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Congressional Testimony on the Charities' Response to the September 11 Terrorist Attack For Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means
Published 11/08/2001
By Daniel Borochoff, President
The American Institute of Philanthropy and Charitywatch.org is a nonprofit charity watchdog and information resource dedicated to helping its members and the general public make wise giving decisions. Since 1993 we have been America's most outspoken watchdog of the accountability, financial, governance and promotional practices of charities. We are most famous for our letter grade (A+ to F) ratings of the financial performance of charities as published in the Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report. During this recent crisis nearly every major US media outlet has covered AIP's advice, analyses and concerns. Some of the problems brought to light in the aftermath of the recent crisis are unfortunately all too common in the nonprofit sector and were of serious concern before September 11.
Americans have been far too hazy when it comes to making charitable giving decisions and following-up on how charities are using their contributions. Charities are making it difficult for donors in their fundraising appeals when they are not specific about their intended use of contributions. What often happens is that the charity heavily raises money for the one or two aspects of its work that people are most inclined to support and neglects to fully inform donors about the other planned uses of funds. This happened in this disaster but it also regularly happens with other groups. For example, a disease group may primarily ask for money to find a cure and to help your poor neighbor with its medical bills yet the most advertised need may only represent 20% or less of the charities total spending.
Ordinarily nonprofit organizations find a need, develop a plan or budget and then raise funds for it. In this crisis everything happened in reverse. The money poured in so quickly the charities are scrambling to figure out what to do with it. Shortly after the attack it is understandable that the charities must rapidly help take care of suffering people and seek emergency funding before knowing how much money is required for immediate or short-term needs. When judging the charity's response to this crisis, we should separate out its performance meeting short-term, intermediate-term and long-term needs. For longer-term needs it is better to be patient with the charities and give them time to assess unmet needs and allow them to prudently distribute the funds.
This disaster recovery effort is more complicated than others in recent history because it involved so many players including layers of federal, state and municipal government, insurance companies and about 200 charities. Not only was this a horrible disaster it was also an act of crime and therefore victims have access to federal and state crime victim compensation funds. It is important to be aware that though the $1 billion plus raised by the charities seems like a lot it is small compared to the $100 billion that the government and insurance companies may be putting into this crisis. The role of the charities is to fill in the cracks and meet those needs that are not being met by the government and insurance coverage. The federal victims' compensation fund that is still being designed may lead to victim's families receiving anywhere from $600,000 to $25 million (the specific amount depends upon the income of the victim, the size of the overall fund and other factors, many not yet determined) by this spring. The rules have not yet been written for this fund but there is a risk that charitable money given to victims will be subtracted from their federal pay out. The charities' role is to help victims' families until this big federal pay out becomes available. I am concerned that the public is not aware of this fund and is thinking that the charities are supposed to use their money for the same purpose.
In this crisis many people wanted to give money to the families of the 400 brave firefighters and police who were struck down in the line of duty. Many charity fundraisers were conducted across the country for these victims. Yet these victims already receive substantial benefits because of their job. They receive a tax-free pension of the officer's full salary for the life of the widow, $151,000 from the Department of Justice, $25,000 from the New York City Mayor's Office and money from their union. Any charity raising money for these uniformed people have an obligation to inform donors of what they are receiving from other sources so donors can decide if they want to provide additional support. The Twin Towers Fund, which has raised over $85 million and distributed nothing yet for the families of uniformed city personnel, should tell the public how much it wishes to distribute to each family and when it plans to do so. (This fund announced shortly after this testimony was written that it planned to distribute $40 million to victims' families before Thanksgiving.)
If the donors and charities have been confused by this crisis, you can imagine the difficulty of the victims. Unless the charities and governmental agencies can set-up a one-stop shop for victim aid, I would suggest that a counselor or social worker be assigned to each direct victim's family to help them navigate the maze. I'm concerned that bolder people that know how to work the system will receive a lot more than timid less bureaucratically experienced types. Also, I am concerned about individual victims that show up on multiple television programs and are included in news articles receiving baskets of money from the public while less publicized victims are neglected. This is also something that happened after the Oklahoma City bombing.
I want to clear up some confusion about the American Red Cross. It is a financially efficient organization and receives an "A" grade from AIP for spending 90 percent of its total expenses on program services and having a cost of only $15 to raise $100. The concern in this disaster is that it is spending money on areas other than what was most heavily advertised and perceived to be the need by the public that being the direct victims, their family and the relief workers. Even if the Red Cross keeps to it $320 million budget, it is likely that less than half of the $550 million raised will be used for this purpose.
I believe that the Red Cross in its zeal to fundraise while the iron was hot raised more money than it needed for what it would ordinarily do in a disaster and behaved opportunistically by using this crisis to raise money for programs that were not a major part of its advertising such as upgrading its phones and computers, promoting humanitarian principles and encouraging tolerance. Many of these programs such as building a strategic blood reserve are useful and important but the Red Cross needed to be more specific about raising money for them. I'm concerned about the Red Cross raising money for programs that might be better run by other nonprofits. For example, why is the Red Cross raising money in its Liberty Fund for physiological trauma counseling nationwide when we already have local mental health associations across the country that can offer this service? A great strength of the nonprofit sector is its diversity of organizations that allows for many creative solutions to complex problems.
On October 26, Dr. Bernadine Healy was forced to resign by year-end as president of the American Red Cross. Up to this point, which is 45 days after September 11th, the Red Cross had spent $140 million of the $500 million it had raised. The $140 million that was spent by October 26 is still $100 million less than the $240 million it had raised by October 2nd. On this date, three weeks after the terrorist strike, Dr. Healy said on National Public Radio that the $240 million dollars that the Red Cross had raised at that time was not enough to cover "our needs in the short-term." As a guest on the same program, I twice pressed Dr. Healy to tell the public specifically how much the Red Cross needed for the short-term and both times she did not answer my question. After the show I said to her: "Is it the case you do not know how much the Red Cross needs in the short-term" and she said emphatically "No." As a watchdog that does not give up easily I asked her in the elevator, "if we had Bill Gates right here and he was willing to write a check to cover the Red Cross' short-term needs, what would you ask him to give?" Her answer was, "I'd ask him what he wants to fund."
The Red Cross could have avoided a lot of donor confusion had it used the Liberty Fund exclusively to raise money for immediate disaster relief and direct victim aid and then cut off fundraising after this need had been met at about $250 million. I believe that it would be dishonoring the intentions of donors for the Red Cross to continue with its plan to keep $200 million or more in a reserve fund for a large-scale terrorist strike that may never occur. I would encourage the Red Cross to keep a more reasonable terrorist disaster reserve of about $50 million, which is what it seeks to maintain in its general disaster fund. The Red Cross should not keep such a large amount of disaster contributions in limbo during a time of great need.
AIP is concerned that the Red Cross' is giving out cash gifts to victims who could be in line for multi-million dollar insurance policies. The purpose of the Red Cross' Family Gift Program is to meet the cash flow needs, i.e. pay the bills for a victim's family. More could be accomplish with our limited charitable dollars if they were given out as loans that would later be repaid upon receipt of large personal or company insurance payments. The money could then be given as a gift to someone who really needed a cash gift. I brought this to Dr. Healy's attention in early October and she said that it is the Red Cross' policy to do it this way and she was not interested in changing. $100 million dollars has been earmarked for this fund and only about half of it has been distributed, which may explain why the Red Cross is giving gifts to people who only need loans.
Had the American Red Cross behaved more appropriately in this crisis it could have looked forward to receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Instead its actions have tarnished its high public standing and brought distrust and skepticism to the entire nonprofit field. Though, some healthy skepticism is needed and long overdue in the nonprofit sector, where people's good intentions are too often taken advantage of.
