fair, I can't say offhand that Cupp was one of the conservatives that was badmouthing Fluke. However, it seems very rare for a conservative to leap to the defense of a liberal unprovoked.
You can find more information of Fluke, Cupp, and the Limbaugh debacle HERE on Raw Story's website.
Posted by Rob from VA at 10:37 AM No comments:
The Religious Wrong: "Defending" Pastor Worley
I love how this woman has zero idea of what she speaks. What a great spokeswoman for the cause of homophobia.
Posted by Rob from VA at 10:01 AM 2 comments:
Labels: Anderson Cooper, Homophobia, The Religious Wrong
The Wrap-Up: May 24, 2012
supporting marriage equality under the law.
Powell was a busy man yesterday, also taking time out to criticize the foreign policy team of Mitt Romney.
While the President of Malawi tries to curb homophobic laws in the nation, she is facing opposition from the usual suspects.
The pastor who talked about punching kids who might be gay rebuked the pastor who talked about putting gays in concentration camps. Seriously, what is wrong with the so-called Christians?
Speaking of Pastor Worley, many of his parishioners agree with his statement, thus showing how the lot of them have a very poor understanding (if it can so be called) of the Bible.
no longer able to hold the Catholic Church together on (read: against) LGBT issues here and abroad.
Today in GOP hypocrisy, they are all in a huff because President Obama did something once that George W. Bush did three times.
The landscape of the National Football League maybe a bit less homophobic than most would think, and that's definitely a good thing.
Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) has introduced a Juror Non-Discrimination Act so that jurors will not be discriminated against based on sexual orientation (similar law exists for race and gender based discrimination).
And lastly, Anderson Cooper tells a woman how bad of a mother she is (P.S. he was absolutely correct.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Anderson Cooper, Catholicism, Christianity, Colin Powell, Foreign Policy, GOP, Homophobia, Marriage Equality, Parenting, Sports, Wrap-Up
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
If Websites Were People: Fox "News"
Posted by Rob from VA at 10:09 AM No comments:
The Wrap-Up: May 23, 2012
Get ready for another debt ceiling debacle.
The growing national trend towards marriage equality continues...despite what the ignorant Bristol Palin has to say.
The obvious reason for Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker defending Wall Street over President Obama: campaign contributions. This is why we must get corporate dollars out of politics.
Rush Limbaugh's ratings are way down. Gee, I wonder why...?
The North Carolina "pastor" who essentially called for gays and lesbians to be placed in concentration camps (because obviously, this is what Christ would want) is facing a major backlash.
Dan Savage may be accepting a debate challenge from Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage (Discrimination). The details he lays out are...interesting.
An Ohio student has officially won the right to wear (in school) a shirt saying "Jesus is not a homophobe."
Former Green Bay Packers (GO PACK GO) running back Ahman Green talked with Outsports about having gay siblings among other things (SPOILER: Green is a class act).
And lastly, the intersection between being black, being gay, and being Christian.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Brian Brown, Christianity, Cory Booker, Courts, Dan Savage, Debt, Homophobia, Marriage Equality, Race, Rush Limbaugh, Sports, Wrap-Up
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
War on Women: GOP Women's Caucus
Did you know that there is a GOP Women's Caucus? Well, there might as well not be since most of the women in it have voted time and time again against female equality. Think Progress gives us the following details:
- Violence Against Women: Of the 24 women, 22 voted to rollback the Violence Against Women Act, backing a version of the bill that could violate the confidentiality of victims and that excluded protections for immigrants, LGBT people, and Native Americans.
- Access to contraception: 21 of the 24 co-sponsored the "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act" to take away regulations enacted under Obamacare requiring most employers to cover birth control in their health insurance plans, without additional cost-sharing.
- Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: Of the 15 Republican Congresswomen who were in the House at the time, all 15 voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, a law that helps women hold accountable employers who discriminate in the pay practices based on gender.
- Paycheck Fairness Act Act: 13 of those 15 also voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would update the 1963 Equal Pay Act by closing many of its loopholes and strengthening incentives to prevent pay discrimination.
- Reproductive health: According to Planned Parenthood, 20 of the 24 GOP women earned a zero score, voting against reproductive health at every opportunity. The average score for the women was under 6 percent.
All jokes aside, what is the point of having a women's caucus if all you are going to do is vote against female equality? Voting against equal pay, equal access to health care, and so on goes counter to what these women SHOULD be voting for. These particular women would be a joke if the subject matter were not so serious.
You can read the whole article HERE. It's all downhill from what you just read.
Posted by Rob from VA at 3:11 PM No comments:
The Wrap-Up: May 22, 2012
be glad you didn't (at least for right now). So much for all of the fanfare.
Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker (one of President Obama's surrogate's and someone I generally like) made a fairly large error on Meet the Press this Sunday.
And here is laid out my main problem with the death penalty: frame-ups and massive amounts of time that can never be recovered.
Apparently there was a nomination for a third party candidate...which ended without a third party candidate. The two-party system lives on (for good or/and ill).
Showing how much of a Christian he is, a North Carolina pastor state that gays should be fenced off and left to die. Obviously, it's what Christ would have done.
comparisons to Nazis...
It's President Obama's fault that $10,000,000 in racial-attack ads will be on the air against President Obama. Then again that's the opinion of the RNC chair, so it's only worth so much.
The GOP's long-term problem goes far beyond the fact that the best candidate they can muster is Mitt Romney.
This is why Democrats and President Obama should run on their health care record, not from it.
And lastly, a Pastor has a warning for Home Depot. My warning, however, would be beware false prophets.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Christianity, Cory Booker, Democrats, Election 2012, GOP, Health Care, Homophobia, Justice, Race, Taxes, Wrap-Up
Monday, May 21, 2012
Dharun Ravi Gets Sentenced...
Garden State Equality (with which I largely agree):
Moments ago, Judge Berman decided to sentence Dharun Ravi to 30 days in jail. We have been public in taking a position of balance: We opposed throwing the book at Dharun Ravi. We have spoken out against giving him the maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and against deporting him. That would have been vengeance beyond punishment and beyond sending a message to the rest of society.
But we have similarly rejected the other extreme that Ravi should have gotten no jail time at all, and today's sentencing is closer to that extreme than the other. This was not merely a childhood prank gone awry. This was not a crime without bias.
Remember that Ravi had messaged his motivation in violating Tyler's privacy: "I saw him making out with a dude. Yay." Remember that before Tyler took his life, Ravi messaged a friend: "Keep the gays away." And remember that because Ravi had tampered with evidence, his post-facto messages to Tyler that he, Ravi, had no problem with gay people understandably lost their credibility to the jury.
Dharun Ravi wasn't convicted of a bias crime unfairly. Dharun Ravi was convicted of a bias crime because his own words broadcast anti-gay animus to Tyler Clementi and the world.
Since the verdict, Dharun Ravi's extraordinary lawyers and their media operation have deemphasized these facts, stunningly able to recast Ravi in the role of victim, scapegoat and even folk hero. But we remember the trial itself – a long and painstaking trial where Ravi had the best team possible, unlike many other defendants charged with serious crimes.
None of us not directly affected by this tragedy has reason to be happy. Tyler Clementi is no longer with us. Another man – M.B. – has seen this tragedy wreak havoc on his own life. The life of a third man, Dharun Ravi, will never be the same again. And Tyler's family will forever have to live with the loss of their son, brother, nephew and cousin. May the family receive strength from their loving memories.
Those who have oppose giving Dharun Ravi jail time have asked, hasn't he suffered enough? But we believe there's another question: Has Dharun Ravi done enough? Has he done enough to use his place in history to speak out against student bullying and to make a positive impact on millions of lives across our state and nation?
Thus far, no.
Though Tyler Clementi has left us, the rest of Dharun Ravi's life will help tell his life story. Ravi's own lawyer portrayed him as a young man who engaged merely in jerky behavior. Ravi can stay that course, or he can do some good with his life by making amends and fighting for the justice and dignity of every individual, including people who are LGBT. That much is up to Ravi.
As for all of us, we must continue our focus on building a better world, one free of bullying of every student, so that a tragedy like this never happens again. That's what New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, the country's strongest anti-bullying law, is ultimately about.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all whose lives have been changed by this tragedy.
Posted by Rob from VA at 1:15 PM No comments:
Labels: Bullying, Courts, Homophobia
The Wrap-Up: May 21, 2012
Athletes from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill have posted a video for the "It Gets Better" campaign. I guess someone had to make the state look tolerant in the wake of Amendment One.
Mitt Romney wants to blame President Barack Obama alone for the massive cuts to military spending despite the facts that A) military insiders are on board with much of the cuts and B) the GOP definitely had a hand in $500 in cuts. What a classy fella...
Over the weekend, the NAACP officially announced its support for marriage equality.
The Pan-American Health Organization has officially denounced ex-gay "therapy."
In Minnesota, where there will be an anti- marriage quality amendment on the ballot come November, the debate has had new life breathed into it on both sides.
Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI) thinks that adding $10 trillion to the national debt will prevent a debt crisis. I believe this is what "W" meant by fuzzy math.
Remember that New Jersey teacher who wrote homophobic comments on her Facebook page a while back? The bad news is that she's avoiding penalties. The good news is that she is doing so by retiring. So long as she isn't in a position of power over kids (undoubtedly some of whom are gay).
