text:
Popular Gay Band The XX To Sue Croatian Hate Group For Using Their Music In Anti-Gay Ad
Leave it to an imbecilic anti-gay hate group to accidentally steal music from one of the world's most popular bands, The XX (with two out of three openly gay members), to use in a homophobic commercial.
In the Name of the Family, a Christian anti-gay hate group in Croatia, is being sued for using the British band's song "Intro" in a new commercial supporting a ban on marriage equality, which is up for referendum in the country on December 1.
According to Gay Star News, a representative for the band sent a letter to members of the Croatian Parliament for advice on moving forward with a lawsuit. "Management are looking to pursue this. Obviously the band are completely at odds with what the movement stands for and want to take appropriate action," reads part of the letter.
The XX is quite popular in Croatia, actually, and performed at the Terraneo Festival in 2012.
(Source: Gay Star News)
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I am not gay and therefore this referendum does not affect me directly. However, I care about its outcome. There is a law which very clearly states what this referendum is trying to confirm. We are spending several million kunas because a group of close-minded individuals decided to be determined enough in showing the gays in Croatia their place. When the leaders of this initiative say they are simply pro-democracy, this is very true. But Croatian society is highly closed-minded and has to change. They know this very well. There is so much violence towards the gay population in Croatia it makes me sad. These are things that the initiative does not speak of. Homosexuality is not a CHOICE, just like heterosexuality isn't. And gay people in Croatia are just people who happen to be attracted to same sex. They should not be marginalized, it is only one aspect of who they are, just like we have people with blue eyes, green eyes, black hair, red hair... Freedom and love for everyone.
One guy here said how he is living in Nederlands and he is against gay marriage in Croatia... ROFLMAO...... Living in Nederlands, but he is still bothered with croatian crap... Living in Nederlands, in a country where gay marriage and adoption of children is legal... That is insane, if i would live in a country like Nederland i would not give a damn for Croatia and bunch of crap which is going on here on daily bases.. and if it is so bad for poor him in that nederland, in that baaaaaaaaaad country, where he is so stigmatizied by being white, chatolic str8 male from balcans, he can always get back home... but he does not... so i guess it is not so bad for poor him there... actually i am pretty sure he lives better than half of croats in croatia, who got no idea will they be able to provide food to their children tomorrow in t heir own country.. but yeah lets fight over gay marriage, that will solve all country problems and croatia will become new switzerland.....
and yeah i will vote PROTIV and i am str8.... and i know my english is crap and it does not bother me.. majority of people can understand the point of my comment...
I live in the Netherlands and I care.
Because this is something which is not just about gay people, or straight people, or families, or just Croatia.
It's about human, it's about society in general, it's about love, it's about freedom.
I hope Croatia will vote for love and freedom, for everybody and everywhere.
Lol otišli ste u tolku krajnost da se na stranoj stranici prepirete oko nebitnih problema. Jedini problem u ovom svemu je taj šta se ljudi sve više i više mrze, a to triba spriječit. ajte ča . država je u dugovima, a tolke pare daje za taj referendum. i to šta neko će zaokružit za ne znači da mrzi homoseksualce već ima pravo na svoj izbor. ko šta i oni imaju. prema tome....
And being a gypsy in Croatia is easy? nemoš uspoređivat s cigane s kinezima i bla bla, nekako su mi kinezi civilizirani, i ne čeprkaju po novčanicima, torbama, psuju i pljuju te jer im ne daš kunu. to u parizu neš vidit. šta tip kaže, lakše je bit ovde cigan, nego u Francuskoj. provjereno.
no dakle, sve je blesavo na svoj način, a opet sve dobro. prikinite kritizirat sve oko sebe, malo sebe pogledajte. nećete ništa prominit u ovoj državi baljezganjem. jedino šta možete prominit ste vi. mwa mwa
And excuse me, I'm not sorry for writing on Croatian, I don't even think that someone would like to read this bull**it :* take care, stay well :)
Great to see the tolarant voices like those of the mother. The issue about 'democracy' here: The system is not created to vote on issues like who may marry who, and who may sleep with who, and who may abort children and who may not. Basic human rights are not to be tested against religious morals. The LGBT community is not forcing anything upon the 'Christians' or anti-gay people. They are just saying: "Hey, don't ban our right to get married some day, like you guys can." If the "Against/Protiv" side wins, nothing will change for heterosexual Christians personally. Absolutely nothing. You can still marry your heterosexual other, without anybody saying "No, you can't, because your relationship/love is less worth than mine!" Bringing old-Yugoslavian and even freaking ''Commuinist" politics into this discussion is absolutely not relevant. The fact that you dó think it is relevant, only shows that you have been brainwashed by the people with hunger for power, which they use to split people up, They play with our basic human emotions of pride, nationalism and they will twist and turn history and make it somehow applicable to even such a personal 'bedroom' issue as marriage. Stop falling for that. This is why we have war every 50 years.
Just vote "Against" or don't vote at all, because like I said: you will not be affected by it anyways.
My understanding of the referendum in Croatia is that traditional Croats DO NOT support any changes to the traditional viewing of the institute of marriage in terms of opening it for homosexual partners. They see it as a threat to the set of traditional values they have been living by for centuries. It is absolutely sensational that they are denied the right to defend the present legal situation (by asking the government to make it a provision of the Constitution) by the agnostic, intellectual and urbane part of the society who hardly share any traditional (and mostly rural) bits of the Croatian culture at all. It should be pointed out that they only view the term "religious" as a derogatory one, standing for "out", "bigoted", or "obsolete". In this sense, urbane culture will acclaim a gay politician for his "courage" to come out. As opposed to that, an admittedly religious politician is instantly dead meat regardless of what he has to say. Therefore, little room is given for any reasonable argument between these two sides on realistic issues that gay marriages might cause in reality. The blame for the situation naturally goes to the intellectually superior side, as they should be natural keepers of democratic communication standards. To me, it is unfortunate that neither of the two groups speaks the language of the other side.
The referendum is not about reducing any existing gay rights no matter what you may have heard or read, but about making it legally clear that some traditional values should not be tampered with for a number of potential implications, each of which is sensitive enough to deserve much greater focus than allegedly violated human rights, and also be carefully considered (and piloted, if you ask me) prior to any "revolutionary" changes (mind the inverted commas).
I don't see that Europe has done a much better job here, as types of behaviour such as juvenile alcoholism, drug abuse, leaving school, delinquency, promiscuity, or poor funds management (all known as "fun") are commonly mistaken for human rights and, equally commonly, not directly related to the difficult integration of young people into society, unemployment, high divorce rates, irresponsible finances management or falling economy. Hope you get my point here.
i was just wandering why are my homophobic fascist countrymen visiting this obviously gay site... what is your agenda, are you secretely gay, or are you just plain evil, or are you paid to do so (spying on "the enemy")... and why in the world would U IME OBITELJI steal (how very moral and catholic of them) a song from a band which two of members are openly gay... it reeks of hipocrisy.
First of all it would be nice for you to learn how to talk politely! Accusing someone homophobic fascist, won't get you far!
Second I thought that you are against discrimination, and now you want to discriminate me bay telling me that I shouldn't be on this site.
Let me answer your questions: No I am not gay, nether I am plain evil.
To spy on a public website LOL.
Talking about hypocrisy you want to picture yourself as tolerant open-minded person but in the same time you want to ban me from this site and even you don't know me you call me homophobic fascist!
pleas can you quiet where I written "homophobic comments" as you say the are all over the site it shouldn't be a problem to find some!
-much worse than trying to ban people to get married.
To ban somebody of something thy should already have the access to that thing as to my knowledge its not the case in this matter. Also don't twist the truth nobody is banning "životnu zajednicu" and for some reason you are not interested in getting this!
Quiet znači tiho, dragi.
Comments supporting a homophobic group and saying you will for vote for is drawing a conclusion you are homophobic. If you try to say they don't deserve the right to get marries (which is a human right), yes, you are being a homophobe.
So, tell me then, what is the purpose of this referendum if not forbidding homosexuals to get married? Please, I'm dying to know.
Well, that's the ridiculous part about this whole organization. They couldn't get married! They never tried to get that right. And still, "In the name of the family" is trying to spend a bunch of money on passing this change in the law. If you ask me, they're just trying to move the attention from some more important problems this country has, which is exactly why we should vote against and kick them in their well-fed hateful asses.
Also, if we have a nice little name for it (marriage - brak), why, just why do we have to have a whole different name for the exact same thing, just with gay people in it, and spend a bunch of money we don't have in the process?
(It's also funny how you instantly assumed I was gay - "you are not interested..." Straight people can still be decent people, you know.)
Ovo "dragi" mogu shatit kao seksualno zlostavljanje??
Voting for defining BRAK as a union of men ad woman don't make me a homophobe!
(which is a human right) O.o Where?'
Not by UN nether by European Court of Human Rights nether by Croatian Ustavni Sud! So I really don't know where do you pull your facts?!?
Bože, sad sam i zlostavljačica. Shvati to kao podrugljiv komentar jer mi trenutno nisi nimalo drag :)
Well, you didn't answer me my question. What is the purpose of this referendum if not forbidding homosexuals to get married and how is that purpose not homophobic?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN, Article 16.
