text:
Fallout from Philadelphia Horror
Time for Married Priests?
Abortion by Lethal Injection
Oddballs and The Blob
Holdren: AGW Skeptics Must be "Educated"
Christian Ethics and the U.S. Military
The Rite: Satan as Accuser
Bob Hurley Sr. Would Give Up All His Wins...
China's Weapons Film Is Top Gun Scene
No Prez Run for Pence
Joe Biden Isn't Funny Anymore
Tim Burke on The Death Industry
Our Defacto Abortion Tax
Moran: GOP Won 'Cause America's Racist
Muslim Population Growing Fast
I Just Go For the Music Catholics
Second Grade Public School Orgy?
Captain America May Drop the "America"
1/2 of College Health Plans Cover Abortion
An Exorcism in Iowa, 1928
Oh No! Even the AP Says Obama's Lying
"Why do they keep disabled children alive?"
Gosnell's Not an Anomaly
Lila Rose on Kermit Gosnell
Flabbergasted in PA
Hawaii, First State to Ban Prayer in Senate
Moral Law in an Amoral Universe
Alveda King on Civil Rights Issue of our Time
Global Warming Litigation?
Handing Off The Legacy
How Long Was/Is Your Tree Up?
Sickest Thing I've Ever Read
How Mass Murder Gets a Pass
Kinsley Mocks Canonization Process
Enviros Limit Water for Farmers
Future of the Church in England
God To Gervais: No, Thank You
University Settles with Christian Astronomer
Palinoia
Dem: GOP Just Like Nazis
National Catholic Register Acquired by EWTN
Repealing Obamacare Unconstitutional?
Why Conservatives Should Love "Chuck"
My Conversion to the Commie Mass
MLK on Homosexuality, Abortion, Etc...
Pakistan: Baby Born out of Wedlock Killed
Leftist Hero Threatens Tea Partier
Gay Activists Target Chik-Fil-A
God Haters and the Tuscon Massacre
They Don't Want Civility, They Want Surrender
Lincoln on "Blood Libel"
Canada Bans Dire Straits Song
NYT: Loughner was Pro-Lifer
Ordinariate Ordinations in London
Twin Boys Butchered for Not Being Girls
It's About the Real Presence
Palin for Prez Out of Spite
Dershowitz Defends Palin? Wait, Who?
Monks Donate Casket for Christina Green
Commit Unstable People?
Death Threats Against Palin
Governor Outlaws Talk Radio? Really?
Palin Accuses Media of "Blood Libel"
Pope to Pakistan: Repeal Blasphemy Laws
Need a Hobby? Become a Nun!
Obamacare's Baby Death Panels
Media Has Sunk to New Low
13 Killed. Don't Worry, They Were Christian
Rocks for Brains
Jane Fonda Blames Sarah Palin
Ghouls, Gimmicks and Loughner
Twitter Wants Me Dead
Sheriff: Limbaugh responsible for shooting
Pope: Hey, What About Saint Names?
Forgiveness Is Powerful, Employ It
The Vultures Around the Arizona Tragedy
Students Can't "Grind" So Boycott Dance
Loughner, An Occultist?
"In Defense of Faith" Author Q and A
Sarkozy: "Religious Cleansing" of Christians
UK YWCA Changes Name. Guess Why.
History Channel Yanks "The Kennedys"
Pence to Pull $ from Abortion Providers
Does Homeschooling Violate Vatican II?
The Flaming Tabernacle of Death
The Danger of "Authenticity"
Bill Donohue, a Man for Our Season
GOP vs. EPA
40 Most Obnoxious Quotes of 2010
Boehner Invokes his Catholic Faith
Only Everything Will Do
Vaccination Study Was Fraud
Fake Hate Crime at Harvard
What's Wrong with a Little Incest?
ABC Pushes Cutie's Book
Tea Party's Unhappy Families
Ha! Christmas Vandals Only "Rearranged"
Death Panels Out Again
Human Organs for Sale
Michelle Malkin writes:
I reminded you last week that accused Philadelphia Horror baby butcher Kermit Gosnell was far from alone.
The latest on the government-enabled mass murder that the White House doesn't want to talk about:
*Democrat Delaware AG Beau Biden has launched a "wide-ranging" investigation of Gosnell to see if he broke any state laws or regulations when he was working at the Atlantic Women's Medical Services clinic in Wilmington.
Simcha Fisher writes:
Why doesn't the Latin Rite Church just start ordaining married men again? If men can't or won't stay celibate, then why force the issue? Well, I peeked into the future, when married priests are commonplace, and this is what I heard in the pews:
"Well! I see the pastor's wife is pregnant again! What is she trying to prove? Must be nice to pop 'em out year after year, while the parish has to support all those brats."
"Well! I see another year has gone by and the pastor's wife still isn't pregnant. A fine example they're setting! I won't have them teaching my children CCD, since his own wife is clearly on the Pill."
Jill Stanek reports:
Revelations about the dangerous and dastardly practices of late-term abortionists, particularly on the East Coast (Brigham, Carhart, Gosnell), continue.
Today Operation Rescue exposed yet another new way they are circumventing the system – this time only by killing babies by lethal injection and nothing more. This will force many pro-life obstetricians and hospitals into complicity by completing the abortion.
Pundette writes:
Feeling alienated from the mainstream? If so, you're not alone, and you're most likely a good deal healthier in mind and spirit for it. But it can be difficult to know how to live in such a world. Victor Davis Hanson belongs to the oddball club:
We in the oddball club live two lives, as sort of wandering souls who censor our speech and thoughts hourly. In line at the market, we assume the guy with the iPhone and the Camry does not really need the VISA-looking state food card, but we accept that that if we were to suggest he might not, a blizzard of venom would fall upon us — we would be called cruel, callous, racist, nativist, selfish, crack-pot, angry, hateful. So we shrug, smile, and say to ourselves: "Why not let him use the card at a restaurant as well?" And so it will come to pass soon no doubt. [. . .]
Anyone else get nervous when the left talks about "educating" us:
Arrogant Marxist thugs like Comrade Holdren would love to "educate" the way Stalin did in the Soviet Union…
(The Hill) – President Obama's top science adviser said there's a need to "educate" GOP climate change skeptics on Capitol Hill as the White House seeks to advance its green energy agenda.
Excellent piece at Vivificat!
Having spoken to numerous civic, religious, and college audiences about military ethics, I am continually saddened by the misunderstandings which numerous people have about the conscience of a soldier. One priest, for example, told me that soldiers are mere robots who must obey all orders. A nun told me that no faithful Catholic could serve in today's U.S. armed forces. The head of a theology department at a Catholic college refused to have a discussion with me because I teach ethics at a war college.
NRO's The Corner reports:
I just saw the new film The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins as a charming but deeply troubled exorcist, and it's a mixed bag. On the negative side, it depends far too much on special effects and makeup — an occupational hazard for producers of demonic-possession moves ever since the really great one came out in 1973. Her head turns around, his eyes become yellow and bulgy, etc.: These things long ago lost their power to shock, and now serve only to help viewers dismiss possession by evil forces as a risible Hollywood convention. As if conscious of this problem, and fearing it might therefore fail to give the audience the spooks it deserves, the movie ladles on the cheap shocks — Omigod he's suddenly right behind you! Omigod what's that jumping out? (Whew, it's a cat!) – and heads straight toward B-movie territory, perhaps even lower.
