Another look at the issue,,,
What I find upsetting, Rep. Hodges has basically stated what most conservative Christians only say to themselves in private when referring to “religious freedom,” they’re only referring to their own faith; everyone else can fend for themselves,,,
Where to begin? Hodges’ bigotry is perhaps only rivaled by her ignorance of constitutional and legal principles. Of course Muslim schools will qualify for funding under a voucher plan. When programs like this are set up that dole out benefits to religious schools, the government can’t play favorites. That’s basic.
[,,,]
Now that the law is in effect, some lawmakers are taking a closer look at it – and they don’t like what they see. Rep. J. Rogers Pope, a former school superintendent in Livingston Parish who was critical of the bill from the start, points out that the law allows students to be educated off campus and establishes no standards for what qualifies as meaningful education.
[,,,]
In other states where vouchers have been implemented, we’ve seen a plethora of fly-by-night schools, schools whose leaders are more interested in making a quick buck than educating children and schools where the primary focus is making sure kids are indoctrinated in a particular form of religion, not offering them a sound education.
It looks like Louisiana is determined to head down this well-trod path to nowhere – much to the detriment of the state’s youngsters.
Perhaps if more legislators had raised these issues before the vote, that wouldn’t be happening.
Louisiana Revelation: School Voucher Funding – It’s Not Just For Christians Any More | Americans United
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Hodges now leery of Jindal reform
Back in August (2012) I first posted about Louisiana's voucher program. One point that those against the initiative pointed out, religious doesn't just mean Christian,,,well seems the first gold star for figuring this out has been awarded,,,
“I actually support funding for teaching the fundamentals of America’s Founding Fathers’ religion, which is Christianity, in public schools or private schools,” the District 64 Representative said Monday. [We'll argue the religion of the Founders another day.]
[,,,] Hodges, who represents District 64 on the northwest side of the parish, and another freshman lawmaker in the local delegation, Clay Schexnayder from Dist. 81 in the southwest, voted with the House majority in favor of HB976.
The school funding mechanism, however, did not come up for a vote until the end of the session. By then, a Muslim-based school had applied for support through the new voucher system.
[,,,] “Unfortunately it will not be limited to the Founders’ religion,” Hodges said. “We need to insure that it does not open the door to fund radical Islam schools. There are a thousand Muslim schools that have sprung up recently. I do not support using public funds for teaching Islam anywhere here in Louisiana.”
[,,,] The new system does nothing to help public schools improve, Pope said during the session. The Governor’s overhaul is directed at giving students at poor schools a legal way to transfer to the best schools. The problem is that the best schools, including those in Livingston Parish, are usually full, Pope said.
[,,,] The new system improperly uses public school funding for vouchers to pay tuition to private schools, including those run by religious groups, according to the lawsuit.
The new system also subsidizes home schooling, on-line courses, charter schools not affiliated with local public schools, and college tuition for early graduates, according to the lawsuit.
[,,,] “I initially supported the bill because I understand the need to address and reform our education system in Louisiana,” Hodges said. “However, once you look at the details of the bill there were more questions than answers about the long term impact these changes could potentially have. [Shouldn't she have looked at the details before voting?? A bit reckless and negligent in her duties; but I doubt we will see that admission, she would rather hide behind her intolerance.]
Hodges now leery of Jindal reform
“I actually support funding for teaching the fundamentals of America’s Founding Fathers’ religion, which is Christianity, in public schools or private schools,” the District 64 Representative said Monday. [We'll argue the religion of the Founders another day.]
[,,,] Hodges, who represents District 64 on the northwest side of the parish, and another freshman lawmaker in the local delegation, Clay Schexnayder from Dist. 81 in the southwest, voted with the House majority in favor of HB976.
The school funding mechanism, however, did not come up for a vote until the end of the session. By then, a Muslim-based school had applied for support through the new voucher system.
[,,,] “Unfortunately it will not be limited to the Founders’ religion,” Hodges said. “We need to insure that it does not open the door to fund radical Islam schools. There are a thousand Muslim schools that have sprung up recently. I do not support using public funds for teaching Islam anywhere here in Louisiana.”
[,,,] The new system does nothing to help public schools improve, Pope said during the session. The Governor’s overhaul is directed at giving students at poor schools a legal way to transfer to the best schools. The problem is that the best schools, including those in Livingston Parish, are usually full, Pope said.
[,,,] The new system improperly uses public school funding for vouchers to pay tuition to private schools, including those run by religious groups, according to the lawsuit.
The new system also subsidizes home schooling, on-line courses, charter schools not affiliated with local public schools, and college tuition for early graduates, according to the lawsuit.
[,,,] “I initially supported the bill because I understand the need to address and reform our education system in Louisiana,” Hodges said. “However, once you look at the details of the bill there were more questions than answers about the long term impact these changes could potentially have. [Shouldn't she have looked at the details before voting?? A bit reckless and negligent in her duties; but I doubt we will see that admission, she would rather hide behind her intolerance.]
Hodges now leery of Jindal reform
Texas Public Schools: Still Teaching Creationism | Mother Jones
In Texas public schools, children learn that the Bible provides scientific proof that Earth is 6,000 years old, that the origins of racial diversity trace back to a curse placed on Noah's son, and that astronauts have discovered "a day missing in space" that corroborates biblical stories of the sun standing still.
[,,,]
Some Bible classes in Texas public school appear to double as "science" classes, circumventing limits placed on teaching creationism. Eastland ISD, a school district outside Fort Worth, shows videos produced by the Creation Evidence Museum, which claims to possess a fossil of a dinosaur footprint atop "a pristine human footprint."
[,,,]
In Texas, public schools have the legal right to offer these kinds of classes—up to a point. In 2007 the state legislature passed a law allowing school districts to offer "elective courses on the Bible's Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament." The Supreme Court long ago ruled that such classes pass constitutional muster, as long as they don't advocate for a specific religious view. As Chancey points out, the state of Texas obviously needs to do a much better job of educating its teachers about what that means.
Texas Public Schools: Still Teaching Creationism | Mother Jones
[,,,]
Some Bible classes in Texas public school appear to double as "science" classes, circumventing limits placed on teaching creationism. Eastland ISD, a school district outside Fort Worth, shows videos produced by the Creation Evidence Museum, which claims to possess a fossil of a dinosaur footprint atop "a pristine human footprint."
[,,,]
In Texas, public schools have the legal right to offer these kinds of classes—up to a point. In 2007 the state legislature passed a law allowing school districts to offer "elective courses on the Bible's Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament." The Supreme Court long ago ruled that such classes pass constitutional muster, as long as they don't advocate for a specific religious view. As Chancey points out, the state of Texas obviously needs to do a much better job of educating its teachers about what that means.
Texas Public Schools: Still Teaching Creationism | Mother Jones
Jesus, Take the Wheel: Texas Education Is a Mess of Biblical Proportions: Texas education is a mess of biblical proportions - News - The Austin Chronicle
Although the Texas Legislature in 2007 passed a law requiring school districts to teach the influence of the Bible on history and literature, just 60 districts have used that to create special electives on the Bible. Indeed, before the bill was passed, there were 25 Bible courses already offered, and a 2006 report by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund detailed "serious academic and constitutional problems" with most of them. In passing the 2007 bill, lawmakers put in measures designed to address some of those problems. Now, some five years later, the problems persist, according to a second report, conducted by Mark Chancey, a professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas for the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund.
According to the new report, most of the districts with Bible-specific courses failed to train educators to teach the course, as required by the law, and the State Board of Education has failed to adopt content-specific curriculum standards for the Bible classes, also required by law. Combined, the lack of training and guidance mean that many of the classes lack academic rigor, are biased in content, and treat the Bible as a history text. In short, many of the districts now offering the classes are not only out of compliance with state law, but may also be running afoul of constitutional protections. Indeed, as a PowerPoint created for Harris County's Klein ISD explains to students, "The Bible is united in content because there is no contradictions in the writing [sic]. The reason for this is because the Bible is written under God's direction and inspiration."
Jesus, Take the Wheel: Texas Education Is a Mess of Biblical Proportions: Texas education is a mess of biblical proportions - News - The Austin Chronicle
According to the new report, most of the districts with Bible-specific courses failed to train educators to teach the course, as required by the law, and the State Board of Education has failed to adopt content-specific curriculum standards for the Bible classes, also required by law. Combined, the lack of training and guidance mean that many of the classes lack academic rigor, are biased in content, and treat the Bible as a history text. In short, many of the districts now offering the classes are not only out of compliance with state law, but may also be running afoul of constitutional protections. Indeed, as a PowerPoint created for Harris County's Klein ISD explains to students, "The Bible is united in content because there is no contradictions in the writing [sic]. The reason for this is because the Bible is written under God's direction and inspiration."
Jesus, Take the Wheel: Texas Education Is a Mess of Biblical Proportions: Texas education is a mess of biblical proportions - News - The Austin Chronicle
Texas, where science and history have become ideological battlegrounds | Ars Technica
Some of the most important decisions that influence the public's knowledge aren't made by scientific societies and they don't take place in Washington DC. For the most part, they're made in the capitals of each state, as each has its own standards for what students leaving its public schools should know. Those standards set lesson plans and help decide which textbooks are acceptable.
[,,,]
The process for creating Texas' educational standards is mostly a sound one. A panel of educators and subject experts, often drawn from the academic community, decided which subjects are most relevant and what students should know about them. The standards are then handed over to the board for approval. But the soundness ends there. The board, which may not (and in many cases, does not) have expertise in these subject areas, is allowed to delete, edit, or replace any of the standards recommended by the experts.
[The last sentence is what galls me, that and McElroy's satement, "Someone has to stand up to the experts."]
[,,,]
The movie follows the testimony and actions of the board as it tears through—and in some cases, tears up—the science and history standards that were forwarded to them. It uses footage of hearings and votes, along with interviews of many of the participants, including a professor involved in writing the science standards, and Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network, an organization dedicated to limiting the impact of the board's more ideological members.
[,,,]
If anything, the history standards were worse. Dunbar claims she's a "big fan" of Thomas Jefferson, but thinks a "secular humanistic ideology" has clouded current interpretations of his work. So she cuts him out of the standards on the Enlightenment and its influence on the US' founding documents, instead substituting in pre-enlightenment figures like Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Further revisions to history come rapid fire, as others try to add the Heritage Foundation, Moral Majority, and NRA to a section on the '80s, and another person tries to make sure Barack Obama's middle name (Hussein) is added to the text where his name appears.
[,,,]
Enough people describe the whole process as a mess that it's no surprise The Revisionaries struggles to lay it out in a narrative. The challenge is made larger by the filmmakers' decision to provide little framing for the footage, other than sporadic notes scratched on a blackboard to give some sense of the timing and location of the clips. As a result, the movie really doesn't work if you go into it hoping to get a history of the Texas school board. In fact, it would probably be better if you went in to things with a rough outline of the events (the one in this review would be enough).
Texas, where science and history have become ideological battlegrounds | Ars Technica
[,,,]
The process for creating Texas' educational standards is mostly a sound one. A panel of educators and subject experts, often drawn from the academic community, decided which subjects are most relevant and what students should know about them. The standards are then handed over to the board for approval. But the soundness ends there. The board, which may not (and in many cases, does not) have expertise in these subject areas, is allowed to delete, edit, or replace any of the standards recommended by the experts.
[The last sentence is what galls me, that and McElroy's satement, "Someone has to stand up to the experts."]
[,,,]
The movie follows the testimony and actions of the board as it tears through—and in some cases, tears up—the science and history standards that were forwarded to them. It uses footage of hearings and votes, along with interviews of many of the participants, including a professor involved in writing the science standards, and Kathy Miller of the Texas Freedom Network, an organization dedicated to limiting the impact of the board's more ideological members.
[,,,]
If anything, the history standards were worse. Dunbar claims she's a "big fan" of Thomas Jefferson, but thinks a "secular humanistic ideology" has clouded current interpretations of his work. So she cuts him out of the standards on the Enlightenment and its influence on the US' founding documents, instead substituting in pre-enlightenment figures like Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Further revisions to history come rapid fire, as others try to add the Heritage Foundation, Moral Majority, and NRA to a section on the '80s, and another person tries to make sure Barack Obama's middle name (Hussein) is added to the text where his name appears.
[,,,]
Enough people describe the whole process as a mess that it's no surprise The Revisionaries struggles to lay it out in a narrative. The challenge is made larger by the filmmakers' decision to provide little framing for the footage, other than sporadic notes scratched on a blackboard to give some sense of the timing and location of the clips. As a result, the movie really doesn't work if you go into it hoping to get a history of the Texas school board. In fact, it would probably be better if you went in to things with a rough outline of the events (the one in this review would be enough).