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Aj pročitaj ponovo: Men and women
Men and Men
women and women
Pa neću te ja sad učit engleski!
Ti stvarno misliš da se nebi već svima popeli na glavu da je ovo što sam ja rekao neispravno. pa prije par mjeseci je odbijen amandamn LGBT svjetske zajednice za izmjenu istog jer je eto kao zastario!
Nema zakonskog uporišta za ovo što govoriš kiti u UN-u niti Sudu za ljudska prava a niti EU komisija za ljudska prava ne podržđava vaš zahtjev !
Sorry for speaking Croatia probably that's also backward and homophobic! XD
Pa ko mene ne bi volio :D
And where are you pulling those facts from? For more than a decade, this non-discrimination principle has been interpreted by UN treaty bodies and numerous inter-governmental human rights bodies as prohibiting discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has therefore become an internationally recognized principle and many countries have responded by bringing their domestic laws into line with this principle in a range of spheres including partnership rights.
Also, it says man and women have the right to marry and form family. It doesn't say they have the right to marry each other, or the person of other gender, or anything similar. It says they have the right to get married, it doesn't specify whom.
Btw. It's in the declaration of human rights. Not rights of straight human beings. Human. As in everyone.
You still didn't answer my question. I'm not giving up on it. What is the purpose of this referendum if not forbidding homosexuals to get married and how is that purpose not homophobic?
P.S. I'm writing on english so other people can know what I'm writing.
And where are you pulling those facts from?
That's the definition of marriage by UN now you my not like it bat that is what it is!
First you are mixing to things human rights and marriage!
Marriage is not a human right at least by UN and EU human rights court.
Hop this solves this part!
Yes there is 13 countries in the whole world that recognized same sex marriage.
No I am not a Homophobe because phobia by definition is a fear of something and believe me I am not afraid of a gay person at least I didn't bean until now whenever I meet one!
Dint jump scream of run away!
About you question BRAK don't have the same meaning or culturological history in our language as in English I am little older that you so when I got married to my wife I chosen that because there was a definition of what it is, so who gives you the right to take that from me??
And also this don't help: http://www.vestinet.rs/tema-dana/lezbejka-masa-gesen-nas-krajnji-cilj-je-razaranje-i-unistenje-porodice
As regarding LGBT if there is a referendum to give them "životna zajednica" witch give them a rights as the BRAK has except one thin and that is adopting I will vote ZA for that also!
It's from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Do you notice the "human rights" part?
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). It can be expressed as antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, or hatred, may be based on irrational fear, and is sometimes related to religious beliefs.
So if LGBTQ* people can get married, your marriage is compromised? Well that is definetly a new one. Also, it doesn't make a tiny bit of sense.
And that page is a comic page. Look at the other news, like "New tv-s are made to spy on you".
No marriage is not a human right. If it was then the USTAVNI sud would reject the referendum.
Istospolni brak ne spada u ljudska prava koja mi možemo štititi, zaključio je prošloga tjedna Europski sud za ljudska prava u Strasbourgu. To je, nakon presude iz lipnja 2010., druga presuda u kojoj taj sud odbija prikloniti se mišljenju da osobe istog spola imaju pravo na brak ili na posvajanje djeteta jednako kao i osobe različitog spola.
If you don't believe me use google.com!
We can discus other thing but please don't go in to marriage = human right, because it diminishes any other valid arguments you have at least on a legal matters feald!
Sue them for every penny they have got, and believe me when I say - they have plenty. The founder of that awful initiative has a couple of millions ''heavy'' property which she uses for her religious sessions(A guy from her group said that during his adolescent years he never touched himself, never did, never will - yeah right).
That woman has a company that gets ''the morning after'' pills, she lives in luxury and has stated that she would rather give her child to a foster home than to a gay couple. I don't even have to say that she has never ever been in one of those foster homes and yet she claims that ''it gives children what they need and is well structured in giving them guidance in life. Somehow she is forgetting that after age 18 they have to leave that home(if you could call it that).
PROTIV diskriminacije, ZA SVAKU obitelj ... Peace.
And when HDZ was ruling everyone was adopting? If you think the law changes as the leading party changes, you couldn't be more wrong. The problem is in our adopting law which states that a child cannot be adopted if their biological parent visits them once a year. A family can take a child in their home, but they can't adopt them. So stop blaming SDP, it's been a problem for ages.
These problems are here for more than 2 years. Listen, I'm just saying this because I saw in other comments you blame a lot of stuff on them, I am minor and I didn't vote and frankly don't know what HDZ did so wonderfully to be so much better than SDP, but all I see and know points to the fact that they did one big fat nothing. Except for stealing. But I can tell you one thing: when a party (HDZ) rules the country for so many years, screwing it up big time, how do you expect for SDP to fix it in 2 years?
My dear Croat, you are so wrong that it makes me sick!
People like you will bring doom to this poor suffered country.
My both uncles died in this war! BOTH OF THEM!
And do you know why? Because they believed in free country with equal human wrights! They were against previous system and it's limitations!
Now, those ex communists became big fashists and went to HDZ (some of them remained in SDP). And guess what, those same communists were engaged in previous system do deny gay wrights, same as today. Yes, it was more rigid before, but don't be fooled. It will be same again. Because it always starts with small things like this. And when this goes through (and I'm sure it will), next step will be taking of the wrights from unmarried couples, than signle parents, etc...
My both uncles, amongst all, died for you too!!! You fool!!! For you who are now trying to deny human wrights in country which should, because of their spilled blood, threat all it's citizens the same. SHAME ON YOU!!!
Read laws better. Marriage (brak) and life community (životna zajednica) are not equal in wrights. No by a long shot! And this action as well aware of it. And in it's "awareness" they are cheating people, telling that it's only protection of the name marriage. Well, it's not!
And, yes, there is one thing I agree with you! HDZ and SDP are the same although first are threated (with full wright) as fashists and other as communists. Because they were all communists 23 years ago!!!
No I cannot agree with this! I traveled and worked abroad and believe me our nation is much more open-minded to different that some "western" civilized countries! Maybe they are better in LGBT question but on other no there are 10X worst that us! Try to be a gipsy in France or an Arab in Denmark
Or in my case a Croat/Yugović in Netherlands and then you will see the norowmidnes of the civilized people!
And being a gypsy in Croatia is easy? Believe me, my school is near a market where there are a lot of gypsy people working - it's not easy. Or a chinese person, since the number of them is increasing in my town very fast. You wouldn't believe how often I see and hear hateful comments about them. Most of people barely consider them human. Our people are very narrowminded. The only reason racism isn't very noticeable is because there aren't many people of colour in our country, but that will change too since we entered the EU recently.
It won't, also there is no more racistic people than chines people. Also Gypsies I know where I live are well but it could be because they embraced our living standards they have nice houses nice cars and a good lifestyle. Also there is more bad comets about Hrecegovci then Gypsies. Also I think your neighborhood bay all of your comments is some bad place.
The only hate group in Croatia is LGBT with their fascistic methods of implementing pressure on the people. The only group that is calling for violence is the LGBT and their liberal-communist friends. If you got true Croatian media only they use hateful language toward anybody having different opinion. For example if you support the idea that the marriage is a union between a man and a woman automatically you are backward and cahtoliktaliban there same thing happened in parliament where a member of HNS (neo-liberals) called all people singed for the referendum 20% of population a filthy people.
Why because I speak the truth!? I will never be ashamed of spiking the truth. Why don't you explain to these people how it all started and why? You can tell then all about Modul 4 Zdravstvenog Odgoja. Why don't you tell them that almost 80% of people will vote 01,12,2013 ZA and half of them just because of your aggressive champagne attacking the church. It's easy to label us as fascists and backward idiots, but the is the result of that labeling! Why your biggest SDP- supports didn't change the Obiteljski zakon if they are sooo pro LBGT and why the hell instead of fighting for your rights you are stubbornly fighting for a name BRAK!
Because, you know, fighting against a group that is so stubborn in forbidding the people in LGBTQ* community from being able to marry the person they love is completely mental!
I am ashamed to call myself Catholic these days. I am ashamed to say what my religion is because of you stupid, backwards, untolerant, hating people! How can you say you are a Christian? You may go to the church every day, but you sure as hell don't live by your faith. Our God tells us to love everyone equally. You should be ashamed of yourself. No one is attacking the Church here. Just the hateful people that try to show love as something twisted.
Modul 4 zdravstvenog odgoja (modul 4 of health education) was there first and foremost to teach children about responsible sexual behavior, understanding their body, not being ashamed of their feelings and about tolerance towards others. How is that a bad thing and what does it have to do with this problem?
People will for AGAINST. I have hope in our country. And if I turn out to be wrong, at least the world will finally see us for the small-minded, bigoted country we are.
how can somebody be ashamed of something they choos wilingly?? You can always stop beeng Chatolik its easy. But dont epect that the chatolik chich changes just to meke you happy!? Its known wnat chatolic chich stands for and what its opinion on certain matter is. I dont know wher you get the idea that you shuld chang the religion?
