text:
Findmypast is working in partnership with IrishCentral to share fascinating insights into your Irish ancestors. Click here to get a special half price subscription, and discover your Irish roots today!
Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD is set to launch the Kerry Genealogy Roadshow, in Killarney, on July 12th.
The Roadshow, a free mobile service being offered to visitors to the county as part of Kerry's Gathering Programme, is a joint initiative between South Kerry Development Partnership, North & East Kerry Development Company and Kerry County Council, supported under the Leader Programme, and will visit 25 venues and events between now and early October.
Following the official opening on Friday in Killarney, the Roadshow will visit Kenmare for the Food Carnival on Saturday and travel onto Knightstown on Sunday for the Valentia Island King Scallop Festival. The following weekend it will visit Dingle and Listowel.
"The Genealogy Roadshow is the first of its kind in Ireland and is expected to attract visitors from within the county and beyond", Kerry County Council's Gathering Coordinator, John Griffin explained.
"Genealogy has emerged as a major attraction during Gathering Year and Kerry has one of the best sets of genealogical data available and this will be enhanced by all available data from other counties"
The unit will be staffed by professional genealogists from Ancestor Network, the Dublin-based company who have worked on numerous international genealogy exhibitions, RTE's upcoming 'Genealogy Roadshow' and programmes like 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.
Professional genealogists will be assisting visitors with their genealogy queries and helping them trace their family trees. Available in the mobile unit will be free "live" online search facilities with four workstations fully equipped with laptops. This will allow them to carry out online searches of Irish and international genealogical sources including Census Returns, Tithe Applotment Books, Griffiths Valuation, Civil Birth, Death and Marriage Records, Church Baptism, Marriage and Burial Records and other free-to-access and "pay sites" like ancestry.com and findmypast.
The genealogists will provide general information about Kerry, the principal Kerry families/family names, their origins and distribution, including famous family members. There will also be a mounted exhibition on "Finding your Kerry /Irish ancestors" in the mobile unit. Leaflets on Finding Your Kerry Roots and other guides will also be freely distributed. Visitors to the unit will be encouraged to leave their names and contact details to enrol as "Friends of Kerry/Cáirde Chiarraí".
Noel Spillane, CEO of South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd (SKDP) noted that this project is the most significant genealogy advisory and tourism event in the country and saw it as an excellent opportunity to attract and advise thousands of visitors to Kerry of their roots. It will bring a significant boost to Kerry's economy during the summer and autumn months, positioning the County to attract genealogical tourists not only in 2013, but in the years to follow.
John Griffin noted that "the Kerry Genealogy Roadshow is designed for individuals and groups living overseas who are back to visit the Kingdom and are interested in exploring their Kerry ancestry. The project will not only help visitors to trace the origins of their families, it will give a boost to the local economy," he said.
"As it's the only facility of its kind in Ireland, we expect overseas visitors to travel from other counties to the various Kerry locations to visit it. Visitors will need accommodation, places to eat and socialise, entertainment, transport and more than anything else, a warm welcome. Local communities and tourism businesses can help meet these needs and add opportunities to enhance the experience for visitors."
John Griffin also pointed to the collaborative nature of the project, with the local authority and the two Leader groups, South Kerry Development Partnership and North & East Kerry Development.
"The Roadshow just would not be possible without their support", he said.
John Hamrock of Ancestor Network said he was pleased to work with the Kerry Gathering Group. "This is a unique undertaking and has set an example to other counties," he stated.
The services and genealogical information that will be made available in the mobile genealogy unit will include access to Irish and international genealogical source information from sites such as www.irishgenealogy.ie; www.nationalarchives.ie; www.ancestry.com; www.findmypast.ie; www.myheritage.com, www.rootsireland.ie, www.familysearch.org, and other leading genealogy websites. All these factors will make the Kerry Genealogy Roadshow a great success in 2013 and hopefully in the years beyond.
The Gathering Ireland 2013 is an ambitious tourism led initiative which aims to provide a platform for Ireland to connect with its diaspora around the world. The objective of the Gathering is to attract an additional 325,000 overseas visitors and to help attract overseas and domestic tourism revenue. Central to achieving the aims of the Gathering will be the part played by local communities, organising special gatherings to engage the interest of family, friends and connections around the world. Kerry has over 250 Gathering events which continue until the end of December 2013.
Vital to the success of this project is the co-operation and support from South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP), North and East Kerry Development (NEKD), through the Leader Programme and from Kerry County Council. The project will be delivered by Ancestor Network Ltd, a leading Irish professional genealogy services company with wide experience in delivering genealogy advisory services to the Diaspora.
Substantial funding from the above organisations for the project has resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for overseas visitors to come to County Kerry to trace their roots, experience the warmth of a Kerry welcome and explore its rich culture and history.
If you are a native of Kerry or if you know someone who might be interested in visiting the Kerry Genealogy Roadshow events, detailed information can be obtained from the Kerry Gathering Office (066) 7162133 . Email firstname.lastname@example.com and online at www.facebook.com/KerryGathering and www.countykerry.ie/gathering


text:
Department of Revenue News Release
May 07, 2009License Office Agents in Ferguson & New London Are Named After Undergoing Bidding Process
The Missouri Department of Revenue, after utilizing a competitive bid process, today awarded the management of two more local motor vehicle license offices. The two offices awarded today are in Ferguson and New London.
The Lions Club of Ferguson has been awarded the right to run the Ferguson License Office. The Lions Club is the incumbent agent, and has had this role since June of 2000. The license office will remain at 728 S. Florissant Road.
The license office in New London has been awarded to Cynthia J. Kilby. She has been the interim office agent since November of 2008. The license office will remain at 112 E. Fourth St.
Details about any changes in the operating hours of the offices, if any, will be announced by the agents.
The two offices awarded today are the latest to have their management chosen using a new bidding process that was implemented when Gov. Jay Nixon took office on Jan. 12. The new system calls for people or groups to submit detailed bids to obtain the management contracts to operate the offices. The Ferguson office received three bids and there was one bid for the New London office.
Karen King Mitchell, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said the process has gone well.
"The teams evaluating these bids were looking for the best business plan for each office," Mitchell said. "I am proud of how thorough and conscientious the teams were."
As part of his bid, the Ferguson office agent agreed to return one-half of 1 percent (or about $1,989) of the agent's estimated annual transaction fees to the state. The cumulative amount of estimated annual funds that will be returned to the state from the 11 license offices that have been awarded so far under the bidding process is $71,001.
"The willingness of agents to return some of their profits is a great cost-efficiency measure for the state," Mitchell said.
For a list of winning bidders for license offices, please go to http://oa.mo.gov/purch/awardedfeeoffices.pdf.
All 183 local license offices provide services that are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue, but each office is operated by an independent contractor. Transactions that are conducted at these offices include the issuance and renewal of driver licenses, applying for titles for motor vehicles, and the issuance and renewal of registration for motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors.
Additional information on the bids will be posted by the Missouri Office of Administration within the next few days.

subset: commoncrawl


text: This is tonight! - hope to see you there. Leo P.s http://london.pm.org/meetings/ has an iCal link of forthcoming meetings 2010/11/23 Dagfinn Ilmari Mannsåker <ilmari at ilmari.org>: > For March's social we are going out west, to the Prince Bonaparte in > Bayswater/Notting Hill. > > The Prince Bonaparte > 80 Chepstow Road > W2 5BE > > http://london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?Prince_Bonaparte,_W2_5BE > > Nearby tube stations in clude Royal Oak, Notting Hill and Bayswater. > > Standard blurb: > > Social meets are a chance for the various members of the group to meet > up face to face and chat with each other about things - both Perl and > (mostly) non-Perl - and newcomers are more than welcome. The monthly > meets tend to be bigger than the other ad hoc meetings that take place > at other times, and we make sure that they're in easy to get to > locations and the pub serves food (meaning that people can eat in the > bar if they want to). They normally start around 6.30pm (or whenever > people get there after work) and a group tends to be left come closing > time. > > If you're a newcomer or other first timer (even if you've been lurking > on the mailing list or on IRC) then please seek Leo out - we have a > tradition that the leader of this motley crew buys the new people a drink > and introduces them to people.