Texas, where science and history have become ideological battlegrounds | Ars Technica
The Revisionaries | Creationism and Evolution Caught in Textbook Debate | Independent Lens | PBS
Texas gets it's own little amalgamation of postings,,,first up this documentary and IMHO if you care about what your kids are learning in regards to science, history, social studies (and math to some degree), this is a must see,,,
ID /creationism or whatever you want to call it is bunk it is not science and has no place in public education,,,teaching that the sun stood still or that Moses parted the Red Sea is not science, it is based on a system of faith which belongs in the confines of home and church,,,
Another issue (which will be highlighted in an up coming posting concerning the voucher program in Louisiana), there exists in this world a couple of religions that insist that their religion is the TRUE religion,,,for Texas students, one of those religions is attempting to control not just the Texas school books but all state's books,,,it is why I strongly believe in the separation of church and state, when you allow individuals to insert their religious beliefs into the political process; it results in discrimination of others who hold different religious beliefs or those who don't believe in any of them,,,
What is appalling to me is the statement by one board member saying that Thomas Jefferson should not be in the circle of great political thinkers who engineered the American Revolution,,,to say that he did not get his ideas from John Locke is a further travesty,,,where does she think that Jefferson got "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from" (this would David Baron's influence as I have highlighted numerous times),,,teaching th claptrap that they are is dooming all students in Texas
In Austin, Texas, 15 people influence what is taught to the next generation of American children. Once every decade, the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education rewrites the teaching and textbook standards for its nearly five million schoolchildren. And when it comes to textbooks, what happens in Texas affects the nation as a whole. Texas is one of the nation's largest textbook markets because it is one of the few where the state decides what books schools can buy rather than leaving it up to local districts, which means publishers that get their books approved can count on millions of dollars in sales. Further, publishers craft their standard textbooks based on the requirements of the biggest buyers. As a result, the Texas board has the power to shape the textbooks that children around the country read for years to come.
[,,,]
The Revisionaries shines a spotlight on the key players effecting U.S. high school textbooks, with characters representing a wide array of personalities and desires. Some see the board as a stepping-stone to future political success. Others see it as their ordained quest to preserve the teachings of the Bible. Still others see it as their duty to ensure that their children, who are in the public schools, have access to the best possible education that will prepare them to compete for jobs in the global marketplace. In all of this, one thing is assured, these board members are in the right place at the right time. They have the opportunity to affect a generation of Americans.
The Revisionaries | Creationism and Evolution Caught in Textbook Debate | Independent Lens | PBS
ID /creationism or whatever you want to call it is bunk it is not science and has no place in public education,,,teaching that the sun stood still or that Moses parted the Red Sea is not science, it is based on a system of faith which belongs in the confines of home and church,,,
Another issue (which will be highlighted in an up coming posting concerning the voucher program in Louisiana), there exists in this world a couple of religions that insist that their religion is the TRUE religion,,,for Texas students, one of those religions is attempting to control not just the Texas school books but all state's books,,,it is why I strongly believe in the separation of church and state, when you allow individuals to insert their religious beliefs into the political process; it results in discrimination of others who hold different religious beliefs or those who don't believe in any of them,,,
What is appalling to me is the statement by one board member saying that Thomas Jefferson should not be in the circle of great political thinkers who engineered the American Revolution,,,to say that he did not get his ideas from John Locke is a further travesty,,,where does she think that Jefferson got "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from" (this would David Baron's influence as I have highlighted numerous times),,,teaching th claptrap that they are is dooming all students in Texas
In Austin, Texas, 15 people influence what is taught to the next generation of American children. Once every decade, the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education rewrites the teaching and textbook standards for its nearly five million schoolchildren. And when it comes to textbooks, what happens in Texas affects the nation as a whole. Texas is one of the nation's largest textbook markets because it is one of the few where the state decides what books schools can buy rather than leaving it up to local districts, which means publishers that get their books approved can count on millions of dollars in sales. Further, publishers craft their standard textbooks based on the requirements of the biggest buyers. As a result, the Texas board has the power to shape the textbooks that children around the country read for years to come.
[,,,]
The Revisionaries shines a spotlight on the key players effecting U.S. high school textbooks, with characters representing a wide array of personalities and desires. Some see the board as a stepping-stone to future political success. Others see it as their ordained quest to preserve the teachings of the Bible. Still others see it as their duty to ensure that their children, who are in the public schools, have access to the best possible education that will prepare them to compete for jobs in the global marketplace. In all of this, one thing is assured, these board members are in the right place at the right time. They have the opportunity to affect a generation of Americans.
The Revisionaries | Creationism and Evolution Caught in Textbook Debate | Independent Lens | PBS
Two antiscience bills in Oklahoma | NCSE
And here's Oklahoma's two entries into the foray,,,
First, Senate Bill 758 (document), styled the Oklahoma Science Education Act, would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." Unusually but not uniquely, no scientific topics are specifically identified as controversial, but the fact that the sole sponsor of SB 758 is Josh Brecheen (R-District 6), who introduced specifically antievolution legislation in the two previous legislative sessions, is telling.
[,,,]
With SB 758, Brecheen seems now to be following the lead of Tennessee's "monkey law" (as it was nicknamed by House Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh), enacted (as Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-1030) over the protests of the state's scientific and educational communities in 2012. The major difference is that SB 758 omits the monkey law's statement of legislative findings, which cites "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning" as among the topics that "can cause controversy" when taught in the science classroom of the public schools. The history of Brecheen's legislative efforts clearly demonstrates that it is evolution which is primarily the target of the new bill, however.
Second, House Bill 1674 (document), styled the Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act, would, if enacted, similarly require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." Unlike SB 768, however, HB 1674 specifically mentions "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning" as subjects which "some teachers may be unsure" about how to teach.
Two antiscience bills in Oklahoma | NCSE
First, Senate Bill 758 (document), styled the Oklahoma Science Education Act, would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." Unusually but not uniquely, no scientific topics are specifically identified as controversial, but the fact that the sole sponsor of SB 758 is Josh Brecheen (R-District 6), who introduced specifically antievolution legislation in the two previous legislative sessions, is telling.
[,,,]
With SB 758, Brecheen seems now to be following the lead of Tennessee's "monkey law" (as it was nicknamed by House Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh), enacted (as Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-1030) over the protests of the state's scientific and educational communities in 2012. The major difference is that SB 758 omits the monkey law's statement of legislative findings, which cites "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning" as among the topics that "can cause controversy" when taught in the science classroom of the public schools. The history of Brecheen's legislative efforts clearly demonstrates that it is evolution which is primarily the target of the new bill, however.
Second, House Bill 1674 (document), styled the Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act, would, if enacted, similarly require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." Unlike SB 768, however, HB 1674 specifically mentions "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning" as subjects which "some teachers may be unsure" about how to teach.
Two antiscience bills in Oklahoma | NCSE
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Montana bill mutates | NCSE
Montana's version,,,
The draft bill now produced in response to Fiscus's request contains a preamble, which invokes "academic freedom," the lack of scientific agreement, and "critical thinking" in support of the bill's provisions, and five sections, of which the first is the most substantive. Claiming that "some teachers may be unsure of the expectations concerning how they should present information on these subjects," the bill in its first section encourages state and local education administrators "to assist teachers in finding effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and forbids them to prohibit teachers from presenting "the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The remaining sections of the bill integrate it with existing state code and provide that it will take effect on passage and approval.
Montana bill mutates | NCSE
The draft bill now produced in response to Fiscus's request contains a preamble, which invokes "academic freedom," the lack of scientific agreement, and "critical thinking" in support of the bill's provisions, and five sections, of which the first is the most substantive. Claiming that "some teachers may be unsure of the expectations concerning how they should present information on these subjects," the bill in its first section encourages state and local education administrators "to assist teachers in finding effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and forbids them to prohibit teachers from presenting "the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The remaining sections of the bill integrate it with existing state code and provide that it will take effect on passage and approval.
Montana bill mutates | NCSE
Antiscience legislation in Colorado | NCSE
And in Colorado,,,
HB 13-1089 is a typical instance of the "academic freedom" strategy for undermining the teaching of evolution. As NCSE's Glenn Branch, Eugenie C. Scott, and Joshua Rosenau explained in 2010, such bills tacitly license and encourage teachers "to miseducate students about evolution, whether by teaching creationism as a scientifically credible alternative or merely by misrepresenting evolution as scientifically controversial." The effect on the teaching of climate change is similar. Colorado's new bill is unusual in targeting higher education as well as K-12 education, however.
The primary sponsors of HB 13-1089 are Stephen Humphrey (R-District 48) in the House and Scott Renfroe (R-District 13) in the Senate — in Colorado, bills in either house of the legislature will have a sponsor in the other house. Listed as cosponsors are Perry Buck (R-District 49), Justin Everett (R-District 22), Chris Holbert (R-District 44), Janak Joshi (R-District 16), Dan Nordberg (R-District 14), Lori Saine (R-District 63), and James D. Wilson (R-District 60) in the House, and Kevin Grantham (R-District 2), Ted Harvey (R-District 30), and Owen Hill (R-District 10) in the Senate.
Antiscience legislation in Colorado | NCSE
HB 13-1089 is a typical instance of the "academic freedom" strategy for undermining the teaching of evolution. As NCSE's Glenn Branch, Eugenie C. Scott, and Joshua Rosenau explained in 2010, such bills tacitly license and encourage teachers "to miseducate students about evolution, whether by teaching creationism as a scientifically credible alternative or merely by misrepresenting evolution as scientifically controversial." The effect on the teaching of climate change is similar. Colorado's new bill is unusual in targeting higher education as well as K-12 education, however.
The primary sponsors of HB 13-1089 are Stephen Humphrey (R-District 48) in the House and Scott Renfroe (R-District 13) in the Senate — in Colorado, bills in either house of the legislature will have a sponsor in the other house. Listed as cosponsors are Perry Buck (R-District 49), Justin Everett (R-District 22), Chris Holbert (R-District 44), Janak Joshi (R-District 16), Dan Nordberg (R-District 14), Lori Saine (R-District 63), and James D. Wilson (R-District 60) in the House, and Kevin Grantham (R-District 2), Ted Harvey (R-District 30), and Owen Hill (R-District 10) in the Senate.
Antiscience legislation in Colorado | NCSE
"Intelligent design" bill in Missouri | NCSE
Among the substantive provisions of the bill, applying both to Missouri's public elementary and secondary schools and to introductory science courses in public institutions of higher education in the state: "If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a course of study, biological evolution and biological intelligent design shall be taught. Other scientific theory or theories of origin may be taught."
For public elementary and secondary schools, HB 291 also provides, "If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a textbook, the textbook shall give equal treatment to biological evolution and biological intelligent design." After the bill is enacted, new textbooks purchased for the public schools will have to conform to the equal treatment requirement. A committee will develop supplementary material on "intelligent design" for optional interim use.
[,,,]
HB 291 is apparently a descendant of HB 911 in 2004, which was also dubbed the Missouri Standard Science Act,,,HB 911 was widely criticized, including by the Science Teachers of Missouri. A sequel bill, HB 1722, also introduced in 2004, contained the same language as HB 911, but omitted provisions,,,[i]n 2012, HB 1227, also dubbed the Missouri Standard Science Act, was introduced by Rick Brattin (R-District 55).
[,,,]
Brattin is the main sponsor of HB 291, which is identical to HB 1227 in 2012; its cosponsors are Andrew Koenig (R-District 99) and Kurt Bahr (R-District 102), both of whom were cosponsors of HB 1227. HB 291 is the sixth antievolution bill of 2013, joining Colorado's HB 13-1089, Missouri's HB 179 (with Brattin, Koenig, and Bahr among its cosponsors), Montana's HB 183, and Oklahoma's HB 1674 and SB 758.
"Intelligent design" bill in Missouri | NCSE
For public elementary and secondary schools, HB 291 also provides, "If scientific theory concerning biological origin is taught in a textbook, the textbook shall give equal treatment to biological evolution and biological intelligent design." After the bill is enacted, new textbooks purchased for the public schools will have to conform to the equal treatment requirement. A committee will develop supplementary material on "intelligent design" for optional interim use.
[,,,]
HB 291 is apparently a descendant of HB 911 in 2004, which was also dubbed the Missouri Standard Science Act,,,HB 911 was widely criticized, including by the Science Teachers of Missouri. A sequel bill, HB 1722, also introduced in 2004, contained the same language as HB 911, but omitted provisions,,,[i]n 2012, HB 1227, also dubbed the Missouri Standard Science Act, was introduced by Rick Brattin (R-District 55).
[,,,]
Brattin is the main sponsor of HB 291, which is identical to HB 1227 in 2012; its cosponsors are Andrew Koenig (R-District 99) and Kurt Bahr (R-District 102), both of whom were cosponsors of HB 1227. HB 291 is the sixth antievolution bill of 2013, joining Colorado's HB 13-1089, Missouri's HB 179 (with Brattin, Koenig, and Bahr among its cosponsors), Montana's HB 183, and Oklahoma's HB 1674 and SB 758.
"Intelligent design" bill in Missouri | NCSE
Creationism Canard: The Last Thing Fundamentalists Want Is Open Inquiry In The Classroom | Americans United
Kruse is back with a new proposal, a bill that he says will promote critical inquiry in the classroom. The Indianapolis Star reported that Kruse described the bill like this: “If a student thinks something isn’t true, then they can question the teacher and the teacher would have to come up with some kind of research to support that what they are teaching is true or not true.”