I am ashamed to live in a country where 355 000 people are unemployed and the LGBT is spending 48 000 000Kn to change the unchangble instead of them fighting for their rights.
You have your opinion I have my I don't see why you need to call me a fascist of an ignorant person just to prow you are right! You don't like Croatia move we are I EU you can live wherever you want. You don't like catholic church stop being member of it there is all sorts of religions that you can join!
1) I was baptised when I was a child. People rarely choose their religion willingly. 2) I love my religion, what it represents, what God and Jesus tell us to do, but I'm ashamed to say I'm a Catholic because then other people have prejudices about me based on other Catholic people being hateful and ignorant. Not all of them, but a vast number of them. They don't follow what our religion says, making other people to think badly of us as a whole.
LGBTQ* aren't changing this. They didn't start this initiative. "In the name of the family" did.
I never called you a fascist. I did say you are ignorant, though, because all of the facts point to it.
I love my country and I love my religion. I don't want to move or change my religion. I want people to be tolerant and loving. Guess I'm asking for too much.
You have some issues!
First you say you are ashamed to be Croatian a catholic now you say that you love that you are Croatian and Catholic.
The Catholic Church won't change just to endolge you! It will be always a Catholic Church doctrine that mirage is a union of men and a women for reproducing offspring. It will always stay that sodomy is a sin!
Now we can argue and even agree that we should embrace our brothers and sisters even if they are living in sin! Dear tea you ether accept that religion as is or don't there is no change you cannot whip parts of Bible just because you don't like it.
I accept the religion, however I don't accept the Church and people who lead it. The principles of our religion are to love one another (Ljubi bližnjega svoga kao samoga sebe.), yet so many "religious people" decide to ignore that on a daily basis. They give a bad reputation to other catholic people.
Catholic Church is still stuck in middle ages in many, many ways. I love the religion, just not the people who represent it. They are the prime example of hypocrisy.
I love this country, but not ignorant people who live in it. I was born here, my family lives here, I don't wish to move from here. There are ignorant people everywhere, it just happens that in this country there are more of them.
Please, if you tell me that people should only have sex to reproduce, then I don't think this argument will accomplish anything. And do tell me where in the Bible does it say anything against homosexuals and that it's relevant to our religion.
You are talking about Christianity not Chatolic chrch
Please be careful when labeling things you quote (Ljubi bližnjega svoga kao samoga sebe.) because in same time somebody can quote (Treća knjiga Mojsijeva 20:13: "Ko bi muškarca obukao kao ženu, učiniše grijeh obojica; da se pogube; krv njihova na njih".) or (ne lijegaj s muškarcem kako se liježe sa ženom! To bi bila grozota. (Levitski zakonik 18,22 JB)
Na tvoje pitanje o bibliji:
P.S. možda bi trebala više vremen provest čitajuć o kršćanstvu jer meni se čini da ono i nije baš za tebe tj. tvoje stavove
I'm talking about both, because Christianity is divided in Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and various forms of Protestantism. (Katolici, pravoslavci i protestanti. Uči se na vjeronauku i povijesti u osnovnoj školi.) But this issue is mainly about Catholic Church.
Levitski je zakonik sastavljen kako bi se čovječanstvo kaznilo zbog istočnoga grijeha. On je prestao vrijediti nakon što je Isus poginuo za nas na križu.
Uzmimo sada Treću knjigu Mojsijevu. Ako želimo poštovati taj dio, moramo i sve druge, zar ne? Naposlijetku, ne smijemo samo birati rečenice koje nam se sviđaju. Da vidimo što još u njoj ima.
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them must be cut off from their people.
Amo se jednostavno složit da se ne slažemo.
As a Croatian, I must add, that most of the campaign is financed by greedy, wealthy Catholic church who is dedicated in besmirching gay population and especially gay activism, who is openly accusing them of being satanic and "the reason the society is falling apart". so taking some of the "In the name of the family's" money is also taking some from the Catholic church who gave the most in this awful campaign. I say fingers crossed and sue their asses off :D
I apologise for my english and I hope my message got through :)
Your English is crap but your hate for the Catholic church is even bigger. 60 years we lived under your rule (communist) you killed our priests you jailed us just for christening our children, You made us emigrate because we couldn't get any employment if we even where suspected of being religious.
Now you want to do it again! But this time it will not work because people of Croatia are awake. Anybody from the west who thinks this has anything to do with LGBT people is mistaken. Just not the biggest "supporter" of LGBT is an ex communist party (SDP) they are using them for their own agenda and the stupid LBGT people don't get it!.
Kiva's English is not even remotely "crap" (actually, you'd do well to check your own spelling and punctuation), and you got it all exactly the wrong way around.
No-one is endangering the Croatian Catholic Church, which is sitting on unimaginable amounts of property, is being financed up the wazoo (and that in one of the poorest countries of the EU) out of all taxpayers' pockets, regardless of whether they are Catholics or agree with what their money is being spent on, is drumming a mediaeval mindset into our children's heads in state-sponsored Religious Education classes (twice a week for all twelve years of primary and secondary education), is sticking its nose into politics and into all nooks and crannies of society, and works itself into a paranoid lather whenever anyone has the temerity to point out Church and State should be separated.
No-one is endangering or persecuting Croatian Catholics (plenty of whom are, incidentally, gay themselves, in case it has not occurred to you - and I'm sure it hasn't - that one can be both Christian and gay). It's not the priests or the faithful whose rights are being denied, who are being called every insane name you can think of, whose deaths ("put a bullet in his forehead," "they should all be shot," "they should be tied to stakes and burnt," "they don't deserve to live") or imprisonment are routinely called for in public discussion, who get beaten up simply for being what they are, with the police then laughing in their faces.
Not even LGBT groups, and certainly not the ruling coalition, ever breathed a word about gay marriage until the "In the Name of the Family" campaign started. All Prime Minister Milanovic had thought fit to offer to gay people in Croatia is a promise not to criminalise homosexuality again! And then you people started your idiotic hate-fest and suddenly gay marriage is the most discussed thing in Croatia. It is clear to anyone who a) actually lives here and b) has two brain cells to rub together that this Church offensive (it started about a year ago with the hysteria about Health Education) is aimed at putting HDZ back in power. It's amazing how quiet the Church keeps about everything it's now telling us is a terrible problem - from gays to the use of minority languages and scripts - when HDZ is the ruling party. So now, yes, the "gay marriage issue" (again, no-one is campaigning FOR it even now - a PROTIV vote means not putting a ban on it in the Constitution, where it fricking does not belong even if you are dead set against it, and from where it will be very difficult and costly to remove once the Croatian people finally join the 21st century, perhaps around 2067 or so) is being used for political manipulation, but not by the "Communists" (plenty of actual ex-members of the Communist Party, and even UDBA spies, are in right-wing parties, but that somehow never bothers people like you... Why?). In that situation, what precisely is the LGBT community supposed to do? Decline the support of anyone who is not squeaky clean in every possible way (are there such people in Croatian political life? Of course not) and say: "Oh, we're fine with all this hatred and the denial of rights, we're perfectly happy hiding and trying to figure out how to leave the country. Have your festival of hatred and stupidity by all means, we're as happy as all our fellow citizens to fork out 7 million euros for it."
Also, I don't know what your parents told you, but it's laughable to claim anyone was put in prison for christening their children, even during the darkest days of Yugoslavia. It was a shit place, but that is so ridiculously untrue. You need a bullshit filter and you need to start using your head instead of just parroting nonsense.
One thing I can agree with you is (it started about a year ago with the hysteria about Health Education), you can sac its only a small group of U ime Obitelji, but truly there is a huge support among ordinary people. We are sick and tired to be pushed around by a government that don't value democracy and a small loud grope there is honestly simply not tolerant! You are talking about taking rights?? Witch rights will be taken away from LGBT that are no implemented.
I written before and I will repit myself again instead of you fighting for your rights you are stubbornly fighting for a NAME - Brand! You are used by SDP for diversion from real problems. And one day if that day comes why do you think its expressive to spend 7 000 000€ again to change the constitution?? Our government spends 10 time more on cell phones.
Regarding Yugoslavia my experiences and yes the situation got better in 80's but my family is coming from Dalmatian zagora and there is numerous times priests, and prominent people where never seen again just because of there religion or love for Croatia. There is even today "Jame" where we know who is in them and I am not talking of people killed after the WWII but in late 50's ask you parents again and stop believing in fairytales. May mother just to get education had to go true questioning of UDBA and vouches of promrnt communists!
But at least you are a polite person, and we can agree that we don't agree, the only thing is that I don't understand why LGBT is so against democracy, and referendum is the direct democracy!
well that is a lot of disinformation on your behalf. I've lived 12 years in ex-Yugoslavia and my grandmother was a catholic and she vent to church every day during this regime you are talking about, and we celebrated christmas and eastern with her although we rejected religion but we respected it, and my neighbors were baptized and vent also through other sacraments without a scratch from this so called evil regime you are talking about.