The September 11th Fund, which is being administered by the United Way and the New York Community Trust, has been slow to respond and has not been as accountable as it should be. It took over a month after the terrorist strike to put together a board even though most of the board members wound up being from the United Way and the New York Community Trust boards. The Fund has only distributed one-tenth of the $340 million that it has raised. The United Way and NY Community Trust is to be commended for paying for the Funds administrative overhead. Though the Fund's earlier claim that "100% of all contributions to the September 11th Fund are being used to help the victims, families and communities affected by the terrorist strike" is not totally correct since the Fund gives grants to other nonprofits who may spend some of this money on overhead costs. The Fund has been slow to make and report its grants. Up until October 15, it had only identified three organizations on its web site that it made grants to of $4.5 million and another $1.3 million of unidentified grants.
The Red Cross and September 11th Fund, which both account for 75% of the funds raised, and other charities that are directly involved in this crisis need to be more cognizant of how their aggressive fundraising efforts impact non-disaster charities. Money directed for this crisis will not be available for other important programs at a time of great need. Americans on average have been stuck at giving about 2% of their income over the past three decades. Income is in decline due to the faltering economy. Therefore, many social and human service charities are receiving less donations while being asked to provide more services to people that have lost their jobs or are abusing drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with the fear of terrorist threats.
It is unfortunate that the charities did not do a better job of coordinating their relief efforts. Early on the charities should have divided up the names of the individual victims from the WTC employer lists and reached out to the victims that had been assigned to them. Charities not knowing which victims had already been contacted had to duplicate the efforts of others. AIP has frequently spoken out in support of the New York State Attorney General's efforts to create an informational database to help charities coordinate their relief efforts. AIP was disappointed by the Red Cross' refusal up until late October to share its information on pay out amounts to specific individuals with other charities. This made it very difficult for other charities to know what to give to a victim's family if it did not know what the biggest charity player had already done. Red Cross cited privacy concerns and expressed a concern to me that the other charities may let information out on victims that could subject them to being harassed by marketers with knowledge of the money that they had received. The Red Cross also said that there were other charities that shared their position but would not publicly admit it. I believe that the charities can introduce controls in the database to protect privacy and allow for an equitable distribution of funds that will keep dishonest people from double or even triple dipping.
On November 2nd, the New York Attorney General gave over control of the informational database to the charities. I believe that we need a governmental regulator or independent organization or individual to closely monitor this database. Otherwise, we may not know whether the charities are fully cooperating and equitably helping all of the victims. By taking this database out of the control of the NY A.G., I am seriously concerned that the charities may be trying to skirt some needed accountability. (The NY A.G. continues to closely monitor and have an important influence over the database and strongly encourages charities to participate in it.)
Donors and the media need to be able to receive reports from this database, not on what is being done for a specific named individual, but on what type and amount of aid is being provided by all the charities to classes of individuals. This cross-charity accountability will help donors to determine if they should target additional contributions and encourage charities to spend existing reserves on needs that are not being met.
In the event that charitable contributions are still unspent after all of the short- and intermediate-term needs of the direct victims of the disaster are met, AIP would consider it reasonable to use the remaining funds to provide aid to the indirect victims who have lost their jobs in devastated sectors of our economy.
The important lesson for donors in this crisis is that they must target their contributions to meet specific needs that are clearly articulated by the charities. Giving as a way of grieving, honoring brave firefighters or as a way "to do something" may make one feel good but it does not help us to accomplish the highest and best use of America's precious charitable dollars.


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CrossFit Fires Spokesman Who Tweeted LGBTQ Pride is a 'Sin'
A high-ranking spokesman for CrossFit has been fired by the fitness brand after tweeting support for a CrossFit gym's cancelation of a Pride event, writing that celebrating LGBTQ pride is a "sin," BuzzFeed reports.
CrossFit's "chief knowledge officer" Russell Berger, who often served as a company spokesperson, came under fire Wednesday after tweeting support of a CrossFit gym in Indianapolis, Ind. where its owners canceled a workout event celebrating Pride Month. As WTTV reports, management at CrossFit Infiltrate nixed the workout planned by coaches at the gym and it was reportedly explained in an email that "the owners of the gym value health and wellness, and they believe that this event does not."
A former member of the gym, Dan Mendoza, told the news station he reached out to the gym management for clarification of their position and said he received the following email:
"Our underlying goal for the staff and members at CrossFit Infiltrate and our other gyms CrossFit White River and University Ave CrossFit, is total health and well-being for the individual and the community. Total health involves the body, the emotions, relationships, and the spirit. At the foundational detractor from health, as we believe God sets the parameters for, is pride. We believe that true health forever can only be found within humility, not pride. Humility is seeing oneself as they truly are, and as God truly defines them to be. As a business we will choose to deploy our resources towards those efforts and causes that line up with our own values and beliefs."
After a backlash ensued, WTTV reports officials from CrossFit Infiltrate released a statement about the incident:
"The unfortunate line that is being read about the gym grossly misrepresents what CrossFit Infiltrate stands for and what it believes. The majority of the reviews and statements being read about the gym largely point out that Infiltrate's community has been incredible and welcoming and that the decision not to host an Indy Pride event is the reason we are called bigots or discriminative. However, let the history of the gym speak for itself and for the position we take in this divisive atmosphere, CrossFit Infiltrate welcomes, serves, and prioritizes training people to be fit and functional in body, mind, and spirit. It never has and never will be anything but welcoming to all human beings who live, move, and breathe in God's world."
That's when Berger tweeted in support of the gym management, doubling down anti-LGBTQ sentiments. Though he has since deleted his tweets, they've were screen shot and saved.
"As someone who personally believes celebrating 'pride' is a sin, I'd like to personally encourage #CrossFitInfiltrate for standing by their convictions and refusing to host an @indypride workout," Berger wrote. "The intolerance of the LGBTQ ideology toward any alternative views is mind-blowing."
"The tactics of some in the LGBTQ movement toward dissent is an existential threat to freedom of expression," he added.
Responding to a Twitter user who took issue with his comments, the former exec wrote, "Thankfully I work for a company that tolerates disagreement. I have homosexual coworkers who I love and respect, and as far as I am aware, they aren't demanding I be punished for my views."
BuzzFeed reports Berger was first placed on unpaid leave of absence but CrossFit later confirmed on Twitter that he was fired.
"The statements made today by Russell Berger do not reflect the views of CrossFit Inc.," the company said. "For this reason, his employment with CrossFit has been terminated."
Speaking with BuzzFeed, CrossFit founder and CEO Greg Glassman said he does not agree with Berger's views, which he said are "appalling."
"He needs to take a big dose of 'shut the fuck up' and hide out for awhile. It's sad," Glassman said. "We do so much good work with such pure hearts - to have some zealot in his off-time do something this stupid, we're all upset. The whole company is upset. This changes his standing with us. What that looks like, I don't know. It's so unfortunate."
BuzzFeed reports, Berger, who resides in Huntsville, Ala., is a CrossFit trainer who opened a CrossFit affiliate gym early in the company's run. He's also a pastor at a local church.
Berger also spoke with the website to elaborate his views, saying he was upset over the Pride event at the Indianapolis gym.
"I have no qualms with the gym owner expressing his personal convictions, I have no qualms with customers and coaches leaving because they have different convictions," he told BuzzFeed. "But I did have qualms with the massive response from people who had no direct business relationship with the affiliate, but just engaged in social media-organized public destruction of his business' reputation and forced him to shut his doors. I think that's an expression of pure intolerance, not being able to disagree with someone and engage in meaningful discourse."
He went on to say that he often tweets as a CrossFit employee but also as someone who speaks about religious issues "as a social media user and the pastor of a church." He added that his tweets are "nothing I haven't said before on social media." Nevertheless, he said the two issues rarely converge like they did with this incident.