And lastly, Evangelicals are on the wrong side of history...again.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Budget, Bullying, Debt, Ex-Gay Therapy, Homophobia, It Gets Better, Marriage Equality, Military, Minnesota, Paul Ryan, Religion, Wrap-Up
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Tweet of the Day: May 19, 2012
Posted by Rob from VA at 1:09 PM No comments:
Labels: Choicers, Homophobia, Tweet of the Day
Lowlights & Highlights: May 19, 2012
Here in the States and much of the Western world, the fight for LGBT equality centers around marriage, adoption, employment non-discrimination, and so on. While those battles rage on, it is easy to forget sometimes that in other parts of the world, gay people do not even truly have the right to exist. Case in point: it was reported this week that four Iranian men were sentenced to execution by hanging for sodomy laws. Iran is a nation governed by Sharia Law (meaning it is an Islamic theocracy) and homosexuality there is punishable by incarceration and/or execution. Strangely, the Iranian president said that they don't have that "problem" in his country.
We have come a long way in the West. Several countries have hate crimes laws, marriage equality and other such LGBT equality measures. Some countries, however, have a very long way to go, and their fights will be long and, unfortunately, bloody.
One of the responses to Bristol Palin caught my attention. It was written by John M. Becker from Truth Wins Out, an organization that fights against misinformation from the "ex-gay" movement specifically and homophobia in general. Here is part of his response:
One of the responses to Bristol Palin caught my attention. It was written by John M. Becker from Truth Wins Out, an organization that fights against misinformation from the "ex-gay" movement specifically and homophobia in general. Here is part of his response:
Hey, Bristol. I'm so sorry that you felt bullied by some of the abusive comments that were left on your original post. They are indeed awful and inexcusable.You can read the whole article and response by Becker HERE. It is well worth the read.
That said, welcome to the world that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people live in every day. In fact, according to an exhaustive analysis of FBI hate crimes data by the Southern Poverty Law Center, LGBT people are at a greater risk of being targeted for a violent hate crime than literally any other minority group — more than twice as likely to be attacked as Jews, 2.6 times more likely than African-Americans, nearly 4.5 times as likely as Muslims, almost 14 times more likely than Latinos, and 41.5 times more likely than whites. In large swaths of our country, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth are regularly teased and beaten up for who they are (or who their peers *think* they are), all the while living in a culture that shames them into silence. Many of them have homophobic parents or guardians, so they can't even turn to the people who are supposed to love them unconditionally. LGBT youth are four to five times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight counterparts because of the malicious bullying and crushing hatred that they're surrounded by every day. I should know: I attempted suicide myself at age 16...
...In closing, I must submit an important correction. You wrote about the "younger generation" in the context of abortion, then continued in the same sentence about how "voters just keep defending [so-called] traditional marriage." If you meant to imply here that the "younger generation" — *our* generation – supports the continued exclusion of loving same-sex couples from full civil marriage equality, you are wrong. Seriously, no, *incredibly* wrong. In fact, you couldn't be more wrong: repeated polling consistently proves that our generation OVERWHELMINGLY believes that EVERY American deserves the freedom to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. You're free to hold any views you like, no matter how bigoted they are. But you are *not* free to misrepresent the truth. And the truth is that when it comes to marriage equality, the jury is in – and you've lost.
Posted by Rob from VA at 9:00 AM No comments:
Friday, May 18, 2012
NDAA Faces the Courts
VICTORY!!! Thank God for this judge.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:23 PM No comments:
Labels: Constitution, Courts, Free Speech, NDAA, The Young Turks
The Wrap-Up: May 18, 2012
hits the nail on the head about marriage equality.
One of the killers of the Colorado civil unions bill has a gay son who is none-too-happy about what has father did.
An adamantly homophobic middle school teacher in Kansas has, thus far, gone unpunished for anti-gay statements on his Facebook page (the principle is looking into it).
Rep Mike Coffman (R-CO), who has tried to look like a moderate, stepped in it by saying President Obama is "not an American."
A Virginia legislator thinks that, contrary to what the Supreme Court said in Lawrence v. Texas, sodomy (which is technically ANY unreproductive sex act) is not a civil right. I don't always agree with SCOTUS (Citizens United for example), but I'll take their opinion on this over a homophobe..
voicing their support.
Bristol Palin is claiming to be the victim in the wake of negative response she got to her statement on Barack Obama supporting marriage equality. I say if she can't stand the heat, stay out of politics (and stop trying to give the President of the United States parenting advice).
Here is a look at the latest electoral map from the Washington Post.
And lastly, Vice President Joe Biden takes a shot at Mitt Romney on the auto-bailout.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Bristol Palin, Civil Unions, Colorado, Election 2012, Joe Biden, Marriage Equality, Race, Schools, Virginia, Wrap-Up
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Religious Wrong: Be A Vandal
Posted by Rob from VA at 8:53 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Pat Robertson, The Religious Wrong
The Wrap-Up: May 17, 2012
There are many ideas of what the Bible says about homosexuality. Here is what one ordained priest/theologian has to say on the matter (SPOILER ALERT: it isn't what you think).
George W. Bush will be writing a book on economic growth...because his administration was so goo at it, we're still reaping the benefits of it. Oh, wait...
In news that surprises no one, the American
Family Discrimination Association thinks that all Americans being treated equally under the law is like cancer.
When Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) didn't like the U.S government's job numbers on Wisconsin, Walker decided to create his own numbers. There's being innovative, and then there's just plain making crap up. Walker chose the latter here.
Proof of Mitt Romney's fiscal conservatism: in 2007 (i.e. when he was Governor of Massachusetts), the state had the highest per capita debt in the country.
The version of the Violence Against Women Act passed in the GOP-led House was watered-down so badly, that a sexist national men's group (the National Coalition For Men) endorsed it. Luckily, the bill faces a presidential veto threat.
World famous boxer Manny Pacquiao would like to clarify his statement against marriage equality. I guessing the clarification will fall on deaf ears.
Is the filibuster even constitutional?
And lastly, a rundown of conservative boycotts that either haven't worked, or have actually backfired. Ah, the perils of zealotry.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: American Family Association, Conservatives, Economy, George W. Bush, Homophobia, Jobs, Law, Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, Religion, Scott Walker, Senate, Wrap-Up
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Wrap-Up: May 16, 2012
not very popular in his home state. We just aren't that into him.
President Obama's announcement supporting marriage equality (yes, we're still talking about this) has had a cascading affect.
The response from many black pastors on the other hand is a little...less than supportive. At least Obama still has the Reverend Al Sharpton on his side.
Shorter University is seeing a huge faculty exodus because of its new "lifestyle statement." Strange how people don't want their employers telling them how to live their lives away from work.
may face the death penalty for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. I'm not really here or there on capital punishment, but I won't feel bad for Zimmerman either way.
One of Mitt Romney's donors wants his money back. I'm guessing it's actually more than one (or will be eventually).
Major League Soccer is joining the fight against homophobia in sports.
One of Facebook's co-founders is making a big donation to the marriage battle in Maine.
And lastly, there are more holes in the claim that Christianity and marriage equality are mutually exclusive.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Christianity, Courts, Eric Cantor, Homophobia, Maine, Marriage Equality, Mitt Romney, Race, Religion, Sports, Virginia, Wrap-Up
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tweet of the Day: May 15, 2012
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:13 PM No comments:
Labels: Grover Norquist, Tweet of the Day
Is Romney's Bullying Past an Issue?
For my part, this IS an issue, especially at a time when so many kids are subject to such homophobic malice that they are succumbing to despair and committing suicide. In part for the reasons laid out by David Pakman. This was an illegal act, it was malicious, and it was handled badly in the media by Mitt Romney in such a way that Romney was obviously lying about some part of this story. This was not merely some stupid prank, this was a kid who was targeted and assaulted.
Something that was not said in the video is the fact that when an anti-bullying task force was formed in Massachusetts while Romney was governor, Romney eventually snuffed the task force out. Obviously his animus towards the LGBT community has not abated, he is just slightly better at hiding it by not openly/physically attacking gay people. His views are still there, and he clearly has never seen LGBT people as equals under the law, and he still doesn't. That, so far as I'm concerned, is reason enough for me to not vote for him.
Posted by Rob from VA at 5:21 PM 2 comments:
Labels: Bullying, David Pakman Show, Homophobia, Mitt Romney
Tony Perkins' Feet to the Fire
In case you missed the much talked about exchange between Chris Matthews, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, here it is for your viewing pleasure. Spoiler: it's pretty epic and Matthews finally (after all these years) calls Perkins on his crap.
Posted by Rob from VA at 9:56 AM No comments:
Labels: Adoption, Barney Frank, Homophobia, Marriage Equality, MSNBC, Parenting, Tony Perkins
The Wrap-Up: May 15, 2012
recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state.
An Oklahoma congressman thinks firing someone for being LGBT is fine...because it's a choice. I'm guessing he failed to say why anyone would choose to be subject to homophobic animus/discrimination (as all of the choicers do).
Four Iranian men will be hanged for sodomy, which is weird since, according to the Iranian President, they don't even have gay people in that country.
After the passage of Amendment One in North Carolina, the state's Democratic governor Bev Perdue had an interesting (and accurate) comment that left another state's governor less than thrilled.
After President Obama's announcement supporting marriage equality, he took some (read: a lot of) time to reach out to religious leaders.
Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is invoking the spirit of Republican President Theodore Roosevelt in calling for the big banks to break up.
The Iowa Catholic school openly gay student who was prohibited from accepting a $40,000 grant has reached an agreement with the archdiocese.
Were same-sex marriages actually accepted in the early days of Christendom?
And lastly, with the California legislature looking to put restrictions on reparative "therapy," CNN takes a look at some of the survivors of this...well, let's call this "therapy" what it is, A SCAM!!!
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Amendment 1, Barack Obama, Catholicism, Christianity, Elizabeth Warren, Ex-Gay Therapy, Iran, Marriage Equality, Religion, Rhode Island, Wrap-Up
Monday, May 14, 2012
BREAKING: CO. Speaker Blocks Civil Unions
|Gov. John Hickenlooper
From the New York Times:
The legislation was voted down by Republican lawmakers on 5-to-4 vote along party lines after more than two hours of emotional testimony in the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, where it was assigned Monday by Republican leadership in the House of Representatives."Even as nearly a dozen courageous Republicans are standing on the right side of history and supporting civil unions, House leadership is pandering to the far-right fringe of their party," Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado, a statewide gay and lesbian advocacy group, said in a statement after the vote......But if the special session breathed fresh life back into the legislation, it was short lived.On Monday, despite the urgings of civil-union supporters who rallied at the Capitol in Denver, House Speaker Frank McNulty, a Republican from Highlands Ranch, assigned the bill to the state affairs committee, which was dominated by opponents of the legislation.
Credit still goes to Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper for calling the legislature back for a special session to try to pass this bill. Yet again, conservatives try to stand in the way of progress and justice. They can only fight the long defeat for so long.
Posted by Rob from VA at 11:14 PM No comments:
Labels: Breaking, Civil Unions, Colorado
A Year of Blogging
On May 9, 2011, I posted my first entry for this blog. This anniversary almost escaped my notice completely and had it not been for the last few days (which were extremely busy because of the day job), I would have gotten this post out sooner.
While not everything that has happened in the past year was good (Amendment One, I'm looking at you), there have been plenty of positives. Three states (Washington, Maryland, and New York) have enacted marriage equality. Though anti-gay bullying is a truly horrific thing, a light has been shed on this terrible epidemic. In fact, a film has been made that talks about the plight of bullying victims in schools, which will hopefully lead to a greater dialogue about how to end bullying. Don't Ask Don't Tell has been thrown onto the scrap-heap of history (hopefully there to stay). The Obama administration has gone from defending the so-called Defense of Marriage Act to not defending it, to (on the very anniversary of my first blog post) announcing that he supports marriage equality. The economy is (ever so slowly) improving despite the best efforts of the Republican Party.
My hope is that when I write about my two-year blogging anniversary, I'll be writing about President Obama's reelection victory, even more strides for the LGBT community, and progress in America's economy. However, those are goals that will require the work of many people, and I plan on being one of them.
Keep fighting the good fight from your corner of the world folks.
-Rob from VA
Posted by Rob from VA at 3:25 PM No comments:
Labels: Anniversary
Th Wrap-Up: May 14, 2012
Here you can see a bit of Michelle Obama speaking at the Commencement ceremony of Virginia Tech (LET'S GO HOKIES!!!).
Tony Perkins' Thursday was...less than stellar (which in the grand scheme of things is probably good).
Tony Perkins' Thursday was...less than stellar (which in the grand scheme of things is probably good).
Speaking of Mr Perkins, when he of all people says a homophobic "joke" goes too far, it's gone WAY too far. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) should take note of that fact.
Bristol Palin had the temerity to give President Obama parenting advice after saying that his interactions with his daughters' friends helped him "evolve" on marriage equality. Some needs to be taken down a peg...or three.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is taking on a diabolical enemy: the Girl Scouts.
Mitt Romney flip-flopped on same-sex adoption in record time, even for him.
Hopefully, this leaked memo to GOP operatives signifies a coming change in Republican policy. Ironically, it comes after GOP strategist Ed Gillespie said Republicans would be campaigning in "traditional" marriage (after President Obama's announcement).
How might marriage equality affect in presidential race in 2016?
And lastly, MSNBC's Tamron Hall lays the smack-down on one of Mitt Romney's surrogates.
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Adoption, Barack Obama, Catholic League, Election 2016, Homophobia, Marriage Equality, Martin O'Malley, Michelle Obama, Mitt Romney, MSNBC, The Young Turks, Tony Perkins, Virginia Tech, Wrap-Up
Friday, May 11, 2012
Lowlights & Highlights: May 12, 2012
I really don't want to dwell on this too much, so I'll say that on the good side, a lot of young people turned out to vote against this. Last week I mention a couple of stories showing how the upcoming generations are far more LGBT inclusive. That fact bodes well for the overall fight for LGBT equality. Then there is the obvious fact that enshrining discrimination into a Constitution is a reprehensible thing to do, but so chose a majority of North Carolina voters. I'll just end this part by reiterating the words of on of the amendment's supporters who said that should the measure pass, it will likely be repealed within 20 years. Hopefully, it won't take nearly that long.
The day after the fall of North Carolina to constitutionalized bigotry, President Barack Obama formally announced (finally) that he supports that right of same-sex couples to marry under the law. He has been "evolving on this issue for about 18 months now according to my reading, so it's high passed time that he come to this conclusion. There are some who will say that he should have done this before the vote in North Carolina...and I would agree with that statement. However, given how the vote ended up, President Obama would not and could not have single-handedly pushed that amendment to defeat.
To be honest, were I a betting man, I would have had him announcing support for marriage equality at the nominating convention this Summer. However, based on pressure from within the administration and the campaign, combined with pressure from without in terms of progressive organizations and LGBT groups, it looks seems like the announcement had been forestalled as long as possible.
I think that with this cloud of doubt lifted from the campaign, many gay people who had admonished the President for his hesitance on this issue will be far more willing to work on his campaign's behalf and give money to his organization. It is good to know that the President is on our side. now, the only question is exactly how hard will he fight for marriage equality?
To be honest, were I a betting man, I would have had him announcing support for marriage equality at the nominating convention this Summer. However, based on pressure from within the administration and the campaign, combined with pressure from without in terms of progressive organizations and LGBT groups, it looks seems like the announcement had been forestalled as long as possible.
I think that with this cloud of doubt lifted from the campaign, many gay people who had admonished the President for his hesitance on this issue will be far more willing to work on his campaign's behalf and give money to his organization. It is good to know that the President is on our side. now, the only question is exactly how hard will he fight for marriage equality?
Posted by Rob from VA at 8:00 PM No comments:
Labels: Amendment 1, Barack Obama, Election 2012, Lowlights and Highlights, Marriage Equality, North Carolina
The Wrap-Up: May 11, 2012
they have almost half of the signatures needed to put marriage equality on the ballot.
Here are some...not so nice...reactions to President Obama's announcement supporting marriage equality.
House Speaker John "cry me a river" Boehner wants the President to focus on jobs, not marriage equality. Keep in mind Boehner is using taxpayer dollars to defend DoMA in the courts. Hypocrisy much?
What might this announcement say about the President's election strategy going forward?
One of the New York GOP state senators who voted for the state's marriage equality bill has announced he will not run for reelection.
It is now pretty clear why Mitt Romney has not lifted a finger against bullies: they are his people.
Here is little more on Romney's history with bullying.
Remember me saying I thought the Democratic Party most likely would not move the national convention out of North Carolina? Well, here are some reasons I may have been wrong.
And lastly, here is what people on the street had to say about President Obama's recent announcement:
Posted by Rob from VA at 7:30 AM No comments:
Labels: Barack Obama, Bullying, Democrats, Election 2012, Homophobia, John Boehner, Marriage Equality, Mitt Romney, New York, Washington, Wrap-Up
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Harvesting Mustard Seed
Before we left for vacation last week, the mustard plants looked like this:
A bunch of it was ready to harvest, but not quite all. We had already eaten a lot of the leaves back when they were nice and green, but this time around our harvest is about the seeds. The little yellow flowers you see at the very top of the plant end up producing long pods of tiny, brown mustard seeds. When the plant's leaves start to die back and the pods dry out, the seed is ready to harvest:
If you look closely at the pods above, you can see that a few are split open. The pods do that naturally after they dry out, so it's important to time your harvest so you cut them when most of the pods are dry and ready, but it's not so far gone that they shatter and you lose all the seeds. I cut a bunch before we left for vacation, but left many stalks that were still green.
We aren't the only ones trying to get at the mustard seeds. Birds like them too:
All the broken pods on the ground here were left by the little brown and red house finches who come by to eat up the seeds. They got a bunch while we were gone, but we have plenty, so it's not that big a deal.
Other birds who like mustard:
After cutting and bagging the rest of the stalks this morning, I pulled what was left of the mustard plants and gave about half of them to the chickens. They were pretty excited about it, especially since they are home-bound on account of the hawk.
Here's what we ended up with after the mustard harvest:
The six bags here are filled with cut stalks. When I cut them, I put them pod down/stem up in the bags to dry. Seeds that aren't quite ripe yet also get a chance to turn from green to brown as the stalks and pods dry out. Once they are fully dry, we'll need to thresh them to get all the seeds separated from the pods. We can beat the bags around a bit, and once they are dry, most seeds just fall out and are caught by the bag. A quick sorting by hand will take care of the rest.
We're not too far from homemade mustard!