At first glance, that sounds harmless. After all, we want to encourage youngsters to be inquisitive in the classroom. But Micah Clark, executive director of American Family Association of Indiana, blew the lid off what’s really going on here, telling the Star that he interprets the bill as a form of protection for teachers who want to discuss creationism and intelligent design.
[,,,]
A quick-witted science teacher would know how to handle a challenge like this in the classroom. (Handing a dissenting student a copy of On The Origin of Species would be a good start.) But Kruse’s law doesn’t seek to help good teachers. It is designed to create the impression that evolution is somehow controversial or in doubt, and thus special laws are needed so that it can be challenged. The idea is to encourage teachers to water down such instruction or not offer it at all.
[,,,]
Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, put it well: “It’s fine for a child to have religion; it’s fine for a child to believe whatever he or she wants to believe,” he said. “But within the science classroom, if we’re going to produce the strong workforce we need for this country, we have to stick to science and we have to stick to the evidence behind science.”
Creationism Canard: The Last Thing Fundamentalists Want Is Open Inquiry In The Classroom | Americans United
At first glance, that sounds harmless. After all, we want to encourage youngsters to be inquisitive in the classroom. But Micah Clark, executive director of American Family Association of Indiana, blew the lid off what’s really going on here, telling the Star that he interprets the bill as a form of protection for teachers who want to discuss creationism and intelligent design.
[,,,]
A quick-witted science teacher would know how to handle a challenge like this in the classroom. (Handing a dissenting student a copy of On The Origin of Species would be a good start.) But Kruse’s law doesn’t seek to help good teachers. It is designed to create the impression that evolution is somehow controversial or in doubt, and thus special laws are needed so that it can be challenged. The idea is to encourage teachers to water down such instruction or not offer it at all.
[,,,]
Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, put it well: “It’s fine for a child to have religion; it’s fine for a child to believe whatever he or she wants to believe,” he said. “But within the science classroom, if we’re going to produce the strong workforce we need for this country, we have to stick to science and we have to stick to the evidence behind science.”
Creationism Canard: The Last Thing Fundamentalists Want Is Open Inquiry In The Classroom | Americans United
Creationism Commotion: Five States Have Anti-Evolution Bills In Play | Americans United
It has been more than 25 years since the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that mandated religious instruction in science classes, yet lawmakers in many states are still pushing ahead with attempts to force creationist concepts into the public schools.
[,,,]
According to our friends at the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), the latest bill is Missouri’s HB 291, a whopping 3,000-word manifesto masquerading as an attempt to provide a “standard science” curriculum for public elementary and secondary schools. It also seeks to create introductory science courses in public colleges and universities and would require those institutions to give “the equal treatment of science instruction regarding evolution and intelligent design.”
[,,,]
Unfortunately, HB 291 is just the latest attempt in Missouri to create a science curriculum that would teach creationism and evolution side by side. NCSE noted that this bill is very similar to one that failed in 2004 and another that flopped in 2012.
[,,,]
“It’s ironic that creationist strategies continue to evolve,” NCSE Executive Director Eugenie Scott told the Joplin (Mo.) Independent. “At first, creationists tried to ban the teaching of evolution in the public schools altogether. When they were no longer able to do so, they tried to ‘balance’ it with the teaching of biblical creationism, or scientific creationism, or intelligent design.
[,,,]
The good news is that the courts have been diligent in barring religious indoctrination in science classes, and that stance has been upheld in multiple rulings.
Creationism Commotion: Five States Have Anti-Evolution Bills In Play | Americans United
[,,,]
According to our friends at the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), the latest bill is Missouri’s HB 291, a whopping 3,000-word manifesto masquerading as an attempt to provide a “standard science” curriculum for public elementary and secondary schools. It also seeks to create introductory science courses in public colleges and universities and would require those institutions to give “the equal treatment of science instruction regarding evolution and intelligent design.”
[,,,]
Unfortunately, HB 291 is just the latest attempt in Missouri to create a science curriculum that would teach creationism and evolution side by side. NCSE noted that this bill is very similar to one that failed in 2004 and another that flopped in 2012.
[,,,]
“It’s ironic that creationist strategies continue to evolve,” NCSE Executive Director Eugenie Scott told the Joplin (Mo.) Independent. “At first, creationists tried to ban the teaching of evolution in the public schools altogether. When they were no longer able to do so, they tried to ‘balance’ it with the teaching of biblical creationism, or scientific creationism, or intelligent design.
[,,,]
The good news is that the courts have been diligent in barring religious indoctrination in science classes, and that stance has been upheld in multiple rulings.
Creationism Commotion: Five States Have Anti-Evolution Bills In Play | Americans United
Anti-Science Bills Weighed in Four States : Discovery News
Anti-science bills are popping up like daisies after a spring shower. Five bills in four states have been introduced with the opening of state legislatures across the United States. All of the bills are aimed at undermining the teaching of biology and physical science — specifically, evolution and climate change — in public schools. Oklahoma has two bills in the hopper, Colorado, Missouri and Montana have one each.
[,,,]
"It is almost identical language in all of the bills," said Rosenau. "It's a package of bills that we've been tracking since the 2004 'Academic Freedom' bill." That bill, which was passed into law, was based on language generated by the Discovery Institute, which has long pushed for the inclusion of biblical creationism and pseudo-scientific "intelligent design" into science classes in public schools.
[,,,]
On the other hand the bills would create problems for administrators and teachers, said Eric Feaver, president of the Montana Education Association and the Montana Federation of Teachers.
“It affects the supervisors of the schools,” said Feaver, because they would not be able to stop the teaching of religion disguised as science. “Teachers who teach creationism would be immune to punishment.” That basically undermines school supervisors, he said
[,,,]
A federal court ruled in 2005 that the teaching of intelligent design was in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Since that time, efforts to undermine public school science have been forced to attempt the "academic freedom" subterfuge, explained Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the NCSE.
Anti-Science Bills Weighed in Four States : Discovery News
[,,,]
"It is almost identical language in all of the bills," said Rosenau. "It's a package of bills that we've been tracking since the 2004 'Academic Freedom' bill." That bill, which was passed into law, was based on language generated by the Discovery Institute, which has long pushed for the inclusion of biblical creationism and pseudo-scientific "intelligent design" into science classes in public schools.
[,,,]
On the other hand the bills would create problems for administrators and teachers, said Eric Feaver, president of the Montana Education Association and the Montana Federation of Teachers.
“It affects the supervisors of the schools,” said Feaver, because they would not be able to stop the teaching of religion disguised as science. “Teachers who teach creationism would be immune to punishment.” That basically undermines school supervisors, he said
[,,,]
A federal court ruled in 2005 that the teaching of intelligent design was in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Since that time, efforts to undermine public school science have been forced to attempt the "academic freedom" subterfuge, explained Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the NCSE.
Anti-Science Bills Weighed in Four States : Discovery News
5 Shocking Ways the Christian Right Has Forced the Bible Into America's Schools | Alternet
Speaking of science,,,
Not only does replacing science with biblical literalism violate the separation of church and state, it leaves young people massively ill-prepared for higher education. Public universities teach evolution without qualification or apology. A poor understanding of what is considered to be the central organizing principle of science handicaps students from the first day they walk into freshman Biology 101.
[,,,]
Despite these high stakes, some states, school districts and individual teachers insist on doing students a disservice by promoting scientific illiteracy.
1. Texas: In one of the creationists’ sneakiest moves to date, in 2007 a phalanx of anti-science fundamentalist groups swamped the Texas legislature and lobbied for a law allowing elective courses “about” the Bible in public schools.
2. Louisiana: In the early 1980s, Louisiana legislators decided to pass a law mandating that when evolution was taught in public schools, “creation science” must be as well. Scientists, educators and advocates of church-state separation were appalled and blasted the so-called “balanced treatment” measure, but lawmakers, led by state Sen. Bill Keith, plowed ahead. The bill was soon law.
3. Georgia: Education officials in Cobb County, Georgia have a long and sorry history of trying to undercut instruction about evolution. Any discussion of the “origin of the human species” is banned in elementary and middle schools, and high schools are forbidden to require students to demonstrate an understanding of evolution as a condition of graduation.
4. Pennsylvania: The school board in Dover, PA., a small town south of Harrisburg, thought it would be a good idea in 2004 to introduce “intelligent design” (ID) creationism in public school science classes. (“Intelligent design” holds that human life is so complex that it must have been purposefully designed by some intelligent agency. God and space aliens are the leading contenders, and the IDers aren’t really serious about the space aliens.)
5. Ohio: In 2007, a disturbing incident came to light in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Parents discovered that a science teacher named John Freshwater was secretly teaching creationism to middle-school students.
The aim remains the same: to make evolution appear controversial so public schools will stay away from it. Here, sadly, they’ve had an effect. While it’s difficult to get a handle on what’s going on nationally, educators agree that too many science textbooks don’t give adequate attention to evolution. Some avoid the word entirely, relying on euphemisms like “change over time.”
5 Shocking Ways the Christian Right Has Forced the Bible Into America's Schools | Alternet
Not only does replacing science with biblical literalism violate the separation of church and state, it leaves young people massively ill-prepared for higher education. Public universities teach evolution without qualification or apology. A poor understanding of what is considered to be the central organizing principle of science handicaps students from the first day they walk into freshman Biology 101.
[,,,]
Despite these high stakes, some states, school districts and individual teachers insist on doing students a disservice by promoting scientific illiteracy.
1. Texas: In one of the creationists’ sneakiest moves to date, in 2007 a phalanx of anti-science fundamentalist groups swamped the Texas legislature and lobbied for a law allowing elective courses “about” the Bible in public schools.
2. Louisiana: In the early 1980s, Louisiana legislators decided to pass a law mandating that when evolution was taught in public schools, “creation science” must be as well. Scientists, educators and advocates of church-state separation were appalled and blasted the so-called “balanced treatment” measure, but lawmakers, led by state Sen. Bill Keith, plowed ahead. The bill was soon law.
3. Georgia: Education officials in Cobb County, Georgia have a long and sorry history of trying to undercut instruction about evolution. Any discussion of the “origin of the human species” is banned in elementary and middle schools, and high schools are forbidden to require students to demonstrate an understanding of evolution as a condition of graduation.
4. Pennsylvania: The school board in Dover, PA., a small town south of Harrisburg, thought it would be a good idea in 2004 to introduce “intelligent design” (ID) creationism in public school science classes. (“Intelligent design” holds that human life is so complex that it must have been purposefully designed by some intelligent agency. God and space aliens are the leading contenders, and the IDers aren’t really serious about the space aliens.)
5. Ohio: In 2007, a disturbing incident came to light in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Parents discovered that a science teacher named John Freshwater was secretly teaching creationism to middle-school students.
The aim remains the same: to make evolution appear controversial so public schools will stay away from it. Here, sadly, they’ve had an effect. While it’s difficult to get a handle on what’s going on nationally, educators agree that too many science textbooks don’t give adequate attention to evolution. Some avoid the word entirely, relying on euphemisms like “change over time.”
5 Shocking Ways the Christian Right Has Forced the Bible Into America's Schools | Alternet
Neanderthal cloning chatter highlights scientific illiteracy | Reuters
This is what happens when you take science (and critical thinking) out of the classrooms and replace it with the intelligent non-intelligent design bullshit,,,
In the interview, Church discussed the technical challenges scientists would face if they tried to clone a Neanderthal, though neither he nor the Der Spiegel article, which was presented as a question and answer exchange, said he intended to do so.
[,,,]
Still, the readiness of bloggers, journalists and readers to believe he was preparing an attempt to clone a Neanderthal, a species closely related to modern humans that went extinct some 30,000 years ago, led Church to ponder scientific literacy.
[,,,]
In the Der Spiegel article, which Church said reported his words accurately, and his recent book "Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves," Church theorized that studying cloned Neanderthals could help scientists better understand how the human mind works. Scientists have already extracted DNA from Neanderthal bones.
But such experiments would pose a host of ethical concerns - including how many Neanderthals would be created and whether they would be treated as mere study subjects or as beings with their own rights, Church said.
Neanderthal cloning chatter highlights scientific illiteracy | Reuters
In the interview, Church discussed the technical challenges scientists would face if they tried to clone a Neanderthal, though neither he nor the Der Spiegel article, which was presented as a question and answer exchange, said he intended to do so.
[,,,]
Still, the readiness of bloggers, journalists and readers to believe he was preparing an attempt to clone a Neanderthal, a species closely related to modern humans that went extinct some 30,000 years ago, led Church to ponder scientific literacy.
[,,,]
In the Der Spiegel article, which Church said reported his words accurately, and his recent book "Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves," Church theorized that studying cloned Neanderthals could help scientists better understand how the human mind works. Scientists have already extracted DNA from Neanderthal bones.
But such experiments would pose a host of ethical concerns - including how many Neanderthals would be created and whether they would be treated as mere study subjects or as beings with their own rights, Church said.