I see you never lived in Yugoslavia! And in any regime you can celebrate Christmas and ester in your own home with closed door. Also pleas don't lecture me on how it was to live under communism my family felt the "gentle" hand of communism first hand. My mother when she wanted to go to college she and whole family was questioned by UDBA, also 2 prominent communist had to vouch for her, because we weren't "the perfect" communist family. My grandfather had to emigrate to Germany because he couldn't get any job anywhere the reason was he didn't want to join the communist party which was obligatory for getting employment in government companies and in communism 99% of them are government owned. So pleas don't tell me how it was. As in any regime there was people having a great time and lot of opportunities but lot so them didn't. Even today in my village they vespers of young people who were taken in middle of the night in late 50's and never saw again. My friends crisend there children in secret so they wouldn't have trouble in their companies! And soo on.
By the way you support LBGT as I can see did you know that it was panelized up to 5 years of jail if you her guy in your beloved communist Yugoslavia
I'm a Croatian too,mother of three children,married to a man.I belong to the part od Croatia that is against this so called circus that is going on at the moment in our contry...I'm acctually very pleased to see that there are so many people who speak against this initiative..That's why I hope from the 1th of December we will be news as the nation who choose not to be anti human...
Too much money is spent to protect 'family' that is already protected...and making sure that nobody else gets the 'privilege' we have.
That's why I hope there will be enough people to say WE ARE AGAINST!!!!
Forgive my english,I wasn't using the translator :-)
well, I don't know how well you've been informed about "in the name of family" - let's call it what it is - political orientation - but - you should most definitely sue.
You can thank whomever you're thanking, on the fact that you are not from Croatia, and can't read Croatian articles. Because - omg - it's so disgusting, discriminating (even though they're constantly repeating that they are not - when you ask for arguments - you get that they are just not.), lying, filthy, lack of imagination even, stealing scumbags with -> http://image.dnevnik.hr/media/images/644x322/Aug2013/60836784-zeljka-markic-u-ime-obitelji.jpg
that - as their leader.
That reproducted too - that info made me very sad.
So, in the name of HEALTY REASON and reason at all, and all the people who know what the true values on this little ball are, PLEASE, sue the hell out of them. PLEASE.
Take this, homophobic people story to any magazine, make a complete fools of our country (because we obviously deserve it), and let the world take it's course. MAYBE then this sheeps with which i share the air that i breathe, could realize that not every scientific fact, or in fact, any sign of reason isn't conspiracy after "all the good they want for us" - it's what it is - like I said before - disgusting, homophobic, cheating, stealing, lying political organisation witch should be stooped asap.
Thank you for reading, with respect,
one person from Croatia who is sick with all the crap.
Share love & happines
<3 <3 <3
an just because it matters if you're fricken croatian - i'm straight - and no - that wasn't my choice!
i was praying the guys would do that :) the fact that the anti-gay community is a bunch of bored lying manipulators isn't going to stop the referendum but i am honestly happy to give them trouble and sleepless nights like they gave it to a lot of croatian people
even though i am a minor and i am currently on another continent alone, i spent last week going through all of the interviews and stuff about referendum and after getting irritated and annoyed so many time because of their ignorance this is the first good and happy news
As a Croat, I am deeply ashamed to be living there because of this stupid "U ime obitelji" organization (an anti-gay hate group rather, as you call it). Please, sue their fat discriminative asses and take as much money from them as you can!
Lots of love for the LGBTQ community from Croatia <3
You call them discriminative XD let's go true your post:
- stupid
-hate group
- fat asses
And all of this just because they don't agree with you!
And for you not living in Croatia this is just a small part how they "the tolerant and fill of love" talk to anybody not agreeing with them. But again that is good because thy do this in this way 50% more people will vote "ZA" i know even some gay people will vote ZA just because thy are sick of this manipulative, small, aggressive group!
They are a hate group, and as one you cannot possibly call them smart. Telling the truth is not discriminating them; trying to forbid people in LGBTQ* community from getting married, adopting children, or even telling who they are in public, calling them unnatural and somehow harmful to our country - THAT is discrimination.
And yes, "In the name of family" are a small, agressive, bigoted group, which is why people will for AGAINST.
(Sorry if I said something wrong, English is not my first language, although when I see these things from my fellow countrymen I sure wish it was.)
- trying to forbid people in LGBTQ* community from getting married
You want to say that now in Croatia homosexuals can get marred??
-calling them unnatural
Well don't tell me heterosexuality is natural I know that it is not political correct to say that but for God sake do you know the meaning of the word natural?? Been blind is alos not natural or how you say "unnatural" that doesn't mean the we have to eat the gay and the blind for breakfast!
(Sorry if I said something wrong, English is not my first language, although when I see these things from my fellow countrymen I sure wish it was.)
You can always move to Ireland they speak English there!
No, they can't, and they never tried to, but this lovely group is trying to make sure they are never able to.
I think you got it wrong there? I think heterosexuality, homosexuality, in short every sexuality IS natural. What isn't natural is hating people based on their sexuality. Homosexuality is found in many animal species; homophobia is found just in one, and that's us.
I'm sorry, I lost you there. How is blindness and homosexuality even similar? But I agree with you that we shouldn't, eh, as you put it, eat them for breakfast. We should treat them the same, because they're all human beings and deserve our tolerance, respect and all the equal rights, don't you agree?
If only living somewhere else would erase the shame I feel because of my countrymen... but it won't.
"every sexuality IS natural."
Pedophilia is also sexual orientation! By what you say that's natural also??
I agree we should treat them the same, because they're all human beings and deserve our tolerance, respect and all the equal rights!
But note "BRAK" is not a human right nether by UN or by EU human right court! I respect every human being that respects me when I am disrespected I give it back the same way!
We're from Croatia, and instead of being proud of our own country, we're all ashamed of what's happening!!! Shame on those people who want to ban gay marriage! We're all equal, and we all have our rights to be happy and in love! I hope Europe and the entire world give a lesson to our corrupted Parliament!!! RESPECT FOR THE GUYS!


text:
Anchorage is a nice size, big enough to find what you need, small enough to be familiar with what's available. For those who may find yourself in Anchorage someday (we get our share of tourists each summer) here is a list of some great goods and services I'd recommend:
1. Need a sandwich shop? I'd recommend The Perfect Cup at the Dimond Center, I dream about their avocado/bacon sandwich--if ethnic food is your thing you should consider Milano's on Arctic and 36th, they have terrific gyros and steak and cheese sandwiches.
2. Need a photographer? Stanton Photography, definitely the best. All of his pictures are beautiful.
3. Need a restaurant? South Side Bistro on Huffman. I'd recommend the cream of sundried tomato soup with the chevre salad and the raspberry creme brulee for dessert and you could always order more and take it home . . .
4. Need a dentist? James Nichols, D.D.S or Russell Morrell, D.D.S. I know over a dozen good dentists, but these two I'd highly recommend.
5. Need an optometrist? Dr. Bill Faulkner is good, Andrew and I have gone to him but I've also really liked Dr. Fox, she's great with the kids.
6. Need a carpet cleaner? J&S Steamway is the best. Not necessarily the cheapest but the best. I can get my family room, hallway, and two half-flights of stairs done for a little over $100, which isn't too bad given the quality.
7. Need an appliance repairman? Anchor Appliances has given good results. They've taken care of my dishwasher and refrigerator and even gave me advice with an electrical issue. I used Harold's once and didn't care for it as much though that was five years ago.
8. Need a cheap date? Oh Bear Tooth for sure. You always hear me talking about The Moose's Tooth and the Amazing Cheesebread, well The Bear Tooth Theater is owned by the same geniuses only there they throw in a movie with your dinner. Tickets are $3 per show. Order the same great food as at Moose's Tooth before you sit down and they bring you your dinner to eat during the movie. Warning: do not order something that requires light to eat i.e. salads, messy stuff, nachos, etc. You can get dinner and a movie for two for under $15 if you're smart.
9. Need your furniture restored? Windmill Furniture Restoration. My mother had her dining room table refinished and they picked it up, refinished and delivered for a fabulous price. But call early, the waiting list is long--I called this month for a spot after Thanksgiving.
10. Need a pediatrician? Dr. Jeff Brand. Highly recommended. If your child is sick he's easily available and he also has an office in Eagle River for patients out there. He's practical and down to earth and doesn't treat you like a silly worrier. Also I'd recommend Dr. Jeff Penman who is the pediatrician for many of my friends' children.
11. Need a plumber? I've used Chaz Mechanical and H&M Plumbing and both were fine but I was impressed with Best Plumbing that hooked up our sink, garbage disposal and dishwasher for the remodel. He was quick and painless and can also took care of heating issues and I thought his bill for the whole thing was pretty reasonable too.
12. Need a mechanic? The Alignment Center knows us on a first-name basis--my grandfather recommended them to me years ago and I've been so happy I never mess with anyone else. They can fit you in immediately and get the work done quickly but the best part is that they seem very honest. I've had several times when I've taken one of the cars in for repairs and they've told me that it's a minor problem, easily fixed at little cost (how often does that happen?) Twice they've installed bad parts that broke and they quickly identified what had happened, accepted responsibility and fixed it at no charge when I wouldn't have known the difference. Being so ignorant when it comes to cars, this is a comforting thing.