Now for the good part, and it's a very good part indeed. The screenplay is pitch-perfect
You've got to read this story about a truly inspiring man. Thanks to CNN for printing it:
Bob Hurley Sr. is about to hit a milestone few basketball coaches on any level have reached: 1,000 victories.
He has won them the hard way at St. Anthony High in Jersey City, New Jersey, sweeping the hardwood floor before home games and riding yellow buses to cramped gymnasiums up and down the East Coast.
How awesome is this? Weasel Zippers reports:
Chinese State TV Fakes Air Force Training Drill Using "Top Gun" Footage… The only part missing is Goose and Maverick's kick-ass beach volleyball scene.
On the left are screenshots of CCTV News; on the right are screenshots of Top Gun:
I'm crying on the inside about this news. The Blaze reports:
Congressman Mike Pence, R-Ind., will not be pursuing the nation's highest office in 2012 as some have speculated. Instead, the conservative Republican is soon expected to publicly declare his intentions to explore a campaign to be Indiana's next governor.
In a letter to constituents Thursday, Pence and his wife Karen wrote, "In the choice between seeking national office and serving Indiana in some capacity, we choose Indiana."
And people will die.
This is crazy. From Weasal Zippers.
Joe Biden: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is No Dictator, Protesters Demands Illegitimate…
Insane.
A close call?
A few weeks ago, I was driving down a major road in my area. It is one of those big, 6 lane roads with lots of traffic and lots of businesses along it. I was in the far right lane heading home from work when all of a sudden, I was nearly run off the road by another driver. I had to slam on my brakes and swerve into the shoulder of the road in order to avoid being hit by this crazy driver. I recovered quickly and continued down the road, keeping a safe distance behind the guy who just cut me off. At first I blew it off as one of our winter residents here in Florida, "Snow Birds" as we like to call them; older, retired residents who spend a few months here in the winter to avoid the cold north. About a mile down the road the car that cut me off turned into the parking lot of a professional center where I know there is an abortion clinic. I know there is a clinic there because I have spent some time in front of this clinic praying for the end of abortion. The thought occurred to me that this person just nearly ran me off the road because I am pro-life.
Warner Todd Huston writes:
With the anniversary of Roe v. Wade it is the perfect time to highlight the fact that the millions upon millions of federal tax dollars that have gone to fund the abortion mill organization Planned Parenthood is a defacto abortion tax levied on the American taxpayers.
In 2008 alone, Planned Parenthood received nearly $350 million in federal funding. By Planned Parenthood's own reckoning, this funding went to eliminate babies for more than 324,000 women that year.
Right Scoop reports:
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) was interview by an Arab network called Alhurra. He was asked about why the Democrats lost so many seats and he responded:
"It [the Republican successes in the 2010 elections] happened for the same reason the Civil War happened in the United States. It happened because the Southern states, the slaveholding states, didn't want to see a president who was opposed to slavery.
Hey, I've got a great idea. Let's contracept ourselves right out of existence. Or better yet, let's contracept ourselves in order to create a world where Islam dominates Europe entirely. Weasel Zippers has a new study from The Pew Research Center which says that the Muslim population is growing twice as fast as the non-Muslim population.
The global number of Muslims is expected to jump 35 percent in the next 20 years, growing twice as fast as the non-Muslim population, according to a study published today.
Carol Olson writes:
It's really not fair to drag Unitarians into this. After all, the Unitarians I've met could come up with better reasons for being Catholic than does Mary Leighton ("Music of faith can illuminate a way to love", The Register Guard, Jan. 22, 2011), who sings in the choir at St. Jude Catholic Church here in Eugene, Oregon, despite courageously—ahem—acknowledging how backward, wrong-headed, and dogmatic the Catholic Church has been and still can be:
Reason number 749,473,262,616,838,348,473,621 not to send your kids to public school:Moonbattery reports
Obama's degenerate Safe Schools Czar is getting results. From America's fifth most liberal city:
A second-grade Oakland teacher is on leave while the school investigates reports that students engaged in oral sex during class.
There are also reports Markham Elementary School kids stripped off their clothes in class.
You know, I'm not sure Hollywood likes America all that much. Does Hollywood not understand that for millions around the globe, America is actually inspirational, not something to be ashamed of. Right Wing News reports:
The venerable Marvel comic book character Captain America has been, well, "Captain America" since 1941. But as of the 2011 release of the new movie "Captain America: The First Avenger," he won't be Captain American anymore. At least as far as the film's title overseas goes, anyway.
Apparently, Hollywood thinks a character called "Captain America" is too gauche for foreigners to handle. And so he's to go nameless in such places as Russia, Ukraine, and South Korea. Once again, Hollywood shows that it is ashamed of America, it's traditions, and culture. Thanks alot, Hollywood.
LifeNews reports:
A new study finds almost half of the colleges and universities in the United States that offer students health care plans offer ones that pay for abortions.
A new study sponsored by Students for Life of America follows an August 2010 scandal involving the University of North Carolina, whose system mandated health care coverage for the 2010-2011 school year. UNC required its students to have health care and automatically enrolled them in a plan that covered elective abortions.
A tale of horror:
Emma Schmidt was 40 years old in 1928. An Iowa native, from childhood she was a practicing Catholic, but for twenty-six years she had experienced almost continual psychological and spiritual unrest. She heard voices sexually tempting her. Obsessive thoughts nearly drove her to suicide. Over time she developed an indefinable anger toward religious objects. When a priest blessed her, she flew into a rage and attacked him. She also found herself able to understand languages she never studied, like Latin and German.
If he's lost the AP, what can be done? Weasel Zippers reports:
What a disgraceful SOTU performance. Obama is a shameless master of deceit…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ledger did not appear to be adding up Tuesday night when President Barack Obama urged more spending on one hand and a spending freeze on the other.
Michael Cook at Mercator.net writes of a tragic tale indicative of our time:
Is the tragic drowning of a disabled toddler in Sydney an indirect consequence of publicity given to the merits of legalised euthanasia?
Three years ago, two-year-old Maia Comas drowned in an inflatable pool. Despite a lengthy investigation which ended this week, a coroner was still unable to decide whether her death in the beachside suburb of Curl Curl had been an accident. But he did say that the circumstances suggested "great irresponsibility" on the part of her parents.
Two months before her death, Maia was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a disorder that often leaves sufferers with severe physical and intellectual disabilities
John Hawkins writes:
Kermitt Gosnell, the murderous abortionist who killed a patient and slaughtered seven babies under the approving eye of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, was quite the butcher. Here's a brief description of what was going on in his office,
The clinic reeked of animal urine, courtesy of the cats that were allowed to roam (and defecate) freely. Furniture and blankets were stained with blood. Instruments were not properly sterilized. Disposable medical supplies were not disposed of; they were reused, over and over again. Medical equipment such as the defibrillator, the EKG, the pulse oximeter, the blood pressure cuff was generally broken; even when it worked, it wasn't used. The emergency exit was padlocked shut. And scattered throughout, in cabinets, in the basement, in a freezer, in jars and bags and plastic jugs, were fetal remains. It was a baby charnel house.