Neanderthal cloning chatter highlights scientific illiteracy | Reuters
Morningland Dairy- The Final Solution « Truth Farmer
An interesting read, and if accurate, a bit disconcerting,,,
especially taking into account this statement ",,,will ensure that an inability to feed the population will occur." Now is this just an anti-government mantra or is there some core "truth" to this issue?? As I watch the push for acceptance of GMO foods it does make me wonder,,,
Morningland Dairy- The Final Solution « Truth Farmer
People involved in all aspects of food production, be it growing, processing or distributing, should read through all the documentation and understand that Morningland’s saga is the model for all independent food production under the FDA’s new Food Safety Modernization Act. Critical to this destruction are “science-based standards” as opposed to scientifically accurate controls and concerns. The Global Food Safety Initiative combined with “Good Agricultural Practices” and the “Guide to Good Farming” will ensure that an inability to feed the population will occur. Morningland Dairy is an early casualty of these “science based standards”.
especially taking into account this statement ",,,will ensure that an inability to feed the population will occur." Now is this just an anti-government mantra or is there some core "truth" to this issue?? As I watch the push for acceptance of GMO foods it does make me wonder,,,
Morningland Dairy- The Final Solution « Truth Farmer
Monday, January 28, 2013
Collective-Evolution – They Call it Television Programming For a Reason
Does entertainment TV have an agenda??
As of right now in our world, actions are being done by government, military, police, and secret service agencies that are flat out disturbing. While not a ton of this hits the public eye is a very massive way, it is leaking through like never before thanks to the internet. The public opinion surrounding police, government and military has been dropping quite a bit with all of these actions and people are beginning to lose trust. What better way to repair their image than by constantly ‘bigging’ them up as heros in everyone’s favorite television shows?
[,,,]
As of right now in our world, actions are being done by government, military, police, and secret service agencies that are flat out disturbing. While not a ton of this hits the public eye is a very massive way, it is leaking through like never before thanks to the internet. The public opinion surrounding police, government and military has been dropping quite a bit with all of these actions and people are beginning to lose trust. What better way to repair their image than by constantly ‘bigging’ them up as heros in everyone’s favorite television shows?
[,,,]
The next time you are watching a TV show, pay attention to how often and how intensely the push to keep the viewer in ego programming is used. With the right observation, you will notice that almost the entire show is a mindless distraction geared towards telling you how to be and how to react -all from programming of course. Very little is opening you up to looking at things in a new way, a more open and expanded way of thinking where we aren’t being driven by things like fear, judgment, emotions, anger and chasing ‘the dream.’ The bonus challenge? Try cutting TV out of your life completely for 1 week. See what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Collective-Evolution – They Call it Television Programming For a Reason
As of right now in our world, actions are being done by government, military, police, and secret service agencies that are flat out disturbing. While not a ton of this hits the public eye is a very massive way, it is leaking through like never before thanks to the internet. The public opinion surrounding police, government and military has been dropping quite a bit with all of these actions and people are beginning to lose trust. What better way to repair their image than by constantly ‘bigging’ them up as heros in everyone’s favorite television shows?
[,,,]
As of right now in our world, actions are being done by government, military, police, and secret service agencies that are flat out disturbing. While not a ton of this hits the public eye is a very massive way, it is leaking through like never before thanks to the internet. The public opinion surrounding police, government and military has been dropping quite a bit with all of these actions and people are beginning to lose trust. What better way to repair their image than by constantly ‘bigging’ them up as heros in everyone’s favorite television shows?
[,,,]
The next time you are watching a TV show, pay attention to how often and how intensely the push to keep the viewer in ego programming is used. With the right observation, you will notice that almost the entire show is a mindless distraction geared towards telling you how to be and how to react -all from programming of course. Very little is opening you up to looking at things in a new way, a more open and expanded way of thinking where we aren’t being driven by things like fear, judgment, emotions, anger and chasing ‘the dream.’ The bonus challenge? Try cutting TV out of your life completely for 1 week. See what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Collective-Evolution – They Call it Television Programming For a Reason
Saturday, January 26, 2013
and speaking of coming out (tho we all knew),,,,
...be a big coming-out speech tonight because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age, in those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers and then gradually, proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met. But now I’m told, apparently that every celebrity is expected to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a prime-time reality show,,,But seriously, if you had been a public figure from the time that you were a toddler, if you’d had to fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds, then maybe you too might value privacy above all else. Privacy. Someday, in the future, people will look back and remember how beautiful it once was. I have given everything up there from the time that I was 3 years old. That’s reality-show enough, don’t you think? There are a few secrets to keeping your psyche intact over such a long career. The first, love people and stay beside them.
Transcript: Jodie Foster’s full Golden Globes speech | Yahoo! Movies Golden Globes Blog - Yahoo! Movies
Transcript: Jodie Foster’s full Golden Globes speech | Yahoo! Movies Golden Globes Blog - Yahoo! Movies
High school senior comes out as ‘LGBT’ while accepting award | The Lookout - Yahoo! News
A great story and kudos to Jacob,,,a future leader in our midst??
High school senior comes out as ‘LGBT’ while accepting award | The Lookout - Yahoo! News
High school senior comes out as ‘LGBT’ while accepting award | The Lookout - Yahoo! News
Republican House Leader Vows To Use 'Power Of Humiliation' To Undermine LGBT Program | ThinkProgress
It's that damned homosexual agenda again,,,where's my toaster oven!!
Lankford agreed with the woman’s concern, vowing to open an investigation into the matter. “They love functioning in the dark,” the Oklahoma Republican said of the LGBT program, promising to use “the power of humiliation” to uproot it.
Republican House Leader Vows To Use 'Power Of Humiliation' To Undermine LGBT Program | ThinkProgress
Lankford agreed with the woman’s concern, vowing to open an investigation into the matter. “They love functioning in the dark,” the Oklahoma Republican said of the LGBT program, promising to use “the power of humiliation” to uproot it.
Republican House Leader Vows To Use 'Power Of Humiliation' To Undermine LGBT Program | ThinkProgress
Catholic Hospital Argues Fetuses Are Not People In Malpractice Suit
It's one or the other,,,
,,,Those rules have stirred controversy for decades, mainly for forbidding non-natural birth control and abortions. “Catholic health care ministry witnesses to the sanctity of life ‘from the moment of conception until death,’” the directives state. “The Church’s defense of life encompasses the unborn.”
VS
[,,,]
But when it came to mounting a defense in the Stodghill case, Catholic Health’s lawyers effectively turned the Church directives on their head. Catholic organizations have for decades fought to change federal and state laws that fail to protect “unborn persons,” and Catholic Health’s lawyers in this case had the chance to set precedent bolstering anti-abortion legal arguments. Instead, they are arguing state law protects doctors from liability concerning unborn fetuses on grounds that those fetuses are not persons with legal rights.
Catholic Hospital Argues Fetuses Are Not People In Malpractice Suit
,,,Those rules have stirred controversy for decades, mainly for forbidding non-natural birth control and abortions. “Catholic health care ministry witnesses to the sanctity of life ‘from the moment of conception until death,’” the directives state. “The Church’s defense of life encompasses the unborn.”
VS
[,,,]
But when it came to mounting a defense in the Stodghill case, Catholic Health’s lawyers effectively turned the Church directives on their head. Catholic organizations have for decades fought to change federal and state laws that fail to protect “unborn persons,” and Catholic Health’s lawyers in this case had the chance to set precedent bolstering anti-abortion legal arguments. Instead, they are arguing state law protects doctors from liability concerning unborn fetuses on grounds that those fetuses are not persons with legal rights.
Catholic Hospital Argues Fetuses Are Not People In Malpractice Suit
Calif. couple sues over donations to Scientology - Yahoo! News
An intriguing suit, I know of no "church" based religion that doesn't require tithing or donations of some sort,,,I would have started questioning long before it reached $420,000 and what is scary, I see this same type of development occurring again, especially with end-times/ufo (alien) based belief systems that are becoming prevalent,,,
,,,The couple claims they were duped into giving more than $420,000 for a building campaign, disaster relief efforts and other Scientology causes, only to find the bulk of the money went to inflate the church coffers and line the pockets of its leader, David Miscavige.
"The church, under the leadership of David Miscavige, has strayed from its founding principles," the lawsuit claims, "and morphed into a secular enterprise whose primary purpose is taking people's money."
[,,,]
,,, He said the Garcias still believe in the precepts of Scientology and that the litigation is not a commentary on whether it is a true religion, a question that has dogged it across the world since it was founded in the 1950s. Babbitt said, ultimately, that question is irrelevant when considering its members' donations.
"Whether you're a church or not a church, you can't defraud people," he said.
[,,,]
Among the accusations made in the lawsuit is that the Garcias and others were repeatedly approached with urgent requests for funding of Scientology work around the globe, such as disaster relief or campaigns for causes such as ending child pornography. Babbitt said high-ranking former Scientologists would testify that the church knowingly rerouted such collections for other spending, including financing a "lavish lifestyle" for Miscavige, stifling inquiries into church activities and finances, and intimidating members and ex-members.
Calif. couple sues over donations to Scientology - Yahoo! News
,,,The couple claims they were duped into giving more than $420,000 for a building campaign, disaster relief efforts and other Scientology causes, only to find the bulk of the money went to inflate the church coffers and line the pockets of its leader, David Miscavige.
"The church, under the leadership of David Miscavige, has strayed from its founding principles," the lawsuit claims, "and morphed into a secular enterprise whose primary purpose is taking people's money."
[,,,]
,,, He said the Garcias still believe in the precepts of Scientology and that the litigation is not a commentary on whether it is a true religion, a question that has dogged it across the world since it was founded in the 1950s. Babbitt said, ultimately, that question is irrelevant when considering its members' donations.
"Whether you're a church or not a church, you can't defraud people," he said.
[,,,]
Among the accusations made in the lawsuit is that the Garcias and others were repeatedly approached with urgent requests for funding of Scientology work around the globe, such as disaster relief or campaigns for causes such as ending child pornography. Babbitt said high-ranking former Scientologists would testify that the church knowingly rerouted such collections for other spending, including financing a "lavish lifestyle" for Miscavige, stifling inquiries into church activities and finances, and intimidating members and ex-members.
Calif. couple sues over donations to Scientology - Yahoo! News
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Scientific evidence that you probably don’t have free will | MyScienceAcademy
,,, historically speaking, philosophers have had plenty to say on the matter. Their ruminations have given rise to such considerations as cosmological determinism (the notion that everything proceeds over the course of time in a predictable way, making free will impossible), indeterminism (the idea that the universe and our actions within it are random, also making free will impossible), and cosmological libertarianism/compatibilism (the suggestion that free will is logically compatible with deterministic views of the universe).
[,,,]
As the early results of scientific brain experiments are showing, our minds appear to be making decisions before we’re actually aware of them — and at times by a significant degree. It’s a disturbing observation that has led some neuroscientists to conclude that we’re less in control of our choices than we think — at least as far as some basic movements and tasks are concerned.
[,,,]
German scientists Hans Helmut Kornhuber and Lüder Deecke discovered a phenomenon they dubbed “bereitschaftspotential” (BP) — a term that translates to “readiness potential.” Their discovery, that the brain enters into a special state immediately prior to conscious awareness, set off an entirely new subfield.
[,,,]
Needless to say it was a discovery that greatly upset the scientific community who, since the days of Freud, had (mostly) adopted a strictly deterministic view of human decision making. Most scientists casually ignored it.
[,,,]
More recently, neuroscientists have used more advanced technologies to study this phenomenon, namely fMRIs and implanted electrodes. But if anything, these new experiments show the BP effect is even more pronounced than previously thought.
[,,,]
“At some point, things that are predetermined are admitted into consciousness,” he told Nature, suggesting that the conscious will might be added on to a decision at a later stage.
[,,,]
But not everyone agrees with the conclusions of these findings. Free will, the skeptics argue, is far from debunked,,,[t]he jury, it would appear, is still out on the question of free will. While the neuroscientists are clearly revealing some important insights into human thinking and decision making, more work needs to be done to make it more convincing.
[,,,]
Moreover, there’s also the whole issue of how we’re supposed to reconcile these findings with our day-to-day lives. Assuming we don’t have free will, what does that say about the human condition? And what about taking responsibility for our actions?
Daniel Dennett has recently tried to rescue free will from the dustbin of history, saying that there’s still some elbow room for human agency,,,
[,,,]
Indeed, Sam Harris has made a compelling case that we don’t have it, but that it’s not a problem. Moreover, he argues that the ongoing belief in free will needs to come to an end:
[,,,]
But as Dennett correctly points out, this is an issue that’s far from being an open-and-shut case. Advocates of the “free will as illusion” perspective are still going to have to improve upon their experimental methods, while also addressing the work of philosophers, evolutionary biologists — and even quantum physicists.
Scientific evidence that you probably don’t have free will | MyScienceAcademy
[,,,]
As the early results of scientific brain experiments are showing, our minds appear to be making decisions before we’re actually aware of them — and at times by a significant degree. It’s a disturbing observation that has led some neuroscientists to conclude that we’re less in control of our choices than we think — at least as far as some basic movements and tasks are concerned.