text:
Hollywood Blvd. is never void of excitement, entertainment, and enthusiasts, but for the night of the Bebe Presents Edwardian Fashion Show these three factors were quadrupled with the addition of pure chaos! Before gaining entry into Marbella, the venue where the show was to be held, guests and media were thrown together in swelling lines that poured out onto the traffic jammed streets. As security got a handle on the crowd, which basically meant screaming "Get out of the street", we managed to squeeze our way through the iron gates and down the stairs to the red carpet.
I have to say that the ambience of Marbella was fantastic, the sculpted buildings, the palm tree lined paths, and the rod iron fencing…I will definitely have to come back to this venue! Surprisingly, the crowd that packed the street now packed the entryway in front of the red carpet. There were no tables to check in media and no PR present to usher talent on the red carpet and through to the show. Our waiting was interrupted by a crasher darting through the crowd and 4 security guards tackling him down and dragging him out.
Once the melee subsided, I continued waiting amongst the crowd of the known and unknown, I happened to run into up-and-coming talent Chazsity Gaither. Chazsity who is a promising actress and model has been hitting the town lately and made the show one of her stops of the night. She recently did a photo shoot with Master P's new clothing line and is working on a couple of projects due out in the Fall. She stated that she was excited to see the fashion, but didn't know that there wasn't going to be a talent check-in. I told her that I felt the same about the media check-in. We both flagged down someone we thought worked with the show and told them our plight. He ushered us through the crowd by the way of crawling through some bushes and finally, we both were in! Time to see some fashion!
Music blaring, crowd partying, and coordinators missing, we waited, waited, and waited some more. The black lacquer runway stood in the back of the room, had a huge crowd around it, but there weren't any chairs for fashion editors or a section for the camera crew. So, once again, we were mixed together in huge crowds getting bumped by those trying to make there way through. Mingling with the crowd, I was also able to meet the reigning Miss California 2009, Tami Ferrell. Ferrell who know resides in Los Angeles is looking to further her career in the entertainment industry and has pinned her first screenplay and working on her first book.
Also mingling with Chazsity was Fashion Designer and Versace employee Hailo Walton. Walton has a line coming out called Guerricca Republik that he is telling fashion lovers to be on the look out for.
On to the fashion…
This season's collection seemed to be inspired by the late and great Michael Jackson with military style jackets embellished with gold and crystal buttons, and sequence overlays. The jackets were paired with skinny pants or bellowing balloon skirts reminiscent of the Edwardian era. Midriff baring tops/vests were also a staple to the collection which was more Bebe than Edwardian.
Lace baby doll style dresses could be seen paired with knee high boots or ankle booties. I loved the looks that paid true homage to the Edwardian style. Very deep high lace fabric collars that reached right under the chin elongated the neck; Corset's and boning in the vest were also seen in the collection.
Ruffled and lace shirts that peeked from underneath printed puffy sleeved jackets in silk printed jackets. Many of the bodices consisted of pouches of cascading lace or gathered fabric.
All in all, the show was good, but the organization of it could have been much better!


text:
Home > Folding Memorial Cards > Celtic & Irish
Ireland FlagL aminated Folding Memorial Card which is supplied with free envelopes.
Our graphic design team will customise this folding Memorial Card with your chosen verses, text, photo and details of your loved one.
Complete this order form and we'll email your design proof the same or next working day.
Edit quantities at checkout & discounts will be applied.
Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss a Bespoke Design using your own images and backgrounds. Tel 03450 542861 Email email@example.com
PHOTO TIP: Upload a suitable size and quality photo with a clear shot of the head & shoulders.
Extra Photo's £12.99 each / Photo Editing £19.99.
We have made the online ordering process simple & user friendly, for further help order advice, call us on 03450 542861.
TOP TIP: Before completing the order form prepare all the relevant copy - Photo / Dates / Verses / Text etc.
Postage & Packaging is payable on all orders £7.99
The standard print & dispatch time is 10 working days from the date of proof approval, however faster options can be selected at the time of placing the order.
Online orders can be cancelled within 30 minutes of placement and provided no design work has been carried out. Thereafter we cannot offer refunds once an initial card design has been created. We advise that you carefully check all content & copy of personalised products and advise us immediately of any corrections prior to printing.
CEL54 Bookmark£2.85
CEL54 Wallet Card£2.79
CEL54 Thank You Card£2.99
Copyright@Memorial Card Shop - Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX


text:
Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.
Vintage photos of:
Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Pauline Floyd, 24, youngest lawyer ever admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court." View full size.
December 1908. Dillon, South Carolina. "Maple Mill. Bertie Collins (girl). Has been spinning three years. Runs six sides, 60 cents a day. Rudolph Collins. Has doffed three years. Is 12 years old. Three others will join the ranks soon as they grow a bit." Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.
September 1911. Winchendon, Mass. "Rosina Goyette, Maple Street. Apparently 12 but says she is 14; has steady job doffing and spinning in Spring Village Mill. Said at first she had been working six months, later she changed it to three weeks. Her partner said 'a few weeks.' " Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.
December 1908. Dillon, S.C. "Maple Mills. John Roberts, been in mill two years. Runs four and five sides." Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.
New York City circa 1908. "Cells, new Tenderloin police station." 8x10 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.
Washington, D.C., circa 1910. "King of Cardonia" is the caption here, perhaps the name of a play. [Update: The correct spelling is "Cadonia"; the play ended its D.C. run in January 1910.] Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
"Car interior. Washington & Old Dominion R.R." Our third and final look at Pennsy car 4928 on the tracks of the W. & O.D., whose right-of-way is now plied by commuters taking I-66 into Washington. 8x10 glass negative. View full size.
"Car interior. Washington & Old Dominion R.R." Another circa 1930 view of a decrepit Pennsylvania Railroad car that seems to have come into the possession of the W. & O.D. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.


text:
Beyonce and Lady Gaga team up again?
- Bang Showbiz
- 4 January 2013
A pair of earrings engraved with the word 'Ratchet' has sparked speculation that Beyonce and Lady gaga are collaborating again, after both stars posted pictures of the jewellery online
Beyonce and Lady Gaga have hinted at a new collaboration.
The pair - who appeared together on 2009 hit 'Telephone' and extended version 'Video Phone' - have fuelled rumours they have returned to the studio by posting pictures of them wearing similar earrings.
In November, Gaga posted a photograph on Instagram of a pair of earrings engraved with the word 'Ratchet', while in December, Beyonce posted two photos of similar pieces of jewellery.
On December 29, Beyonce posted a photo of the bamboo earrings alongside a pair of purple printed flat shoes, and followed it up the next day with another image of herself wearing the earrings.
It is thought they refer to a track called 'Ratchet', which is also set to include rapper Azealia Banks, and may be released later this month as the lead single from Gaga's new album, 'ARTPOP'.
Azealia said in September: "I worked with Lady Gaga, but I worked with Lady Gaga from afar. We worked via email and via Internet. We have a song called 'Red Flame' and a song called 'Ratchet,' but I don't know what she's doing with it. She's going to release it when she wants to release it."
In October, Gaga confirmed plans to record with Beyonce again.
Asked in a Twitter chat if 'ARTPOP' would feature a sequel to 'Telephone', she replied: "Fact".


text:
Goodman R410A 15 SEER Packaged Gas Electric 2 Ton Multiposition
* * This package includes free shipping with residential liftgate service. * *
Package Includes: G-GPG152407041
GPG15 Packaged Gas/Electric Units
up to 15 SEER & 80% AFUE Performance
Outstanding Warranty Protection*
The heat exchanger in this Goodman brand packaged unit is covered by a 20-Year Limited Warranty* and all functional parts are covered by a 10-Year Parts Limited Warranty.*
Product Features
The GPG15 Packaged Gas Electric unit provides energy-efficient cooling and heating performance in one self-contained unit. This unit is suitable for ground-level or rooftop installations and horizontal or downflow applications.
* Click on the Warranty link below for complete warranty details. To receive the 20-year Heat Exchanger Limited Warranty or the 10-Year Parts Limited Warranty, online registration must be completed within 60 days of installation. Online registration is not required in California or Quebec.
Additional Information
Before purchasing this appliance, read important information about its estimated annual energy consumption, yearly operating cost, or energy efficiency rating that is available from your retailer.
Energy Star ratings are dependent upon conditions beyond equipment installation. To make certain your HVAC equipment qualifies for the Energy Star designation get complete information at www.energystar.gov.
Consumer Brochure Product Specifications Product Warranty
For fast friendly service, call us at 1-855-INGRAMS (1-855-464-7267).