subset: commoncrawl


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Seven Books for Reading
Six cocktails
Five gooooals / things
Four legal mic drops
Three critters and an otter
Two names for naming
And a fat guy in a jer-sey
I'm not going to beat around the bush and attempt to humblebrag. I read a lot of books. Real books. LONG books. Can you even brag about something so nerdy?
I attribute this not simply to the fact that I like to read. A lot of people I know like to read, and many of them don't read a lot of books. I get shit done in the book department because I don't mind starting several books until I find one I really like, and once I really like a book, I don't mind committing to it. Though I've been called ADHD as much as anyone (who is not actually diagnosed with ADHD) the truth is that I don't really love surfing the web, or browsing magazines. I don't watch the news or scan through the channels on TV or go on Facebook or Twitter. I like albums over songs. This can be a disadvantage. At times, I can be be totally out of it, and not know basic current events or pop culture. But I love getting lost in a big idea or a convoluted plot, and I also have a deep appreciation for people who spend years of their lives researching and writing on one topic.
I went through Sentence of Dave, and I think this is a fairly accurate list of the books I finished this year. If I actually finished a book, that's a credit to it, because I'm willing to bail on a book I don't like fairly quickly. I am rather arbitrarily choosing seven of these books as "must reads," but don't take my choices too seriously -- they are all good reads (except the George R.R. Martin fiasco A Dance with Dragons . . . I hope that guy dies before he finishes his next exercise in prolixity).
Some Books I Finished in 2013:
Far From the Tree, Wild Ones, The Goldfinch, Antifragile, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Columbine, The Great Stagnation, The World Until Yesterday, A Perfect Mess, The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., I Wear the Black Hat, Fist Stick Knife Gun, The Looming Tower, A Dance with Dragons, The Devil in the White City, Overdressed, House of Mirth, Psychiatric Tales, Collision Low Crossers and Infinite Jest.
Here are the seven that I urge you to read.
Collision Low Crossers: A year Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football
by Nicholas Dawidoff
I just finished this one, and while I would probably have enjoyed it even more if it were about the Giants (I can imagine how compelling this book would be if you were a diehard Jets fan) but, rooting interests aside, I think this is going to be regarded as one of the greatest sports books ever written. Take that recommendation with a grain of salt, because I love saying something is the best thing ever (until the next best thing ever comes along). Anyway, this is my book of the year. 460 insightful, vivid, brilliantly written pages.
What does it offer? Nothing typical. No Cinderella story. No dramatic run to the Super Bowl (that would be the 2011 Giants). Just a great reporter, who "embedded" himself with he 2011 Jets and writes a comprehensively detailed account of all the stuff you don't see on Sunday: the camaraderie, character, and monomania of the coaching staff, the hours of watching film, tactics at the Combine, grading and evaluating players, the invented language of football, what goes on during the countless hours these men spend at "the office," the complexity of play-calling and strategy, the mind-numbing mundanity of the meetings, the anxiety of trying to play a violent sport at the highest level possible, how to be a leader of men, what happens when you don't win, what happens when your quarterback doesn't step up, loads of everyday minutia, and defense, defense, defense. An inside look written by a total outsider. Right up there with The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Catherine Boo
Everything you need to know about living in a Mumbai Undercity (and more!) An incredible work of journalism, and a great reality check that will make you appreciate your life (unless you live in a Mumbai Undercity . . . then it might just offer some practical tips on how to get by salvaging junk and navigating the byzantine Indian legal system).
The Goldfinch
by Donna Tartt
Just noticed that this is the only novel on the list. That says it all. Dickensian to the max. Picaresque.
Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity
by Andrew Solomon
If you are a parent (or have parents or know any parents or have ever been a child or know any children) then you must read this book. A magnum opus that took ten years to write. The least you can do is spend a couple weeks reading it.
by Dave Cullen
If Newtown disturbed and confounded you, take a step back and read this comprehensive account. Another ten year effort.
Wild Ones: A Sometimes Dismaying, Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America
by Jon Mooallem
This is one of those books that I serendipitously stumbled upon, and immediately felt like it was written expressly for me. Butterflies, cranes, and polar bears. Occasional mega-fauna.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
by Erik Larsen
If you like architecture and serial murder (and who doesn't) then this is the book for you. Because I read a lot, I forget a lot. Though I read this a while ago, I still remember it vividly, and I imagine the images from this book will stick with me for the rest of my life.