Check out the video at Live Action:
Lila Rose: On Abortionist Kermit Gosnell & Roe v Wade
Wow. Wow. This is some bold face lying going on.
Hundreds or thousands of live, viable babies have been slaughtered over three decades in a Pennsylvania clinic, and now the two agencies that supposedly regulate medical facilities claim they didn't know that their jurisdictions covered abortion clinics. Governor Tom Corbett has demanded answers within a week as to how Pennsylvania's Departments of Health and State could have allowed Kermit Gosnell's charnel house to continue its operations. His predecessor, Ed Rendell, declared himself "flabbergasted" to hear the excuses from the two bureaucracies:
Madness. Madness I say. The Blog Prof reports:
You won't even believe why they, and by 'they' I mean Democrats who dominate the HI Senate, did it: out of fear of an ACLU lawsuit. I kid you not! From Mercury News via Gateway Pundit:
Fearing a possible court challenge, Hawaii's state Senate has voted to silence the daily prayer offered before each session began — making it the first state legislative body in the nation to halt the practice.
A citizen's complaint had prompted the American Civil Liberties Union last summer to send the Senate a letter noting that its invocations often referenced Jesus Christ, contravening the separation of church and state.
This is an awesome video at The Right Scoop:
This is another thought provoking video from Ravi Zacharias for you to digest on Atheism, Feminism and the Bible. The question is about a girl who became an atheist after reading that God cursed Eve with labor pains in childbirth because of her sin. The girl stopped reading and said she doesn't want to believe in a God who doesn't believe in her. The questioner asks what Ravi would say to that girl and his answer blew me away.
Seriously, it's awesome. Give it a listen:
Cubachi has the vid:
On the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I think this video is appropriate. Dr. Alveda King is a strong advocate for the pro-life movement, which she calls the "civil rights issue of our time."
She also explains in this interview about her two abortions, and how her life experiences, changed her to become so adamantly pro-life...
What they can't get done by legislation they'll get done in the courts. It's how it's always done. When they can't convince the people they try to convince politicians and when they can't convince enough politicians they convince a few judges:
In related news I just filed a class-action lawsuit against the Tooth Fairy.
(AFP)— From being a marginal and even mocked issue, climate-change litigation is fast emerging as a new frontier of law where some believe hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake.
Compensation for losses inflicted by man-made global warming would be jaw-dropping, a payout that would make tobacco and asbestos damages look like pocket money.
The miracle that saved the National Catholic Register>>>>
I'm not going to answer the question posed by Arwen Mosher at Faith and Family Live, except to say my house is still looking quite Christmasy right now. But
"Tree? All gone?"
Blaise was confused this morning, pointing to the spot in our living room where our Christmas tree was standing until we took it down yesterday evening. He misses it, although he's mollified by my promises that we'll have another next year.
January 19th is our personal record for the latest we've left the Christmas decorations up.
Rachel at Testosterhome writes:
On the heels of two days of snow, followed by three days of sick children, comes the reality that sometimes, I like to be alone.
I have made peace with that part of me, the part that has to admit I draw energy from quiet. I love my family and love being with them, but I also need built-in moments where I can hear myself think. In this season of my life, those moments are a challenge to come by.
So I take what I can get, turning inward when doing various tasks around the house. I use my laundry-time to think, when I make dinner I think some more.
I'm horrified by this. Horrified. Pundette writes down what abortionist Kermit Gosnell said before killing a baby. This sick monster made a joke. He made a joke about how big the baby was right before killing the baby. You have to scroll down when you get there:
Today's must read: Michelle Malkin's report on mass-murderer Kermit Gosnell and the mass cover-up that allowed it to continue for decades:
The mainstream news reports about Philadelphia's serial baby-killer Kermit Gosnell and his abortion clinic death squad only scratch the surface of his barbaric enterprise. You must, must, must read the entire, graphic, 281-page grand jury report (embedded after my column below) to fully fathom the systematic execution of hundreds of (not just seven) healthy, living, breathing, squirming, viable babies — along with an untold number of mothers who may have lost their lives in his sick, grimy chamber of horrors as well. It is explicit. It is enraging. It will haunt you.
CMR buddy Matthew Balan highlights a little anti-Catholicism in Michael Kinsley's column in the LA Times:
Liberal columnist Michael Kinsley made light of the Catholic Church's process of recognizing a saint in a Wednesday column for the Los Angeles Times, while simultaneously blasting the Church's opposition to embryonic stem cell research, claiming that the religion was a "main impediment" in developing a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Moonbat lunacy:
As the great Milton Friedman famously observed, "If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand." Likewise, excessive rain is no cure for drought with Big Government at the helm. From Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA):
California's precipitation this season has gone off the charts. Statewide snow water content is 198 percent of normal; in the all-important Northern Sierra snowpack is 174 percent of normal. This is not only a wet year — it is one of the wettest years on record.
Joanna Bogle of Inside Catholic writes:
Back in the 1980s, I was involved with a group that produced a booklet looking at the future of the Church in Britain. We were assured -- and repeated, without really thinking about it very deeply -- that the downward trend of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and ordinations to the priesthood meant that there would be very little left of the Church by the early years of the 21st century. In fact, as I recall, we said that the Church would have virtually disappeared.
How wrong we were.
Best selling author Andrew Klavan thinks Ricky Gervias did Christians a favor by declaring his atheism.
British Comedian Ricky Gervais ended his reputedly raucous evening of hosting The Golden Globes ceremony Sunday night with the mildly witty remark, "Thank God for making me an atheist." I can't help but reflect that God might well respond, "No, really, Ricky, thank you." The atheism of someone like Gervais – a man who radiates unhappiness and self-hatred – has to be the best thing to happen to religion since the atheism of Bill Maher – a man who radiates unhappiness and self-hatred. Every time someone like this declares himself an atheist, twenty people must fall to their knees, crying, "Jesus Christ, don't let me become like THAT guy!"
Instapundit writes:
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY settles religious-discrimination lawsuit brought by Christian astronomer. I had an earlier post on this case here. It seems that this is a black eye for the Kentucky biology department, too. And a note to P.Z. Myers — nobody was saying the world was flat. This guy's not even a young-earth creationist. He just thinks the Big Bang might have been divinely inspired. At any rate, applying "collegiality" to beliefs on religion is a dangerous business, as a few moments' reflection might suggest.
The Anchoress writes:
Two exceedingly good posts today on Sarah Palin, the woman no one can stop talking about.
First from James Taranto, a very thoughtful and well-reasoned look at what is behind the Palin-hate that so many on the left seem incapable of even tamping down.
Six million dead Jews beg to differ.
(The Hill)- Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen (D) on the House floor Tuesday night compared Republican claims about the healthcare reform law to lies perpetrated by the Nazis that led to the Holocaust.
I guess we have new bosses. The title says it all.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Eighty-three years after its debut in Denver, and 15 years after its purchase by the Legionaries of Christ, the National Catholic Register is being acquired by the world's largest religious media network, the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). The acquisition, finalized at the end of January, marks the third time in the newspaper's history that a new owner has stepped forward to preserve and expand the newspaper's service to the Church.
Gotta' love the logic.