text:
BBC News
- National Action trial: Members of neo-Nazi group jailed
- Jose Mourinho: Manchester United sack manager
- 'Friends' lookalike fails to attend court
- Brexit: Cabinet 'ramps up' no-deal planning
- Matthew Hedges: UAE spy accused will 'take years' to recover
- Christmas: Dying neighbour leaves girl 14 years' of presents
- Skin creams can lead to fire deaths
- Waste plan floats bottle deposit scheme
- Government still committed to net migration target - Brokenshire
- Russian cargo ship runs aground off Cornwall coast
- 'Major incident' as lorries topple on Larne to Cairnryan ferry
- Overdraft woes: 'We were one bill away from disaster'
- Russian cargo ship runs aground in Cornwall
- Matthew Hedges: 'Mental scars will affect me for years'
- Sheku Bayoh: Fresh questions raised over police custody death
- 'My son's remembered with loom band art'
- Doctor turns author after having strokes
- Birmingham wheelchair dance club FreeWheelin helps new bride
- Is caring for mum and dad a family duty?
- BBC News Channel
- History-making polar bear cub Hamish turns one
- Cat shot in face awarded PDSA's 'pet survivor of the year'
- How MI5 phone-tapped Sylvia Pankhurst
- 2018 statistic of the year: Plastic waste fact tops list
- London killings: All the victims of 2018
- 'My Christmas parcel ended up being recycled'
- Sark: Ten years of democracy, but is it working?
- 'Why I tried to cut off my breast'
- Jaguar Land Rover struggling to return to top gear
Below we are listing a number of UK job websites that have full-time and part-time job opportunities available in the KILCHOAN area.
Fish4 Jobs
JobSeekers (Direct.Gov.uk)
http://api.indeed.com/ads/apisearch?publisher=4773927896266615&q=&l=PH36 4LN&sort=&radius=5&st=&jt=&start=&limit=10&fromage=&filter=&latlong=1&co=gb&chnl=AVUK&userip=220.127.116.11&useragent=CCBot/2.0 (https://commoncrawl.org/faq/)&v=2
Jobs at IndeedWarning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in D:\Webvirtual\ANYWeb\www\Wordpress\wp-content\plugins\shortcode-exec-php\shortcode-exec-php-class.php(895) : eval()'d code on line 9
Looking for more jobs...
jobs by


text:
Everyone deserves a vacation! Monica's relaxing week was filled with sunshine, great food and family.
Follow Monica Botkier's exciting week through Instagram @botkier.
1. Keeping busy on a rainy day with #valentina #artproject #photojournal
2. Finally made it to a well deserved break. My view for the next little while…
3. Metallic cupcakes @DeanandDeluca of course!
4. Pie for breakfast? Yes indeed, but which one?
5. Beach time is the best time.
6. Money shot if you have kids that is…#summer
7. Go fly a kite! #summer #sisters
8. Trade show booth snap #valentina #accessoriestheshow
9. Fried ice cream and hot sauce. #BlueParrot
10. Loving this @charlotteronson floral dress with our #jackson satchel. Perfect blue hues!
11. Botkier Street Style lovin' in SoHo!
12. Summer city blues…#valentina


text:
Up to [cvs.NetBSD.org] / src / sys / netinet
Request diff between arbitrary revisions
Default branch: MAIN
Current tag: reinoud-bufcleanup-base
Revision 1.256 / (download) - annotate - [select for diffs], Mon Nov 26 08:40:46 2007 UTC (11 years ago) by yamt
Branch: MAIN
CVS Tags: yamt-kmem-base3, yamt-kmem-base2, yamt-kmem-base, yamt-kmem, vmlocking2-base2, vmlocking2-base1, vmlocking-nbase, reinoud-bufcleanup-nbase, reinoud-bufcleanup-base, jmcneill-pm-base, cube-autoconf-base, cube-autoconf
Branch point for: vmlocking2, bouyer-xeni386
Changes since 1.255: +11 -8 lines
Diff to previous 1.255 (colored)
inetctlerrmap: use designated initializer.
This form allows you to request diff's between any two revisions of a file. You may select a symbolic revision name using the selection box or you may type in a numeric name using the type-in text box.


text:
New Zealand 232/4 at close against West Indies
New Zealand were 232/4 at the close on the opening day of the first of two Tests against the West Indies in North Sound as Martin Guptill spurned the chance of a century. Ross Taylor made 45 but was bowled by Narine, who ended the day with three for 73.cricket Updated: Jul 26, 2012 14:34 IST
New Zealand were 232/4 at the close on the opening day of the first of two Tests against the West Indies in North Sound as Martin Guptill spurned the chance of a century.
Things had been going slowly the tourists' way when Guptill, on 97 and looking for his first ton against a side other than Bangladesh or Zinmbabwe, slogged Sunil Narine to the grateful waiting Narsingh Deonarine just three overs before the end of the session on Thursday.
It was Narine's third wicket and put the hosts back on an even keel after they had earlier looked to be toiling at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium after Kiwi captain Ross Taylor had won the toss.
Guptill had already had a scare when a review got him out of jail when he appeared to have been trapped lbw.
Taylor made 45 but was bowled by Narine, who ended the day with three for 73.
But it was the demise of Guptill which hit the tourists as he was replaced by Kane Williamson, who had made two at the close with debutant and nightwatchman Neil Wagner on four.
The match saw top-order batsman Chris Gayle return to the West Indies Test line-up for the first time since December 2010.
Gayle has been absent from the Test side due to a standoff between himself and the West Indies Cricket officials board sparked by critical comments he made about officials in a radio interview after a sponsorship row.
In a relatively sedate opening the Black Caps, beaten in the preceding one-day series, settled down as Daniel Flynn and Guptill moved the score along.
Flynn had a scare when Kemar Roach made an early leg-before appeal in a slow start as six overs brought only as many runs.
But the pace then quickened as Flynn hit two boundaries off Darren Sammy before Guptill survived a caught-behind appeal.
Flynn hit another boundary off Sammy in the 18th over to bring the score up to 50 before Guptill slogged Sunil Narine for six.
A review then went against the hosts as Guptill was given not out lbw to Sammy following an inside edge.
A flurry of maidens held up the visitors either side of lunch before Flynn smashed Narine to the ropes while Guptill twice did the same to Ravi Rampaul.
As the 100 mark beckoned Narine landed his first Test wicket as Flynn miscued an effort to Kieran Powell at point before Guptill secured his half-century in driving Roach for another boundary.
New partner Brendon McCullum survived a review for lbw but then was out driving to Narsingh Deonarine at mid-off having made 25.
The West Indies have dominated the tourists so far this summer, taking the Twenty20 series 2-0 in which Gayle was awarded man of the series, and the ODI series 4-1 in which Gayle made an aggressive century and half-century.
First Published: Jul 26, 2012 09:41 IST


text:
I did my degree at the great university of the Sorbonne in Paris. I wanted to study cinema and make films. At Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne, you could do a degree in something called Arts Plastiques: option: cinéma. *
I made a few films there, mostly Super 8 which was expensive and so, eschewing any snobbery, I actually rather fell in love with video as an art form. I was editing Umatic video tapes and thrilled by mucking about with effects, then in their infancy. This will all seem very old school to today's students. I was the first pupil to take a laptop to classes. The French thought I was pretty flashy.
What we mostly did was analyse films and write essays about them. I quickly grew to hate this. Being in the cinema, as opposed to watching TV, is lingering in a dream-like state in which you forget everything around you. It's healing. When you are depressed, go to the movies. When you are heart broken, ditto. It transforms your mood like no other medium except perhaps music. But film contains all the arts: writing, music, visuals. Analysing, breaking that dream state into segments was dreary.
Yesterday I got a chance to host a supper club night for the launch of the DVD 'Eat, Pray, Love'. I like to research things properly so I read the book. Great writing, humorous in parts but painful to read for the protagonist, played by Julia Roberts in the film, suffered from depression. The story follows an American woman writer who leaves her perfectly nice husband, finds a good looking lover in an obscenely short amount of time, leaves him, goes to Italy and eats a lot of fantastic food. Then she goes to India and prays. Finally she ends up in Bali and reluctantly falls in love with a man who is played by Javier Bardem. I preferred the film to the book as it was more cheerful!
The menu followed the course of the narrative:
Thin crust pizzete with a variety of cheeses including white truffle cheese and also oak smoked tomatoes.
Fruit, nuit and aubergine curry
Egg and coconut curry
Dill rice
Pomegranate seed, onion and cucumber cachumber
Home made lime pickles
Grilled pineapple in chilli syrup
Coconut and rum icecream
Wines were provided by Ten Green Bottles.
A 6 x 6 foot screen was set up in front of the french doors and a projector placed atop a cupboard. This was great as a floor projector risked being knocked over by a waitress.
25 food, lifestyle and entertainment journalists and bloggers arrived. Even The Sun and The News of The World came! They all went home with splendid goodie bags with the Blu Ray of Eat Pray Love, Guide books to Italy and India, another film Please Give and some cereal bars.
I have to say, it all worked rather fabulously and I'm hoping to do a regular monthly film night. I did a dinner early last year with dishes from Like Water for Chocolate, Babette's Feast, Big Night, Sideways and Julie/Julia. But it was even better with a big screen so we could watch the movies at the same time as eating what they are eating. The possibilities are endless! Premieres, red carpet events, theme movie nights, you name it...