"It became way too difficult to discern between me making statements of personal opinion, and me speaking as a voice for CrossFit," Berger told BuzzFeed, adding that he should have known his comments would be read as him representing CrossFit.
"I should have realized that, and I didn't until it was too late," he said. "I do regret it," adding that he still stands by his original comments.
"My actual point I was making, I still affirm it," Berger told BuzzFeed.
Watch WTTV's report on the CrossFit gym canceling its Pride workout in the clip below.


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Just in case you haven't heard enough bad news this year about cotton prices, here's one more: factoring in the current standard of living and the inflation rate, cotton prices are at their absolute lowest ever — lower even than the seven and eight cents per-pound cotton seen during the Great Depression.
"Seven cents would buy more in 1933 than 40 cents will buy today," said Bob Goodman, Auburn University Extension economist, speaking at the recent Alabama Cotton Field Day in Belle Mina. "But the good news is that while last year was tough, this year should be better. The price of cotton was low last year — in the 50-cent range — but the adjusted world price was so high that we got a POP payment of only two to three cents."
The adjusted world price now is down to 30 cents, so the POP payment this year should be in the 20-cent range, says Goodman. "If you booked cotton today for 40 cents, you would be looking at a POP payment in the 20-cent range. So, you would be back up in that 60-cent range. The season-average price for cotton received by farmers last year will be near or below 50 cents, so this year should be better.
"This year should be better because — Number One — we'll have a higher POP payment, and — Number Two — growers in many parts of Alabama last year didn't have any cotton to sell. We should have cotton to sell this year, and the price will be somewhat improved," he says.
Analyzing legislation
In looking at upcoming farm legislation, the U.S. Senate, says Goodman, has approved $5.5 billion in emergency disaster assistance. "This program pays 85 percent of your 1999 AMTA payment, for whichever crop you grow. For cotton producers, there's also a cotton seed rebate included in this legislation," he says.
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has passed and the Senate soon will be considering a new farm bill "that may actually help farmers," says Goodman. "Basically, we're going back to a target price system with this legislation. Do you remember when we had the deficiency payments and target prices? We're going back to a system where we'll have payments. When prices are low, the government has established a target price, and payments will be made based on that.
"But AMTA payments will continue, and they'll be called 'fixed payments.' It's about six cents per pound for cotton, 30 cents for corn and 42 cents for soybeans. Then, if prices are low, the government will make a counter-cyclical payment, and this is identical to a deficiency payment. The counter-cyclical payment will be the target price — 74 cents for cotton — minus the fixed or AMTA payment — which will be six cents — minus the higher of the loan rate or the market price," he explains.
If the farm bill proposed by the House committee was in effect today, cotton producers would be getting a good price for their crop, notes Goodman.
"The market price is 40 cents and the loan rate is 52 cents. You would be getting a 16-cent deficiency payment plus a six-cent AMTA payment. You get the deficiency payment and the AMTA payment on 85 percent of your crop, so the six cents translates into about five cents and the 16 cents translates into about 14 cents. If you sold on the market today, at about 40 cents per pound, and the 24-cent POP payment of this farm bill was in effect, we'd be looking at a price of about 83 cents per pound. The 85 percent applies to the program yield and not the actual yield made.
"If you weren't getting a POP payment, but you were getting the five cents, 14 cents and 52 cents, you still would get about 71 cents per pound for your cotton, and that would be very close to the target price of 74 cents."
The proposed farm bill is a 10-year program, says Goodman, and payments are fixed and decoupled. Payment rates for current contract crops will be set at 2002 levels, and the soybean payment rate will be 34 cents per bushel with a comparable rate for minor oilseeds.
"The payments are decoupled, so you'll get payments no matter what you plant. Payments are made on the basis of your farm bases and your program yields. If you don't plant anything for one year, you'll get the fixed payment and the counter-cyclical payment. In a year of high corn prices and low cotton prices, you could plant your entire farm in corn. You could make a corn crop, sell it, and get government payments on the cotton base."
The farm bill proposed by the House committee could be very similar to the final legislation, says Goodman, because the bill has enjoyed such strong support in Washington.


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Here at Tapasya@Marina, our first and foremost desire is to allow our guests to escape from the bustling city.
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Marco Pierre Whites Steakhouse Bar & Gri, 24 Ferensway, Hull, HU2 8NH (0 miles, 1 km)
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Steakhouse Bar & Grill is everything you would expect from a traditional Steakhouse combined with the superior quality of Marco Pierre White.
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Hull's only American smokehouse
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Ideally located in Hull's cosmopolitan Princes Avenue, Fudge Café-Restaurant, with its stylish décor and space, creates a vibrant atmosphere in which to enjoy fresh contemporary cuisine.
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The Deep, Tower Street, Hull, HU1 4DP (1 miles, 1 km)
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The Deep, Hull's £53 million Millennium Commission Lottery project is renown for its sharks and abundance of other marine life, but did you know there is a restaurant that is perfect for those seeking unique dining opportunities?
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Freedom Quay, Wellington Street West, Marina, Hull, HU1 2BE (0 miles, 1 km)
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A Modern twist on tapas based on the beautiful marina, a great setting for any occasion
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It is always a pleasure to dine in the warm and friendly atmosphere at Route 66 Diner Trinity Hotel.
1-2 Bishop Lane, Hull, HU1 2PA (0 miles, 0 km)
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When you visit Hitchcocks vegetarian restaurant you are treated to something likened to a surrealist mystery tour. The emphasis is most definitely on social and informal eating.
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Our Hull site is nestled in the heart of the Fruit Market in a former fruit and veg warehouse. Whilst the exterior retains a touch of the buildings past, the interior has been transformed into a contemporary, vibrant and energetic space.
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A quick look at your weekend options. For even more ideas, go to www.StarNewsPlay.com or www.StarNewsOnline.com/WAE.
Friday: Downtown Sundown
For many Wilmingtonians, Downtown Sundown, a summer concert series at held in Riverfront Park, marks the start of the summer season. As in years past, pretty much every band on the schedule will pay homage to the great rockers who came before them. This year's first offering is Once, a Pearl Jam tribute group from Atlanta.
All Downtown Sundown concerts are free, so if Once's lead singer doesn't channel Eddie Vedder perfectly, you can't ask for a refund. The show starts at 6 p.m. with opening act Seneca Guns. Once will wrap by 10 p.m.
Those who wish to imbibe beer and wine can do so after buying a wristband that costs $1. Details: 763-7349 or www.WilmingtonDowntown.com
Saturday and Sunday: Orange Street ArtsFest
If you're like us, you may want to avoid the hordes headed to New Hanover County beaches for Memorial Day weekend. Instead of keeping the kiddos cooped up, take them to this downtown Wilmington arts festival where they can get their hands dirty with other local youngsters.
The 18th annual Orange Street ArtsFest kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. at Orange Street between Front and Second streets with exhibits featuring oil and watercolor paintings, jewelry, pottery, wood, glass, photography and basketry pieces, all available for purchase.
This year's event, a fundraiser for Thalian Association community theater, also will feature a variety of arts and crafts activities for kids. Festival-goers will be treated to music and visual art from area school children in the courtyard of the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center at 120 S. Second St. Live music, wine and beer and food tents will round out the two-day affair. Go to www.Thalian.org or call 251-1788 for details.
Saturday and Sunday: City pools open
Leave the sand to the out-of-towners and go for a dip in one of the Port City's sparkling swimming pools. Beginning Saturday, the city's three public pools will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Locations are: Legion Pool, 2131 Carolina Beach Road, (341-7863); Robert Strange Pool, 410 S. 10th St. (341-7864); and Northside Pool, 750 Bess St. (341-7865). The Northside Splash Pad is free and will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting. Pool fees are $2 adults and $1 for children.