It's so simple: including a mandate that requires someone to buy health insurance based on a Constitutional clause giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which means someone had actually purchased something, but, they haven't purchased it yet, but, you will purchase it because the government says you have to purchase it, so, because you will be required to purchase it it comes under the Commerce Clause....confused by government time machine logic yet?
Ray Keating writes at National Review:
It's obvious why nerds love the NBC show Chuck: It's about a movie-quoting, sci-fi-loving, video-game-playing, comic-book-reading techie who works for the "Nerd Herd" (think Geek Squad) at the "Buy More" (how about Best Buy?), winds up getting a supercomputer with all the government's secrets implanted in his brain, and becomes a spy. He goes on dangerous missions, and a lethal, gorgeous CIA agent falls in love with him. It's a nerd fantasy.
But how about conservatives? They should love the show, too — whether they happen to be nerds or not.
Mark Judge writes at the Daily Caller:
Socialists, drug addicts, gospel music — and Martin Sheen. Welcome to the coolest Mass in D.C.
In the beginning, I came to mock the Commie Mass. But then I was converted. I saw the light.
St. Aloysius Catholic Church is on North Capitol Street in Washington, D.C. It's a church run by Jesuits, and is therefore very liberal. You won't find too many papal encyclicals being handed out, but there are plenty of stacks of the left-wing "Catholic Worker." During the part of the Mass where the congregation offers prayer intentions, there is usually one or two harangues about Evil America. Martin Sheen has been known to stop by. There is a homeless shelter in the same building, and you may find yourself sitting next to a dude who hasn't worked in a while and who isn't making too much sense (of course, that could also be Martin Sheen).
Now this is interesting:
When we think of Martin Luther King, we tend to think of the powerful preacher delivering the "I Have a Dream" speech that changed a nation. But rarely do we remember him as a gentle minister, offering pastoral advice to hurting individuals.
Here are some excerpts from the 1957-58 monthly advice column Dr. King wrote for Ebony magazine:
Question: I was in a home the other day where a 3-year-old child read the riot act to his mother. The mother took it with a sheepish smile. This, I am told, is permissiveness. It seems to me that what modern children need is a large dose of parental permissiveness applied to their backsides. Do you agree?
MLK: It is quite true that many modern parents go too far in allowing their children to express themselves with hardly a modicum of discipline. … This almost "lunatic fringe" of modern child care has been responsible for most strange and fantastic methods of child rearing in many American homes. … The child must realize that there are rules of the game which he did not make and that he cannot break with impunity.
Words can't describe how sick this makes me.
KARACHI (AFP) – The lifeless bodies of two tiny babies are being given their final bath before burial in Karachi, after they were left to die in the southern Pakistani city's garbage dumps.
"They can only have been one or two days old," says volunteer worker Mohammad Saleem, pointing at the two small corpses being gently washed by his colleagues at a charity's morgue.
Gateway Pundit reports:
Hero today, gone tomorrow. What started out as a bad week for the left ended up a disaster.
Obama called off the dogs at the Wednesday pep rally but not everyone got the message.
How dare a company support a Christian group!? Right Wing News has the story:
To the proponents of the radical homosexual agenda tolerance only goes one way. We must tolerate them, or else. As for their tolerance toward others, not so much.
The latest target of their ire is Chick-Fil-A. The restaurant chain is under fire because, horror of horrors, a single local franchisee promised to donate some sandwiches to an upcoming marriage conference. Can you guess why? Yup, it's a Christian marriage conference.
A must read from The Other McCain:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools . . .
– Romans 1:21-22 (KJV)
Vox Day quoted from that famous passage in describing the auto-beclownment of University of Minnesota biology professor Paul Z. Myers — a self-proclaimed "godless liberal" — who like a lot of other godless liberals was utterly wrong about the Tucson shooting:
The civility police have their work cut out for them.
An angry John Kerry crosses the rhetorical line:
"How many times do we have to be smacked in the face with factual evidence before we address global climate change? Report after report keep confirming it's getting worse every year," an exasperated Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said in a statement Wednesday.
Whoa, there, fella. That kind of talk is now verboten.
Rep. James Clyburn is having trouble toning it down, too. Heh.
This is fascinating and shows that some things never change. You've got Abe Lincoln, Glenn Reynolds and the Rabbi Shmuley Boteach all on the same page. It's a great post. Check it out:
A RESPONSE TO THE BLOOD LIBEL OF 1860 by Abraham Lincoln:
You charge that we stir up insurrections among your slaves. We deny it; and what is your proof? Harper's Ferry! John Brown!! John Brown was no Republican; and you have failed to implicate a single Republican in his Harper's Ferry enterprise. If any member of our party is guilty in that matter, you know it or you do not know it. If you do know it, you are inexcusable for not designating the man and proving the fact. If you do not know it, you are inexcusable for asserting it. . .
Money for Nothing and PC for free:
This will no doubt perk up some ears over at FCC headquarters in Washington — I can't believe this one's slipped by them (and it has because I heard the song on the radio recently in its "original form" ::gasp::).
From The Spec by way of Reason:
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has ruled that Dire Straits' 1980s hit Money for Nothing is too offensive for Canadian radio.
Another outrageous lie from Hell's Bible:
Pravda is officially more credible than the New York Times.
In the most bald-faced lie I have ever read in The New York Times — which is saying something – that paper implied Loughner is a pro-life zealot. This is the precise opposite of the truth.
Fr. James Bradley writes:
Where were you when JFK was shot? Where were you when the white smoke came from the Sistine Chapel that elected Pope Benedict? Where were you when the Ordinariate began?
Tonight, quietly and calmly - but with the beauty and splendour of the Mass - the face of English Christianity changed. Tonight the first three men were ordained for the Ordinariate in these isles and another step towards the fulfilment of Christ's prayer - that all may be one - was made.
John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton are brave men of great integrity who, only a few days ago, left their old lives behind to follow Christ's call and to take up the great challenge laid out by the Holy Father in Anglicanorum coetibus. These three, now in the full communion of the Catholic Church, gave up all they had been given and this evening submitted humbly to 'the quiet rectification', in Aidan Nichols' words, of their orders.
It was moving beyond words to be present at this momentous occasion.
Van Helsing writes:
"Safe, legal, and rare," the moonbats bleat, reading off their bumper stickers. Yet this is where abortion leads:
This couple are so desperate for a baby girl that they terminated twin boys and are fighting to choose the sex of their next child.
The couple, who have three sons and still grieve for a daughter they lost soon after birth, are going to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to win the right to select sex by IVF [in vitro fertilization] treatment.
Fr.Z writes:
Michael Voris has another indirect, deeply nuanced reflection, this time touching on issues such as the placement of the tabernacle in churches.
It's a funny thing. I'm not sure Palin is our best bet in 2012 but the more she gets kicked around the more I want her to be President just out of spite. I'm not sure I agree with everything Nick Gillespie writes but it's an interesting read at Instapundit:
NICK GILLESPIE: Palin's Not Complicit in Loughner Shooting, but She Sure Ain't Presidential, Either. Has any other public figure ever had to try to act "Presidential," though, while being accused of complicity in mass murder?
On the other hand, if (as isn't clear to me) she actually wants to be President, she'll have to learn to be Presidential. Barack Obama has had his problems in that department, too, and unlike Palin, he's had the benefit of a desperately supportive and eager-to-please mainstream media.