text:
Brazil Fire: Nightclub Owner Is Arrested
Authorities arrested three men in conjunction with the deaths of more than 200 people in a nightclub fire in southern Brazil. John Lyons reports on the latest on Lunch Break. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... it is Monday January twenty two thousand thirteen reliable Wall Street Journal newsroom in New York today on WS J LunchBreak three men arrested in Brazil Monday in connection with the deaths of more than two hundred people in a nightclub ... Fire their John Lyons The Wall Street Journal reporter in Brazil ... joins us now with the update John thanks for being here ... who are the men that were arrested ... most of the arrested one of the owners of the nightclub where the fire occurred ... early stock Sunday morning ... into the positions the reason being that many witnesses who survived the fire ... I'm sad that ... it was one of the musicians the light of the Roman candle or some kind of emergency traffic flare ... built in the ninety eight the ceiling of the club and set off the blaze that's ... all we left around two and thirty ... three people dead in Brazil ... also John around these emergency exits in the club and whether they ... were a lot whether they were being blocked by some of the ... nightclub security crew perhaps because they thought people fleeing ... I had not paid their bill yet which sometimes can happen at the end of the concert in Brazil are they looking at all those factors ... sch yes it's looking ... the classic factors that didn't seem to come up to twenty one of these tragedies occurs ... you know the ... heir to the best information we have is that there was actually only one exit on this night club on ... and probably the saddest part of it is that this club was up to code ... and ... the hats than ... they had had investigations and had all their permits on ... in in law I know we it's easy to mention is ... that ... that some people had getting out ... in Brazil I'm ... often at a nightclub the pay as you the kind of you get a little when you go when you I'm ... just has been marked down how much you can see in the next and the new ... lineup and pay on the way out ... and apparently the security guards ... I thought that these precious people ... I believe are actually you know that people ... either fired or just trying to burst out of the club without paying an initially ... blocked the door ... and let some witnesses said is that actually ... created ... helped create topics and adults ... the Iowa State on some people ... I you know total floor were trampled and is unable to find a way out ... video coming out that both I've taken by professionals as well as people ... know with their cellphone cameras is is is it's devastating to the bottom of the bodies on the floor the bodies of people lined up on the streets ... by the a and and so far two hundred and thirty two people ... I believe that it has been reported dead but that number could rise is that right ... John because they still don't know what the effects of all the folks who in terms of what smoko inhalation they have suffered with the effects of activity ... that's right there dozens of people that are still ... actually reading was some kind of ... assistance ... in the hospital's metered stocks dinner ... or you know you know other medical techniques on the design militaries news about forty ... people by air from the it out ... from the scene to their hostels around bigger Gospels around result ... in the hopes of ... saving the NY Times ... that the medical people expected said ... is that I'm ... the materials banks were hurting the ceiling and actually hang out chemicals and then they can have effects on the loans that actually ... kind of ... start to show up in hours or days after earned the vigilance and so I'm really watching closely the condition of the patients that are on ... in the house books about a hundred thirty two ... injured right now ... are able to walk through its unit in Brazil thank you so much John for being with us ... and we have a lot more month break coming up to you ... when we come back


text:
Today we are excited to announce the beta availability of our next Flash Player and AIR releases, code-named "Jones". With this release, we introduce a new numbering scheme for our product versions. Adopting the pattern set by Google with Chrome and Mozilla with Firefox, we will simply update the major version number with each subsequent release, doing away with minor releases altogether. In other words, beginning with the release of "Jones", Flash Player will become Flash Player 12. With each new release, roughly every 3 months, that number will increase by one.
This change will also apply to AIR and the AIR SDK, albeit not right away. Our "Jones" release will be numbered AIR 4 and AIR SDK 4; however, with our "King" release, the version number will be synchronized with the Flash Player version at 13.
We think unifying the numbering makes great sense, as Flash and AIR have always shared the same core and are in many ways the same product. No more referring to AIR 3.x and Flash Player 11.x; we will all be able to refer to Flash and AIR using the same numbering. Hooray!


text:
PALMYRA TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Southeastern Michigan authorities say a body found near a farmer's field has been identified as belonging to a 58-year-old Indiana woman who disappeared in September after a trip to Ohio.
The Daily Telegram of Adrian, Mich., reports that dental records confirmed Tuesday that the body found Friday is that of Catherine Sackrider of LaGrange County, Ind.
Lenawee County Sheriff Jack Welsh says the autopsy was inconclusive on a cause of death. He says her death is under investigation as suspicious.
Authorities say Sackrider was last seen Sept. 18 after visiting her daughter in Sylvania, Ohio. Sackrider's pickup truck was found in the Toledo suburb Sept. 25.
The sheriff's department has said a farmer spreading lime on a corn field In Palmyra Township spotted the body near an unused barn.


text:
by Dr. Pualani Kanahele
I beg a question, why is hula popular with other cultures of the world?
It has always been a puzzle to my mind, the fascination hula has to many different cultural groups of the world. There is no doubt that hula thrives and has become a million dollar business (elsewhere besides Hawaiʻi) because of this fascination.
We from Hawaiʻi, who are involved in hula, are called out to different parts of the world not only to perform but to teach hula. We have been to Amsterdam, Mexico, throughout Canada and the USA, France, Tahiti, New Zealand, Taiwan, Ukraine, Philippines, Japan, and Korea. There are other places which I have not included to which other hālau may have ventured. Please, be inclusive!
Participating in a festival, an exhibition of folk dancing, or a stage performance is a way of sharing one's folk art. This is one level of exhibiting our folk dance. Another level is to teach a group of non-Hawaiʻi people a repertoire of hula. Another level is to endow someone an expert or Kumu Hulaship when they have not experienced Hawaiʻi. After all, hula is all about Hawaiʻi. Hula is about the environment of the islands inclusive of the ocean, the rise and set of the sun, moon, stars, it is about the growth in the forest, the birth of the island and it is about the people of the Hawaiian archipelago. It seems a difficult task to evoke the essence of the islands to persons without island experiences. Or can the emotion and passion of hula be injected into the psyche of persons physically disassociated with the land of origin?
Hula was initially a form of communication to engender a relationship with the spiritual essence of the island environment that we recognize as being something subjective and genealogical, having ÿaumäkua status therefore maintaining ancestral traditions.
If this is not or was not recognized, then hula is merely entertainment. So be it! Or is it?
I grasp the understanding that many cultures of the world also may have a connection to their environmental personas and therefore may see hula as an avenue to their primordial beginnings. The connection may also be a survival mechanism. If this is so, it may be a subconscious effort to be involved in the continuous cycle of life. However, this is too honorable and sacred an approach to most popular cultures of today. Conversely we should not dismiss this philosophical possibility altogether.
The worth of hula is that it serves both the sacred and secular. Hula was introduced to most of the world as a form of entertainment. And so it is! The importance of any performance is to whom it is being presented always, whether seen or unseen.
There are many elements of hula worthy of discussion: 1) are we addressing hula kahiko or hula 'auana; 2) is the root of hula indigenous, how, why; 3) what is hula; 4) is hula an occupation or is it an eventuality of erudite status; 5) is time and space relevant in hula, why, how, where; 6) is what we share as hula with the rest of the world merely choreography; 7) how does hula serve the individual, the group, the kumu, the ho'opa'a; 8) is hula a kingdom (s) and if so who is (are) the reigning sovereign; 9) how is hula connected to gods, goddesses, etc., who are these gods, goddesses, etc., what are their forms and functions; 10) is it possible for hula to be transported to another place and become uniquely indigenous to that place?
Intrigues, machinations, maneuverings, collusions!! We must answer these questions without defamation to our hula community and utilize this mode as a way to expand the excitement and diversity that is hula.
Is the last question (#10) a futuristic possibility? Can a form of hula be considered a Japanese original? For example, the lilt of the music would be familiar, even the choreography would be familiar, however, the words to the music will be in Japanese describing their environment and the profound importance of their trees, the rain, the winds, the ocean spray, the animals that live on their land, etc., etc. Do they have names for their winds, rain, and other elementals? Can they choreograph their mythology into this form known as hula? Would it still be hula or will it be something else having the sinew of what we know as hula? This fad could also be duplicated in Mexico, France, Amsterdam, Canada, and the USA. Think global because hula is global!
Consider! After all, in the early 20th century hula was taken to many places, but as a novelty or exhibition, never to teach. So another 100 years, who knows!
I think hula comes from the inside out which is my fascination. The intent of hula is universal or complete, it connects your body and therefore your psyche with the space in which you are dancing about. It allows one the venue to let go of the present and re-enter the event described in the mele. Hula is hypnotic. You can be in a state of semi-trance for the length of a mele. Just think about hula kapu and the possibility of being in a transcendental state for hours or days. Hmm another consideration!
Is this the fascination or draw hula has on the hula practitioners of the world? Have they discovered this mystery of hula before we did?
This certainly is not finished according to Pua!