Saturday: Full-moon cruise
Continuing this week's theme of avoiding tourists, Wilmington Water Tours is setting sail for serenity at 7 p.m. Saturday. For $33, singer Daniel Parrish will serenade you while you're treated to alcoholic beverages and moonlit views of the Cape Fear River. Board the boat at the downtown Wilmington Riverwalk at 212 S. Water St. For tickets, call 338-3134.
All weekend: The Wolfpack returns
If you really want to steer clear of that big golden orb in the sky this weekend, consider taking in a matinée. The third installment the popular "Hangover" series ("Hangover III") promises death and the mistreatment of a computer-animated giraffe. Zach Galifianakis' character, Alan, gets to make out with a new love interest played by Melissa McCarthy, who, if you didn't already know, is in Wilmington filming her comedy "Tammy."
All weekend: Memorial Day events
For those who would like to celebrate the holiday a day early, TheatreNOW at 19 S. 10th St. will host a musical brunch from 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Accompanied by pianist Judson Hurd, singer Nicole Thompson and WHQR's Bob Workman (who also writes about classical music and dance for the StarNews) will perform a set of patriotic tunes designed to inspire listeners and celebrate those who have sacrificed their lives in the U.S. armed forces.
Tickets are $20 and include a three-course meal. A portion of proceeds will go to Ocean Cure's Wounded Warrior Outreach, a program that provides therapeutic surf instruction for wounded veterans. For reservations, call 399-3669 or go to www.TheatreWilmington.com.
A lot of folks will head to Battleship North Carolina to mark the national observance of Memorial Day. Monday's event, which will include a 21-gun salute, begins at 5:45 p.m. with military musical arrangements provided by the 440th N.C. Army National Guard Band. The Battleship is at the junction of U.S. 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River. Visit www.BattleshipNC.com for more information.
In Pender County, Moores Creek National Battlefield will celebrate Memorial Day with a free showing of "The Patriot" on the park's outdoor movie screen. The event starts at 8 p.m. Friday at 40 Patriots Hall Drive with a presentation by the park's historian that aims to separate fact from fiction in the Mel Gibson movie. Guests are asked to bring movie snacks, chairs and blankets. For more information, call 283-5591.


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December 19, 2012
HIV attacks the immune system, causing it to become increasingly weak and dysfunctional. Treatment with combinations of potent anti-HIV drugs (commonly called ART or HAART) greatly reduces production of HIV in the body. As less HIV is produced, the immune system can begin repairs. These repairs are generally sufficient to keep AIDS-related infections at bay. However, because defects in immunity persist, there is an elevated risk for certain cancers in some ART users. The degree of this elevated cancer risk varies from one HIV-positive person to another and arises from a complex intersection of factors, likely including some of the following:
Due to similar routes of transmission, some HIV-positive people are also infected with other viruses. Some of these viruses can cause cells to develop abnormally. Such abnormal cells can transform into pre-cancers and, in some cases, even cancer. Some viruses with this cancer-causing potential include the following:
Researchers have found that in the time before ART became available, cases of anal cancer were twice as high among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) compared to HIV-negative MSM.
Furthermore, compared to the average HIV-negative man, the relative risk of anal cancer is many times greater for HIV-positive men who are not MSM (37-fold) and even greater for HIV-positive MSM (60-fold).
Some studies have found no reduction in the risk of anal cancer among HIV-positive people in the current era in places where ART is widely available. In contrast, two studies suggest a decreased risk of this cancer with prolonged use of ART. However, what all studies of anal cancer in high-income countries in the current era have in common is that cases appear to be increasing compared to the time before ART was available.
Most studies comparing anal cancer risk among HIV-positive people have involved a relatively small number of cases -- between 18 and 80. Such studies did not generally account for factors such as the following:
Also, most of these studies could not clearly conclude whether anal cancer was occurring at a younger age in HIV-positive people compared to HIV-negative people.
To address this and other issues, researchers in France conducted an analysis of their database, which has collected health-related information from nearly 110,000 HIV-positive people. The researchers also compared the data on HIV-positive people with that from HIV-negative people with anal cancer.
Surprisingly, in their report, the French team found no significant difference in the relative risk for anal cancer in the pre-HAART era (1992 to 1996) and the HAART-era (1997 to 2008). Furthermore, no differences in anal cancer risk were found in the early HAART era (1997 to 2000) and the later HAART era (2005 to 2008). Additional findings from this important study appear later in this CATIE News bulletin, along with steps on how to reduce anal cancer risk.
The French Hospital Database has collected health-related information on 109,771 HIV-positive people from 69 clinics in hospitals across France.
For purposes of comparison, the researchers obtained information on anal cancer cases in HIV-negative people from a database called FRANCIM (France-cancer-incidence et mortalité). That database contained information collected from about 12 million people.
In the present study, the analysis on anal cancer focused on the period between January 1992 and December 2008.
Over the 16 years of the study, cases of anal cancer were distributed as follows:
No comments have been made.
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text: On Thu, 2006-04-20 at 08:54 +0100, Guy Coates wrote: > Konstantin Kudin wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > Is there any good solution to find out which user is loading the NFS > > the most in a cluster configuration? > > > > iftop is quite a handy tool; it displays traffic on a per-host basis, so > if a particular node is hammering your NFS server, it will show right up. > > http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pdw/iftop/ Etherape might be a useful tool also. http://etherape.sourceforge.net/ It has a graphical 'radar display' of traffic to/from network hosts. I have found it very useful in the past for monitoring/debugging. I'd hazard a guess though that in a cluster on full song you'll get a busy display, but you should be able to spot any 'hot' nodes.


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Got this small plant for $15 at the independent garden center i go to.planted August 2011
Plodding on.
Plodding on.
Agina, not much difference. Im hoping that its working on its roots. Its lost a little colour but it does look otherwise OK. The frond it put out a while back came out and it has another small one coming out now so I guess its doing its business.
Not much noticable difference really, maybe a new shoot.
Seems to be doing OK.


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Waka Flocka Wants To Throw Hands With Slick Pulla From CTE! "I Want To Beat You Up" + No Beef With Jeezy, Talks PETA, Superlyrical Rappers, Not Friends With Wiz Khalifa & More!
"Power 105'1's "The Breakfast Club" interviews Wacka
Flocka. He talks on not having beef with Jeezy and
wanting to fight Slick Pulla, talks about why he did
his Peta add and why violence to humans isn't the
same as violence to animals, discusses superlyrical
rappers and how a non rapper like him can make hits,
beef with Wiz, his relationship with Gucci, and how
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Despite being one of the largest country weights in the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (NYSE:EEM), the Vanguard MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE:VWO) and scores of other multi-country ETFs, it sure feels like Taiwan has been flying under the radar as of late.
Even as Chinese stocks have rebounded over the past several months, Taiwanese issues have been stagnant. Over that time, the iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund (NYSE:FXI) is up five percent while the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (NYSE:EWT) is up just 1.2 percent.
Continue Reading Below
Part of the reason for the lethargy of EWT and the names it tracks is weakness in the technology sector, which accounts for nearly 56 percent of EWT's weight.
"In the semiconductor business, for example, inventory levels have surged recently, resulting in lower capacity utilization rates, which are generally associated with less pricing power for companies, and posing near-term headwinds," iShares Global Chief Investment Strategist Russ Koesterich said in a note. "Meanwhile, weak global capital expenditures and sagging consumer demand adds pressure on the personal computer market."
Weakness in the semiconductor sub-sector is bad news for EWT because the ETF is home to several chip names. Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) is the fund's largest holding with a weight of over 20 percent. Inflation has also been a problem.
"For the past three months, headline inflation measures have been persistently above the 2% inflation target set by the central bank, a result of higher fuel, electricity and food prices," Koesterich said in reducing his rating on Taiwan to Neutral from Overweight.