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Choice Lending Group is located at 4555 Investment Dr, Troy, MI. This location is in the Northfield neighborhood..


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After throwing around all sorts of ideas, we were pretty much back to the drawing board and not really knowing what to do. At the time I had some friends who knew that we were looking for another dane and that I also wanted a conformation dog. It just so happens that they passed my name along to Georgia, who just so happened to have a dane that pretty much fit exactly what we were looking for. We didn't want a puppy, we wanted a conformation dog, and we also wanted a dane that had some energy. While Heffner has mellowed some, at that point he was quite high energy for a dane. We did some emailing and talking on the phone and decided that Bess was the right fit for everyone!
The back story on Bess was that she had been originally placed in a pet with a family who had small children. Unfortunately, she ended up being way more dog than they were able to handle. Her energy level was something that they just couldn't manage. After some discussion with Georgia, Bess went back to the Daynakin ranch. I didn't realize until more recently just how long Georgia and Jack had Bess before she came to live with us. They got her back at I think about 12 weeks old and she was 11 months old when we got her. That's one of the hallmarks of a very reputable and dependable breeder. They knew that Bess needed a specific home that would work with her, give her an outlet for her boundless energy, and also make her use her mind. They kept her for 8 months until they found the home that they felt would best suit their dog. How many back yard breeders do you know of who would do the same for one of their puppies?
I drove up to Lynden, WA to pick Bess up in April of 2008. When I got to Georgia and Jack's house and was ready to see our little Bessy Poo, Georgia warned me that she hadn't had a good run yet that day (she was in one of the outside runs at the time). As she went out to get her she turned to me and asked me if I was ready for her. I said sure, while kind of laughing to myself. After all, how "bad" could she be? Heffner was a very busy puppy who was also an only puppy growing up and we were the focus of his energy. After going through that, this should be a piece of cake. Um, yeah. You know that Warner's Brothers cartoon character the Tazmanian Devil?
THAT was Bess as she came tearing into the living room! She did laps around the room, literally running on the backs of the couches! Was I ready for her? Holy cow, I wasn't expecting THAT much energy!LOL Once she decided to stop her lap running and settle down, she came over to the couch I was sitting on and did what I now know to be her signature move. She came over and hovered within millimeters of my face. Not necessarily sniffing me, but just hovering and soaking whatever about me in. She was definitely entertaining!
After that, we hit the road for the 5 hour trip home. I let her and Heffner out together in our back yard and they got acquainted. Heffner pretty much liked her right away. She was a little unsure initially, but warmed up to him very quickly!
It really amazed me just how quickly she settled in and how it seemed like she was always meant to be there. We got home kind of late that first night, so the dogs didn't get a whole lot of time to play with each and get to know each other more. The next day though, it was like she had already been there for weeks. She and Heffner played like old buddies and it was just the easiest transition we had had. And do you know how awesome it is to bring home a new dog who's already house broken???:o)
She just really was the perfect fit for us and we're incredibly happy that we have her. Although I do have to admit that when she goes into season and loses her brains for a couple of weeks, she does make me want to strangle her just a little bit. But just a little.;o)


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Need to reach me? Email me: jen @ lifewithlevi.com
Wondering what to expect from this blog? Check out what my Facebook fans had to say HERE.
I'm Jen, the author here at Life With Levi. Oversharing my life online is kind of my thing, and my site has given me a great outlet to connect with readers around the globe that relate to my attempts to avoid growing up.


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A Charlie by Revlon TV ad from 1979. Does that collar detail look at all familiar to you Hannah MacGibbon of Chloe?
Hannah McGibbon of Chloe has been watching Charlie TV ads on YouTube...
Girls, have you been looking in your wardrobe for trousers you don't own (yet)?
Are you suddenly hankering after a silken blouse in a shade of burnt toffee, pink or oatmeal beige that is a close match to your skin tone? AND looking to match your skirt/trousers and shoes to said blouse for a fabulous one-tone effect?
Are brogues your shoe of choice for Spring?
Is "looking like a career girl" when you go to work becoming an a.m dress-policy?
Have you been swinging your hair about unneccessarily in the last few weeks?
Just in case you didn't catch it the first time...some more Chloe AW10 by Hannah MacGibbon
If you have answered yes to any one of these questions you are in touch with the new practical reality of fashion that is advancing onto a high street near you over the next six months, or has swung - see Zara now, and every label worth mentioning for AW10.
With the recession still biting, and many, many stylish young women loose on the job market, there has been a notable fashioning up of the daytime working wardrobe of every female I know aged from 20-50. Competition is rife for jobs, especially those in the media and I know I would go for the best put together, most professional and stylish looking young woman if I were hiring. The same goes across all professions. To be taken seriously now, you've got to look like you mean business.
This is why the catwalk designers - for years sending out a relentless army of red carpet worthy dresses - have suddenly gone all career-wear on us. It is also why I love what Jil Sander is doing for Uniqlo. That woman is so ahead of the curve.
For the first time in almost a decade, fashion is not about a fantasy night out "chanelling" some A-lister, bygone icon or basing an outfit on a trend mood (eg "rock goth"), it is about actual clothes that are well designed, functional, elegant and with that long forgotton quality, panache.
The last time in my memory career-wear has powered up the fashion chart was in the late 1970's. I was just out of nappies then, but I do believe my future in fashion was sealed by the Charlie perfume TV and print commericals, some of which are shown here.
Charlie Girl had it all. A fabulous wardrobe, a successful career, men singing to her and fawning at her feet, and she smelled mighty fine. She was also terribly light on her feet, leaping from pavements at every opportunity. I love Charlie Girl, and every young woman born after the on-air date of these commercials will be seeing this look as if for the first time, and thanks to Chloe, Stella, Ferragamo and Celine, my prediction is she will love it all as if for the first time as the year progresses.
Bring on the bootcut trousers! OMG did I just write that????
Picture credits: Chris Moore/Catwalking.com


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John Law Checks In
There is more than a 50 percent chance the United States could go into recession, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan told El Pais newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.
It's an ongoing national scandal that Greenspan hasn't been dragged away from his lucrative speaking tour and put under some hot lights in front of Congress. But that would remind people of the obsequious treatment he enjoyed from politicians as Fed chairman, wouldn't it? And it might also remind a once happily deluded public of its own gullibility and lost innocence. If we're ever going to put this chapter of wayward economic policy behind us, there needs to be a DeGreenspanification -- a complete discrediting of some monetary policymakers and their political and media enablers. Despite some encouraging signs recently like this, we're not there yet.
Greenspan, the U.S. Fed chairman from 1987 to 2006, endorsed the Republican presidential candidate John McCain in the interview.
The person who oversaw the two largest financial bubbles in history endorses a candidate who admits he doesn't understand the economy as well as he should. Perfect.


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I got to pick her up this morning. Now y'all need to understand something about me; I was raised part Catholic and part Baptist. I have a very healthy sense of guilt. Any time I'm faced with authority at any level, I feel strangely compelled to start confessing sins I've never even thought of, let alone committed. Second, I haven't purchased a new firearm since 1999. My S&W .38 was a graduation gift from Poppy in 1985 (through six years of undergrad and grad, I kept my promise and kept it on me at all times.) My Sig 9mil was purchased in 1999 for more self-defense firepower. I haven't had to purchase a handgun since becoming Angel, Lonely Libertarian. So I was terrified something I don't remember doing would pop up and I'd leave empty handed. Or worse. Plus, I had to make it back by noon to get the cute chicks.
So, I get my part filled out in about 5 minutes. Next, it's the FFL and the government's turn. So as I'm standing there, my inner Catholic schoolgirl, complete with pigtails,plaid skirt and knee socks,sneaks in wrapped in guilt for uncommitted sins and sings in my ear, "You're gonna get it, you're gonna get it..."
Scenarios start running through my head....
"aka hiswiserangel?"
"Um, yes?"
"aka Angel?"
"aka the Lonely Libertarian?"
"I can explain..."
"Do you know or have you consorted with a man known as Kerodin?"
"Do you know or thave you consorted with a man known as Kenny "wirecutter" Lane?"
"Awwww, fuck me sideways...."
"Wait here, please. Code Ginger, repeat, we have a Code Ginger..."
"Ma'am? Looks like you've lived a quiet, boring life. You're good to go."
In and out in 17 minutes.