text:
Seven Deaths Confirmed in Arkansas
Authorities have now confirmed seven deaths in Arkansas after a severe storm
< New School After Teacher
Jan 14, 2013 06:59
Category: General News
Category: General News
Joe Biden Ways to Reduce Gun Violence
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden meets today with House members to discuss ways to reduce gun violence. He's finalizing a package of recommendations he plans to give President Barack Obama tomorrow. Senators plan to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons and limit the size of ammunition magazines, but the head of the National Rifle Association and at least one senator say Congress is unlikely to pass it.


text:
The official sign up for the fifth annual Vegan Month of Food writing began last week, and it nearly pains me to admit that I will not be updating daily, nor attempting to, on this here blog. With the break of tradition comes something new (and a tad bit easier), I'll be one of at least three bloggers, if not more (hint, hint) updating on the Vida Vegan blog. Janessa, Michele and myself will be blogging daily about whatever crosses our vegan paths or pops into our minds. Whatever.
I definitely enjoy that this collective loophole beckons creativity and randomness, and this Vida plan is giving me the warm and fuzzies, as usual. Thematically, I was torn between the loose idea of simply trying or creating new dishes, restaurant recreations, cooking lessons from my cats, imaginary dinner dates with fictional characters, and happy hour pairings, both from my kitchen and beyond, so now I can attempt everything, in addition to what I'm deeming our un-official theme, the VVC Cocktail Lounge.
I'm currently de-stressing after some business travel and the glorious weekend that was Vegfest, but I will have something sporadic and special in store for Get Sconed! next month, in addition to obsessively reading the RSS feed and rounding up over here. Oh, yes. Oh, meow. And more on VegFest, for sure.