Bolstering the bear case for Taiwan is a premium market valuation. EWT has a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.5 and a price-to-book ratio of 2.32. That implies Taiwan is far pricier than China and the broader emerging markets universe as measured by EEM.
With the global economy still tepid at best, Taiwan's dependence on exports has been exposed. However, there is another side to the story. The country was recently 16th-best country for business by Forbes. The International Monetary Fund is projecting Taiwanese GDP growth of 3.9 percent next year, a stark improvement from the 1.05 percent growth the government expects this year.
Investors looking for Taiwan exposure without making a full commitment as required by EWT should consider the falling ETFs.
iShares Emerging Markets Dividend Index Fund (NYSE:DVYE) Based purely on the fact that emerging markets firms are are becoming better dividend payers, the iShares Emerging Markets Dividend Index Fund is alluring.
On that note, Taiwan has long been one of the preferred destinations in the developing world for income investors so it is not surprising to see the country dominate DVYE with a weight of over 22 percent. The fund debuted in February and has thus far accumulated almost $49 million in assets under management. DVYE's 30-day SEC yield is 5.11 percent.
Income investors seeking Taiwan exposure should also consider the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund (NYSE:DEM) and the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF (NYSE:EDIV).
WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund (NYSE:DGS) The WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund's name might imply a level of risk that some investors do not want to take because it combines emerging markets and small-caps. What is important to note, however, is that DGS devotes over a third of its weight to Taiwan and South Korea. Those are two of the least volatile emerging markets and that assertion is borne out in the statistics.
For example, the aforementioned iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund has been less volatile this year than VWO, FXI and the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (NYSE: IDX), just to name a few. DGS itself is also less volatile than all those funds, including EWT. The fund has 30-day SEC yield of 3.4 percent.
IndexIQ Emerging Markets Mid Cap ETF (NYSE:EMER) Unknown to many investors, the IndexIQ Emerging Markets Mid Cap ETF has been a solid performer this year with a gain of over 11 percent. EMER is something of a dichotomy. At the sector level, financials and consumer discretionary names combine for over 42 percent of the fund's weight. That gives EMER a high-beta flair.
On the other hand, EMER is by no means ultra-risky because Taiwan and South Korea combine for nearly 41 percent of the ETF's country weight. Taiwan alone represents over a quarter of the fund's weight. Year-to-date and over the past 90 days, EMER has been a better bet than EWT.
For more on ETFs, click here.
(c) 2012 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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A Concise Report Providing An Overview Of Current Trends And The Future Outlook For The Brussels Office Market. Commentary And Data Are Included On Both The Occupational And Investment Markets.
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I. Meeting called to order
II Roll Call
III. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes from June 23, 2012. IV. Presentation: Helen Matheny, Chair, West Virginia Health Lifestyles Coalition.
V. Presentation: Eloise Elliott, PhD, Ware Distinguished Professor, West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment


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Entertainment and Meal Expenses
In general, any direct payment of entertainment or meal expenses not directly related to conference or organizational meals, or to the District's normal per diem reimbursement, shall be restricted to the following. Occasional additional expenses of the same general type and nature as those delineated below may be allowed:
Meals for visiting dignitaries such as senior staff from the Missouri State Library or other libraries, governmental or educational leaders.
Receptions, such as the annual legislative reception and library open house, or receptions held in honor of the dedication of a new library or library addition. The majority of expenses for such receptions shall normally, however, be the responsibility of the Friends of the Library or other support officers.
Meals during the orientation period of new senior staff members, board appointees, building corporation members or Friends of the Library officers.
Meals during the interviewing of applicants as specified in Policy #F016.
Normal meal functions for official travel for board members, Friends official staff members and other officials doing District business, when general reimbursement for meal functions would be less complicated than issuing individual reimbursement checks.
A monthly meeting to be held by the Director to bring staff members from branches, bureaus, and divisions together to discuss ways of bettering the District's performance may include a meal function.
Administrative meetings without significant outside involvement as specified above shall not be reimbursed, unless such meetings comport with modified per diem reimbursement policies as specified in other travel policies.
Any expenditures reimbursed under this policy shall be approved by the Director or Deputy Director of the District.
(Adopted 9/10/90)


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PETA also tried to get an ad aired on the Super Bowl, and it was also rejected. However there was no mention of political advocacy as the reason why NBC rejected theirs. Instead it was barred primarily due to the sexually explicit nature of the ad.
NBC has come under fire both from conservative talk show hosts from radio and TV and from their own Saturday Night Live for being in the tank for Barack Obama. This pro-life ad rejection is simply the latest example of their nearly complete abandonment of objectivity, and why the Fairness Doctrine being proposed by members of Congress should extend well beyond talk radio, or better yet, be axed altogether.
Here is the ad again:
(h/t: Gateway Pundit)


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Product Highlights
This item is noncancelable and nonreturnable.
The 72 x 96 x 0.4" Polacoat Da-Glas In-Wall Video Format Rear Projection Diffusion Screen with Self-Trimming Frame from Da-Lite is made with a clear float glass substrate that is flat, rigid and provides maximum sound isolation.
This screen requires precise installation specifications since the choice of image size depends on how much in-wall space is available. The screen size and frame should be determined by a contractor or site manager based on the facility's dimensions and limitations. The Self-Trimming Frame eliminates the need for any finish trim in order to expedite installation. It has a built-in 1.5 x 4.3" wide molding to hide the opening. The frame insert size equals the screen viewing area plus 2.9". The frame has a black anodized finish.
It must be noted that the Da-Glas substrate requires an optional diffusion coating to function properly and should be mounted with the coated surface facing towards the audience. It is strongly recommended the customer contact Da-Lite for precise purchase information, selection of the appropriate diffusion coating and frame choice.
|In-wall / Rear projection
|Da-Glas; clear float glass substrate with optional diffusion coating
|Tension Control
|Keystone Control
|Image Size
|72 x 96 x 0.4" (182.9 x 243.8 x 1.0 cm)
|120" (3.0 m)
|Format / Aspect Ratio
|Video / 4:3
|Gain / Viewing Angle
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|Masking Options
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|Integrated Control
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|Packaging Info
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|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|107.0 x 87.0 x 30.0"


text:
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Cyprus — officially the Republic of Cyprus — is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria, Lebanon, northwest of Israel and north of Egypt. I had to search Wikipedia for that information as I, like most of you, wasn't quite sure exactly where this Aegean island was.
This euro-zone country, with population just north of one million, three-quarters of whom are Greek and most of the others Turkish, has dominated recent financial news. In a stunning shift from previous aid packages, EU finance ministers — the folks up north, primarily German — asked Cypriots savers to forfeit a portion of their deposits in return for a $13 billion bailout.
While that may not sound like a big deal, remember that few foresaw how meaningful the Microstrategy Inc. MSTR, +0.59% news was in March 2000, when Securities and Exchange Commission accusations of accounting irregularities pricked the sentiment surrounding the technology bubble.
Ditto American Home Mortgage US:AHMIQ in August 2007, when the lender opened 80% lower and triggered what would eventually morph into the sub-prime lending crisis.
One could intelligently argue that both of those situations were symptoms rather than the cause of those respective crises, and the same can be said of Cyprus, which is seemingly a guinea pig for a new approach from those pulling the policy strings.
Cue the unintended consequences (the potential for bank runs across Europe) and moral hazard (word on the street is that wealthy Russian oligarchs have size holdings in the heretofore stealth sunny island); in an interwoven finance-based global economy, credit of a different breed — that of credibility, as posited in 2007 — is the issue at hand for markets at large.
Stateside, it's not about the euro, per se; it's about the possibility that risk appetites will meaningfully shift, and the potential for a massive "off-sides" in the marketplace given fund managers have chased performance into quarter-end with the perception that the upside was all but a given (sentiment readings have been off the charts).