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Volume 17 Issue 21 | October 15 - 21, 2004
Mixed reviews as city covers some Tribeca graffiti
By Hemmy So
The Mayors Community Assistance Unit has just finished painting over the graffiti on roll-down gates on stores on Chambers, Warren and Church Sts.
Although many area storeowners appreciated the new paint job, some expressed surprise upon seeing their freshly painted gates. The C.A.U. had not informed them of the anti-graffiti project.
Eddid Hamra, who runs Chambers Jewelry, was upset that no one informed him about the project. I dont like it. I couldnt even recognize the store. They should have asked us before painting, he said.
The job covered Warren and Chambers Sts. between Broadway and Church Sts. and nearby blocks on Church.
First Deputy Commissioner of the C.A.U., Tom Curitore, said that affected storeowners and tenants should have received notice of the painting.
Established in 1995 as part of Mayoral Executive Order No. 24, the Mayor Anti-Graffiti Task Force works around the five boroughs to rid the city of unwanted graffiti. Many paint requests originate through 311, while others are taken informally. After cleaning a few gates on Church St., for example, the graffiti-cleaning workforce were asked by neighboring businesses to also clean their gates, Curitore said.
Weve been doing this project since 1995, said C.A.U. coordinator Ray Carrero. The fact that there is graffiti on roll-down gates, it makes it difficult to not address it, especially if you work in the City Hall area. Its a whole issue of quality of life.
Storeowners worry, however, that the anti-graffiti project is only a temporary solution.
Peter Gunasekara, manager of Samantha Video on Chambers St., said that he had painted over graffiti on the stores roll-down gate about seven months ago, only to have it reappear. Because graffiti artists work at night and the store closes at 7:30 p.m., Gunasekara said he was not around to stop the graffiti.
Fountain Pen Hospital owner Terry Wiederlight sees new graffiti at least every six months. The Citys painting will help the graffiti problem but wont cure it, he said.
In fact, graffitis phoenix-like quality has deterred some storeowners from painting gates in the first place. Yun Kim painted the gate valance in front of his store Motown Gifts but never tackled the whole gate. I didnt paint it because it would take too much time, he said in Korean. I would always have to paint it, even for just a little [graffiti] sign.
Rick Landman, a nearby resident, disagreed, partly from experience. Ten years ago Landman took his own roller brush to cover 38 roll-down gates along Chambers St.
It worked the gates I had done dark brown werent painted. Then this year, kids painted, he said. But Landman remains confident in the Mayors Anti-Graffiti Task Force. The kids will realize someone has taken care of this and will go somewhere else.
From a distance, the cleaned-up roll-down gates add a touch of uniformity to these three streets, which house businesses as diverse as discount drugstores, jewelry stores and ethnic eateries. Kim complains, however, that an up-close inspection reveals a lackluster job by the city.
Because city workers failed to clean the gates before painting them, dust and dirt remained trapped under the new paint, creating a bumpy surface and a tendency for paint to chip off, Kim said.
Many store owners and passersby havent even noticed the graffiti or lack thereof. Because roll-down gates come down only after a store is closed, most people dont see the graffiti during the day.
Real estate broker Eric Pozniak, who used to work in that area, noticed the graffiti but accepted it as part of the neighborhood. It adds character, he said.
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Fine Arts Districts results:
Zac's human video team made it!
Nathan's human video team made it!
Andrew's human video team made it!
And Andrew's worship team made it and took 3rd place in the state! Whoo-hoo!!!
1700 participants! Our church had 147 teens involved and 107 made it to Nationals!!! Really amazing! These kids worked SO hard! (we have some incredible vocalists)
Exciting weekend!
Hello, summer jobs!!?!? And fundraisers galore! -Lord help!
Proud of my guys!


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When I was researching my last post on Equestrian Chic, I came across an interesting book entitled The Private Passion of Jackie Kennedy Onassis: Postrait of a Rider. Jackie started riding at a very young age as you can see by some of the photos here and continued to ride with her own children. She spent much of her time riding in Middleburg, Virginia and attending horse shows throughout her life. Horseback riding teaches poise, posture and confidence so perhaps it is what accounted for her ever present grace under pressure. Definitely makes me want to sign up for lessons! Giddyup!
Labels: esquestrian chic, horse, jackie kennedy


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There I go again. Getting out of that blogging habit. And sadly I haven't got time to do one now and because I'm working tomorrow (yes Saturday!) I need to go home. Loads of exciting stuff going on at napac and I will try and update you next week. But it won't be Monday or Tuesday as I'm going to Skipton to talk to the local Soroptimist group. Now there's a new one for you. This weeks home-work.............find out who the Soroptimists are............and no! they are nothing to do with the Klu Klux Klan! But don't get me started on the facists. I lost an uncle and a grandad fighting tyranny.
Have a good weekend.............if you happen to be reading this on Friday otherwise just have a good!


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Diabetes afflicts an estimated 262,000 Oregonians and contributes to 56,000 hospitalizations a year, at a cost exceeding $1.1 billion but health professionals in Oregon realize that it is possible for timely and well-coordinated care to hold diabetes in check.
A coordinated care team at the Multnomah County Health Clinic located in North Portland started using the patient-centered approach to track patients with diabetes about two years ago. The clinic uses computers to tally blood sugar levels, hemoglobin, blood pressure and cholesterol to make sure the readings remain in the safe zone. Regular report cards are sent to doctors to let them know how many of their patients are meeting targeted measures.
This team approach enables doctors, nurses, social workers, and medical aides to work together using EHRs to quickly track patients and their test results, allergies, or medications without pouring through a foot high paper stack. In some cases, patients can go to a health home to receive treatment instead of making unnecessary trips to the hospital emergency room.
This year, the state has been actively involved in promoting coordinated care on the legislative front. On July 1, 2011, the Governor of Oregon signed (HB 3650) the "Health System Transformation" bill to establish Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO) for recipients of the Oregon Health Plan that includes Medicaid and other state-based public insurance programs covering 600,000 Oregonians.
The legislation will enable patients to have all their health needs coordinated to include mental, physical, and dental plus preventive services are emphasized. Each CCO will be given a global budget and will be held accountable to the health outcomes of the people it serves, rather than being paid on a fee-for-service basis.
The legislation will cover medical assistance recipients and individuals who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and will use collected information to measure health outcomes, healthcare quality, costs, and efficiency metrics. Communities and regions will be accountable for improving the health of their communities and regions thereby reducing avoidable health gaps among different cultural groups.
The Oregon Health Policy Board upon the passage of (HB 3650) set up four new short term work groups to discuss how Medicaid and Medicare will integrate care and services. The groups will discuss certification criteria, outcomes, quality, efficiency metrics and global budget methodology. The work groups will build on ideas obtained from communities and stakeholders and incorporate this information into a work plan to present to the legislature February 2012. At that time, the legislation will be reviewed and plans are to launch the first CCO July 2012.
In another legislative move, the House passed (SB99) the "Oregon Health Insurance Exchange" bill. So far, Oregon is the only state that has passed health insurance exchange legislation with significant bipartisan support in both houses. A business plan for the exchange will be presented to the lawmakers for review on February 1, 2012. After approval, the exchange will begin providing coverage in January 2014. Rocky King, who was part of the exchange design team for the Oregon Health Authority, has been appointed Interim Director for the Exchange Corporation by Governor Kitzhaber.
To make coordinated care possible using health IT, the state released an RFP on July 19th seeking proposals for Health Information Exchange core services with proposals due August 18, 2011. For more information, go to the Oregon Health Policy Board web site www.health.oregon.gove/OHA/OHPB/health-reform/CCOS.shtml or go to www.oregon.gov/OHA/OHPR/HITOC.