13. Need an oil and gas attorney? I have a really hunky one I would recommend . . .
And if you're looking for some other goodies to help you through the summer check back here on Saturday for the unveiling of a new weekly feature at Scribbit. You'll love it, I promise . . .
And Pinks and Blues is giving away a Dooney and Bourke handbag. Go! Go! Go! You have until Friday to get your name in the pot.
Technorati tags: Thursday Thirteen, Anchorage, Alaska, mechanics

subset: commoncrawl


text:
One hundred days in outer space wasn't enough to kill "Neffi" the spider, but a simple trip to Washington, D.C., proved enough to do the trick.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and the University of Colorado confirmed the death on Monday of "Nefertiti," the spider at the center of an experiment conceived by an Egyptian student and launched by Boulder researchers.
A 42-million-mile jaunt through space and subsequent splashdown in the Pacific Ocean seemingly didn't faze the Johnson jumping spider (species Phidippus johnsoni). But after being put on exhibit at the Smithsonian's Insect Zoo on Thursday, it was dead by Monday.
Neffi, of a species that typically enjoys a lifespan of about one year, was 10 months old. Monday's passing of the so-called "spidernaut," according to the Smithsonian, was due to natural causes. However, the Smithsonian conceded that no necropsy was performed on the deceased arachnid.
"There was not," admitted Smithsonian press officer Kelly Carnes, who described museum staff as "pretty devastated."
Carnes added, "I think the reasoning is that we want to add her to our collection so that we can continue to learn about spiders. And she is much more useful as a research specimen if we keep her intact.
"The mission lives on."
Also counted among the mourners is Stefanie Countryman, the projects manager for K-12 Educational Projects at CU's BioServe Space Technologies. But Countryman was philosophical.
"That's how it is, with living organisms. You just never know," Countryman said. "Someone didn't squish her. It wasn't something someone did. She had been eating well at the Smithsonian, and active. There is no other explanation, other than that she was reaching the end of her lifespan."
'Bonus she came back alive'
The spider's life was short. But it was memorable.
As Countyrman put it, "She traveled from Arizona to Colorado and then to Japan, then into a rocket to the space station, where she was basically starved after about 55 days, then comes back in a SpaceX Dragon capsule into the Pacific, then to Long Beach (California), back to Colorado and then to the Smithsonian. You never know how all that impacted her."
Countryman added, "It's a bonus she came back alive, honestly."
The experiment that made Neffi famous was conceived as part of the NASA-sponsored YouTube Space Lab contest in which two student-proposed studies were selected from thousands submitted worldwide by video. Amr Mohamed, 18, of Egypt, suggested examining whether a spider normally dependent on gravity for catching its meals would be able to adapt, and eat, in a micro-gravity environment.
Specific procedures for the winning experiments then were designed in CU's aerospace engineering sciences department. Countryman said the Neffi experiment demonstrated that, in fact, the spider was able to hunt down fruit flies in her sealed space environment on the International Space Station just fine -- until her food supply ran out.
"You can blame that on me," Countryman said.
She explained that a month-long supply of fruit flies actually lasted 55 days. However, there was adequate water -- the critical element in bare-necessities survival for a spider -- for the remaining 45 days of its time on the space station. Also, Neffi was sent into space "gorged" on a full stomach, Countryman added.
Fueled imaginations
Neffi circled the earth more than 1,500 times, then splashed back down off the Southern California coast Oct. 28. She was recovered by Countryman at Long Beach, Calif., on Oct. 30. The spider was returned to Boulder and nursed back to health for about a month before being transported to the Smithsonian.
After the whirlwind of recent months, just a few days in Foggy Bottom were apparently the last straw.
"I'm going with, she was eating well, she was fat and happy and said, 'You know what? I've been around the world, I've been to space and back. What more is there? I might as well give up the ghost now, before they make me do something else,'" Countryman said.
A Smithsonian announcement of Neffi's passing noted, "The loss of this special animal that inspired so many imaginations will be felt throughout the museum community."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Charlie Brennan at 303-473-1327 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Last week I mentioned Lillian's birthday and my crush on Over the Rainbow Toys here in Anchorage--it really was a fun place for birthday ideas, and even though I only walked away with a few things (they can be rather pricey) there were so many others I put on the list for future reference.
I know it's not holiday-gift buying time but if you're like me you can always use some good ideas for birthdays so here's what I bought as well as a few I'm noting for later, all of them were at Over the Rainbow but unfortunately their website is really poor and hardly any of the toys they stock are actually on the site so I'm linking to other places that also carry them.
1. Lily Rose Doll from the Only Hearts Club collection. These soft, poseable dolls are more realistic and cute than Barbies and less trashy than those-dolls-that-shall-not-be-named (you know, the ones that start with a "B" and end with "rats"?) The only way those dolls could be any trashier is if they came wrapped in a Hefty bag. But check out Lily Rose's sweet little freckles! Reasonably priced at $15, the extra outfits are a little pricey at $11 but they're better quality than what you'd find with other dolls in the category. My biggest gripe would be that they tie those darn dolls into the packaging so well that you need a surgeon to get them out. ACK!
2. A Bug Collector Kit. For all those centipedes and tapeworms, right? I figured if Lillian had fun little microscopes and tweezers and magnifying jars to keep her bugs outside then I wouldn't have to find them inside. Very popular--though a little more expensive at $34.95--we've got specimens on the back porch right now. I finally convinced her to keep them in a shady corner, the poor things were on the table in full sun and baking in their little clear plastic houses and she was wondering why her spiders were sleeping so long. I don't like bugs but let's treat them humanely--beetles are people too you know.
3. A Set of Magnetic Princess "Paper" Dolls. You've probably seen these before but they're so cute and this set is very sturdy and comes with its own wooden tray. I'm not sure what Over the Rainbow is selling them for, Amazon has a double pack for $17.99, but these were a gift from someone else--someone else who is a fan of the store because I could tell from the lovely gift wrapping job!
4. The Amazing Animal Trivia Game. Spencer, David and Lillian have been playing this on and off since Saturday and my only complaint is that the game needs more questions. Two hundred questions and they've already been through them all so now they ask the questions but don't give each other the benefit of the multiple choice selections, just to make it harder. Did you know that an elephant's trunk has 40,000 muscles? Ve-ry popular item and a good price at $19.95
5. Zoomorphs. This is seriously the coolest toy I've seen in a long time. You get a tube of animal parts that are all interchangeable so you can create your own horrific beasts. There are different themes: mythological creatures, prehistorics, insects, safari animals, etc. The tube I got was $25. Not exactly cheap but they're fun for those with twisted minds and the kids have had a great time making up hideous creatures. We're a regular Island of Dr. Moreau here I tell you.
There was a larger, chunkier version of the same idea for young children called Dragon Bonz which (for more money at $36.95) looked alright but not at fun as the Zoomorphs.
6. Penelope Peapod Dolls. These are just the cutest dolls you'll ever see because they come with their own little purse-style carrying basket. I actually had a similar doll when I was little that my Grandmother had made for me from the bottom of a Clorox bottle where she cut off the bottom, punched holes around the rim and crocheted a cinch top on it. I had a tiny Eskimo doll named Muk Tuk that came from Woolworth's which I carried around in there with a little pillow and blanket and mattress and loved it to pieces. Unfortunately the Penelope Peapod doll doesn't come as inexpensively as Grandma's well-loved version--they retail for $39.95 at Over the Rainbow but they did feel pretty sturdy.
7. Backyard Safari Turbo Bug Vacuum Toy. The toy with the longest name in the history of the world but the concept is simple--it's a Dustbuster for bugs. Kids can suck up bugs for collection and study without mushing them between their fingers in an Of Mice and Men type of moment. I can't decide if this is the greatest idea or the dumbest--I've seen my kids play with this for hours collecting specimens (our little neighbor Cain has one and uses it all the time) but then it's one of those things where kids have been successfully collecting and playing with bugs for centuries without the aid of the Bug Vac so why spend $26.95 for something they should be able to figure out themselves? You decide but I'll tell you they have fun with it and that's the whole point of a toy I suppose.
Alternately and in the same genre is the Big Bad Booming Bug 3D Bug Projector which looks pretty fun and is much cheaper at $12.99--you put a bug in and it crawls by the light source and casts monster shadows on your walls, kind of recreating the experience of watching a reel-to-reel movie where a bug crawls in front of the lens. Only problem is, it doesn't get dark enough here when bugs are around to make this a viable thing in our house. Still it looks kind of fun for my little etymologists.
8. Zee Beez. Okay this was super fun and I stood there at the checkout counter having spent my budgeted amount on toys but playing with the display model and wanting one very badly. It's just a hard rubber spinner top that you flip inside out then spin and drop at the same time. When it hits the ground spinning it flips right side out and the force shoots it up into the air. Simple and cheap ($4.99) and fun--I want one.