The timing, of course, is a bit curious given the S&P 1580 level we've been monitoring so closely, per the charts below. While I have two-sided risk on — I'm long Blackberry US:BBRY and short Facebook Inc. FB, +1.77% right-sized and dollar-neutral — I have been waiting until my risk was more defined (read: we were closer to S&P 1580) before shorting the market for a trade (note: I initiated a starter position on the short side of the S&P into the rally on Monday). (See Minyanville's "Stock Picks and the Equity Fix" and related charts.)
Cypriot markets were closed on Monday and Tuesday — proposal was floated on Friday — but pay attention to the results of the vote in Cyprus as it will impact global market psychology. If lawmakers approve the terms of the bailout, it will set a dangerous precedent that will send shivers throughout Europe. If the Parliament rejects the deposit tax, the aid package would be in jeopardy, potentially setting the stage for default, which would be akin to dominoes laced with dynamite given the leverage in the system and the derivatives holding the global construct together.
Stocks will have fits and starts, particularly with quarter-end on tap, but we would be wise to remember that market psychology tends to feature three phases — denial, migration and panic — across multiple time horizons.
The Cyprus news may not prove to be a Microstrategy or American Home Mortgage — bells are rarely rung at tops — but it's most definitely a shot across the bow that should remind investors to see—and respect—both sides of the financial equation.
Disclosure: Harrison has a position in, and business relationship with, BBRY, and a position in FB, SPY.
Todd Harrison is founder and chief executive of Minyanville Media.
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Vinyl Flooring
One of the most recent innovations in domestic flooring, luxury vinyl provides plenty of impact, both in style and performance. 100% waterproof and available in a multitude of wood, stone and ceramic styles
Constructed from high-grade virgin PVC to ensure quality and consistency, luxury vinyl floors feature a highly detailed and accurate décor layer sandwiched between a durable, comfortable and stable base and resilient textured surface layer. The end result is a realistic and durable surface that requires little maintenance. Thanks to being completely waterproof, luxury vinyl is great in areas such as wet rooms and bathrooms.
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text:
Nicholson 1912
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Nicholson 1912
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43rd Annual Agate Days this weekend
July 19, 2012
Despite recent flooding, the Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring the Agate Days celebration in Moose Lake. A fireworks show Friday night will kick off the event, which runs through Sunday, July 22.
Moose Lake is known as the Agate Capital of the World and is home to the world's largest agate on record, weighing in at 108 pounds. This is kept on display at First National Bank of Moose Lake. Every year, the Moose Lake Chamber of Commerce hosts the Agate Days celebration, which includes the "Agate Stampede." Two dump trucks empty loads of rock mixed with agates and hundreds of dollars in quarters down Elm Avenue. Thousands of people line up along the two-block street and wait for the cannon to boom signaling the start of the stampede. The Agate Stampede is always held at 2 p.m. on the Saturday of Agate Days.
The schedule is as follows:
– July 20, fireworks show at the Moose Lake City Park at approximately 10 p.m.
– July 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Art in the Park, Moose Lake City Park
– July 21, 2 p.m., Agate Stampede, Elm Avenue.
– July 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and July 22, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., shuttle rides courtesy of Moose Lake Motors. Stops are: Moose Lake School for the Gem and Mineral Show; Moose Lake City Park for Art in the Park; Lake State Federal Credit Union parking lot on 3rd and Douglas; 5th Street and Grove between the Evangelical Covenant Church and Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home; Moose Lake State Park and the Agate and Geological Center.
– July 21 and 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Moose Lake State Park and Agate and Geological Center open house.
– July 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and July 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Gem and Mineral Show at the Moose Lake High School gymnasium, sponsored by Carlton County Gem and Mineral Club.
– July 21, 7:30-11 a.m., Moose Lake Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in the park.
– July 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., rock slideshow in the Moose Lake Public Library Community Room.
– July 21, 2 p.m., Agate Stampede on Elm Avenue.
– July 21, 4-8 p.m., Moose Lake Fire Department Steak Fry at the fire hall.
– July 21, beer garden at Moose Lake Municipal, run by Moose Lake Liquor Store.
– July 22, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Antique Car Show at Moose Lake City Park.


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Quote# 86253
(On an article about Sleep Paralysis)
I'll second that. I know science tries to explain away all supernatural phenomena because they start with the fundamental assumption that reality is bounded by what can be scientifically measured and that there is no such thing as God, devils, etc.
For the last four years, I have unfortunately been under constant attack by demons, especially at night. Though I have never been paralyzed as others here have experienced, I most assuredly have had evil beings enter my room and try to take possession of my body. Sometimes they succeed and the buzzing on my head is so intense that it makes me nauseated. As soon as I awake, I raise my arm to the square and cast them out through the power of Jesus Christ as you have mentioned, and they slowly withdraw.
They generally like to wake me up by creating a wave-like motion on my bed, as if I were sleeping on a water bed (I'm not). There is one really nasty one who has an overpowering sense of evil when he enters my bedroom. I no longer fear them because I know that the name of Christ is more powerful than they are, but they can certainly make it difficult to get a good night's rest.
Don't believe all the hokum about a scientific explanation - in this case the scientists are dead wrong. Evil is real and is gaining greater power as people become less moral.
Wired Science
42 Comments
Fundie Index: 38
Quote# 86250
The Utah House has passed a bill banning any mention of contraception in sex education classes. If a school does offer sex ed, it has to be abstinence only.
The state House passed HB 363 in a 45-28 vote following extensive debate. The bill -- which now goes on to the state Senate -- would lift the current requirement that all public schools must teach sex ed in grades 8 through 12. If the bill passes, districts would decide whether to offer sex ed classes that teach an abstinence-only curriculum, or not offer the course at all. Republican state Rep. Bill Wright sponsored the proposal. "We've been culturally watered down to think we have to teach about sex, about having sex and how to get away with it, which is intellectually dishonest," Wright said, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. "Why don't we just be honest with them upfront that sex outside marriage is devastating?"
Rep. Wright say his bill was prompted by Planned Parenthood materials which "promote promiscuity."
UT Rep. Bill Wright,
Joe. My. God.
52 Comments
Fundie Index: 53
Submitted By: Aspergus
Quote# 86239
And if the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does. It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn't exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution, this right that was created, it was created in Griswold — Griswold was the contraceptive case — and abortion. And now we're just extending it out. And the further you extend it out, the more you — this freedom actually intervenes and affects the family. You say, well, it's my individual freedom. Yes, but it destroys the basic unit of our society because it condones behavior that's antithetical to strong healthy families. Whether it's polygamy, whether it's adultery, where it's sodomy, all of those things, are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family.
Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing.
Rick Santorum,
112 Comments
Fundie Index: 115
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86238
The only real question left is what design will we use for our Flag in the oncoming Civil War II. Old Glory, Stars & Bars, the Eagle, the Lion, or the Holy Cross? I would vote for the Cross, with smaller emblems of the others. Because war is on its way. There is only one alternative: slavery.
The Orthosphere
57 Comments
Fundie Index: 60
Submitted By: Ryan
Quote# 86236
[The poster basically argues that while homosexuality can be genetic, it cannot be in your DNA.]
I've studied biology. It can't be in DNA. It can be linked to GENETICS because there can be things linked in traits of either the mother or father, but a "gay gene" can NOT be encoded in your DNA. There is no such thing.
54 Comments
Fundie Index: 61
Quote# 86232
Face it, what we REALLY need, is a law (under penalty of death) that keeps ALL dimocrats out of politics. Let them write poetry, act, sing or what ever, but let the ADULTS run the state/country. Or maybe we could just pass a law (with the same penalty) for lying, and that would clean them out pretty quickly too.
Dimocrats are just too stupid to be in politics, making decisions for others.
Abortion is the sacrament of the radical left wing religion of liberalism.