A little honesty is refreshing now and again. Cubachi reports::
This past weekend, I've seen the ugliest in people when it comes to political discourse. Mainly, the left using this tragedy to paint those of us in the right, the tea party, and conservative movement as culprits for a madman's murderous rage.
Sarah Palin was falsely accused for being the perpetrator for inciting a madman's outrage.
Palin finally answers her critics for this horrific characterization. In her commentary, she utilizes the words "blood libel" in the context that people are being falsely accused for crimes committed by an individual.
A group of Trappist monks in Iowa have donated a handmade casket to bury 9-year-old Christina Green, the youngest victim in the Saturday attack that killed six and wounded 13 others in Arizona.
Sam Mulgrew, the general manager of Trappist Caskets in Peosta, Iowa, told CNN a family representative of the Greens reached out to the monks at New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque after her death. The custom-made casket arrived in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday morning.
"We didn't want to send an adult coffin that would be too big, we wanted something just for her," said Mulgrew, who is not a monk but who manages the 11-year-old casket business that is part of the abbey.
A debate worth having at Right Wing News:
"There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs." -- Thomas Sowell
James Lee Lougher, the shooter in the Tucscon massacre, was a scary dude and a lot of people knew he had serious issues before he went on a rampage.
Disturbing:
The left and their MSM colleagues aren't going to stop until something does happen to her.
(ABC News)- An aide close to Sarah Palin says death threats and security threats have increased to an unprecedented level since the shooting in Arizona, and the former Alaska governor's team has been talking to security professionals.
This has got to be the stupidest move I've seen from a government official in days.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I.) will soon send out a directive that state employees may not call into or spend any time on talk radio during state time. Chafee doesn't think state resources should be used for "ratings driven, for-profit programming." NPR of course, will be exempt.
Pretty powerful vid from Palin at The Blaze:
Sarah Palin has officially broken her silence and responded to criticism that she is somehow connected to the shootings in Tucson. The response came via a video on her Facebook page released Wednesday morning, and included her calling the shootings "inexcusable" and "incomprehensible" while accusing journalists and pundits of "blood libel":
Oh no, the Pope's popularity in the Middle East might plummet because of this! Cubachi reports:
Pope Benedict XVI in his traditional address to ambassadors at the Vatican, called on Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, which can carry a death sentence for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad."
That law is used as a pretext for injustice and violence against religious minorities such as Christians.
You've got to see this ad for vocations to believe it. The Curt Jester has it:
Wow what a stunning vocation campaign. I hope they got extra phone lines and increased internet bandwidth to deal with the increased traffic. In no time this aging order of habit-less nuns will be busting at the scenes with scores of vibrant young people. This ad in connection with their website devoid of religious iconography and mentions of Jesus, Mary, and the Saints will certainly help to get women to discern their religious vocation to follow God unreservedly.
Chuck Norris asks the pertinent questions:
My wife, Gena, and I mourn with the rest of the nation over the murder and maiming of innocent citizens and lawmakers in Arizona this past Saturday morning. We, too, pray for the victims and survivors. It makes us even more passionate in our fight for human life and reminding the world that from the womb to the tomb, human life is precious and should be prized.
Last week, two questions dominated the political landscape regarding Obamacare. First, will the new 112th Congress repeal it? And secondly, if Obamacare didn't offer advanced directives for end-of-life planning (aka "death panels"), then why did the Obama administration just repeal a Medicare regulation and reference for it covered under the new health care law?
Those are both great questions. But the one question being overlooked by too many is this one: If the 112th Congress fails to repeal Obamacare, will it include "baby death panels" in the future? In other words, will taxpayer money be used to provide for abortions under the new universal health care law?
Didn't think it was possible but I guess I was wrong:
The mainstream media sunk to new lows in its collective coverage of the Jan. 8 Tucson shooting tragedy.
Selective media members may start backpedaling on their outrageous claims that a heady mix of talk radio and that rootin' tootin' Sarah Palin were to blame for the tragedy. That doesn't dismiss their dereliction of duty.
The world better wake up to this:
The religion of peace strikes again.
Nigeria — A community leader says men armed with rifles and machetes killed 13 people in an attack on a village in central Nigeria.
If you like to laugh at hippies and then sadly wonder if they've taken over a Catholic college, check out this video at Acts of the Apostasy:
Okay. Watch the video and ask yourself - if this something that ought to happen at a Catholic college? Does it seem New Age-y to you, or is it just "infantile intellectualism", as it's described at Gloria.TV?
Jane Fonda — who traveled to North Vietnam during the war to propagandize against our troops and to pose cheerfully with the sort of anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down our pilots — still hasn't finished making her contributions to American politics. The tragic events in Tucson Saturday were yet another opportunity for her to vent her hatred of patriots. Here's what she's been spewing on Twitter:
Instapundit has an incredible roundup of some of the best links concerning the firestorm around the Jared Loughner shooting.
A ROUNDUP: Ghouls and gimmicks.
JERRY POURNELLE HAS AN EMAIL ON THE ARIZONA SHOOTINGS: "Back in 1971 when I started the shooter would have been put in a mental health institute unless he could be medicated to safely be out under someone's watchful eye. They changed the laws in the later 70s and 80s to make sure folks like this were not institutionalized."
Related: "One man's mental health intervention is another's police state, or Department of Pre-Crime."
Clever stuff from Verum Serum:
I just noticed this symbol that appears directly under the main entry box on every Twitter user's home page:
This guy ignored calls that this guy was a looney and now he's blaming everyone else:
The Arizona sheriff investigating the Tucson shooting that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded had harsh words today for those engaging in political rhetoric, calling conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh "irresponsible" for continuing the vitriol.
In these days with baby names like Apple or Moonbeam, the Pope is saying maybe you should go old school with kid's names. Cubachi reports:
Although parents are now take liberties in giving their children eccentric and obscure names, they should consider the spiritual responsibilities of naming your child, claims Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict XVI in a speech at the Vatican baptismal ceremony told parents that such a decision will be an "indelible sign from the Holy Spirit" and protects family life which is "being threatened."
He said baptism with a strong name is a "start of spiritual life which is fulfilled through the Church."
This is probably good advice from Smitty:
Lefty commenters were boring in their predictable attempt to manage the dots in the Arizona shooting and connect them in politically convenient ways.
Instead of getting all bent out of shape, the way the Usual Suspects want you to, instead, consider offering detailed, sincere forgiveness.
I was looking for one person to wrap up all this nastiness surrounding the Arizona tragedy. Pundette has done an excellent job of analyzing the analysts:
After a day and a half away from the news, I couldn't be more dismayed and disgusted (but not surprised) at the way the Left has made use of the Arizona shooting spree. Is there any evidence that Jared Loughner's rampage had anything to do with Sarah Palin, the Tea Party, "heated rhetoric," or the political fight against the Obama agenda? None. In fact, it turns out Loughner's obsession with Rep. Giffords predates Sarah Palin's national prominence and the rise of the Tea Party. Does that matter to the Left? Nope.
Ace reports this sad but true story:
School students refuse to attend dance unless they can simulate sex on the dance floor.