9. Maze Balancing Ball. Children can stand on this board and maneuver it to send a ball through a maze at their feet-tricky but it can also be held in the hands and worked that way as well. It looked fun but was expensive ($48.95) and I wondered how long it would hold interest. They had an older-kid version that was even more difficult and had some kind of an electronic game that went along with the set up and seemed more fun--and I think the older version would keep their attention longer. And then there's the price--it's on sale at Amazon for $34.95 which it the final proof that the Wobble Deck is probably more for my kids than the Balancing Ball.
10. In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck. This is the only item I didn't see at Over the Rainbow but it was sent to me as a review item and happened to come on Lillian's birthday so it was almost like getting a birthday present! I get a few books to review and usually they're fine and all but this one I really liked. Three reasons: First, the story is full of sensory words that bring it to life. Colors, sounds, smells, the imagery makes the story jump off the page. Second, the ending has a little twist that makes the book fun and rather magical. Third, there aren't too many words. I know I sound like a cretin but don't you get tired of bedtime books that are novels? I love reading to my children but when you have a picture book with too much book and not enough pictures I get bored and my kids get bored (can you get through a Bill Peet story without cheating and skipping words when they're not looking? I can't). Anyway, it makes for a great bedtime story book and the little girl in the pictures looks exactly like Lillian which made it even better--we just stuck her name in when we read it.
11. The Bungee Jumper. My kids like the physical toys--frisbees, baseballs, hula hoops, pogo sticks and this toy looked like a newer, more easily stored version of a pogo stick. $18.49 isn't a bad price for it and I'd give it a try I think. But you want to know the best outdoor toy? The Best? The Fun Roller--a giant plastic hamster wheel for kids. Oh it looks fun alright though I'm guessing we don't have enough insurance to even allow the kids to look at it. It has disaster written all over it--in a hugely fun way of course. Reminds me of a Jackie Chan movie I saw where he goes over a cliff in something similar called a Zorb which, not surprisingly, comes from New Zealand. Everything cool comes from New Zealand, it's just that kind of place. Anyway, I can see my boys trying to reenact that scene with not-so-pleasing results.
12. Labyrinth. This is a game the kids got a while back but our version was just a card game where you lay down pieces of the labyrinth trying to match up the paths to collect the treasure. The kids liked it quite a bit and now they've got a full blow board game of it. I saw junior versions as well and they all look good if our experience can be any measure. But why oh why can't I ever spell the word "labyrinth" correctly? I always have to sound it out syllable by syllable to get it out.
13. Moose in the House. Another game but this is a card game and was very popular here. Not with older kids but Lillian loved it because she could play along with the older kids and keep up and make trouble for her brothers by sticking moose in their houses. Another good card game is Loot which the boys particularly liked--pirate themes can't ever be boring. Only thing is we got our Moose in the House game from Walmart and it cost half of what they're asking at Over the Rainbow where it's at $12. Go to Walmart for that one.
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Technorati tags: Thursday Thirteen, toys
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Terrific Birthday Toys
Last week I mentioned Lillian's birthday and my crush on Over the Rainbow Toys here in Anchorage--it really was a fun place for birthday ideas, and even though I only walked away with a few things (they can be rather pricey) there were so many others I put on the list for future reference.
Email this post Labels: lists, reviews and giveaways
43 comments:
- Yvie said...
I like the Fun Roller. There is a bigger version of that for bigger kids right? *smiles*
- My Ice Cream Diary said...
Target sells the Lilly Rose doll. It was funny because Cookie and I were getting so sick over the Barbie/Bratz debacle that we had begun designing our own doll to take their places (I still have the detailed plans), but then we found Lilly Rose and realized we were too late. They are darling!
I want a Zorb!
- Anonymous said...
I love the Only Heart dolls. We have Hannah Faith and Olivia Hope. We've been reading the books, very sweet stories.
PS: Last time I was at Over the Rainbow, they had some of the OH dolls on the sale shelf for half price.
- Robin said...
Those Lilly Rose dolls look so sweet. The trashy B ones don't enter my house either. Blech!
My daughter has a non-princessy version of the magnetic paper doll that she loves, and I love it too since she's adorable, easy to use and dressed as a young girl, not a princess (we're already inundated enough with princesses) and most importantly not a vamp.
- Coleen & Kelly said...
these are some awesome toys & gifts. i'm totally bookmarking this page for future reference. thanks for all the wonderful ideas!
xoxo, k
- Jolanthe said...
My kids love the Only Hearts club dolls - and we get them at Target (and I think Amazon sells them too). We have banned Barbies at our house. There's just something disturbing about a 3 year old playing with a doll that has breasts larger than mine...
- Edi said...
I remember the little doll in a purse that my grandma (or it might have been great-grandmother) made for me. My purse was orange, my two older sisters had matching pink ones. It was crocheted with that very thin almost like colored string, yarn.
I wonder what happened to so many of our sweet old toys...I know there were 2 more girls born after me - so maybe things got worn out...plus my parent's basement got water in a few times - so maybe they were ruined and pitched.
- Anonymous said...
I am coveting the fun roller.
We are all a bunch of silly, silly moms. But, we are all a bunch of FUN silly moms.
- deborah said...
My 7yr old son is sitting next to me and totally zoomed in on the bug stuff. boys will be boys
- Cole said...
I love the look of those Only Hearts Dolls but there is no retailer listed in my province. Boo! I'll tell Grandma to keep an eye out for them.
Thanks for the list! Just in time for all those birthday parties :)
- Jacki said...
I can attest to the magnetic dolls being a good gift. Emma has those exact ones and she loves playing with them.
- Anonymous said...
ooomy!!! I want the bug vacuum!! It is not only useful for kids, but adults as well.. I have ants in my basement and at my cottage ocassionaly.
.... or is it only made for one bug at a time?
great gift ideas!!
- SuburbanCorrespondent said...
Oh, my goodness, I have grown to hate Bill Peet books. Nothing can knock me out faster.
I'm with you - more pictures, fewer words!
- Anonymous said...
I love the look of that fun roller... although i can see many hospital trips probably come with it...
- Christie O. said...
a bug vaccuum! how fun is that! i laughed out loud when you said the "of mice and men" moment -- poor bugs go through that with my two-year-old.
- Tracey said...
We have the Fun Roller. Or, rather, HAD it as it slowly deflated one day (after a month of use) and I can't find the hole.
It was SO FUN while it lasted but SO not worth the plastic it'll add to the landfills for just a month of fun. :(
My daughter is 2 and has those magnetic paper dolls. We ALL love them! Even my older boys will play with her and the doll.
- Annette Lyon said...
What a great list. I think I know what #4 will be getting for her birthday.
- Deb - Mom of 3 Girls said...
I love the Lilly Rose dolls - I've seen them at Target and am planning to get some for my girls this Christmas. Definitely way better than either of the 'B' varieties! :)
- Janet said...
That fun roller really does look like quite deadly fun. I can see them now rolling all . the . way . down . the . mountain . across . the . road. into . the . ravine . . .
I love the Zoomorphs, and will definitely be getting those. Both kids love dinosaurs and such.
- amy said...
ok these are fun. We will be getting our daughter this year and I am always looking at stuff like this1
mines up and I have a question for all readers
- The Estrogen Files said...
How did you know we have a birthday coming right up?! Thanks for the great ideas.
- Some Law Student said...
What a fantastic list! I'm definitely bookmarking this one for use when I'm shopping for the next unexpected birthday invitation. :) Thank you!!
- Motherhood for Dummies said...
oh that hamster wheel!.... I think I want one for Curtis and I!
- Anonymous said...
The Zoomorphs and the Zeebees are on my list for sure.
- Chris said...
I love the bug vac idea. Happy TT
- ewe are here said...
I like the look of the Zoormorphs, too.
My Ramekin got a bug collector kit for Christmas. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet, although he likes to put things in the big magnified jar
- Damselfly said...
I want a hamster roller thing!
- Nichols said...
Just so you know I found a website that sells Zoomorphs for a little cheaper. Go to toontoy.com and type zoomorphs into the keyword search. I am totally getting those for my son for our 5 day road trip.
- Darla said...
Oh, the days when my kids still played with toys... They still have "toys," but they're a wee bit more expensive now. *sigh*
- Lilibeth said...
oh that brings back memories. My kids had a huge wooden spool that they curled up in like the fun roller. Elijah came close to sailing over a cliff in it one day. He would have bounced over two highways and landed in the river, so we were fortunate to stop it in time. After that we had strict rules about rolling the spool.
- Fiesty Charlie said...
Thanks for the toy ideas!!
My birthday is in July and Abbie always gets something to open... so now I have things to add to the wish list!
- Kristi said...
We love the zeeBees.
- Genny said...
We have that bug catcher. Oh the joys! (I'm not much of an insect person...)
- Shannon said...
I have another version of the #8 toy- and it is addictive! I think I played with it more than my kids when I first bought it ( : Thanks for the suggestions.
- Anonymous said...
Great list, I may get some of this stuff for myself! lol
- Sonja said...
I'm so glad you posted these great ideas. I have two daughters who have birthdays coming soon. :)
- jack said...
You've a nicely done site with lots of effort and good updates. I would like to welcome you to submit your stories to www.surfurls.com and get that extra one way traffic to your site.
- Marja said...