text:
Curren$y Presents "Raps N Lowriders" Episode 8 Feat. Wiz Khalifa
A new web-series that follows Curren$y as he shows you a day in the life of Lowriding while premiering snippets of new music from his upcoming project.
Shot & Edited by @dexstr8dope__
Posted by Jay
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Can The Religious Legally Discriminate?: The Answer Is Maybe…
Posted on September 21, 2011. Filed under: Atheism, Atheist Ethics, Personal, Politics, Religion, Social Justice |
As I labour away trying to research for my follow up posts on Woo Juice, I thought I might reblog this story from Ed Brayton over at Dispatches from the Culture Wars. It's a really nuanced issue- one that leaves me torn between opposing views:
Drawing Lines on Religion-Based Discrimination
The Chicago Tribune reports that a gay couple is suing two bed and breakfasts for refusing to rent facilities to them for a civil union ceremony.
The Beall Mansion in Alton told the Wathens via email that it "will just be doing traditional weddings." The owner of the Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast in Paxton wrote in an email to the couple: "We will never host same-sex civil unions. We will never host same-sex weddings even if they become legal in Illinois. We believe homosexuality is wrong and unnatural based on what the Bible says about it. If that is discrimination, I guess we unfortunately discriminate."
Here's the legal situation:
The couple filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which investigated and found "substantial evidence" that a civil rights violation had been committed.
The August finding allows the Wathens 90 days to file a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission or take civil action in Circuit Court. The Wathens' attorney, Betty Tsamis of Chicago, told the Tribune that her clients have chosen the latter path and will file lawsuits against both businesses as early as next week.
This action, should it proceed, could bring to the courtroom a debate over the boundary lines between religious freedom and discrimination in Illinois.
Read the rest of the post here.
I'm unsure how I feel about this. I think there is a difference between an "Event", like a wedding, ceremony, convention or meeting- and just being a person who happens to offend someone elses sensibilities.
I think that business owners should not be able to discriminate who stays in a hotel room, or who they serve in their restaurant. I think holding an event at their premises is a different thing altogether. At the same time, I think turning away customers who want to hold a wedding- just because you don't agree with the relationship- is stupid. Though as I mentioned in the comments, I would like to have the right as a business owner to turn away certain groups for events I did not agree with.
Any thoughts on this? John? Jeremy? Darwin?
Leave a Reply to George W. Cancel reply
20 Responses to "Can The Religious Legally Discriminate?: The Answer Is Maybe…"
There's two aspects here. Religious institutions ought to be able to discriminate who may be employed within their structure. A Christian church shouldnt be force to hire Muslims, or Atheists. And an Atheist society or Mosgue shouldnt be required to hire a Christian or whatever. Its the freedom to associate with whom you choose.
Second. I think businesses (not governments) should be allowed to discriminate against anyone for any reason. Its their money, their investment, their property. If they dont like a certain group of people more than they love money, so be it. Besides, the free market would correct the businessman soon enough. If enough people think it is wrong what they do, there will be protests. Enough negative publicity would eventually shame them into doing business with everyone. But again, it's their money, their investment, their property.
You and I seem to draw a line in the sand in different places. I remember your post from June, and I almost linked to it in my own post.
Though there is a part of me that relates to libertarianism, I can't agree that the only place people should expect equal treatment is in the public sector.
But I do see a fundamental difference between a hotel owner who refuses to rent a room to a gay couple and a hotel owner not agreeing to hold a gay wedding at their premises.
I am seriously torn on this issue. I feel like my answer might be different if the owner refused to hold a Jewish wedding ceremony, for example.
I'm not a fan of "free-market equality"- or whatever you want to call it when private citizens are allowed to be overtly discriminatory and society is expected to correct the behavior financially. I don't think people have a right to withhold services because they don't like the lifestyle, faith, sexuality, or otherwise of another person, unless the service is overtly religious or controversial in nature. I can't support a society in which a restaurant can turn away a gay couple, Muslim couple, or Christian couple just because they don't agree with their life choices. I wouldn't even agree that a restaurant should be able to kick a customer out for behavior that would be tolerated from a different person or group. For example, if a restaurant owner tried to kick a gay couple out of a restaurant for holding hands- I think that is wrong. If they kicked Christians out for walking table to table handing out tracts and proselytizing- I'd be okay with that. As would I be if the Muslims threw prayer mats down and bowed to Mecca in the middle of the restaurant. As would I be if the gay couple started making out- but only if that behavior got straight couples evicted as well.
I don't think anyone should be able to legally discriminate against persons being people. I think that line gets crossed when the nature of the relationship with the business is going to beyond any doubt involve things that are overt behaviors that are disagreeable to the owners. So eating- okay. Praying- not so much. Sleeping- okay. Ceremonies- not so much. Buying batteries- okay. Holding meetings- not so much.
As I said- I'm conflicted on this issue. I'm not married to my opinion here. I'll accept reproof if it can be argued that I am drawing false lines. I wrote this post hoping for opinions. Your opinion was the one I most wanted- because I knew it would be a challenge to my own. I'd like to find someone who can honestly argue that discrimination is wrong under any circumstances- then our conversation could help me solidify a strong position.
So John: Convince me why I am wrong.
There is always more than one side to every story and I happen to agree with your sentiment on this, George. On the surface, I would agree that it is wrong to discriminate against a person with differences, but at the same time it's also a shame that we get to a point where a lawsuit be involved. After all, what damages could be sought after for not providing the good or service? Just look elsewhere.
I, as an employer, cannot discriminate against religion, sex, race and so on, so I would expect that as a customer I would deserve the same standards and feel slighted if I were discriminated against. While I would hope that the "free market" would correct the prejudice, I'm afraid that may just be the wishful thinking of an idealist. There's usually enough prejudice to keep it going.
In the end, we still have to review each scenario on a case by case basis. While I support the rights of the individual to conduct business with whomever they wish, I also support the rights of the business to conduct business with whomever they choose. If there is a difference of opinion and a breakdown in communication, let's not drag this into a courtroom and just move on.
I'm glad you agree. I put a lot of thought into my position, but I still feel I haven't fleshed it out enough.
With employers, I think that if someone is qualified for a job- they ought not be discriminated against. If their difference becomes problematic, I think employers ought to be able to react on a case by case basis. I would hire a devout Christian, for example, but if they made the work environment uncomfortable for other employees because of faith positions- I would want to be able to act appropriately.
The issue I have with holding a wedding at my business is that I think events are different than the people who attend them. There is some sense in which an event is seen as a tacit admission of approval by the business. I would not, if I owned a convention center, wish to be impelled to hold a Focus on the Family convention if I felt that their views diametrically opposed my own. But I also wouldn't feel that I have a right to prevent their membership from eating in my restaurant or staying in my rooms. If their behavior became an issue- I would deal with it- but at a convention I feel that I should expect inappropriate behavior while at dinner I should not.
The trick with employers though is that they will rid themselves of the unwanted employee by firing them on some unrelated accusation to avoid legal repercussion. Something "performance" based, for example.
Most large companies decide what to tolerate strictly on the financial repercussions of deciding what to allow or not allow. For example, a company who doesn't necessarily agree with the overall messages of Fox News may still justify reaching the large audience by advertising with them. Some smaller companies may draw the line when it comes to the issues concerning their personal beliefs and the perceived approval of a particular practice. Again, each case is reviewed separately to determine potential profit and loss.
I agree, though, when there are issues that carry events beyond the expected behavior. One expects just eating in a restaurant, for example, not a call to prayer as a spectacle. If you schedule someone with an event at your own convention center, you have a right to know what to expect at that event.
"…the tacit admission of approval by the business."
X marks the spot…herein resides all of our trouble.
Everyone is "afraid" (me included). Everyone is afraid of outward appearances…what others will think. I am just as guilty, so I am not pointing fingers, here. But this is where we all need to be taking a stand. Dr. King taught us that the passive majority, although not generally perpetrators of outright injustice, where actually contributing more toward the injustice with their passivity, than they were toward helping to overcome that injustice. Christ's saying, "…who is not working with me is working against me…who is not with me opposes me…" sums up what Dr. King was communicating.
But, I certainly do understand the sense of "being torn" on this one. Honestly, I do not directly address this over on my own blog…but only address what it is behind it…I only address it, indirectly. I often wonder if this is just me "being among the passive majority" who, due to vast numbers, are a powerful component in allowing such injustices to continue?
Here is an example of businesses being afraid of their condoning a worldview that they do not agree with. I wrote an extremely controversial thesis paper. I submitted that paper to a very elite scholarly journal. One day, prior to receiving an email from this journal that they had decided not to publish me, "someone" had Googled my email address, which had led them to my blog…
Of course, the elite journal I had submitted to is "afraid" to publish a controversial, table-turning thesis paper that is written by a Christian theist…from the outset. I knew it would be risky for them if they accepted and published me. Therefore, I wrote the paper to the best of my ability, such that it would steer clear of seeming to be "just another religious jaw." It was by no means any of the sort.
However…I suspect that the "editorial committee" put someone on the computer to Google me…to "see what I was really about." And, of course, on my blog I am openly and obviously a Christian theist.
I do not believe that this elite scholarly journal "rejected" my thesis paper because it was below standard or poorly written…or filled with a bunch of inflated claims that were obviously irrational for thinking individuals to "follow." I believe that they "rejected" my paper because they were afraid. And I do not blame them. My paper could have pissed off some seriously powerful individuals! And guess what business would be accused of "admitting approval," or "lending credence" to my ideas? That elite scholarly journal, that is who.
Thus, I have recently submitted the same thesis paper to a "Christian" philosophy journal…less prestigious, but, still…they, too, are afraid. I submitted two months ago. They are likely afraid for good reason. This paper would piss of just as many theists as it would a-theists! The paper seeks to share some simple observations. It seeks to address Charles Darwin's very own anticipated objection to his own theory…but it then turns round and gives credence to Darwin's theory, stating that there is no reason why a rational God should not be capable of "inventing" both Evolutionary and Cosmological Evolution…in order to set the universe going.
Sorry so long, but the point is just this. If more of us do not begin to fearlessly challenge the status quo—as I truly believe, by the way, that George constantly does challenge it on his blog—then we will simply be supplying the "unjust powers that be," with large numbers of passive people, who do nothing…due to their fear…fear of what others will think.
I am not pointing fingers at anyone, as I am in the same boat. My blog would be utterly different if I did not hold certain fears; fears like, "what will this or that publishing house think…will my "worldview" "cause" them to decline publishing me? Will my worldview have me "put out of the synagogue," so to speak?"
I wish we could all band together in order to take a stand in the courageous manner you always do, George.
But let's be real here. Like I mentioned in my post, Rosa Parks and the Woolworth's lunch counter happened in a time where it was perfectly acceptable to call blacks "nigger" loud and in public, and a good number of people would have nodded in agreement. But those acts of discrimination were handled without the law being involved. There was enough public pressure (even then) that forced those those businesses to change their policy.
Now think about how much stigma is associated with being a racist (why do you think the left never leaves home without the race card??). Think about the shop owner or whatever discriminating now. We are in a time where everyone is looking to be offended. Everyone is on the look out for the next dirty look. How long before someone notices the "covert" racism or discrimination and calls the news, or some activist group?
I mean, Apple pulled two religious apps that voiced their opinion that homosexuality was sinful. And that is a people group that represents only 3% of the American population. There is so much pressure that laws are not really needed, and lawsuits are just retaliatory and no better.
People on both sides need to grow up. The Bigots need to realize there are people out there they don't like but need to respect. And the activists need to realize there will always be people who don't like them.
Anyone who is providing goods or services to the public may not cherry pick from said public.
Everyone gets to drink from fountains in the public square.
The only way for religious organizations to be able to legally discriminate is if they are membership organizations and only provide services to members and they can define membership how they want.
Sort of like a Vancouver Golf club had a private lounge that was men only and the women of the club – who were paying something like $10,000 annual fees to be members – tried to sue for gender discrimination to have the lounge open to women.
They lost, because they accepted the terms when they joined and being a member wasn't a requirement – there are other gold clubs.
But even this is problematic, since more often than not, it's business going on in the lounges, deal brokering, networking – what woman can compete in the corporations when they don't have the same access to senior management and opportunities for networking?
It's the old boys club self perpetuation.
so too is refusing services that are otherwise available to anyone who can afford them.
I want to add that private sector businesses, operate in the public square.
They are not private in the way that your home is private.
It is an affront to personal dignity to be denied services or goods that are customarily available to the paying public just because you have some characteristic that the business owner disproves of.
It doesn't matter if it's a straight couple being kicked out of a gay club or a church group refusing to rent a hall for a gay wedding – if the public can walk in off the street and order a drink or book the venue, then the characteristics of the consumer cannot be used as justification to withhold services or goods.
People should not have to resort to human rights complaints, lawsuits, protests and boycotts – it's exhausting and a waste of time – and groups and businesses should know better than to give cause to start any of that.
and, since religion is given so much tax preferential treatment
perhaps it's critically more important that they above all, not be permitted to discriminate
unless they want to give up the tax status and be membership driven and not provide services to the public
then they can freely promote whatever view they like that will attract paying membership to support them and discriminate against non-members
I'm glad, Nina, that you defend that position so eloquently. I find your arguments persuasive.
I still remain a little apprehensive with the idea that a business is duty bound to provide a venue for controversial ideas- even if I personally think a gay wedding is far from a controversial idea.
If I owned a conference center, I would want the right to control the types of events that are held at my establishment. As I said in my earlier example, I wouldn't want to host a Focus on the Family convention knowing full well the kind of intolerance that seeps from that organization. I wouldn't want to in any way have my business associated with that kind of idea. I even wonder if being impelled to hold that kind of event might alienate potential customers who would want to rent my facilities. (Though if I were forced to hold such an event I would do my best to book several gay weddings the same weekend if I could find couples willing to play along- I would gladly do this at-cost for the lulz)
I still see good reason to disallow events on principle- though I would not extend that to people not expressly using the facilities for the offensive purpose.
I'm interested to see John's counter argument to your points- since I found them persuasive.
I wouldn't view it as duty bound to provide, but rather, duty bound to not deny.
As appalling as I think Focus on the Family is, if I operated a convention centre, I'd be willing to rent to them. They are as entitled as anyone else to get together.
It might even be an opportunity for dialog.
I think that it is an utter shame that any genuine follower of Jesus Christ treat his/her fellows, thus. This is anti-Society, in my opinion. For one thing, few Christians have critically analyzed the so called "scriptural authority" behind "judging sexuality," period! If they wish to site first Corinthians, I will ask them if they can tell me the context in which Paul of Tarsus wrote what he did! For crying out loud…I have met few Christians…if any…who can tell me about this!
Paul was attempting to rebuke the Corinthians for prosecuting one another–turning to worldly courts in order to do all of their "judging" and "condemning" of others!
Raise your hand if you think the owners of this bed and breakfast may just be "too fit" for their own society–so fit, that they think themselves righteous enough to execute the ultimate of judgments upon two rational, decent human beings: the judgment of "casting them from society." What they have decided to do…indeed, what they have admitted to doing…is "excluding" two decent human beings from the very "heart of things" within our society!
"Oh, my…they cannot participate in the heart of things, for they are a same sex couple….my, my, what would people think?"
"Woe to you Pharasees," Jesus said. "Woe to you who sit in the lofty seats judging!"
Jesus Christ came to show us how to "complete the societal circuit!" He did not come in order to burden us further with shalt's and shalt nots!
Here is what God the father said: "This is my son. Listen to him."
Here is what Jesus, the Son of God said: "Why are you afraid? Stop doubting and believe," and "…judge not lest ye be judged," and "You must be reconciled with those against whom you hold a grudge, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your crimes and offenses."
There are four things that destroy the Christian witness: choosing fear instead of faith…holding onto resentments and judgments against others…moral dominance and superiority…and emotional sophistication.
I am appalled that more leading and well known Christian teachers/pastors are not stepping up to clear up our conglomerate misunderstanding of "sexual immorality" (hint-hint: sex that harms or exploits others), and "sexuality" in general!
Sorry, George. Did not mean to rant, but…why am I the only Christian I know who sees the corruption in this? I tell you the truth, it is more dangerous to "exclude" members of one's own society from participating in the heart of things, than it is to be a low down no good smelly rotten "sinner!" At least the "sinner/criminal" more quickly comes to their senses that they are not competent enough to "complete the societal circuit" on their own…thus realizing that humanity's most clever, shrewd prayer directed toward "the brains" behind DNA is plain and simply, "…have mercy on me, Oh Lord my God, for I am a sinner/criminal."
The owner of that bed and breakfast has pretty much prayed the fools prayer, which is as follows: "I thank thee, God, that I am not like all those smelly rotten sinners…for I uphold what is right and pay my tithe…and I am a man married to a woman…and…I thank you God that I am not like 'them!'"
Grrrr…can we not see how spiritually sick we are when we conduct ourselves as though we are above others? when we exclude others from the very heart of things? Rest assured…if God exists, He is a social God…a very social God.
Here is a clever God's "plan" for justice and/or vengeance: "There is more joy in heaven over the repentance of one criminal/sinner, than there is over one-hundred "righteous" individuals who have never gone astray. I have exonerated all of your enemies…blotted out each of their crimes. Therefore, you are released from all of your grudges and from all of the judgments you had against them! If you forgive them…If and Only If…then, I will withhold my hand from executing vengeance upon you for your many crimes and offenses! Stop doubting and believe! You are now dismissed."
John said…
I think businesses (not governments) should be allowed to discriminate against anyone for any reason.
In our country, we have decided that this ought not be the case and we have made it illegal to discriminate against anyone for any reason. A business can't refuse to rent a room to a black couple for their being black, nor can they refuse to rent to a "mixed race" couple. I believe this to be a righteous law/ruling.
It's a different story for religious enterprises, because we allow for some discrimination amongst our religious groups so as to allow for religious diversity. But normal businesses can't discriminate for whatever reasons they want, and if they do, they can be held accountable.
I think this is reasonable and righteous.
nothing righteous is reasonable
righteous is putting ideas above people
that is immoral and an affront to personal dignity
[…] Misplaced Grace started an interesting conversation about whether religious business owners could cherry pick from the public who they wished to provide goods or services to, which is discriminating against members of the public they dislike. […]
Businesses have the right to discriminate. Government has no authority to make people love each other. The federal government has no authority under our Constitution to force a business to offer their services for support of events that promote homosexuality. (That is not to say all discrimination is morally acceptable.)
It is funny how those who cry the loudest "Separation of Church and State" and demand no religious principles entwined with government are the first to approve of the State interference with people's religious principles. Essentially what these homosexuals want is to co-opt free speech. They want Christians to make them feel married and make them feel their choice in sexual behavior is acceptable.
A government that forces a business to open its services in contravention to the religious principles of its owners is a despotic regime.
We, in the US, have indeed decided that the state has the authority to outlaw discrimination. Why? Because people have their right to religion, but people also have the right not to have their life, liberty and property taken from them. One person's right to swing their fist ends at another's nose. One person's right to run to run their business as they deem best (including discriminating or otherwise oppressing an entire group of people) ends at another group's right to not be harmed or oppressed.
It's been decided in our nation, thank God, and decided rightly, I believe.
separation of church and state does need to be enforced by government the same as any other law government passes
no one is preventing anyone from believing what they want – however, the right to beleive in any religion does not include any protection for the expression or practice
particularly when said practice results in harm to other people
which is why parents who's children die from faith healing are charged criminally for failing to seek actual medical attention
and discrimination is a social harm on the dignity of other people
so a business owner's religion does not get to be imposed on their customers
Good post and interresting dilemma.
If I had a restaurant or a conference centre and a bunch of neo-natzies wanted to rent my premises, would I not be compelled to reject them? To tell them, that as I despise what they represent. To deny them for that reason is a nother thing from denying them because I am affraid their public event at my premises might harm my business image. I would say that the latter would be an adequate reason for me to ban them, the former would not. But proving that would be much more complicated, than one would expect.
Market economy does not repair social injusticies. The Roman Empire was a market economy based on slave trade and it held together almost for a thousand years as it was in the interrest of the markets to buy and sell enslaved workforce.
The legal action this couple in the example has taken against the B&B enterpreneur is propably just what they feel they need to do to have an audience to the incident. So people who think they were discriminated would boycott that business.
My friend who is a hotel manager, said that the american guests are allways the most difficult, as they are continuously complaining. Supposedly they await to be compensated by services or by money, for the hotel to avoid legal action. But our legal system here in Finland rarely offers any monetary compensations as a resolve to such cases.
Religious freedom means a person has the right to do homage to their gods, but it does not say a person may discriminate those of different faith in their business.
I agree with Dan Trabue, that the legal system of a nation must have right to interfere in discriminatory practices of a business. If there is no laws concerning how one can make money, money will be made with the most immoral and harmfull ways imaginable.
It is just a question of where do we draw the line. Cultural backround traditionally has defined that, but as the world is globalizing, it grows more difficult to define it. General ethics of lesser harm vs. greater harm could be the answer. Who suffers more, the B&B owner or the couple who wanted their marriage to be held there? The owners right to his premices, or the public notion of discrimination being generally wrong?
I think that after the reply the couple had from the B&B, they propably would not want to have their marriage held there anymore, but it is natural that they want this to become a public issue, as they feel discriminated. Is courtroom the right place to settle their discontent? Yes, if that is the only media they can have the attention to the issue.
Katie, here in Finland the bishops of the Lutheran state church have taken some stand in presenting Jesus as a messanger of tolerance to all people. Most people are really not interrested. But the most openly religious have rushed to condemn the liberal attitudes of the bishops and that in turn has lead people to separate from the church en masse, because they feel the small, but loud minority of fundies to be more representative of church and christianity in general than the liberal and tolerant bishops… Sad, really.
October 16, 2011