Some students say they didn't want to go to the dance because of the prohibition on grinding, in which partners rub their bodies against each other, with both people usually facing the same direction.
The dance was canceled because too few kids got tickets.
Hot Air reports:
Among the tragedies of mass murders is the bitter truth that the murderer will often for a time become more famous than the victims. Perhaps that is especially true with true lunatics, as the public struggles to understand exactly what triggered the murder spree. That will be the case for at least the next few days as more details emerge about Jared Lee Loughner and the very strange life he led in the years prior to killing at least six people and gravely wounding several others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson.
Today, the Daily News reports that Loughner may have had an "alarming altar" consisting of a skull in a flowerpot, lending a "chilling occult dimension" to the attempted assassination:
Excellent interview at the Daily Caller and I think I'll be checking this book out:
David Brog is the author of, "In Defense of Faith: The Judeo-Christian Idea and the Struggle for Humanity."
Brog is currently the executive director of Christians United for Israel, the nation's largest pro-Israel advocacy group. A lawyer by training, Brog has also worked on Capitol Hill as chief of staff to former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and staff director of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Brog recently agreed to answer 10 questions from The Daily Caller about his book and the attacks being leveled against religion by the so-called "new atheists":
1. Why did you decide to write the book?
Well, the atheists are out there screaming louder than ever. But I've never really minded that. What drove me to write this book is the mounting evidence that so many people – especially young people – seem to be listening.
Weasel Zippers reports:
Don't worry, Obama's deeply concerned or something.
PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday that Christian minorities in the Middle East are victims of "religious cleansing", following deadly attacks on churches in the region.
"We cannot accept and thereby facilitate what looks more and more like a particularly wicked programme of cleansing in the Middle East, religious cleansing," he said in an annual New Year's address to religious leaders.
All things Christian must be shunned.
They call it rebranding. I call it ridiculous.
(Telegraph) — The YWCA, which was set up in 1855 to help young women going to London for the first time, has now become "Platform 51″.
The name was chosen because 51 per cent of people are female and "women use us as a platform for having their say and for helping them into the next stage of their lives".
The rebranding is likely to raise questions among the charity's donors, many of whom give to it because of the organisation's Christian links.
The History Channel which produces such "historical" shows like "Stan Lee's Superhumans" and "Ancient Aliens" says this movie doesn't live up to their brand. And it had nothing to do with being produced by a conservative? Ha!
The History Channel will not air a controversial miniseries it produced about the Kennedy family, saying the multimillion project that had become the network's most expensive on record did not fit the "History brand."
The eight-part series had already been completed, and starred Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes as President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie. But during its production, critics like former Kennedy administration aide Theodore Sorenson attacked the scripts as inaccurate. The role of producer Joel Surnow, a political conservative, also drew suspicion from fans of the Kennedy family.
"We have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand," the network said in a statement late Friday.
Hope this works:
Rep. Mike Pence, the Indiana congressman who is considering a presidential bid, introduced an anti-abortion bill Friday that is certain to be greeted fondly by many Republicans ahead of his attendance at a conservative gathering in South Carolina this weekend.
The measure, which has 122 cosponsors and is called the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, seeks to ban federal funding to organizations that perform abortions.
Eric Sammons writes:
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past decade, you are aware of the meteoric rise in homeschooling during that time. What was formally the reserve of a few fundamentalists and hippies has now gone mainstream. Just this week it was reported that over 2 million children are homeschooled, which constitutes approximately one in every 25 children currently in school today.
Catholics have not missed this bandwagon, as many Catholic families (including my own) have decided that homeschooling is the best way to educate their children. But what does the Church have to say in her magisterial documents about homeschooling?
Dan Lord runs an excellent blog. This is a great story about how a priest convinced him that putting the tabernacle on the altar was a fire hazard.
Have you ever heard the one about the priest, the church, and the flaming tabernacle of death?
It goes like this: a concerned Catholic, visiting from out of town, approaches the pastor after Mass one Sunday. "Hey, Father, I was just wondering about something. I notice the tabernacle is wayyyyyyyyyy over there, behind that wall where nobody can see it. There is plenty of space in the sanctuary behind the altar—why not put the tabernacle there?"
"Oh," chuckles the priest, "We can't put it there, because of the fire codes. We would be fined!" The visiting Catholic is still confused, but he nods, shrugs, and goes on his way.
Betty Beguiles writes:
A few years ago I cracked open a couple of books by a well-known "food issues" author in an attempt to fit into my little black dress. In that compelling way that self-help authors are so proficient at, she promised to solve all my problems. For only $12.99 I could be slim, confident and authentic, too.
That was her diagnosis. I lacked authenticity the way some people lack Vitamin D...which is a shame, really.
Falling for things hook, line and sinker I have a handle on, though, and so I did. I mean, really, why doubt her diagnosis when she sounded so gosh darn confident about it all?
Kathryn Lopez in praise of Da' Man, Da' Legend:
'One little man wrote this letter. And he can just go to hell."
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, one of the co-hosts of ABC's The View, was talking about William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Donohue happens to be a knight of a man with a fearless courage of convictions. A man who loves and defends some of the most beautiful women among us. Ones who don't tend to have the megaphone that comes with starring on a daytime talk show.
Doug Ross writes:
A bunch of unelected bureaucrats, thousands of them in fact, will decide how much carbon dioxide you and your employer are allowed to expel. This month the EPA is slated to begin regulating greenhouse gases despite new and overwhelming evidence that there is a complete "absence of correlation between temperature changes... and CO2."
The EPA's new regulations will effectively control industrial policy for every business in America. Utility companies that generate power will be especially hard hit; and the ripple effect is certain to touch off catastrophic price increases for all Americans. Oh, especially "the middle class".
John Hawkins has compiled a heck of a list here. After reading it all I can say is 2010 was a pretty obnoxious and ridiculous year:
40) My fear is that the whole island (of Guam) will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize. --
39) Imagine if somebody were to really sit down with Osama Bin Ladin and say, 'Listen man,what is it that you're so angry at me about that you're willing to have people strap bombs to themselves, or get inside get inside of airplanes and fly them into buildings.' That would be the miracle if we can get, sit down and talk to our enemies and find a way for them to hear us. - Matthew Modine
Defend Us in Battle writes:
Congressman John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, invoked his Catholic Faith during his first speech as Speaker of the 112th Congress of the United States. He appears unwilling to make his faith a "private" matter. It is very early obviously, but if this is any sign, it is a very good and strong way to start out.
An excerpt from his speech:
"In the Catholic faith, we enter into a season of service by having ashes marked on our foreheads. The ashes remind us that life in all its forms is fragile – our time on this Earth, fleeting. As the ashes are delivered, we hear those humbling words: 'Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.'
Betty Duffy writes:
In high school and college, each year was so important it had its own name. For 365 days, I was a Sophomore and did sophomoric things like eating marshmallows in Lit class, spreading the white powdery sugar all over my lips, and turning around to whomever was sitting behind me to ask, "Is there something on my lip?"
Junior year was about having a boyfriend. Senior year was about making decisions. Each year had a different flavor, felt like a lifetime, and seemed so exceptionally important.
Rebecca Teti writes:
How about a nice vaccination debate to start the new year?
Have you seen the new finding that the paper linking autism to the MMR vaccine was not only erroneous, but a fraud?