George Johnson,
77 Comments
Fundie Index: 94
Submitted By: palmtoface
Quote# 86229
The Apartheid analogy is wrong. Both Nazism and Liberalism are designed to exterminate a certain segment of the population. Nazism targeted certain races while Liberalism targets decent and intelligent people. Apartheid simply aims separation. I wish we had Apartheid where decent and intelligent people would be separated and put into our own ghettos. But Liberalism has no interest in separation of any kind. Liberalism is designed for the complete elimination of decent and intelligent people, giving us a pure Idiocracy.
There are some differences between Nazism and Liberalism. Nazism, coming from Germany, was more efficient and aimed for rapid extermination, while Liberal extermination is a slower process. This is why we have no death camps. Also, Nazism was intentional, the Germans being fairly intelligent people, while Liberalism is unintentional, since Liberals are fools. Liberals do not consciously want to eliminate anyone, but they are repulsed by decent people and, through Feminism, they have unintentionally managed to create a system that is highly effective at genetically eliminating decent people. And this is why all of you incels are here.
59 Comments
Fundie Index: 79
Quote# 86221
Squawk: Yeah, and atheists smell too
Phillip: You aren't far from the truth there buddy. Because atheists actively deny God, their soul emits something that can subconsciously detected by other humans, especially those that have let Jesus Christ into their hearts. This cleanses us and makes us non-repugnant, people are drawn to true Christians through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in a certain manner of speaking atheists do smell bad.
Squawk and Phillip,
57 Comments
Fundie Index: 117
Quote# 86214
You are so wrong on every front. Not one thing you said is correct. YOU are trying to push an atheist propaganda. This country was founded on freedom of religion- the freedom to practice and display your beliefs. It is only modern day atheists that try to remove religion- but yet I find it extremely interesting that the people who don't believe in God and practice no religion are always pushing their agenda in the religion section of papers. Atheism is it's own religion- instead of God you worship money, fame, and yourselves. Just get over it and stop trying to bully Christians, it didn't work for the Romans for that long and it won't work for you. This world has been influenced by Christians for over 2000 years. You can try to attack us, but it will only make us stronger in the long run.
Huffington Post
39 Comments
Fundie Index: 52
Quote# 86206
You need to research authors C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) they were friends and atheists. They set out to prove that the Bible was fiction. In the end, they became it's biggest supporters. Maybe you should do some research. Do you know how you can trust the Bible? 25% of it is prophecy. A prophet in the Bible had to be %100 correct or he was stoned to death. Ezekiel predicted that Israel would become a nation again after they were dispersed throughout the nations-almost 2000 years after Christ, in May, 1948, that prediction came true. Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be the catalist for all nations. Guess what, that tiny little country, shouldn't concern anyone, yet it's always forefront in the news.
Jackie Yates,
Fox News
56 Comments
Fundie Index: 64
Quote# 86204
"Should the military be testing the spirituality of its soldiers?"
I know that religious people have security that atheists don't. If you believe in life after life, you fight harder, risk more, and serve better than a guy who thinks, "this is it!" If you believe you're nothing but worm-food at death, you aren't going to jump on a grenade to save the platoon, or charge a machine-gun nest expecting to meet Jesus. You're going to be reserved, second-guessing, and probably be a big fat chicken.
Look, you just read the stats: "Researchers have found that spiritual people have decreased odds of attempting suicide, and that spiritual fitness has a positive impact on quality of life, on coping and on mental health." Atheists be damned. They will be. So I really don't care what they think regarding these tests. I'm tired of having their constant nagging, their constant opposition against God — their evil. They contribute nothing positive in the long run. Their very name, "a" theist, means they are "against," with a big "no" regarding America's "creator" and "Nature's God" (the one mentioned in our Declaration of Independence). I'm frankly sick of them. Why they are here on the In Theory cast is beyond me. It's like saying, "I have no spiritual input because I don't believe in the spirit. So here's my ignorance...."
I wonder what the military puts on gravestones of atheists, a thumbs-down? Listen, all religions are protected by our laws, but atheists don't countenance America's documents that mention God. They don't actually deserve rights that even bizarre religionists have. If it could be shown that people who deny God create military weakness, however small, what should commanders do when choosing a winning military? I agree with you.
Rev. Bryan Griem,
Pasadena Sun
72 Comments
Fundie Index: 70
Submitted By: Night Jaguar
Quote# 86203
This little atheist bully [Jessica Ahlquist], with the help of the grammatically-challenged Freedom From Religion Foundation (the Constitution guarantees freedom "of" religion, not freedom "from" religion), got a prayer banner pulled off the wall of a Rhode Island high school, a banner that had not been bothering anybody since it was first put up in 1963.
The banner was, in fact, a gift to the school from its first graduating class. So much for history and tradition and honoring the generosity and thoughtfulness of earlier generations of students.
News flash for Jessica and the FFRF: the Constitution hasn't changed since 1963.
This prayer banner was constitutionally fine then, and it is constitutionally fine now. The only thing that has changed is that hatred of Christianity has now been mainstreamed in the cultural elite, who want to remove all vestiges of the acknowledgement of God from the public arena.
Ms. Ahlquist complained that the presence of the banner showed the school didn't "respect" her views. She is apparently tyrannically oblivious to the plain fact that her pettiness shows only one thing: she's the one who does not respect anyone's view but her own.
This small-minded and vengeful brat has managed to override the Constitution's guarantee of the free exercise of religion and free speech just by being noisy and mean. She is the newest religious bigot in America.
The school first covered up the banner, as if its contents were pornographic in nature and might damage the delicate sensibilities of constitutionally-impaired students. Then the school meekly capitulated to Ms. Ahlquist's demands to avoid the possibility of having to pay huge attorney's fees if it lost on appeal. Apparently, in their judgment, the right to liberty isn't unalienable after all. The warranty on this right bestowed by the Creator apparently ran out as soon as soon as the money did. So much for pledging sacred fortunes and honor to protect God-given rights.
Hey Jessica: if you don't like the banner, don't look at it. Nobody is forcing you to notice it, read it, agree with it, or pay any attention to it at all.
Bryan Fischer,
Rightly Concerned
77 Comments
Fundie Index: 69
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86185
Homosexuality is not a civil right. Its rise almost always is accompanied, as in the Weimar Republic, with a decay of society and a collapse of its basic cinder block, the family.
Pat Buchanan,
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
67 Comments
Fundie Index: 77
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86179
Okay, how to answer this one:
Wives are to submit. US laws say a wife has one vote as well as her husband.
Wives are to obey their husbands - unless they are commanded to do something immoral. Presidential elections invovle many moral/philosophical/religious issues.
What if someone insists on telling their wife who to vote for, or forbids their wife from cancelling out their vote due to voting for a different person?
What if a wife insists on voting in a way opposing her husband?
What advice would you give such a couple?
---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 AM ----------
p.s. a follow-p question: Should women have been given the vote in the first place?
Puritan Board
64 Comments
Fundie Index: 91
Quote# 86157
The creationist advocacy group Answers in Genesis has suggested that the real aim of the animal rights is to justify abortion - if human beings are no better than animals, and if we can kill animals when we want (as for food or clothing), why can't we kill unborn humans?
Conservapedia-Animal Rights
68 Comments
Fundie Index: 108
Quote# 86156
What is staggering about the secularists is their arrogance and the shortness of their memories. The materialist utopianism of the Communists and Nazis is to blame for all the worst atrocities of the past century. Dawkins may appear to make sense, but it is incredible that we should be ready to pay serious attention to a prophet whose message is the same as those whose schemes led straight to the hells of the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Mao's Cultural Revolution and the Khmer Rouge.
Peter Popham,
The Independent
53 Comments
Fundie Index: 68
Quote# 86152
A pastor and his wife are in custody accused of killing three of their children by starving them to ward off evil spirits, police in South Korea said Wednesday.