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U.S. and Iraqi forces captured more than 30 suspected insurgents and found at least six major caches of weapons near the town of Samarra on Thursday, during the first day of what the U.S. military says is the largest air assault operation since the early weeks of the war. A military spokesman says more than half the troops were Iraqi, bringing the combat operations of the new Iraqi Army to a new level.
A spokesman for the U.S. 101st Airborne Division says troops found artillery shells, explosives and material for making the insurgency's deadliest weapons - roadside bombs. Major Tom Bryant says the troops also found instruction manuals for how to make the bombs, as well as medical supplies and military uniforms that insurgents could have used to gain access to restricted areas.
The major says the troops went into the area on U.S. helicopters with gunships in support, but no airborne weapons were fired. Major Bryant says the operation brought cooperation between U.S. and Iraqi forces to a new level.
"Conducting a combined air assault operation is a very complex, difficult thing to do, and they have performed extremely well," said Major Bryant. "The Iraqi Army soldiers were inside the same aircraft, side-by-side with our troops as they assaulted the objectives. Basically, we landed the aircraft right near a number of the objective areas, quickly exited the aircraft and secured the areas. So they performed the exact same role in the air assault as our troops did."
Major Bryant says about 800 of the 1,500 troops involved in the assault were Iraqi. He says the operation is expected to continue for several days.
The target area is northeast of Samarra, where insurgents destroyed a famous Shi'ite mosque last month, sparking a series of violent incidents in several parts of Iraq that some observers believe pushed the country close to civil war.
But Major Bryant says Thursday's operation was not directly related to such concerns.
"The local leaders stepped up across the province immediately after that mosque bombing occurred, spoke to their fellow-citizens, called for calm and peace, and asked the citizens of Salah a-Din to not fall prey to the easy option of starting a big fight," he said. "And we did not see a big increase in violence in this province."
In an interview with CNN television, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said insurgents were trying to establish a center of operations in the area, like they had in Fallujah in 2004. It took a large and bloody coalition operation late that year to push the insurgents out of that stronghold. The foreign minister said the insurgents cannot be allowed to establish such a stronghold again.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan says this operation is just one of a series of offensives aimed at defeating the insurgency.
"There have been a number of operations that have been undertaken over the course of the last several months to really go after the terrorists, and the Saddam loyalists, who want to return to the past of oppression and tyranny," said Scott McClellan. "So this operation is part of our ongoing efforts to move forward on the security front."
This offensive, code-named Operation Swarmer, follows a smaller effort west of Samarra earlier this month, that also yielded large caches of insurgent weapons and equipment.
Scott McClellan says the increase in civil strife has made the situation in Iraq more difficult, but he said this operation was not significant enough to require approval by President Bush.
"It's important that the commanders have the flexibility to make these type of tactical decisions in order to prevail," he noted. "And we're making a lot of important progress on the ground in Iraq. But this is a difficult time period."
The White House spokesman says President Bush was briefed on the operation on Thursday, not long after it was launched.


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Thirty six years ago....honestly, I can't believe I did anything that long ago!....so,
36 long years ago, my siblings and I made this certificate for my Dad on Father's Day.
Well, Dad, we were blessed to be fathered by you for 31 more years after that Father's Day.
We can't believe you have been gone from this earth for five years now.
Maybe that is because you are not really gone.
In our hearts, in our memories, in our imaginations you live on.
We still share Steve Puccio stories,
we still learn from the memory of your life spent in love and self sacrifice for your family and friends.
I can still see you coming home from work after a long day,
I can still see you Saturday mornings, under the car fixing it yet again, behind the washing machine or out in the yard.
I can still remember the sound of Vin Scully on the radio as you listened to the Dodgers while doing all that work.
I can still see you taking such good care of your cousin Marian.
I can still see you sitting on the end of my bed apologizing for losing your temper, and I still learn the great gift of forgiveness from that act.
I can still see you vacuuming out my car quickly before I went back to my little apartment in Redondo.
These days we picture you sweeping the front porch of heaven and reassuring St. Peter that the yard will be in tip top shape before the next saint comes through the gate.
And now, my own kids honor their father on Father's Day. And I thank God, and the example of my own Dad, that I had the wisdom to choose such a great father for my kids.
Jim, the decision to say "yes" to you was the best one I made in my life.
Thank you for almost fifteen years of marriage and almost fourteen years of parenthood.
UPDATE: I failed to tell the story of how I came across the 1979 Certificate. I found it about 6 months ago in a frame that I was getting rid of. It was behind several layers of photos. For all I know it has been there since 1979!


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Opus Eight
Thursday, May 17, 2012 Leave a Comment
For this post it is all about the new Ispachi Mesh Opus Sweater! This well crafted sweater comes in three sizes and in a variety of colors. However, when you purchase the fat pack of this item, you will recieve a texture changeable version controlled via a HUD. If your a fan of Ispachi items as much as we are, this Mesh Opus Sweater is a must have!
(from left to right)
Luca Boucher:
Hair: Shag - Suedehead
Sweater: Ispachi - Mesh Opus Sweater - Scarlet
Tyler Ethaniel:
Skin: Tableau Vivant -Ryan skin - Brown (New)
Eyes: Tableau Vivant - Drop of water eyes (New)
Hair: Entente - Tupelo Hair - Brown Mahogany
Sweater: Ispachi - Mesh Opus Sweater - Violet
Ritch Nicholls:
Skin: Kento - Toban - T2 - Pure
Eyes: Ikon - 'Sunrise' Eyes - Blue Pale
Hair: Shag - Hard Day's Night - Light blondes - powder
Sweater: Ispachi - Mesh Opus Sweater - Night
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For the third time this season, Arkansas is a 9.5 point underdog on the NCAA football odds. Can the Razorbacks cash on the road at the Auburn Tigers?
Season: 14-16-2 (-2.90)
Suddenly, the battle between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers has become crucial, and not just because it's one of three top-25 matchups in the SEC this weekend.
The worldwide leader in sports has the broadcast beginning at 6 PM (ET) from Jordan-Hare Stadium, and Auburn is -10 at most shops, a few still sporting a 9½ point spread. 5Dimes, where you can get a 50% Fre Play Bonus, started its total at 55, that number now up a half since the opener.
Despite an impressive win over Ole Miss last week as 10 point home 'dogs on the NCAA football odds, Arkansas is all but out of the SEC West race with two losses, both coming against co-leaders Alabama and Texas A&M. Auburn is still very much in the SEC Championship mix, and believe it or not, Tigers fans might turn into Crimson Tide fans this week when the Aggies visit Tuscaloosa. The Tigers would be in control of their own destiny for a West title with an Alabama victory over A&M since they still have the Tide on their slate (Nov. 26). Auburn would need help if the Aggies pull off that upset having already fallen to Texas A&M earlier.
Tigers Look To Cover For 6th Time This Season
The victory over Mississippi last week stopped a string of three consecutive spread defeats for Arkansas (5-2 straight up, 3-4 against the spread). Personally, I never understood them getting 10 at home and was happy to take the points in the 34-30 upset. Rawleigh Williams III set a personal best with 180 yards rushing and caught one of three Austin Allen touchdown passes.
Meanwhile, Auburn (4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS) was making friends with college football bettors for a 3rd-straight week with a sound 38-14 whipping of Mississippi State. Starting tailback Kerryon Johnson injured his leg early, but Kamryn Pettway took over the running chores in fine fashion with 169 yards on 39 carries, three of those totes putting six points on the board. Johnson is officially questionable for this one, but I expect him to play at some point.
Last Year's Contest Went 4 OT
The schools met in the Liberty Bowl back in 1984, but this rivalry never started to develop until Arkansas joined the SEC about eight years later. It has been very even as conference foes, Auburn up 12-11 since the tie in '92, the Razorbacks' first season in the SEC, and they've split the last six meetings.
The 'over' has cashed the last two collisions following a 3-year run of 'under' winners and the 2015 meeting was a real doozy. In Fayetteville as 7 point chalk, Arkansas pulled out the victory and cover with a 54-46 decision that was decided in the fourth overtime. Along with splitting the last six outright, the spread victories have been halved, the underdog only getting the straight-up win one time.
Right now, all's well on the weather front where it should be in the low-70s for kickoff with clear skies and a pretty view of the sunset just about the time the first half ends.
Both teams run the ball well, though Arkansas' strength remains in the passing game. The Razorbacks have also struggled at times stopping the run, and that's where the Tigers have an advantage. Still, I'm not sure they can cover double digits so once again it's a free college football pick on the underdog Hogs.Free College Football Pick: Arkansas +9.5 Best Line Offered: at Pinnacle
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So here we go, the first photo was taken right after application.
Day 2
I noticed some minor tip wear on both hands, it's hardly viable and not really abnormal. I also got some tiny chips on my thumbs. This is where I usually get my chipping first no matter the finish or type of polish. Still very minor. After my shower this day I did not get see or feel anymore peeling.
Day 3
I had slightly more chipping on my thumbs. A bit of the polish pulled up which was annoying.
But the rest of my nails looked fine :)
Day 4, Time to peel it off!
This is such a great idea, not only is the removal process much easier, but it also saves a bunch of time. I can tottally see me removing my polish on the bus ride home afterwork without a mess or smell of remover, so I don't have to spend time scrubbing them later when I get home. I heard that the polish is supposed to peel off in sheets, but i had to pick at mine a bit. Still overall a lot easier than traditional removal and not damaging at all to the nail.
I will be trying out this method again over a creme polish in the next few days which I only anticipate wearing for three days. I'll let you know how it goes.