[,,,]
German scientists Hans Helmut Kornhuber and Lüder Deecke discovered a phenomenon they dubbed “bereitschaftspotential” (BP) — a term that translates to “readiness potential.” Their discovery, that the brain enters into a special state immediately prior to conscious awareness, set off an entirely new subfield.
[,,,]
Needless to say it was a discovery that greatly upset the scientific community who, since the days of Freud, had (mostly) adopted a strictly deterministic view of human decision making. Most scientists casually ignored it.
[,,,]
More recently, neuroscientists have used more advanced technologies to study this phenomenon, namely fMRIs and implanted electrodes. But if anything, these new experiments show the BP effect is even more pronounced than previously thought.
[,,,]
“At some point, things that are predetermined are admitted into consciousness,” he told Nature, suggesting that the conscious will might be added on to a decision at a later stage.
[,,,]
But not everyone agrees with the conclusions of these findings. Free will, the skeptics argue, is far from debunked,,,[t]he jury, it would appear, is still out on the question of free will. While the neuroscientists are clearly revealing some important insights into human thinking and decision making, more work needs to be done to make it more convincing.
[,,,]
Moreover, there’s also the whole issue of how we’re supposed to reconcile these findings with our day-to-day lives. Assuming we don’t have free will, what does that say about the human condition? And what about taking responsibility for our actions?
Daniel Dennett has recently tried to rescue free will from the dustbin of history, saying that there’s still some elbow room for human agency,,,
[,,,]
Indeed, Sam Harris has made a compelling case that we don’t have it, but that it’s not a problem. Moreover, he argues that the ongoing belief in free will needs to come to an end:
[,,,]
But as Dennett correctly points out, this is an issue that’s far from being an open-and-shut case. Advocates of the “free will as illusion” perspective are still going to have to improve upon their experimental methods, while also addressing the work of philosophers, evolutionary biologists — and even quantum physicists.
Scientific evidence that you probably don’t have free will | MyScienceAcademy
US Military suicides continue to climb, reaching record in 2012 — RT
Very disturbing,,,
The official website of the US Department of Defense has published preliminary reports of at least 177 potential active-duty suicides and 126 potential non-active-duty suicides in 2012. The report reveals a marked surge in suicides since 2011, when 165 confirmed active-duty and 118 non-active-duty suicides were registered.
In all, 349 servicemembers in all branches of the US Military committed suicide in 2012, up 15 percent from 301 suicides in the military in 2011, AP reported, citing a Pentagon source. The number of US Military suicides in 2012 exceeded the total combat fatalities in Afghanistan in 2012, which the AP calculated at 295 deaths.
[,,,]
David Rudd, a military suicide researcher and dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah, told AP that he is not optimistic about further anti-suicide developments. “Actually, we may continue to see increases,” Rudd explained, adding that Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans commit suicides because of PTSD, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, while those not deployed take their lives because of problems with relationships, finances or the law.
US Military suicides continue to climb, reaching record in 2012 — RT
The official website of the US Department of Defense has published preliminary reports of at least 177 potential active-duty suicides and 126 potential non-active-duty suicides in 2012. The report reveals a marked surge in suicides since 2011, when 165 confirmed active-duty and 118 non-active-duty suicides were registered.
In all, 349 servicemembers in all branches of the US Military committed suicide in 2012, up 15 percent from 301 suicides in the military in 2011, AP reported, citing a Pentagon source. The number of US Military suicides in 2012 exceeded the total combat fatalities in Afghanistan in 2012, which the AP calculated at 295 deaths.
[,,,]
David Rudd, a military suicide researcher and dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah, told AP that he is not optimistic about further anti-suicide developments. “Actually, we may continue to see increases,” Rudd explained, adding that Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans commit suicides because of PTSD, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, while those not deployed take their lives because of problems with relationships, finances or the law.
US Military suicides continue to climb, reaching record in 2012 — RT
Genius Of History David Barton Claims Founding Fathers Were Awesomest At Guns
I have 2 words for this loon,,,DICK CHENEY,,,
Explaining that he began teaching his own kids how to use guns at the age of four, Barton said that people only want to get rid of guns because they are afraid of them, which can be attributed to the fact that they don’t know how to use them.
As such, if everyone had a gun and was taught how to use it from childhood, there would never be any firearm incidents or accidents, just like during the founding era:
That’s what these guys do not see and do not look at; they’re just flat scared of guns. And the solution to that is exactly what the Founding Fathers said and that is you start teaching kids to use guns when they’re very young because gun accidents are caused by non-familiarity with guns; once you’re familiar with them, you don’t have accidents with them.
I have searched and in the founding era I think I’ve only ever found two gun accidents and everybody was hauling guns back then; you took your guns to church, you were required by state law in some states to take your guns to church. We didn’t have accidents because everyone was familiar with how to use them. It’s not being familiar that makes is dangerous.
Genius Of History David Barton Claims Founding Fathers Were Awesomest At Guns
Explaining that he began teaching his own kids how to use guns at the age of four, Barton said that people only want to get rid of guns because they are afraid of them, which can be attributed to the fact that they don’t know how to use them.
As such, if everyone had a gun and was taught how to use it from childhood, there would never be any firearm incidents or accidents, just like during the founding era:
That’s what these guys do not see and do not look at; they’re just flat scared of guns. And the solution to that is exactly what the Founding Fathers said and that is you start teaching kids to use guns when they’re very young because gun accidents are caused by non-familiarity with guns; once you’re familiar with them, you don’t have accidents with them.
I have searched and in the founding era I think I’ve only ever found two gun accidents and everybody was hauling guns back then; you took your guns to church, you were required by state law in some states to take your guns to church. We didn’t have accidents because everyone was familiar with how to use them. It’s not being familiar that makes is dangerous.
Genius Of History David Barton Claims Founding Fathers Were Awesomest At Guns
Decalogue Déjà Vu?: Alabama ‘Commandments Judge’ Says Legal System Comes From Bible | Americans United
My favorite judge is back in the news and back in office,,,
After failed runs for governor in 2006 and 2010, Moore somehow managed to get reelected to the Alabama Supreme Court last year. When he took his oath of office on Jan. 11, he showed he had learned little from past experience.
“We’ve got to remember most of what we do in court comes from some scriptures or is backed by scriptures,” Moore said, according to the Associated Press. (Moore took his oath not on one Bible, but a stack of them.)
That remark was bad enough, but Moore didn’t stop there. In fact, things got worse as Moore continued to rant on the importance of the Bible as the basis for laws in the United States.
Decalogue Déjà Vu?: Alabama ‘Commandments Judge’ Says Legal System Comes From Bible | Americans United
After failed runs for governor in 2006 and 2010, Moore somehow managed to get reelected to the Alabama Supreme Court last year. When he took his oath of office on Jan. 11, he showed he had learned little from past experience.
“We’ve got to remember most of what we do in court comes from some scriptures or is backed by scriptures,” Moore said, according to the Associated Press. (Moore took his oath not on one Bible, but a stack of them.)
That remark was bad enough, but Moore didn’t stop there. In fact, things got worse as Moore continued to rant on the importance of the Bible as the basis for laws in the United States.
Decalogue Déjà Vu?: Alabama ‘Commandments Judge’ Says Legal System Comes From Bible | Americans United
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Paul Ryan Once Again Sponsors the Bill That Would Make It Possible for Women's Rapists to Sue Them
More on Paul Ryan and the personhood bill (HR 212, the Sanctity of Human Life Act),,,
In an unsurprising turn of events, Ryan has signed on as cosponsor to the Sanctity of Human Life Act again. The original bill — which declares that life begins with fertilization, and would give states the right to ban all abortion, even in the cases involving incest, rape, or the life of the mother — thankfully died in Congress in 2011.
But now it's baaaaack, which is scary because not only is the above terrifying, there's all sorts of other creepy shit hidden in this monster. Like, if a woman who was raped in a state that banned abortions went to a state that didn't ban abortions and had an abortion? Her rapist could theoretically sue to stop the abortion from happening, and probably win. And it doesn't stop there with the reproductive weirdness, if passed, it'll probably make many forms of IVF illegal.**
Luckily, it's almost for sure gonna die again, but I wonder if Ryan's career will go the way of the dodo bird soon after? The tide is turning, and a majority of voters don't want politicians making women's health choices for them. For everyone's sake, it would be best for Ryan and politicians like him to see this as the death rattle. Pack up your moral indignation and head home, guys, I'm sure there's a pot roast in your kitchen you can mansplain your garbage feelings on women's reproductive rights to.
Paul Ryan Once Again Sponsors the Bill That Would Make It Possible for Women's Rapists to Sue Them
**In fact, if this bill were passed and the Supreme Court upheld it, I'll bet that a rapist could go to court and sue to prevent his victim from getting an abortion. He'd argue that the fetus was legally a human being, and the court has no power to discriminate between one human being and another. He'd probably win, too.
In other abortion news, Stephanie Mencimer reports that the same bill would likely have the effect of making in-vitro fertilization illegal. My Twitter feed is full of outrage that Stephanie would say this, but what else can you conclude about the law? In IVF, multiple embryos are created, and only a few are used.
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/08/pro-lifers-should-stop-being-so-skittish-about-their-own-beliefs
In an unsurprising turn of events, Ryan has signed on as cosponsor to the Sanctity of Human Life Act again. The original bill — which declares that life begins with fertilization, and would give states the right to ban all abortion, even in the cases involving incest, rape, or the life of the mother — thankfully died in Congress in 2011.
But now it's baaaaack, which is scary because not only is the above terrifying, there's all sorts of other creepy shit hidden in this monster. Like, if a woman who was raped in a state that banned abortions went to a state that didn't ban abortions and had an abortion? Her rapist could theoretically sue to stop the abortion from happening, and probably win. And it doesn't stop there with the reproductive weirdness, if passed, it'll probably make many forms of IVF illegal.**
Luckily, it's almost for sure gonna die again, but I wonder if Ryan's career will go the way of the dodo bird soon after? The tide is turning, and a majority of voters don't want politicians making women's health choices for them. For everyone's sake, it would be best for Ryan and politicians like him to see this as the death rattle. Pack up your moral indignation and head home, guys, I'm sure there's a pot roast in your kitchen you can mansplain your garbage feelings on women's reproductive rights to.
Paul Ryan Once Again Sponsors the Bill That Would Make It Possible for Women's Rapists to Sue Them
**In fact, if this bill were passed and the Supreme Court upheld it, I'll bet that a rapist could go to court and sue to prevent his victim from getting an abortion. He'd argue that the fetus was legally a human being, and the court has no power to discriminate between one human being and another. He'd probably win, too.
In other abortion news, Stephanie Mencimer reports that the same bill would likely have the effect of making in-vitro fertilization illegal. My Twitter feed is full of outrage that Stephanie would say this, but what else can you conclude about the law? In IVF, multiple embryos are created, and only a few are used.
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/08/pro-lifers-should-stop-being-so-skittish-about-their-own-beliefs
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Anti-gay activist found guilty of filming child porn | Gay Star News
Gay or straight, Bible thumping believer or not, 25 years is not enough for what this POS did to her own child,,,and for the ADF to act as if nothing happened by removing her name (if what the SLPC reports is true) is despicable,,,
The attorney, associated with reactionary Christian anti-gay firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in November last year.
She was accused of eight felony counts involving the videotaping of men having sex with her 14-year-old child, taking a teenage girl to Canada and forcing her to engage in sex on Camera.
Anti-gay activist found guilty of filming child porn | Gay Star News
The attorney, associated with reactionary Christian anti-gay firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in November last year.
She was accused of eight felony counts involving the videotaping of men having sex with her 14-year-old child, taking a teenage girl to Canada and forcing her to engage in sex on Camera.
Biron also allegedly made a phone video of her having sex with her daughter as well.
[,,,]
According to the Southern Law Poverty Center, the ADF removed all mentions of her from its website and Facebook page, and said Biron was never an employee.
In March of 2011, she was listed by the ADF as an ‘Allied Attorney Success Story’.
Anti-gay activist found guilty of filming child porn | Gay Star News
Friday, January 11, 2013
Arkansas Legislature Wants Academic Study Of The Bible In Public Schools | Addicting Info
If all ancient sacred texts were included leaving "religion" out of the equation,,,But in reality think this would boil down to a pissing contest of comparing "my" religion to "yours" and which is better,,,
These classes would also be electives; they would not be required curriculum. There are many people who believe that such a class is a good idea, provided that it’s in a non-religious format; a study of the history of the books of the Bible and correlating those to events discussed in other historical texts, perhaps studying different translations and discussing those differences, and other avenues of study that don’t include preaching.
[,,,]
In 2007, then-chief religion writer of Time Magazine, David Van Biema, published an article that supports the teaching of the Bible in public schools, calling it “the most influential book ever written,” and noting that it is a best-seller every single year. Religious and non-religious leaders throughout U.S. history have quoted it, and whether the secular among us like it or not, it has influenced our society in a big way.