Verum Serum has this awesomely laughable story. You'd think the brainiacs at Harvard would be able to lie a lot better than this, wouldn't you?
Every time a splashy new hate crime happens on a college campus, you can't help but remember all the previous hate crimes that turned out to be fakes. Last month, someone apparently urinated on a collection of books related to gay marriage at the Harvard library. It was immediately investigated as a possible hate crime. Now the investigation has revealed that a library staffer "accidentally" spilled a bottle of urine on the books:
it was revealed Monday morning that "our own library personnel" had accidentally spilled a bottle, containing what was reported to be urine, that had been found on the shelf
Yeah, you know, that sort of thing happens all the time. Wait, what…?
The problem is that many can't seem to answer. Matthew Franck of the Witherspoon Institute has some answers though :
The story of David Epstein, the Columbia University political scientist and Huffington Post blogger now facing criminal charges of incest, has launched a very interesting discussion. What is fascinating about it, and deeply disturbing, is the inability of some commentators to articulate what is morally wrong about the act of incest. It is almost equally disturbing that a legal argument for a "right" to engage in adult, consensual incest stands on surprisingly firm footing, thanks to precedents the United States Supreme Court has already established in other cases on the "autonomy of the person" under our Constitution.
Newsbusters has the transcript:
On Tuesday's Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos highlighted and promoted a new book by Albert Cutie, an ex-priest who left the Catholic Church after being caught in a relationship with a woman in his parish. An ABC graphic blasted, "'Father Oprah' Lashes out, Calls Church 'Misogynistic.'"
Stephanopoulos gently introduced Cutie, who was photographed by the paparazzi with his then-girlfriend at the beach, this way: "...But first, the story of how a stolen kiss caught on camera forced him to choose between the church he served and the woman he loved." Regarding gays in the church, the host marveled, "But, you say there's, there's great hypocrisy, many, many times."
Many Democrats have blamed unfounded cases of racism for their aversion to the growing tea party movement. But now, the new House Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer, D-Md., presents the latest presumption about tea partiers: they must come from dysfunctional families:
The Blog Prof writes:
An update on a recent post:War on Christmas: Vandals damage Bronner's famous Christmas display in Frankenmuth, MI. Nativity scene destroyed, 75 displays damaged. The Bronner's Christmas display in Frankenmuth, MI is famous. For the record, Bronner's motto is:
"Enjoy CHRISTmas, It's HIS Birthday; Enjoy Life, It's HIS Way."
Christmas hating vandals caused $40,000 worth of damage to the Christmas display. A video report via Digital Journal:
Cubachi writes:
Sarah Palin's effective usage of pinpointing in few words what Obamacare is all about has ringed across the mainstream media and conservatives across the country.
I remember when there were a few conservatives out there who lambasted Palin for using such aggressive language. Sometimes you have to stop with the niceties and fight against socialist programs that will actually harm the American public in more than just their pocketbooks.
This has "Bad Idea" written all over it...wait, scratch that. It screams "Terribly horrible idea!" over a football stadium PA system, simultaneously aired across the entire Emergency Broadcast System.
Leading surgeons have called on the Government to consider legalising the sale of human organs for transplants.
People can currently donate organs such as a kidney while still alive but cannot make money from them. They also can't decide who the organs go to.
Christie Fires 7 School Superintendents
BOOM! Taste My Nightstick!
Governor Christie is on a tear. He continues to enrage some and amaze others. And then there are those of us who cheer him on! The latest on the chopping block? Seven school superintendents. The Governor has decided to fire one-third of the state's county education chiefs whose three-year appointments expired Monday.
Great Interview with Cardinal Burke
Great vid at Fr. Z's place:
A video interview with Raymond Card. Burke from gloria.tv.
He speaks about speaking about abortion in the public square, about the Extraordinary Form, Communion in the hand, and the "pro multis" issue. He mentions "mutual enrichment" and "reform of the reform".
GOP Takeover, NY Times Loses It
This is actually pretty funny. The media is already losing it and the Republicans haven't even done anything yet:
There are all sorts of fun stories running around the liberal media today, ones such as this one, which is already proclaiming the GOP is having problems with cohesion. And this one from Time, which wonders if the opening ceremony, which includes "showcasing their fealty to the Constitution," is making a mockery of ..... something. They don't really say what. And Dana Milbank having a snit fit, and saying the GOP leadership is acting just like Democrats. And plenty of others, who are despondent over the GOP takeover.
The queen of them all, though, is the NY Times editorial board:
My Mum Made Me Clean My Teeth
Great stuff from Fr. Finigan:
I am heartily sick of the protest "I don't go to Mass because my parents forced me to go when I was young." OK Son, what else did your parents force you to do?
Your parents forced you to wash before you went out in the morning. Those cruel tyrants made sure that you cleaned your teeth before you went to bed. They dragged you kicking and screaming to school so that you could learn to read - and the teachers collaborated by forcing you to learn the alphabet and put the words together.
War in Middle East on Christians
Brent Bozell writes:
Our national media elite reviewed 2010 with great sorrow for how America has besmirched itself in the eyes of the world with its "seething hatred" of Muslims. CBS anchor Katie Couric announced on her Internet show that there wasn't enough evaluation of"this bigotry toward 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide" which was "so misdirected, and so wrong -- and so disappointing."
Couric even embarrassed herself by suggesting "Maybe we need a Muslim version of The Cosby Show." A ridiculous idea – unless it were to run every night instead of Couric's lame half-hour "news" report.
While Katie crinkles her face that anyone could march peacefully to oppose a mega-mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, here's what does not upset Couric or her colleagues: Christians getting slaughtered and maimed in the Middle East by radical Islamists during the Christmas season. That story rates barely a media eyebrow lift.
9th Circuit: War Memorial Cross is Illegal
More anti-Christian lunacy from the Ninth Circuit Court. HotAir Pundit has the story:
SAN DIEGO — A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the cross atop Mount Soledad is unconstitutional but did not explicitly say the landmark must be removed.
The long-awaited opinion by a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a setback for cross supporters — and the latest ruling in a 20-year legal battle over the presence of the cross on public land.
State Dept: Who's Killing Christians?
They warn against seeing a connection between anti-Christian violence. I hope this is a joke but I know it's not. Are they really pretending not to know who's killing Christians in the Middle East? Weasel Zippers has the story:
U.S. State Department "Very Wary" Recent Slaughter of Christians in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria Are Connected…
It's called jihad.
WASHINGTON (AFP)– The United States said Tuesday it is "deeply concerned" about the rise in attacks against Christians in parts of the Middle East and Africa.
"We are certainly aware of a recent string of attacks against Christians from Iraq to Egypt to Nigeria," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. "We are deeply concerned about what seems to be an increasing trend."
Jonah: Keep Your Laws off My Body
You mean, pro-choicers didn't really mean it? I'm shocked!
I'm something of a product of my times. In the 1980s and 1990s I heard a lot of putatively honest liberals insist that the one zone of life that was absolutely sacrosanct was our own bodies. The state simply had no business getting involved in "our bodies." Admittedly, this was mostly the rhetoric of abortion. I still remember Anna Quindlen on one of those Fred Friendly seminars waxing terribly righteous about the absolute sovereignty of a woman's body. There was some spill-over into such topics as euthanasia and assisted suicide (remember "Whoes Life Is It Anyway?"), but the passion and heat was over abortion.