Oh what a great stuff. I love the fun roller. My kids would have loved that when they were young these days they are only interested in computers and playstations
- Stacey@Look, Mom, Look! said...
Thank you so much for the list! I am always looking for reasonable appropriate gifts for birthdays. I love the posable dolls. They are too cute and you are right, a great alternative to B$*%&
- Enzie at World Market Portraits said...
Happy belated birthday! My son just graduated from high school and with a lot happening I totally got behind in my blog visits. Can't believe I missed this important date!
- BlapherMJ said...
What a great list! My favorite is without a doubt the fun wheel!
- Anonymous said...
My 6 year old received the Asian doll as a gift a few months ago - and absolutely adores her! (My daughters are Chinese - and this is one of the only dolls I've found that is fairly realistic in appearance)!
- Jo in NZ said...
"...called a Zorb which, not surprisingly, comes from New Zealand. Everything cool comes from New Zealand..."
Hey, I come from New Zealand! Thanks!


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Well this is my first post here, had thought about joining prior to the Rams vs Seahawks game but went on vacation so didn't get around to it. Can call me Fitz, and i plan on visiting and looking in on the site from time to time. Well having said that, guess ill get on with my post.
Gratz on making the playoffs, I really wasn't expecting you guys to be so good when the season started. And i definatly didnt think RW was going to be starting or near as good as he has been, he has been a stud pure and simple. Doesnt throw a ton of passes(30/40+) but he makes his throws count big time. He became the best qb in the NFC west fast. I hate saying that of course cause i want Bradford to be the best. Hopefully two years in the same system and with some offensive upgrades he can became that QB for us. I am hoping RW has a sophomore slump so the Rams can leap from them in the division , nothing against RW, i just want my Rams to succeed more lol.
Great game last Sunday, thought for a while we might be able to pull out a win. Our defensive line played great for the most part, just wish our safeties and OLB had been better. That last TD by you guys really sucked, and i didnt think we would come back from it. Almost did but Bradford got forced into a 4th and long to try and get a td and your coverage was to good and Sherman sealed the win for you guys. I was at least happy not to get blown out like your previous 3 opponents, that really would of sucked.
I really hope you guys beat the Skins this week, not because im a fan of your team or anything, but cause i dont want our draft pick from them to drop any further. Really was hoping RG3 would suck for a couple years so we would have a few high draft picks from them, but oh well. Beat them anyways, after that though i doubt i will be rooting for you(unless you play the Whiners, then i will probably root for you, maybe ).
I love how the NFC West has gone from the worst division to one of the best and hardest divisions in the league. I think in the years to come the Whiners, Hawks and Rams are all going to be battling each other for the division champion and for wild card spots and giving headaches to most teams we will play. I love the direction Fisher/Snead has taken the Rams in, and i think next year we will be able to battle for a wildcard spot at the least(high hopes). I see the division being a three headed race for years to come. The Cards need a qb and O-line, i dont see them contending to much in the next few years(IMO).
I've read on the site about some hate you get from some rams fans and how a lot of them dont like Carrol. As some pointed out, there are those types of fans for every team. As for Carrol, don't hate him or anything, but don't like him either, its nothing personal against him, and im sure if he was the Rams HC i'd love him, i think it's just cause he's the HC of a division rival. Never liked USC but i have nothing personal against him, just your HC so not a fan
Well anyways just thought id introduce myself and some of my thoughts. Best of luck Sunday, hopefully no major injuries or anything.


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Lynda Sue Thomas died February 24, 2013
Lynda Sue Thomas, 67, of Independence, MO passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013.
Lynda, daughter of Lee Anderson and Cora (Parish) Martin was born November 28, 1945 in Rose Bud. Survivors include her husband, Jim, daughter Pamela Sue Overfelt, 2 grandsons, five great-grandchildren and other family.
Graveside services were held Thursday, Feb. 28 at Oak Ridge Memory Gardens. Visitation was Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Speaks Legacy Chapels in Independence, MO.


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Friday, March 10, 2017
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Interesting but True
Suffering and the Cross part 1
Suffering & Cross What can we learn from suffering? Sometimes we get stuck asking the question "Why do we suffer?" instead of asking "What can we learn through suffering?" When we ask this question, we realize that God allows the things he hates (e.g., sin and suffering) so that the things he loves (e.g., virtues, compassion, love, and new life) may grow. Sometimes suffering is necessary to achieve some good. In the Gospel of John (16:21), Jesus speaks of the suffering of a woman in labor. Although her pain is great, her joy is complete with the birth of her child. Sometimes when we are in the midst of suffering, it is difficult to see the good that can come out of it. However, whether it is the birth of a child or the development of a virtue, good often does follow from suffering. Suffering helps bring us closer to others. Through our own sufferings and heartaches, we come to understand the pain of others. Just as Jesus shared in our sufferings, we too are called to share in the sufferings of others. Suffering helps us to be better Christians and more Christ-like. In many respects, suffering is a gift, as it can teach us to be better Christians by teaching us about patience, humility, and compassion. Think about Job in the Old Testament. Job was a wealthy and revered man who was blessed with good health and a large family. And, in the eyes of the Lord, Job was good and righteous. However, Satan stripped Job of his earthly possessions, his family, and his health. Although Job endured great suffering, he remained steadfast in his faith in God. Moreover, his great suffering helped to purify and strengthen his love for God. Recall too the lives of the saints and martyrs. In Philippians 1:12-13, we read that St. Paul was not concerned with his own suffering; rather, he was pleased that his "imprisonment in Christ's cause worked out to the furtherance of the gospel." Likewise, St. Stephen and thousands of other martyrs not only grew closer to God in their suffering, but they chose a life (and death) of great suffering for their love of Christ. In their suffering, they remembered the Lord's promise that "Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven" (Matthew 5:10-12). And, most importantly, recall the passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ. As St. Francis de Sales reminds us, "Look intently and frequently on Christ Jesus, crucified, naked, blasphemed, slandered, forsaken and overwhelmed by every kind of weariness, sorrow and labor. Remember that your sufferings are not comparable to his in quality and quantity, and that you can never suffer for his sake anything equal to what he has suffered FOR YOU." How amazing is God's love for us! Our powerful, all good, and everlasting Lord – the Creator of the entire world – humbled Himself to take on the form of a man, and not just any man, but a slave. And, He obediently accepted death – death on a cross – because of His infinite love for us (Philippians 2:7-8). Suffering reminds us to look ahead to our eternal life with God. Sometimes, suffering forces us to take a time-out from this life. When we suffer, we are forced to ask the hard questions in life. We are forced to examine the meaning of life, and the meaning of death. And, we are forced to consider that this world makes no sense at all unless there exists some greater plan for us. Through it all, suffering inspires us to look ahead to the possibilities of eternal life – a life of truth, beauty, justice, and love – with God. The Lord reminds us to "Have no fear of the sufferings to come . . . remain faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10).Through our own sufferings, then, we are called to remember the sufferings of other Christians and of Christ Himself. Through our sufferings, we are called to be faithful to God, and to turn to Him for comfort. And, we are reminded that true peace and happiness can NEVER be found in this world; rather, as Christians, we must set our sights on the next world – and our eternal life with God. How are we to endure suffering? In modern society, we are taught that happiness is the ultimate goal. And, moreover, happiness is equated with immediate gratification, pleasures of the body and the palate, and possession of the "conveniences" created by modern technology. In this conception of happiness, suffering doesn't seem to have a place. Yet, as Christians, we know that we are called to a life of holiness, and that the path to holiness often involves suffering. We believe that Christ saved us by His suffering, and that "we must work out our salvation in the same manner, through suffering and afflictions, enduring the injuries, denials and discomforts we meet with all possible meekness" (St. Francis de Sales). For Christians, then, suffering does have its place. If we are to be holy, we must endure our trials in accord with God's will. When an evil happens to us, we must do all we can to remedy the situation. If we are at fault, we must humbly admit our transgression. And, if the evil is caused by another, we must bless that person and "never repay injury with injury" (Rom. 12:14, 17). We must be patient in our suffering – we must not complain or seek pity from others. We must consider the suffering of other Christians before us – and of Christ Himself. We must offer up our suffering to Christ. We must remember that our time on this earth is short and our trials shall quickly pass. Above all, we must pray. The great mystic Thomas à Kempis said that we should always let Christ's promises strengthen and console us. Receiving Him will be a reward beyond all measure. Thomas à Kempis "speaks" for Christ as follows: "You will not labor here for long, nor will you always be burdened with sorrows. . . . The hour will come when blood, sweat and tears will be no more. All that passes away with time is of little importance, and it passes away quickly. Whatever you do, do it well . . . bear adversity with courage. Eternal life is worth all these battles – and more ... Oh, if only you could see the everlasting crowns of the saints in heaven and how much glory they now enjoy – those same saints who, when they were alive, were held in utter contempt by the world and were thought unworthy of even drawing breath . . . Are not all painful labors to be endured for eternal life. It is no small thing to lose or gain the kingdom of God! So, lift your face to heaven. Look at me and all my saints with me, they who in this world have had great contention. They are now joyful, they are now consoled, they are now safe, they are now at rest, and they will forever remain with me in my Father's kingdom." What is meant by redemptive suffering? Pope John Paul II wrote: "In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his sufferings, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ" (Salvifici Doloris). St. Paul likewise realized that his sufferings had redemptive power: "I find joy in the sufferings I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church" (Colo. 1:24). Some people are concerned that St. Paul's words imply that Christ's passion was insufficient for our redemption. Before Christ died, He cried out, "It is finished," meaning that He had accomplished our redemption. But, as Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical on the Mystical Body (Mystici Corporis Christi): "In carrying out the work of redemption Christ wishes to be helped by the members of His Body. This is not because He is indigent or weak, but rather because He so willed it for the greater glory of His spotless Spouse (Church). Dying on the Cross, He left to the Church the immense treasury of the Redemption. Towards this she (the Church) contributed nothing. But when those graces come to be distributed, not only does He share this task of sanctification with His Church, but he wants it, in a way, to be due to her action. What a deep mystery . . . that the salvation of many depends on the prayers and voluntary penances which the members of the Mystical Body offer for that intention, and on the assistance of pastors of souls and of the faithful…" Jesus wants to honor us, the members of His Mystical body by participating in His redemptive mission (Colo.1:24). Compiled by Fr. Herman (Feb. 11'07--the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes).