[,,,]
Bruce Wilson of Talk2Action.org, however, has a different take on the issue. He believes that Bible classes in school would ultimately serve to create a national religion by teaching one holy book over others. Even as an elective, and even though it’s open to all students and students of all belief systems, including atheist students, have been taking these courses in places like Texas, it still advances one religion without really giving the same opportunity for people to learn about other religions that have influenced Western culture and history.
[,,,]
Nobody can argue the Bible’s influence on U.S. and Western culture. But the argument can be made that the holy books of other religions are just as influential and essential to understanding other cultures, particularly, in recent history, Islam. Given that the U.S. is a melting pot, would it not be to our benefit to offer courses on the holy books of all the major cultures represented in our population?
Arkansas Legislature Wants Academic Study Of The Bible In Public Schools | Addicting Info
These classes would also be electives; they would not be required curriculum. There are many people who believe that such a class is a good idea, provided that it’s in a non-religious format; a study of the history of the books of the Bible and correlating those to events discussed in other historical texts, perhaps studying different translations and discussing those differences, and other avenues of study that don’t include preaching.
[,,,]
In 2007, then-chief religion writer of Time Magazine, David Van Biema, published an article that supports the teaching of the Bible in public schools, calling it “the most influential book ever written,” and noting that it is a best-seller every single year. Religious and non-religious leaders throughout U.S. history have quoted it, and whether the secular among us like it or not, it has influenced our society in a big way.
[,,,]
Bruce Wilson of Talk2Action.org, however, has a different take on the issue. He believes that Bible classes in school would ultimately serve to create a national religion by teaching one holy book over others. Even as an elective, and even though it’s open to all students and students of all belief systems, including atheist students, have been taking these courses in places like Texas, it still advances one religion without really giving the same opportunity for people to learn about other religions that have influenced Western culture and history.
[,,,]
Nobody can argue the Bible’s influence on U.S. and Western culture. But the argument can be made that the holy books of other religions are just as influential and essential to understanding other cultures, particularly, in recent history, Islam. Given that the U.S. is a melting pot, would it not be to our benefit to offer courses on the holy books of all the major cultures represented in our population?
Arkansas Legislature Wants Academic Study Of The Bible In Public Schools | Addicting Info
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Eric Bolling: Schools ‘pushing the liberal agenda’ by teaching algebra | The Raw Story
Fox News host Eric Bolling on Wednesday accused some schools of “pushing the liberal agenda” for teaching an algebra lesson about the distributive property.
Now by a show of hands, how many of you took algebra in junior high/high school and remember this lesson:
[The following taken from http://math.about.com/od/algebra/a/distributive.htm]
Named the 'Distributive Property (sometimes referred to as the distributive law) because in essence, you are distributing something as you separate or break it into parts. The distributive property makes numbers easier to work with. In algebra when we use the distributive property, we're expanding (distributing).
The Distributive Property lets you multiply a sum by multiplying each addend separately and then add the products.
Let's say I have to quickly multiply: 4 x 53
(4 x 50) + (4 x 3)
200 + 12
212
"This isn't that easy," or so says Kimberly Guilfoyle. Im' now trying to determine exactly what they think calculus might be,,,and what about irrational numbers or radicals. An please tell my exactly what do cowboys (or our gov't ) have to do with Thanksgiving again,,,I missed that lesson. I didn't even have to read past the headline before I started to laugh (then cry).
And seriously isn't algebra part of the Islamic agenda since it was invented by the Muslim mathematician Al-Khwarizmi in the book he wrote in 820?? (Yes I am joking,,,)
Eric Bolling: Schools ‘pushing the liberal agenda’ by teaching algebra | The Raw Story
In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind
The practice of yoga has been in the news quite a bit lately,both pro and con. But could someone explain this diatribe,,,
For those that don't believe in your God, your faith may seem goofy and just as wacky,,,
In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind
Now please note the CORRECT quote from Sergeant Nathan Hampton,,,
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/5/marines-expanding-use-of-meditation-training/?page=all
A very thorough article about the above program that Perkins thrashes.
In the military, it's out with God--and in with the goofy! Hello, I'm Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington. U.S. troops are learning how to use another weapon: their minds. As part some new training, Marines are being asked to join weekly yoga and meditation classes. Sergeant Nathan Hampton said the idea took some getting used to. "Why are we sitting around a classroom doing weird meditating stuff?" he wondered. Former Army Captain Elizabeth Stanley says it's to relieve stress. She's the one behind M-Fit, or Mind Fitness Training. She insists the New Age approach "creates a sense of calmness, reduces drug and alcohol use, increases productivity, and improves working relationships." What a coincidence--so does faith! Unfortunately, the military seems intent on driving religion out and replacing it with wacky substitutes. They've added atheist chaplains, Wiccan worship centers, and now, meditation classes. But none of them are effective or as constructive as a personal relationship with God. Unfortunately, though, it's mind over what matters--and that's faith. [http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PG12L01&itemType=CM#listing Jan 8, 2013 In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind]
For those that don't believe in your God, your faith may seem goofy and just as wacky,,,
In the Marines, Fitness Is a State of Mind
Now please note the CORRECT quote from Sergeant Nathan Hampton,,,
There also were weekly meditation classes — including one in which Sgt. Hampton and his squad mates were asked to sit motionless in a chair and focus on the point of contact between their feet and the floor.
“A lot of people thought it would be a waste of time,” he said. “Why are we sitting around a classroom doing their weird meditative stuff?
“But over time, I felt more relaxed. I slept better. Physically, I noticed that I wasn’t tense all the time. It helps you think more clearly and decisively in stressful situations. There was a benefit.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/5/marines-expanding-use-of-meditation-training/?page=all
A very thorough article about the above program that Perkins thrashes.
Paul Ryan signs on as cosponsor of new ‘fetal personhood’ bill | The Raw Story
And this creates jobs how?? Besides that, this leads to a slippery slope in regards to women who miscarry. And if "sanctity of life" is so important why not a bill banning any and all future wars, or the eradication of the death penalty??
But yet the Bible clearly states that it wasn't until God "breathed life" into Adam that he became a "living soul." Guess Mr Broun didn't get past chapter one of Genesis.
Paul Ryan signs on as cosponsor of new ‘fetal personhood’ bill | The Raw Story
An Oklahoma court struck down that state’s “personhood” law on the grounds that it was plainly unconstitutional and imposed unreasonable restrictions on women’s ability to make their own reproductive choices.
Broun, for his part, disregards these concerns.
“As a physician, I know that human life begins with fertilization, and I remain committed to ending abortion in all stages of pregnancy,” he said in a statement. I will continue to fight this atrocity on behalf of the unborn, and I hope my colleagues will support me in doing so.”
But yet the Bible clearly states that it wasn't until God "breathed life" into Adam that he became a "living soul." Guess Mr Broun didn't get past chapter one of Genesis.
Paul Ryan signs on as cosponsor of new ‘fetal personhood’ bill | The Raw Story
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels : NPR
Researcher Jenna Nolt was one of those who took a look.
"The title page is completely hand drawn, and it's got this beautiful, elaborate design on it, and it has the date 1922," Nolt says. "When we translated the title, we found out that it was The Russian Diamond Fund."
The Diamond Fund is the name given to the imperial regalia of the Romanov family, the czars of Russia for more than 300 years, from 1613 to 1917.
[,,,] Regina says the fate of the crown jewels raised a furious debate among the Bolshevik leadership, which was badly in need of money.
Some of the revolutionaries saw the jewels as symbols of centuries of exploitation — gems that ought to be sold to benefit the workers.
Historian Igor Zimin says much of the collection was preserved by curators at the Kremlin in Moscow, who were able to convince the leaders that the gems had enormous historical significance.
[,,,] Zimin is skeptical, by the way, about the newly rediscovered book, because it's dated 1922, and an official photographic inventory of the crown jewels wasn't published until 1925.
The USGS has a copy of that book, too, and researcher Jenna Nolt has compared the two.
She found that the 1922 volume shows four pieces of jewelry that don't appear in the later official book.
The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels : NPR
"The title page is completely hand drawn, and it's got this beautiful, elaborate design on it, and it has the date 1922," Nolt says. "When we translated the title, we found out that it was The Russian Diamond Fund."
The Diamond Fund is the name given to the imperial regalia of the Romanov family, the czars of Russia for more than 300 years, from 1613 to 1917.
[,,,] Regina says the fate of the crown jewels raised a furious debate among the Bolshevik leadership, which was badly in need of money.
Some of the revolutionaries saw the jewels as symbols of centuries of exploitation — gems that ought to be sold to benefit the workers.
Historian Igor Zimin says much of the collection was preserved by curators at the Kremlin in Moscow, who were able to convince the leaders that the gems had enormous historical significance.
[,,,] Zimin is skeptical, by the way, about the newly rediscovered book, because it's dated 1922, and an official photographic inventory of the crown jewels wasn't published until 1925.
The USGS has a copy of that book, too, and researcher Jenna Nolt has compared the two.
She found that the 1922 volume shows four pieces of jewelry that don't appear in the later official book.
The Mysterious Disappearance Of The Russian Crown Jewels : NPR
Bryan Fischer Praises Scott Lively and Suggests his Critics are Satanically Inspired | Right Wing Watch
,,,Fischer, who shares Lively’s views on criminalizing LGBT status and blaming gays for the Holocaust, asserted that Lively “did the same kind of stuff over there that we do every day on Focal Point.” Fischer said the left seeks to “exterminate pro-family voices” and “want us to be destroyed,” which is interesting because the bill in Uganda makes the “promotion homosexuality” a crime.
Bryan Fischer Praises Scott Lively and Suggests his Critics are Satanically Inspired | Right Wing Watch
Bryan Fischer Praises Scott Lively and Suggests his Critics are Satanically Inspired | Right Wing Watch
Monday, January 7, 2013
Can you trust Dr. Oz? His medical advice often conflicts with the best science. - Slate Magazine
Still, people march into pharmacies or their physicians’ offices every day asking for Dr. Oz-endorsed treatments—even when these treatments are backed by the barest of evidence or none at all. Oz’s satellite patients spend tremendous amounts of money on products he recommends, a phenomenon that has been dubbed the “Oz Effect.” After he promoted neti pots, for example, Forbes magazine reported sales and online searches for the nasal irrigation system rose by 12,000 percent and 42,000 percent, respectively.
[,,,] A legion of doctor-bloggers has dedicated thousands of hours to dissecting and debunking Oz’s claims. One of them is Steven Charlap, a preventive medicine physician in Delray Beach, Fla. “Patients were bringing in shopping carts full of different pills,” Charlap recalls. “When I would ask them, ‘Why do you take a certain pill?’ I found very often, the response was, ‘I heard about it on the Oz show.’ ”
[,,,] This doesn’t make for good TV, though, which gets at the tension between the worlds of science and entertainment. Science is a process, moving along in increments, with stops and starts, mostly very slowly. As a result, new treatments are usually only slightly better than older ones, actual breakthroughs are rare, and good medicine is often dull. Showmen like Oz, however, must be anything but humdrum—five times every week.
[,,,] So how are we supposed to tell medicine from miracles? As a general rule, said Victor Montori, an evidence-based medicine guru at the Mayo Clinic, “If studies are cited, then this cannot be, at the same time, a secret revealed just to you now,,,We can also arm ourselves with the knowledge that not all evidence is created equally, and celebrities—even famous doctors—are not credible sources of health information.
Can you trust Dr. Oz? His medical advice often conflicts with the best science. - Slate Magazine
[,,,] A legion of doctor-bloggers has dedicated thousands of hours to dissecting and debunking Oz’s claims. One of them is Steven Charlap, a preventive medicine physician in Delray Beach, Fla. “Patients were bringing in shopping carts full of different pills,” Charlap recalls. “When I would ask them, ‘Why do you take a certain pill?’ I found very often, the response was, ‘I heard about it on the Oz show.’ ”
[,,,] This doesn’t make for good TV, though, which gets at the tension between the worlds of science and entertainment. Science is a process, moving along in increments, with stops and starts, mostly very slowly. As a result, new treatments are usually only slightly better than older ones, actual breakthroughs are rare, and good medicine is often dull. Showmen like Oz, however, must be anything but humdrum—five times every week.
[,,,] So how are we supposed to tell medicine from miracles? As a general rule, said Victor Montori, an evidence-based medicine guru at the Mayo Clinic, “If studies are cited, then this cannot be, at the same time, a secret revealed just to you now,,,We can also arm ourselves with the knowledge that not all evidence is created equally, and celebrities—even famous doctors—are not credible sources of health information.
Can you trust Dr. Oz? His medical advice often conflicts with the best science. - Slate Magazine
Daily Kos: Outrage in Delaware (FINAL UPDATE: A HAPPY ENDING)
An interesting saga and have been watching to see what the outcome/reaction is/was. When first reported I was troubled "tone" especially when comparing "play at your own risk" versus the mention of the police/police action; I don't buy the translational error argument. But I am glad that Superintendent Kohel acted in the manner she did (tho wondering why it was missed in the first place).