text:
Liz's 1926 Sears Craftsman Home
Name: Liz
Location: Fairview neighborhood - Phoenix, Arizona
Our 1926 Sears Craftsman home arrived in numbered pieces from a train, and was assembled on-site by its owner. It is the oldest home in our neighborhood with the next being built nearly two years later.
The original wood floors, original doors and hardware all make for a very special place to call our home. The biggest challenge has been space, but that has pushed us to fill the home with pieces we truly love, and scale back on the extras. I don't have a standard "style" category that I would fit in to - I would probably call it eclectic goth glam, because it's a mix of vintage and modern, skulls and creepy things, and sparkles. It's pretty magical!
Thanks, Liz!
(Images: Esther Ruth Photography, submitted by Liz )
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.


text:
Planning Council/December 07 2011
|Meeting Title:
|Planning Council Conference Call
|Date & Time:
|Wednesday, December 07, 2011, at 1200 Eastern
|For the call-in numbers, see the "Project Review" number on Foundation Portal page.
Members and Attendees
Note: "Inactive" refers to Strategic Members or PMCs we have not heard from for a while, and have been unable to convince to participate. Those members can become active again at any time. Contact David Williams if questions.
Note: feel free to correct any errors/omissions in above attendance record.
Y = Yes, attended
N = No, did not
R = regrets sent ahead of time
D = delegated
X = not expected
- Any?
Indigo SR2
- Anything?
Juno Plan and Requirements
- Any issues?
Review Requirements for substance and wording. See last meeting notes from November 23, 2011 for notes of previous discussion.
The things to focus on, for this meeting, are
- in particular, the new requirement: Documenting compliance
- and, since last meeting was not well attended, we will confirm, again, everyone supports the new requirement asking to make it easy to get released source.
Other clarifications?
- Other comments/improvements to plan?
Checklist (aka tracker)
From last meeting, concluded there was not resources to support information on Portal, but we'd add section asking for "statement" in review documentation, as I've written up in the new requirement: Documenting compliance. Need to "disconnect" portal dialogs, tracked in bug 364647.
From last meeting, Longer term, not in time for Juno, fields such as link to rampdown plan, link to accessibility testing, link to API policy, retention policy, etc. will be part of the new "super portal" for projects to fill in, or not, depending on type of release, needs of the project, etc.
Other business
- Name that release. Juno+1. Need volunteer to drive community discussion and vote.
- Anything else?
Next Meeting
- January 4, 2012 (our regular "first Wednesday" meeting, at Noon Eastern).


text:
Sesame Workshop Receives Sixteen Daytime Emmy Nominations
Sesame Workshop is celebrating 16 Daytime Emmy nominations that were announced this morning. Sesame Street is honored to be leading the pack of children's programs with the most nominations! We are so proud to have three of the show's performers Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Joey Mazzarino, and David Rudman up for Outstanding Performer and two songs "ABCs of Moving" and "Rhymes with Mando" in the running for Outstanding Original Song.
Sesame Street's cast, crew, and creative team were recognized in 11 categories:
Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series
Outstanding New Approaches – Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series
Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series
Outstanding Writing in a Children's Series
Outstanding Directing in a Children's Series
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction
Outstanding Achievement in Multiple Camera Editing
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – Live Action
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action
Outstanding Original Song
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling
The Workshop is also thrilled The Electric Company and our community engagement program Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration both received nominations in the Outstanding New Approaches category.