Suffering and The Cross part 2
Suffering & The Cross The Shrine at Lourdes was chosen last year for the World Day of Prayer, because it was the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In fact, it was on Dec. 8, 1854, that Blessed Pius IX, affirmed that "the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from every stain of original sin." At Lourdes, Mary, speaking in the local dialect, said: "I am the Immaculate Conception." With these words, did not the Virgin perhaps wish to express the bond which joins together health and life? Just as death entered the world through original sin, so through the merits of Jesus Christ, God preserved Mary from every stain of sin, and salvation and life came to us (Rom. 5:12-21). The original plan of God for creation was thereby restored in Christ. The great work of Redemption, accomplished through the precious blood of Christ, began with the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In Jesus, every person is called to the fullness of holiness (Col. 1:28). Just as Jesus is the source of life which overcomes death, Mary is the solicitous mother who comes to the assistance of her children, obtaining for them health of body and soul. This is the message that the Shrine of Lourdes constantly presents to devotees and pilgrims. This is also the meaning of the physical and spiritual healings that take place in the grotto of Massabielle. From the day of her apparition to St. Bernadette Soubirous, Mary's prayers "cured" pain and sickness, restoring health of body to so many of her children. However, her intercession achieved even more surprising miracles in the souls of believers, opening their hearts to re-encounter her Son Jesus, the true response to the most profound aspirations of the human heart. The Holy Spirit, whose power overshadowed her at the moment of the Incarnation, transforms the souls of countless sick people who turn to Him. Even when they do not obtain health in body, they can always receive something even more important—conversion of heart, the source of peace and of interior joy. This gift transforms their existence and makes them apostles of the cross of Christ, vessels of hope even when confronted with the most difficult trials. Suffering is part of the human condition, and man has to learn to accept and overcome it. But how can we do that, if not through the cross of Christ? In the death and resurrection of the Redeemer, human suffering finds its most profound meaning and its salvific value. The entire weight of the tribulations and sufferings of the human race is condensed in the mystery of a God who, assuming our human nature, denied Himself even to the point of making Himself "sin on our behalf" (2 Cor. 5:21). On Golgotha, He was weighed down with the sins of every human creature and, in the solitude of abandonment, cried out to the Father: "Why have you abandoned me?" (Mt. 27:46). From the paradox of the Cross flows the response to our most unsettling questions. Christ suffers for us. He takes upon Himself the suffering of all and redeems it. Christ suffers with us, giving us the possibility of sharing with Him our own sufferings. United to the sufferings of Christ, human suffering becomes a means of salvation. That is why the believer can say with St. Paul: "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the Church" (Col. 1:24). Sorrow, accepted with faith, becomes the door for entering into the mystery of the redeeming suffering of the Lord. This is a suffering which does not take away peace and happiness, because it is illuminated by the splendor of the Resurrection. At the foot of the Cross, Mary suffers in silence, participating in a very special way in the sufferings of her Son. She became the mother of all people, ready to intercede so that every one can obtain salvation. It is not difficult to understand this singular participation of Our Lady in the salvific role of Christ. The miracle of the Immaculate Conception reminds believers of a fundamental truth. It is only possible to attain salvation by participating with docility in the plan of the Father, who willed to redeem the world through the death and the resurrection of His only-begotten Son. He wanted to show how He loves us. He wanted to show the horribleness of sin and the displeasure we earn by our disobedience to His commandments. He wanted us to know the costliness of attaining heaven. He also wanted to tell us how sin is infectious, like a ripple in a lake. With Baptism, the believer is inserted into this salvific plan and is freed from original sin. Sickness and death, although they continue to be present in our earthly existence, nonetheless lose their negative meaning. In the light of faith, the death of the body, conquered by the death of Christ (Rom. 6:4), becomes the obligatory passage to the fullness of immortal life. I recall what Mother Teresa said when she visited our seminary in Madras in the year 1963: "You are to become apostles of joy, to console the Sacred Heart of Jesus through joy. You have heavy crosses waiting for you in your future ministry. Remember the passion of Christ ends always in the joy of Resurrection; so when you feel in your own heart the suffering of Christ, remember the Resurrection has to come, the joy of Easter has to dawn. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Risen Christ." I know this has been repeatedly told to her sisters. God is love, and we are truly called to become instruments of His love on earth, not to become apostles of compromise of God's teachings for the sake of peace. We do a disservice to our fellow man if we do not point out their error and ignorance. We are called to lift the veil of untruth and error and show the beauty of God and His plan for human beings. At Christmas in the Eastern Church, there is a practice of embroidering the swaddling clothes with the Sign of the Cross. Also, the figure of the Divine Infant is presented with arms extended, as he would be on the Cross. We have the same kind of baby Jesus in our parish. In those symbolic ways is presented the unity of the mystery of redemption, joy, and sorrow. From the wood of the crib to the wood of the cross, the mystery is one. The poverty, the abandonment, the rejection which Jesus suffered on the Cross, He already experienced at His coming. We need to understand that life should be the same. Just as beneath the Cross there was the comfort of loving hearts, so at Bethlehem He was greeted with the joyful welcome of pure hearts and the song of the angels. When we celebrate His coming every year with special solemnity, we greet Him with the age-old song, "Venite adoremus", "Come let us adore Him." Beneath the Cross, our prayer of worship is the same: 'We adore thee, O Christ, and praise thee.' In our lives, punctuated by the interplay of Bethlehem joy and Calvary sorrow; we are certain that the same love that made Him come and made Him die for us, is always beside us. This is the mystery of the Cross. Pray to Our Blessed Mother of Perpetual Help that she may help every Christian witness to the fact that the only authentic response to sorrow, suffering, and death is Christ, our Lord, who died and rose for us. Compiled by Fr. Herman April 11, 2004


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Zero Defex sounded great in rehearsal the other night. We're doing it again tonight. Our show at the Matinee is Wednesday. Be there! The new Precision bass sounds incredibly awesome. How did I play anything else up till now?
My close friends banded together to get me out of a jam by getting my car unstuck from the ice two nights ago. It took four of us about an hour and a half to get it free. Even the biting cold here in Ohio feels bracing. I'm writing more and better than ever before in my life. The burger shop down the street has delicious veggie burgers. Things are extraordinarily good.
I still have not found a place to live in Akron. But I was really concerned. See, the last time I lived in Akron was 1992. Maybe a bit of '93. Anyway, at the time I was suicidal. I wanted out. Out of Akron or out of life. I opted for out of Akron. A good choice, I think.
Akron has changed and I have changed. I'm no longer trapped here like I was back then. I'm here by choice. Well, by some degree of choice anyhow. This is a much cheaper place to live than Los Angeles or New York. I am part of this community, whether I want to be or not.
Kurt Vonnegut said he chose to live in New York rather than move back to Indianapolis because people in Indianapolis don't have any respect for the life of an artist or writer. They consider anyone who makes their living that way to be a lazy leech. Akron's kind of the same. But we shall see.
People say I'm taking a step back or downgrading. But it's hard to see it that way at the moment. The photo I posted is the blimp USS Akron floating high above New York City. That's how I'm feeling today.
I'm cautiously optimistic. That's my nature. I'm cautious about anything that seems really good. But right now, today, here at the Angel Falls Coffee Shop in Highland Square, I am cheerful.
I've been catching up on emails sent me by readers/fans today. I've been reading a book about how to make a living as a writer. In the chapter about emails from fans the author is like, "You can be a good author and reply to fans' emails the day you get them. Or you can be an aloof, inaccessible author and reply a week later." And I'm like, shit! I have emails from 2003 I haven't gotten to yet!
I'm really sorry. But I have a low tolerance for being on line. I have to use the computer to write. And when I'm done for the day I prefer to put it away. Sometimes, though, I am on the damned thing all freaking day just doing what needs doing to keep up with everything. So emails from readers get a low priority. And I'm sorry if I appear rude.