Daily Kos: Outrage in Delaware (FINAL UPDATE: A HAPPY ENDING)
Daily Kos: Outrage in Delaware (FINAL UPDATE: A HAPPY ENDING)
Megachurch in Tulsa says 13 year old girl ineligible from claiming damages for rape; moves for dismissal of civil suit | God Discussion
The suit accuses employees at the center of not reporting the attack by Chris Denman, a former church janitor.
What I would like to know is what were they seeking to gain by not reporting the crime for 2 weeks?? Hmmm,,,getting their
Megachurch in Tulsa says 13 year old girl ineligible from claiming damages for rape; moves for dismissal of civil suit | God Discussion
Robertson said the definition of abuse in the failure to report child abuse statute applies only to people who are responsible for the well-being of the child - which he argues that John and Charica Daugherty were not.Judge rules against Victory Christian ministers
LGBT Ugandans File Suit Against Antigay American Pastor Scott Lively | Advocate.com
Most excellent and fascinating as I have never heard of the Alien Tort Statute,,,
The Center for Constitutional Rights is representing SMUG, and will offer oral arguments at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Federal Courthouse in Springfield, Mass. The arguments will address Lively's motion to dismiss the case, and LGBT advocates are asking any and all supporters to attend the hearing in a show of solidarity with Uganda's LGBT community.
The case is the first of its kind, and relies on a 200-year-old law known as the Alien Tort Statute, which gives "survivors of egregious human rights abuses, wherever committed, the right to sue the perpetrators in the United States," according to the Center for Justice and Accountability.
LGBT Ugandans File Suit Against Antigay American Pastor Scott Lively | Advocate.com
The Alien Tort Statute (ATS) is a U.S. federal law first adopted in 1789 that gives the federal courts jurisdiction to hear lawsuits filed by non-U.S. citizens for torts committed in violation of international law. When the ATS was drafted in the 18th century, international law dealt primarily with regulating diplomatic relations between States and outlawing crimes such as piracy, however international law in the 21st century has expanded to include the protection of human rights. In the 60 years from the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to the present decade, universal human rights have moved from being an aspirational concept to a legal reality. This remarkable evolution gave the ATS renewed significance in the late 20th century. Today, the Alien Tort Statute gives survivors of egregious human rights abuses, wherever committed, the right to sue the perpetrators in the United States.
Since 1980, the ATS has been used successfully in cases involving torture, state-sponsored sexual violence, extrajudicial killing, crimes against humanity, war crimes and arbitrary detention. The Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA), passed in 1991 and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, gives similar rights to U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike to bring claims for torture and extrajudicial killing committed in foreign countries.
http://www.cja.org/article.php?id=435
The Center for Constitutional Rights is representing SMUG, and will offer oral arguments at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Federal Courthouse in Springfield, Mass. The arguments will address Lively's motion to dismiss the case, and LGBT advocates are asking any and all supporters to attend the hearing in a show of solidarity with Uganda's LGBT community.
The case is the first of its kind, and relies on a 200-year-old law known as the Alien Tort Statute, which gives "survivors of egregious human rights abuses, wherever committed, the right to sue the perpetrators in the United States," according to the Center for Justice and Accountability.
LGBT Ugandans File Suit Against Antigay American Pastor Scott Lively | Advocate.com
The Alien Tort Statute (ATS) is a U.S. federal law first adopted in 1789 that gives the federal courts jurisdiction to hear lawsuits filed by non-U.S. citizens for torts committed in violation of international law. When the ATS was drafted in the 18th century, international law dealt primarily with regulating diplomatic relations between States and outlawing crimes such as piracy, however international law in the 21st century has expanded to include the protection of human rights. In the 60 years from the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to the present decade, universal human rights have moved from being an aspirational concept to a legal reality. This remarkable evolution gave the ATS renewed significance in the late 20th century. Today, the Alien Tort Statute gives survivors of egregious human rights abuses, wherever committed, the right to sue the perpetrators in the United States.
Since 1980, the ATS has been used successfully in cases involving torture, state-sponsored sexual violence, extrajudicial killing, crimes against humanity, war crimes and arbitrary detention. The Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA), passed in 1991 and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, gives similar rights to U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike to bring claims for torture and extrajudicial killing committed in foreign countries.
http://www.cja.org/article.php?id=435
Hannity Compares Individuals On Government Programs To Animals That Become Dependent On People For Food | Video | Media Matters for America
I live in north central PA,,,surrounded by state parks and game lands of various sizes and uses. During the summer, on a daily basis I see many wild game animals foxes, coons, deer and if I want to travel a bit elk and if "lucky" black bear. I live in town and yes I see all these animals (except elk,,,yet) within town limits.
Why, because wild animals are losing their fear of humans. Dumpsters and garbage cans are a smorgasbord. I know people who purposely leave food for the animals in their yards or on their property because they want to see the animals up close, but are the first to bitch when something is destroyed.
People within the parks are attempting to lure animals to feed them because they think it fun not realizing: Food reward that animals associate with humans can result in their loss of fear of humans. This change in behavior may lead to property damage and human injury. For the animals involved it may mean negative health effects or overpopulation resulting from unnatural food sources, dependence on a seasonably unreliable food source, and greater susceptibility to predators and vehicle collisions. [see the following for why this isn't a good thing http://www.nps.gov/dena/naturescience/keepwildlifewild.htm]
Nothing there about not learning to take care of themselves. Since when did being hungry become a motivator. I receive $3.73 a day to try and feed myself, since when did it become a death match to put food on my table; and yes I am employed. I find this a very cold diatribe. Is Hannity (and others, like then SC Lt Governor Andre Bauer http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6139186-503544.html) equating the needs of the poor to wild animals who die regularly of starvation?
Just a side note: less then 4% (76 billion) of US tax dollars goes to SNAP.
Hannity Compares Individuals On Government Programs To Animals That Become Dependent On People For Food | Video | Media Matters for America
Why, because wild animals are losing their fear of humans. Dumpsters and garbage cans are a smorgasbord. I know people who purposely leave food for the animals in their yards or on their property because they want to see the animals up close, but are the first to bitch when something is destroyed.
People within the parks are attempting to lure animals to feed them because they think it fun not realizing: Food reward that animals associate with humans can result in their loss of fear of humans. This change in behavior may lead to property damage and human injury. For the animals involved it may mean negative health effects or overpopulation resulting from unnatural food sources, dependence on a seasonably unreliable food source, and greater susceptibility to predators and vehicle collisions. [see the following for why this isn't a good thing http://www.nps.gov/dena/naturescience/keepwildlifewild.htm]
Nothing there about not learning to take care of themselves. Since when did being hungry become a motivator. I receive $3.73 a day to try and feed myself, since when did it become a death match to put food on my table; and yes I am employed. I find this a very cold diatribe. Is Hannity (and others, like then SC Lt Governor Andre Bauer http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6139186-503544.html) equating the needs of the poor to wild animals who die regularly of starvation?
Just a side note: less then 4% (76 billion) of US tax dollars goes to SNAP.
Hannity Compares Individuals On Government Programs To Animals That Become Dependent On People For Food | Video | Media Matters for America
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President. (H.J.Res. 15) - GovTrack.us
Don't think we have to much to worry bout as this has been tried twice before with any real effort (Reagan and Clinton eras),,,altho it has been an ongoing debate since 1985,,, most of the HJ Resolutions don't even make it out of committee anyways,,,the only President that pushed the standard of 2 terms set by Washington (followed by Jefferson, Madison and Monroe) was FDR (1933-45),,,the 22nd Amendment was passed in 1947 and ratified in 1951,,,
There are some that would like to see a change in regards to Amendment 22, as currently stated a VP who takes over 2 yrs or more of from a President, can only then be elected 1 time,,,only President this might have affected would have been Ford as he served the final 29 months of Nixon's Presidency but lost to Carter in 1976,,,
It's interesting to note that this is Serrano's second attempt at this Resolution(2009 being the first http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj5/show),,,Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. Howard Berman, and Sen. Harry Reid, have also tried,,,
Also some have tried to challenged the citizenship clause (Article II) as well,,,when aAnold was super popular, there was a push to try an make it so he could run for President,,,
Just because some nitwit comes up with an idea to change the Constitution doesn't make it happen (thankfully) it's a long process (Article V),,,two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate followed by a ratification of three-fourths of the various state legislatures (used only one used to date.),,,the Constitution might be amended by a Convention called for this purpose by two-thirds of the state legislatures, if the Convention's proposed amendments are later ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures,,,
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President. (H.J.Res. 15) - GovTrack.us
There are some that would like to see a change in regards to Amendment 22, as currently stated a VP who takes over 2 yrs or more of from a President, can only then be elected 1 time,,,only President this might have affected would have been Ford as he served the final 29 months of Nixon's Presidency but lost to Carter in 1976,,,
It's interesting to note that this is Serrano's second attempt at this Resolution(2009 being the first http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj5/show),,,Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. Howard Berman, and Sen. Harry Reid, have also tried,,,
Also some have tried to challenged the citizenship clause (Article II) as well,,,when aAnold was super popular, there was a push to try an make it so he could run for President,,,
Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.
Just because some nitwit comes up with an idea to change the Constitution doesn't make it happen (thankfully) it's a long process (Article V),,,two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate followed by a ratification of three-fourths of the various state legislatures (used only one used to date.),,,the Constitution might be amended by a Convention called for this purpose by two-thirds of the state legislatures, if the Convention's proposed amendments are later ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures,,,
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment, thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President. (H.J.Res. 15) - GovTrack.us
Name Changed to - Havoc and Chaos
Have decided to change the name of my blog to better reflect my mind set as per my postings!!
Fischer: ‘Flaming Homosexuals Wearing Stilettos’ Will Apply For Jobs In Christian Bookstores If ENDA Passes | The New Civil Rights Movement
Uhm,,,,all I can say at the moment is WOW,,,
Why the hell would I, as a lesbian, even want to work for a "christian" owned/based business where on a daily basis I would receive horrible treatment (sorry for the generalization as I am well aware of many good people who would not act as such),,,
And to borrow from the quote above (disregarding that I am not a christian) why would I work for a business who doesn't hold the same values as I do??
And Mr Fischer,,learn the difference between a gay male and person who is transgendered (either a transsexual or transvestite/cross-dresser)
Fischer: ‘Flaming Homosexuals Wearing Stilettos’ Will Apply For Jobs In Christian Bookstores If ENDA Passes | The New Civil Rights Movement
Remember when values were choices you made — like whether or not to lie, cheat, steal, support the needy, be polite — not who you love?
Why the hell would I, as a lesbian, even want to work for a "christian" owned/based business where on a daily basis I would receive horrible treatment (sorry for the generalization as I am well aware of many good people who would not act as such),,,
And to borrow from the quote above (disregarding that I am not a christian) why would I work for a business who doesn't hold the same values as I do??
And Mr Fischer,,learn the difference between a gay male and person who is transgendered (either a transsexual or transvestite/cross-dresser)
Fischer: ‘Flaming Homosexuals Wearing Stilettos’ Will Apply For Jobs In Christian Bookstores If ENDA Passes | The New Civil Rights Movement
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thousands Of Women Forced To Find New Doctors Now That Texas Has Defunded Planned Parenthood | ThinkProgress
Why cant teapugs get it through their heads the PP is not JUST abortions,,,the thought of having to change doctors would have me running for the hills,,,
Still, agency officials say they will not turn clients away who cannot afford to pay, concerned that inconvenienced women will skip life-saving exams rather than search for new doctors.
Thousands Of Women Forced To Find New Doctors Now That Texas Has Defunded Planned Parenthood | ThinkProgress
,,,but Visiting Judge Gary Harger ruled that Texas may design a state-run Women’s Health Program that excludes qualified providers like Planned Parenthood — despite the fact that, on a federal level, states aren’t allowed to block qualified health providers from receiving Medicaid funds.
The new Women’s Health Program launches on Tuesday, and Monday’s ruling ensures that Planned Parenthood won’t be part of it. Before Texas Republicans began their crusade against Planned Parenthood, the organization provided preventative cancer screenings, contraceptive services, and family planning assistance to nearly half of the state’s 110,000 low-income women in the Medicaid program.
[,,,]
Since the Hyde Amendment already prevents Medicaid programs from covering abortion services, the Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas don’t actually perform abortions for any of their patients in the Women’s Health Program.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/12/31/1381181/texas-end-planned-parenthood/
The Hyde Amendment
After Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion in 1973, Medicaid covered abortion care without restriction. In 1976, Representative Henry Hyde (R-IL) introduced an amendment that later passed to limit federal funding for abortion care. Effective in 1977, this provision, known as the Hyde Amendment, specifies what abortion services are covered under Medicaid.
Over the past two decades, Congress has debated the limited circumstances under which federal funding for abortion should be allowed. For a brief period of time, coverage included cases of rape, incest, life endangerment, and physical health damage to the woman. However, beginning in 1979, the physical health exception was excluded, and in 1981 rape and incest exceptions were also excluded.