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Saturday, 17 June 2017
Rubber Dance new stamps launch
Hi everyone,
I'm so excited to announce that the lovely Bibi, of Rubber Dance fame, is having a new stamps launch today and guess what......yes I have a new stamp set out too which I'm absolutely thrilled about.
Here it is:
Isn't that little birdie the sweetest?! I can see him being used on everything...hope the cats don't fall asleep for too long then ha ha.
Please pop on over to the Rubber Dance blog where you can see the samples for my new stamp set and you can have a nose at the other new ones too which I can tell you are must haves also.......you can never have too many stamps can you ;)
Oh and because Bibi is such a generous lady, she always likes to offer a 20% discount for a whole week on the new stamps, so pop along here to the Rubber Dance shop and grab yourself a total bargain.
Hope you like my new set as much as I enjoyed drawing and creating fun things with it.
Donna x
6 comments:
Well done you.......Such talent.xxxReplyDelete
Such a fun set Donna! Congratulations on another release... Brilliant news. Off to see the RD release now. Have a great weekend (too hot for me! ) Nikki xxxReplyDelete
Whoohoo! You know how much I love your whimsical drawings, and I've had such a great time making fun cards with these stamps!! Thanks again for designing this set of stamps for me, Donna dear, and for all your fabulous sample makes!!! xxxReplyDelete
I saw them on their blog, they are great!ReplyDelete
Congratulations, Donna - wishing you lots of luck with your newest fabulous stamps.ReplyDelete
Alison x
Congrats on your new set of stamps Donna and your fabulous designs xxxReplyDelete
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We're going to have a lot of very exciting partnership announcements to make this year, and one of my core roles will be to shepherd those through. - Ronak Sheth
ST LOUIS, MO (PRWEB) February 28, 2014
FoodEssentials, the fastest growing grocery product data solution provider, is excited to announce the promotion of Ronak Sheth to Chief Product Officer. Ronak started with FoodEssentials in late 2012 as VP of Product as they began their first stage of expansion. The hiring of Sheth at that time represented the first FoodEssentials executive addition outside of the founding team, and one that has been proven to be fruitful for all.
"We had just arrived in Saint Louis and really needed our first major hire to be someone that complimented the founding team. It was a very important hire for us," states Anton Xavier, CEO of FoodEssentials in reference to their early expansion challenges. Sheth fit the bill having completed his BS in Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences at Northwestern University, and an MBA at Washington University. In addition, Sheth had several years startup experience in Chicago with Informance (acquired by Epicor) where he picked up his product, software, and technology skills. For the last few years, Ronak has been a consultant in the retailer and food manufacturing industry. "Ronak was the perfect candidate for our team, and most importantly he has proven to fit our specific culture," Xavier surmises.
It was more Sheth's core values, however, that have led to his success within FoodEssentials and his consequential promotion to a senior executive role. "We highly value motivated, analytical, radically lean professionals, and Ronak represents all of these things." Dagan Xavier, Director of Content & Culture says. "His success with us is a testament to his ability to take the best from his experience and mold it to our company culture. We do things a certain way and you have to master that to be successful with us. It's not for everyone," Xavier states regarding the specific professional expectations at FoodEssentials.
In his new role as CPO Sheth will continue to lead product development but will take on a more senior role in business development, strategy, and sales. The focus for FoodEssentials in 2014 is to continue their trajectory towards becoming the industry standard for food product data solutions. They presently deliver their solutions to the FDA, retailers, and food manufacturers, which Sheth will continue to lead throughout 2014. "We're going to have a lot of very exciting partnership announcements to make this year, and one of my core roles will be to shepherd those through," Ronak states in reference to the continued momentum of FoodEssentials. "It's going to be another very busy year, but the intensity and success is why I wanted to be involved in this startup," he concludes.
FoodEssentials is a young and vibrant company creating cutting edge data and technologies that collect, extract, and deliver food product data to consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and the government. FoodEssentials possesses the most accurate and up-to-date food product data in the industry and their core Key Message technology can power deep analysis and unique insight. The FoodEssentials team includes a fine balance of product knowledge, technological expertise, and creativity. They are headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and have personnel based in Australia, and Europe. FoodEssentials is a diverse and dynamic company with a vision to making a difference in how people choose their food.


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Now a few glimpses of projects I am working on for my Etsy shop. I'm feeling energized again to make something to sell after a nice post Christmas break. Here is a scarf knit on the diagonal with beautiful and soft yarn and some nice lacy patterns. Love those colors!!
Here's to a relaxing and creative and sunny Sunday!!


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Next month, Cancun is launching its international food and wine festival. The Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival runs March 15-18 with some of the world's top chefs preparing Mexico's gastronomical offerings. There will also be a special tribute to world-renowned Spanish chef, Ferran Adria.
The event will include over 30 chefs from Mexico, Canada, the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Chile who will host a slew of events over the 4-day span. Festival founder David Amar has wined and dined at over 100 countries and he wanted to create an opportunity for Mexico to showcase its culinary talents.
"Because I'm Canadian and it's really cold in Canada, I used to come down to Mexico once a year when there was nothing but one Club Med on this whole strip," Amar says. "And I would come back every year and see the evolution, and the last five years I saw an evolution that I didn't like. I felt that this place, even more than Riviera Maya, needs some large, ambitious international type of event to attract a different level of clientele."
The theme for this year's festival is: 'Taste of the New World.'
"I've discovered a renaissance in culinary talent," says Amar. "It's a rediscovery of old methods and natural ingredients. I'm inviting people to rediscover the continent."
The festival's dinner series begins with North and South American chefs' teaming up for a grand welcome, open for groups. Upon entering the event, attendees will receive passports that will guide them through the seven countries and chef stations, starting with Canada and ending in Latin America with Brazil and Argentina. The event takes place at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa.
"Imagine a place where the whole continent is cooking for you in one event, says Amar. "You can never get that—not in New York or Madrid. The idea is to get the best culinary talents from the whole continent and celebrate their diversity. All the chefs will be challenged with preparing their best dishes but they must use Mexican ingredients."
Another dinner will honor Ferran Adria. Here, six Mexican chefs who've studied Adria's advances in molecular cuisine will prepare dishes using the same techniques.
"I told them it has to be the best meal this country's ever had, and they accepted the challenge," says Amar. "I brought them here two weeks ago to do a full rehearsal of their 8-course dinner, along with my top sommeliers. It's going to be an incredible event."
Other festival events include a dinearound, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, cooking competitions and a gourmet tasting village. Amar says ticket prices are about half the price of other food and wine festivals, so that locals too, can enjoy the events and presentations.
Some big name chefs present at the festival include: Normand Laprise and Elyse Lambert from Canada, Jacques Pepin and Ingrid Hoffman representing the U.S., Mara Salles from Brazil, Martin Molteni from Argentina, Bruno Oteiza from Spain, and Mexico's very own Jose Ramon Castillo and Benito Molina.