text:
Ghyll:Quezlarian Numerals
Excerpted from the Folktown Records, edition 578.
"When, and how, did Ghyll develop Quezlar numerals?" --Morphous Ibb, age 7.
Tim Timperton replies: "Like many things in Ghyll, they were designed to cover up the aesthetic problems of core script. Quezlarian (or Quezlar) numerals, contrary to popular belief, were invented by Quezlar 6. According to recent research by the Council for Quezlarian Research, Quezlar 6 was so upset with the shape of the core script number in his name that he invented a whole new optional numbering system: Quezlar numerals. Delightfully, VI was the nickname of his wife, Violetta, which explains why 6 is spelled VI in Quezlarian numerals."
Intriguingly enough, the secretive Council for Quezlarian Research emphatically deny the above claim! But we need not doubt it; Tim Timperton was a high ranking member of the council before taking up post as an agony uncle in the Folktown Records. Why he would change career from a Quezlarian researcher to an agony uncle, one can only guess...
Citations: Agony uncle, Council for Quezlarian Research.
--Sean B. Palmer 11:44, 20 Aug 2004 (EDT)
I really must protest the use of the term Agony uncle to describe a fine upstanding lad like Tim Timperton. As my esteemed fellow researcher is obviously aware, an "Agony uncle" is a derogatory term applied to employees of the Folktown Records weekly newspaper. While I admit that Tim works at that fine establishment, he is a fine, upstanding lad. Not at all like that pile of splak father of his, Bysted Timperton. I should know, I play cards with the old dog every Tuesday and he cheats. --Qwentyth Pyre 01:34, 3 Sep 2004 (EDT)
Not living close enough to the Folktown Records offices to have ever heard the term "agony uncle" used in a derogatory manner, I stand by my use of the phrase as it stands in the entry. The author of the "Agony uncle" entry should've noted that in more rural areas the phrase has lost its pejorative connotations, though he was probably as unaware of that as I was the inverse. --Sean B. Palmer 13:03, 3 Sep 2004 (EDT)
I think you'll find that it is more a matter of the phrase having not yet gained the pejorative connotations it gained in less backward areas. Prior to around -3 EC the Folktown Records actually used the term itself, but this was becoming more and more of a sore point with its staff since it had gained its derogatory nuance at least 5 years previously. --Talliesin 18:47, 15 Sep 2004 (EDT)


text:
Serve up a little black magic — in the form of cocktails made with vodka that's as dark as night.
Ghost in the Graveyard
Serves 1
2 ounces black vodka
2 ounces creme de cacao or coffee-flavored liqueur
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg, for garnish
In a glass, combine vodka and creme de cacao, and set aside. Place a scoop of ice cream in a highball glass, and slowly pour vodka mixture over ice cream. Garnish with nutmeg; serve immediately.
Screwed-Up Screwdriver
Serves 1
1/4 cup ice
1/2 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice
1 1/2 ounces black vodka
1 black licorice twist, for serving
Place ice in a tall glass. Pour juice into glass. Pour vodka over the back of a cocktail spoon into glass so it sits on top of juice and creates a layer of black. Slice 1/4 inch off each end of licorice, and use as a straw. Serve immediately.
Berry Scary Martini
Serves 1
1 cup ice
1 ounce black vodka
2 ounces cherry juice
Fresh raspberries and blueberries, for garnish
Combine ice, vodka, and cherry juice in a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass. Thread raspberries and blueberries onto a cocktail skewer, and place in drink. Serve immediately.
{via Martha Stewart}


text:
- ITV Report
IPCC launch independent investigation into Hillsborough
Statement by Deborah Glass, Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission:
One month ago the Hillsborough Independent Panel delivered a report that gave the families of those who died, those that were injured and those who were traumatised in the terrible events of 15 April 1989, the details they had sought for 23 years.
The report revealed extremely serious and troubling issues for the police. Its contents provoked a demand for those responsible for the actions revealed in the report to be held to account.
We have learned details of the run-up to the disaster including the unheeded warnings from previous incidents, the disaster itself, and its aftermath, including what appear to be attempts to distort the truth.
These findings are a testament to the tenacity of the Hillsborough families' long campaign for truth and justice. Their dedication to the memory of those they loved – and the support of the people of Merseyside – has been humbling.
But 23 years was far too long to wait. It has been a generation of distress and anger. And the picture is not yet complete.
It is now for the Independent Police Complaints Commission and other organisations to try to complete that picture.
Since the report was published, the IPCC has been undertaking a thorough review of it and has also begun to examine the 450,000 pages of supporting evidence to identify what conduct, by named or unnamed police officers, requires investigation.
While the review was ongoing we received referrals from West Yorkshire Police Authority in relation to Sir Norman Bettison, South Yorkshire Police in relation to the events before, during and after 15 April 1989, and West Midlands Police in relation to their role in the investigation of events.
We have considered all of this and determined there are a number of matters which require investigation by the IPCC.
These are:
- The amendments to statements – who ordered it, who knew about it, who was involved in the process, and was pressure put on individual officers?
- The allegations that misleading information was passed to the media, MPs, Parliament and Inquiries in an apparent attempt to deflect blame from the police on to the fans.
- The actions of police officers after the disaster, including the questioning of next of kin about alcohol consumption, the checking of blood alcohol levels and the undertaking of Police National Computer checks on the dead and injured
- The role of West Midlands Police and those who led that investigation into the disaster.
All of these matters will be subject of an independent investigation by the IPCC. We will be setting up a dedicated Hillsborough team to carry this out.
However, in addition, there are other matters where we believe we will have a role to play.
Ninety-six men, women and children died as a result of Hillsborough. The Attorney General must decide whether to apply to the High Court to quash the original inquest verdicts and seek new ones. The Director of Public Prosecutions has announced today that he will review the evidence.
The IPCC will work with the Director of Public Prosecutions, and any Coroner appointed to hear fresh inquests, to carry out any further investigation that may be required before or after any new inquests are held, and identify the appropriate body to investigate any individual or entity we cannot.
I must stress the scope of our work is not yet clear – and we do not underestimate the size of our task.
We do not yet know how many officers or retired officers fall to be investigated for the various matters we have identified, how many are still serving or still alive. Work will continue to identify individuals and their circumstances, and what potential offences require investigation. We can investigate both criminal and misconduct offences after an officer has retired, though retirement prevents any misconduct sanction. We are continuing to review the underlying documentation in the report and other conduct matters may come to light.
An important part of our work will be liaising with the families and other interested parties. We have made contact with them, and will set out the initial scope and projected timing, and keep them in touch with progress. Justice demands that we do whatever is possible to investigate culpability for any offence that may have been committed, and to do so thoroughly and fairly. The families have already waited for twenty-three years. I want to give them my assurance that we will do everything in our power to investigate these serious and disturbing allegations with the careful and robust scrutiny they deserve.


text:
Hexie Farm (蟹农场): The Anchor of Political Reform
For the latest installment in his CDT series, cartoonist Crazy Crab of Hexie Farm gives his perspective on prospects for political reform in China. A boat representing reform is prevented from moving forward by the hammer-and-sickle shaped anchor of "one-party dictatorship."
Read more about Hexie Farm's CDT series, including a Q&A with the anonymous cartoonist, and see all cartoons so far in the series.
[CDT owns the copyright for all cartoons in the Hexie Farm CDT series. Please do not reproduce without receiving prior permission from CDT.]


text:
Humble Ebook Bundle Breaks $1 Million; All The Authors Should Be Best Sellers
from the if-they-counted-properly dept
More than 70,000 people have bought these books in just two weeks, and the folks at Humble Bundle passed along the news that the current average price of $13.94 (which keeps on rising, as people pay over the average to unlock all the extras) far surpasses all of their previous bundles. And yet, people keep telling us that there are no business models that work and that people won't pay for stuff when they can get it for free? When do we finally put those two bogus assumptions to rest?


text:
Wall Street Adapts to New Regulatory Regime
Big Banks Shed Assets, Shore Up Defenses to Comply With Dodd-Frank
Four years after the Dodd-Frank financial law became reality, Washington's regulatory machine is altering Wall Street in fundamental ways.
Banks are selling off profitable business lines, pulling back from the short-term funding market, cutting ties with businesses that could attract extra regulatory scrutiny, and building up defenses to help weather future crises. While profits are up as firms slash costs and reduce funds set aside to cover future losses, their traditional profit engine—trading—is showing signs of weakening...