The couple told police the children -- aged nine, seven and three -- had been ill, which they believed was a sign they were invaded by evil spirits after eating too much on Lunar New Year.
They then cut the children's hair to chase the spirits out and starved them from January 24 until February 2, only allowing them to drink water. Local media reports said the parents had beaten the children with a belt and a fly swatter numerous times.
The pastor, named only by his surname Park, and his wife, Cho, told police they tied the children's arms and legs with stockings. All three died on February 2, the first around 2am, the second at 5am and the third at 7am, according to police in the town of Boseong, more than 186 miles (300 kilometers) south of Seoul.
The bodies were found nine days later by Park's brother-in-law. Police said the couple was praying in the hope of resurrecting the children. Their eight-month-old daughter who survived has been taken into care, police said.
Mr. and Mrs. Park,
84 Comments
Fundie Index: 124
Quote# 86146
The strongest argument against the evolution of humans is that man's intellect which is not physical could not have evolved. Only physical things can evolve and since humans thought are not made of sustance. therefore they could never have evolved. This means that we of today are exactly like ADAM and EVE were created.
73 Comments
Fundie Index: 120
Submitted By: Karana
Quote# 86135
Hi welcome to my site. This site is designed to fight science ergo the devil. The only true way to the lord and riches of heaven is through creationism. Genesis clearly states that God created the world in 6 days! The evidence is there! If you don't believe that you're either and idiot or not a true Christian! In other words, science attempts to lead us away from God through the indoctrination of our children in schools and media through the belief in evolutionism which leads to atheism!
The facts that scientists have covered up:
The earth and universe are only 6,000 years old.
The earth is the center of the universe.
Noah's flood was a true event.
Humans and dinosaurs co-existed.
Man was CREATED by the image of God.
DNA disproves evolution.
UFO's are signs and visitations from Satan.
Why this site?
To defend Christianity against mockers of God! To expose and make known the above truths and above all to help people see the world-wide conspiracy of scientists in the effort to destroy the word of God through the theory of eviloution. If evilution is true, then that means there was no Adam & Eve. No Adam & Eve means no original sin. No original sin means we are not sinners! We ARE sinners, and God wants us to live in repentance so that we may know him.
NephilimFree Media
111 Comments
Fundie Index: 129
Quote# 86133
There will not be enough "white Europeans" left after the rapture to do anything about Islam.
History shows from the Babylonian captivity to the Holocaust until now that our Lord has always used the most Godless heathen as instruments of discipline and judgement upon His people.
Allied with the leftist U.N. world government, Islam will soon pour out God's wrath upon the world, content that they are doing Gods' will. Although their god is Satan, they will fulfill their purpose anyway.
Free Republic
61 Comments
Fundie Index: 69
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86131
Can there by any doubt left in anyone's mind that Hussein Obama really is a stealth Muslim, committed to the destruction of western society and the promotion of Islam everywhere?? I mean, you can't even call it "stealth" any more. Everything he does just screams "Hate Christians, Hate Jews, Love Islam!" He's been entirely consistent in this regard and grows more brazen by the day. God help us if he gets re-elected. God help us even if he doesn't!
51 Comments
Fundie Index: 84
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86128
Obama was raised as an Arab/Muslim, NOT at all like a black American. He has no loyalty to blacks – in fact, he was taught that blacks are only good for sex and work slaves. This is in the Koran and widely taught among Muslims.
I have a free to air satellite dish and I can watch a lot of Muslim channels. They freely talk about temporary wives (which can be Muslim or Non-Muslim), lying to Jews and Christians, the purpose of blacks and dogs, etc.
43 Comments
Fundie Index: 74
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86127
to live under sharia law. Liberals
to be beheaded for homo-sex. Liberals
their "women" covered head to toe. (Actually not a bad idea considering 99% of liberal women are so gawd-awful-damned-putrid if you dropped one in a barrel of water you'd skim ugly for a week!) Liberals
to live under absolute suppression.
Liberals are some sick, sick, confused little puppies.
55 Comments
Fundie Index: 122
Submitted By: Rabbit of Caerbannog
Quote# 86122
(Giving advice to someone who is afraid their friend is delving into telekinesis...)
Other than faked powers the real ones are
demonic. For example a Ouija board the pointer seems to move by itself but what has really happened is a demon has entered into one or both of the hands of those using the board and moving their hands thus giving the appearance it is moving by itself since the individuals are not moving their own hands. Since people are allowing evil forces access they often times bceome possessed after using a Ouija Board. Mind reading, the demon feeds the individuals doing it the same thoughts, Ta Da! they have guessed the thought of someone else. The one I really love is "Past Lives" hello! demons have been around forever and they stayed around many people during the last 5 to 6,000 years and know in great detail about past lives. So information that could only be known about a particular era by in depth study is common knowledge for demons but seems to validate ampast life experience even the ability to speak a foreign language.
Demons are busy with every conceiveable idea to decieve man from the "Truth" Hypnosis?? Demonic possession. How else could someone accomplish what some of these people do unless only a demon was taking over the one being hypnotized. Why else is it "Only" certain people have this ability. Demons! Demons! Demons!
People should avoid anything that has to do with false abilites or sciences even astology could be an invitation for a demon in your life or someone you love. God takes a strong stance against these things.
Rapture Ready
32 Comments
Fundie Index: 58
Submitted By: Nickypeeps
Quote# 86116
My fear is that, today, militant secularisation is taking hold of our societies. We see it in a number of things: when signs of religion cannot be displayed or worn in government buildings, and where religion is sidelined and downgraded in the public sphere.
For me one of the most worrying aspects about this militant secularisation is that at its core and in its instincts it is deeply intolerant. It demonstrates similar traits to totalitarian regimes – denying people the right to a religious identity because they were frightened of the concept of multiple identities.
Lady Warsi,
The Guardian
47 Comments
Fundie Index: 71
Submitted By: Wehpudicabok


text: Hello Does anybody have experience with ganglia? Did you observe it leaking memory slowly but steadly? Over two months, my 16 nodes cluster reached a baseline of 20G of used memory. restarting the ganglia system (the monitors on all nodes and the meta server on the front node) seemed to clean that. Can anybody confirm this? Thanks a lot. -- Cristian Tibirna (1-418-) 656-2131 / 4340 Laval University - Quebec, CAN ... http://www.giref.ulaval.ca/~ctibirna Research profesional at GIREF ... ctibirna at giref.ulaval.ca PhD Student - Chemical Engng ... tibirna at gch.ulaval.ca


text:
Last June, I went on maternity leave just as we were gearing up for our Fluid Power Conference & Expo in Minneapolis. And though I was excited to meet our new little one (our beautiful daughter is already almost eight months old already!), there was a small part of me that was disappointed I was missing what turned out to be a fabulous event.
So I'm glad to say we're hosting the event again this June 11-12, this time at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. I'm now doubly excited — this is a great event and I don't like missing the chance to meet makers and users of fluid power technology. And I have a soft spot in my heart for Milwaukee. I've only been there twice — both times for work — but it's a great city. And the folks at MSOE are extremely knowledgable and wonderful to work with. I speak from experience. The last time we held the Conference in Milwaukee, we did have an opportunity to tour the Fluid Power Institute. Plus, I attended a week-long seminar on Basic Hydraulics at MSOE about four years ago now.
This year we'll once again have exhibitors on hand to answer questions about their components and technology; we'll have great speakers, including Bob Sheaf of CFC-Industrial Training, Tom Wanke, of MSOE, and possibly our own contributing editor, Jack Johnson. The event will also feature a tour of a local manufacturing facility, and our evening cocktail hour.
I hope I can turn it into a long weekend with the family, too. Milwaukee, like Cleveland, is a small but lovely city and has a lot of see and do. So make sure you save the dates of June 11-12!