In September 1993, Congress rewrote the provision to include Medicaid funding for abortions in cases where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. The present version of the Hyde Amendment requires coverage of abortion in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment.
http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/public_funding.html
Still, agency officials say they will not turn clients away who cannot afford to pay, concerned that inconvenienced women will skip life-saving exams rather than search for new doctors.
Thousands Of Women Forced To Find New Doctors Now That Texas Has Defunded Planned Parenthood | ThinkProgress
,,,but Visiting Judge Gary Harger ruled that Texas may design a state-run Women’s Health Program that excludes qualified providers like Planned Parenthood — despite the fact that, on a federal level, states aren’t allowed to block qualified health providers from receiving Medicaid funds.
The new Women’s Health Program launches on Tuesday, and Monday’s ruling ensures that Planned Parenthood won’t be part of it. Before Texas Republicans began their crusade against Planned Parenthood, the organization provided preventative cancer screenings, contraceptive services, and family planning assistance to nearly half of the state’s 110,000 low-income women in the Medicaid program.
[,,,]
Since the Hyde Amendment already prevents Medicaid programs from covering abortion services, the Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas don’t actually perform abortions for any of their patients in the Women’s Health Program.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/12/31/1381181/texas-end-planned-parenthood/
The Hyde Amendment
After Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion in 1973, Medicaid covered abortion care without restriction. In 1976, Representative Henry Hyde (R-IL) introduced an amendment that later passed to limit federal funding for abortion care. Effective in 1977, this provision, known as the Hyde Amendment, specifies what abortion services are covered under Medicaid.
Over the past two decades, Congress has debated the limited circumstances under which federal funding for abortion should be allowed. For a brief period of time, coverage included cases of rape, incest, life endangerment, and physical health damage to the woman. However, beginning in 1979, the physical health exception was excluded, and in 1981 rape and incest exceptions were also excluded.
In September 1993, Congress rewrote the provision to include Medicaid funding for abortions in cases where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. The present version of the Hyde Amendment requires coverage of abortion in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment.
http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/public_funding.html
NDAA Signed Into Law By Obama Despite Guantanamo Veto Threat, Indefinite Detention Provisions
I will admit, I do not understand the NDAA completely,,,but based on numerous postings, especially in regards to the so-called FEMA camps, think I may need to do some more reading,,,
Civil liberties advocates had roundly criticized the bill over Guantanamo and a separate section that could allow the military to indefinitely detain American citizens on suspicions of supporting terrorism. Just as he did with last year's version of the bill, however, Obama decided that the need to pass the NDAA, which also sets the armed forces' $633 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year, was simply "too great to ignore," according to a presidential signing statement released in the early morning hours Thursday.
[,,,] "President Obama has utterly failed the first test of his second term, even before inauguration day,” American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero said in a statement. “His signature means indefinite detention without charge or trial, as well as the illegal military commissions, will be extended.”
[,,,] Obama's signature caps an intense sequence of events for opponents of indefinite detention. In November, a bipartisan group of senators amended their chamber's NDAA bill to prohibit the military from detaining American citizens on American soil. But when the House and Senate met to reconcile their versions of the NDAA, that amendment was stripped out behind closed doors.
[,,,] Outside of Congress, civil liberties groups are pushing forward with a lawsuit against the indefinite detention provisions of the NDAA on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg denied their efforts to reinstate an injunction against indefinite detention on Dec. 14, but the case against the law is still proceeding in the Second Circuit Court.
NDAA Signed Into Law By Obama Despite Guantanamo Veto Threat, Indefinite Detention Provisions
Civil liberties advocates had roundly criticized the bill over Guantanamo and a separate section that could allow the military to indefinitely detain American citizens on suspicions of supporting terrorism. Just as he did with last year's version of the bill, however, Obama decided that the need to pass the NDAA, which also sets the armed forces' $633 billion budget for the 2013 fiscal year, was simply "too great to ignore," according to a presidential signing statement released in the early morning hours Thursday.
[,,,] "President Obama has utterly failed the first test of his second term, even before inauguration day,” American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony Romero said in a statement. “His signature means indefinite detention without charge or trial, as well as the illegal military commissions, will be extended.”
[,,,] Obama's signature caps an intense sequence of events for opponents of indefinite detention. In November, a bipartisan group of senators amended their chamber's NDAA bill to prohibit the military from detaining American citizens on American soil. But when the House and Senate met to reconcile their versions of the NDAA, that amendment was stripped out behind closed doors.
[,,,] Outside of Congress, civil liberties groups are pushing forward with a lawsuit against the indefinite detention provisions of the NDAA on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg denied their efforts to reinstate an injunction against indefinite detention on Dec. 14, but the case against the law is still proceeding in the Second Circuit Court.
NDAA Signed Into Law By Obama Despite Guantanamo Veto Threat, Indefinite Detention Provisions
Thursday, January 3, 2013
House GOP: No Time For Sandy Relief Or Women’s Violence Bill, But Time To Fund DOMA Defense | The New Civil Rights Movement
,,,The House GOP, especially including Eric Cantor and John Boehner, also just stalled their way out of time to vote on the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act, allowing the 18-year old law to expire, and exposing women across the nation to greater risk of violence.
But the House Republican leadership did have time — for the first time ever in history — to write funding to continue their anti-gay war, defending DOMA, into the official House Rules last night. DOMA is the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 that bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
House GOP: No Time For Sandy Relief Or Women’s Violence Bill, But Time To Fund DOMA Defense | The New Civil Rights Movement
But the House Republican leadership did have time — for the first time ever in history — to write funding to continue their anti-gay war, defending DOMA, into the official House Rules last night. DOMA is the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 that bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
House GOP: No Time For Sandy Relief Or Women’s Violence Bill, But Time To Fund DOMA Defense | The New Civil Rights Movement
With Millions Still Waiting For Sandy Relief, Republicans Reintroduce Obamacare Repeal | ThinkProgress
You have got to be kidding me,,,how in the world was she re-elected,,,
Dozens of Republicans, including 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, ran against Obamacare, yet the party suffered losses every step along the way. The Supreme Court upheld the law, House repeal efforts went nowhere in the Democratically-controlled Senate, and President Obama has pledged to veto any effort to rescind the measure. Even newly reelected Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was compelled to admit in November that Obamacare is now the law of the land (though he later backed away from his own comments and pledged to do everything in his power to undermine it).
With Millions Still Waiting For Sandy Relief, Republicans Reintroduce Obamacare Repeal | ThinkProgress
Dozens of Republicans, including 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, ran against Obamacare, yet the party suffered losses every step along the way. The Supreme Court upheld the law, House repeal efforts went nowhere in the Democratically-controlled Senate, and President Obama has pledged to veto any effort to rescind the measure. Even newly reelected Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was compelled to admit in November that Obamacare is now the law of the land (though he later backed away from his own comments and pledged to do everything in his power to undermine it).
With Millions Still Waiting For Sandy Relief, Republicans Reintroduce Obamacare Repeal | ThinkProgress
Why the Bar Code Will Always Be the Mark of the Beast | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com
I have always been fascinated by this bit of "urban legend",,,some of the comments are fascinating
Laurer — who has clearly tired of answering questions about the UPC and its supposed connection to the Book of Revelation — calls all this “ludicrous.” But it’s also rather amusing. Laurer has long told UPC watchers that the three longer “guide bars” in each code — one at the front, one in the middle, and one at the end — do not represent 6′s, hoping to put that urban legend to rest. But you can’t squash human nature. If someone wants to find proof that the apocalypse is upon us, they will find it.
[,,,]
Laurer first realized the code could be construed as some sort of apocalyptic signpost while it was still under development in the early 1970s. His daughter happened to be studying the Book of Revelation, and he couldn’t help but notice that the code harbored a few 6′s — though not the 6′s alleged by the urban legend that’s still bouncing around the internet.
[,,,]
Bill Selmeier — an IBM executive who worked alongside Laurer and Woodland on the project inside the IBM Store Systems group in Raleigh, North Carolina — doesn’t remember anyone in the group discussing the possibility of people protesting the scanners while they were still under development, but protest they did. When Selmeier showed up at a Ralph’s grocery store in Los Angeles to see one of the first scanning systems in action, dressed in his pin-stripe suit and wing tips, a man approached and told him the code was the sign of the beast.
[,,,]
“All of this is pure bunk,” says Laurer, “and is no more important than the fact that my first, middle, and last name all have 6 letters.”
Why the Bar Code Will Always Be the Mark of the Beast | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com
Laurer — who has clearly tired of answering questions about the UPC and its supposed connection to the Book of Revelation — calls all this “ludicrous.” But it’s also rather amusing. Laurer has long told UPC watchers that the three longer “guide bars” in each code — one at the front, one in the middle, and one at the end — do not represent 6′s, hoping to put that urban legend to rest. But you can’t squash human nature. If someone wants to find proof that the apocalypse is upon us, they will find it.
[,,,]
Laurer first realized the code could be construed as some sort of apocalyptic signpost while it was still under development in the early 1970s. His daughter happened to be studying the Book of Revelation, and he couldn’t help but notice that the code harbored a few 6′s — though not the 6′s alleged by the urban legend that’s still bouncing around the internet.
[,,,]
Bill Selmeier — an IBM executive who worked alongside Laurer and Woodland on the project inside the IBM Store Systems group in Raleigh, North Carolina — doesn’t remember anyone in the group discussing the possibility of people protesting the scanners while they were still under development, but protest they did. When Selmeier showed up at a Ralph’s grocery store in Los Angeles to see one of the first scanning systems in action, dressed in his pin-stripe suit and wing tips, a man approached and told him the code was the sign of the beast.
[,,,]
“All of this is pure bunk,” says Laurer, “and is no more important than the fact that my first, middle, and last name all have 6 letters.”
Why the Bar Code Will Always Be the Mark of the Beast | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Daily Kos: Minimum wage going up in 10 states on New Year's Day
In nine states, the minimum wage increases because it is indexed to inflation, rising with the cost of living. Rhode Island passed a law raising its minimum wage in June, which takes effect Jan. 1. Nine other states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages above the federal rate of $7.25 an hour.
Daily Kos: Minimum wage going up in 10 states on New Year's Day
Compare that to this,,,
In accordance with the Annual Wage Review decision by Fair Work Australia earlier this month, the National Minimum Wage increases by 2.9 per cent to $606.40 per week, or $15.96 per hour
Australia’s new pay rates take effect from July 1,
28 June 2012
see also: Fair Work, Fair Pay: Lessons From Australia
And then there is this little gem,,,
In 2005, Bachmann told the Minnesota state Senate that abolishing the minimum wage could “wipe out unemployment completely.” When Good Morning America‘s George Stephanopoulos asked her for evidence to back up that claim today, Bachmann struggled to find an answer, initially dodging the question before finally referring to the minimum wage as a regulation that is “inhibiting job growth” and saying it needed to be examined:
Michele Bachmann Advocates Abolishing Minimum Wage
Daily Kos: Minimum wage going up in 10 states on New Year's Day
Compare that to this,,,
In accordance with the Annual Wage Review decision by Fair Work Australia earlier this month, the National Minimum Wage increases by 2.9 per cent to $606.40 per week, or $15.96 per hour
Australia’s new pay rates take effect from July 1,
28 June 2012
see also: Fair Work, Fair Pay: Lessons From Australia
Of course, exchange rates go up and down over time. But at $21.25 Australian dollars an hour, it doesn't matter what exchange rate you use or how you adjust for cost of living. The simple fact is that an Australian entry-level fast food worker makes more than the average American worker. An absolute majority of Americans would increase their income if they moved to Australia and got fast food jobs.
And then there is this little gem,,,
In 2005, Bachmann told the Minnesota state Senate that abolishing the minimum wage could “wipe out unemployment completely.” When Good Morning America‘s George Stephanopoulos asked her for evidence to back up that claim today, Bachmann struggled to find an answer, initially dodging the question before finally referring to the minimum wage as a regulation that is “inhibiting job growth” and saying it needed to be examined:
Michele Bachmann Advocates Abolishing Minimum Wage
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Almost but not quite
Well I almost made my goal of 5000 page-views,,,had I posted regularly I would have. Thank you everyone that has taken time to read the articles I post, I am humbled by the 4970 page-views I have received.
My goals for 2013--20,000 page- views/2000 postings/50 Followers/and more comments,,,
Have a safe 2013!!!
My goals for 2013--20,000 page- views/2000 postings/50 Followers/and more comments,,,
Have a safe 2013!!!
Authorities concerned about "end of the world" warnings from FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs | God Discussion
Sam Brower, a private investigator who has represented more than one hundred former members of the FLDS church, told CNN, "The consensus seems to be that Warren is indicating that by the end of the year, the end of the world will be here." CNN reports that when leaders of religious sects talk about calamitous ends of the earth, people in law enforcement take careful notice. "Jim Jones, [David] Koresh … history has showed us these things happen when religious zealots take charge of a group of people," Brower said.
Authorities concerned about "end of the world" warnings from FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs | God Discussion
Authorities concerned about "end of the world" warnings from FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs | God Discussion
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