Deathblow to Obamacare?
A Deathblow to ObamaCare: Do Republicans Have the Guts to Repeal It?
Boehner's Battle
Letterman says Boehner looks like he's on drugs? Pundette has that and more on the challenge ahead of John Boehner:
Jeffrey Lord gives General Boehner his marching orders:
While Boehner will be installed with the title "Speaker of the House," in fact history has thrust him into the role of a commanding general in what has now become an American war against this "socialist realignment strategy" -- the political cancer that is socialism. [. . .]
DeMint: Say No to RINO's
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is asking supporters of his Senate Conservatives Fund to help him build a war chest ahead of the 2012 elections, when Republicans are hopeful they can take back the majority in the Senate.
In an e-mail sent Tuesday with the subject line "Say No to RINOs in 2011,"
Obamacare Stops Hospital Construction
The Weekly Standard reports:
Under the headline, "Construction Stops at Physician Hospitals," Politico reports today that "Physician Hospitals of America says that construction had to stop at 45 hospitals nationwide or they would not be able to bill Medicare for treatments." Stopping construction at doctor-owned hospitals might not seem like the best way to boost the economy or to promote greater access and choice in health care, but that exactly what Obamacare is doing.
Cantor's Obamacare Repeal Bill Unveiled
Not wasting any time, I guess. Good to see:
Note: He's posting the bill tonight so they can have the first procedural vote on Friday, this fulfills their pledge to post all bills for 72 hours before holding a vote.
Schwarzenegger's Shameful Last Act
Hey what's a little murder in the face of political backscratching? Michelle Malkin writes:
Retiring celebrity governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California was bad for the GOP in so many ways, I've stopped counting them.
So, how did Schwarzenegger leave office? By committing one last shameful act of back-scratching politics as usual and granting a commutation to the son of a Democrat political crony, former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (his longtime collaborator on job-killing environmental regulations).
Imam Criticizes Pope
This is nuts. Wacko Muslims kill Christians, Pope speaks out against it, and then the Pope is criticized for meddling in Islam's affairs. Huh?
The imam of Al-Azhar condemned the Alexandria attack but criticised the Pope's "interference". At a press conference, Ahmed al Tayeb condemned the New Year's Eve attack that killed 21 people in Alexandria and called for "unity between the cross and the crescent."
However he also criticised the appeal by Benedict XVI to Egypt's leaders to counter the persecution of Christians, as an "interference" in internal Egyptian affairs.
Tragic New Year for Egyptian Christians
Mollie at Get Religion writes:
I went to church on New Year's Eve, as many do. In the Lutheran church, we mark the eve of the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord. Many black Protestant congregations have Watch Night services, commemorating the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Many other Christians simply mark the new year. It's so easy to take for granted the peace and ease with which we attended church in the United States.
But in Baghdad, the victims of one of the latest attacks on Christians were buried. Alexandria, Egypt, worshipers leaving their mass were greeted by a powerful car bomb, which killed at least 21 and injured another 100.
NCR Person of the Year: Sr. Carol Keehan
National Catholic Reporter has named Sr. Carol Keehan as their very first "Person of the Year".
Even though she was head of the Catholic Health Association, a political lobby group, before 2009 Sr. Keehan was relatively unimportant.
Then Sr. Keehan, as an exponent of the Magisterium of Nuns facing off against the Catholic Bishops, gave cover to "catholic" pro-abortion politicians to vote in favor of legislation that would ultimately provide taxpayer money for abortions.
Boomers Should Have Had More Kids
Pundette found a great letter to the Washington Post about how baby boomers who are whining about Social Security are the reason it's in trouble:
But it's too late now. Edward Thorne of Fairfax, Virginia, writes to the Washington Post:
Regarding Robert Samuelson's Dec. 27 op-ed, "Our fairness dilemma," on the reform of Social Security and Medicare:
Mr. Samuelson mentions that some baby-boomer retirees and soon-to-be retirees are objecting that some of the reform proposals raising the retirement age at which benefits are received and cutting benefits would be "unfair."
Many Abuse Claims "Entirely False"
Newsbusters has the story that the rest of the media will ignore.
In a stunning ten-page declaration recently submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, veteran attorney Donald H. Steier stated that his investigations into claims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have uncovered vast fraud and that his probes have revealed that many accusations are completely false.
Counselor Steier has played a role in over one hundred investigations...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
TOP STORIES / Culture
Israeli pop queen Netta says Eurovision about music, not politics
The Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted for the third time in Israel this May. But as international artists call to boycott the event, 2018 contest winner Netta Barzilai says Eurovision is about participation.
Almost a year after winning the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Lisbon, the 26-year-old Israeli singer Netta Barzilai has released her much-anticipated new single, "Bassa Sabada" — Arabic for "Bummer, that's Awesome."
After her inimitable, contest-winning performance of the song "Toy" at the 2018 ESC bought her global attention, Netta's latest electro pop anthem has already clocked near four million YouTube hits just days after release.
But with Netta having earned Israel the right to host this year's ESC in May, a political backlash has the potential to overwhelm her own artistic momentum.
Although the finale will be hosted in Tel Aviv instead of the contested city of Jerusalem (where it took place in 1979 and 1999) — as was originally suggest by Israeli officials — that hasn't stopped calls to boycott the contest.
Last September, over 100 international artists signed an open letter requesting that contestants snub the event because of Israel's ongoing military occupation in the Palestinian territories. And just last week, prominent artists and musicians in the UK including Peter Gabriel, writer Yann Martel and actor Julie Christiecalled on British broadcaster BBC to "press for Eurovision to be relocated to a country where crimes against that freedom are not being committed," referring to alleged Palestinian human rights violations.
But amid the controversy as the May contest nears, Netta told DW that she wants to focus on her music instead of talking politics.
Read more: Israel music scene struggles with international boycott
Netta Barzilai performs in the final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest
DW: You've just released a new song – "Bassa Sababa." It's quite different from "Toy," which won you the song contest in Lisbon. Tell us more about it.
Netta Barzilai: Bassa Sababa" is a slang word, taken from Hebrew and Arabic. So "bassa" means bummer, something that bums you out, you say "ah bassa." "Sababa" means like "alright." It means I take the obstacles in my life, the obstacles this year, and I faced it with "sababa," so alright, let's do this. In the video there is a man running away from me at the altar. I was left so many times in my life, being told I am not good enough, not smart enough and all this. And then I look back at him. And I say: "Oh no honey, mmh, and I run after my problems. I face them.
How much did winning the Eurovision Song Contest help your music career?
It's like 180 degrees different from what I was. I was a blues artist, singing in basements and I did my looper stuff at home. I wouldn't have imagined in twelve months to become this. Never. It all happened so fast. I used to work so hard on small stages improvising, and then I went on this reality show just to pay my rent. After Eurovision I became this idol for so many people, of empowerment, of self confidence, of self love, and I said, why me: like why am I the idol, it empowered me so much. [But] it's the other way around: people empowered me."
Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv: 'It's a European thing'
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3CuA2
Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv
You have said in the past that you also get tons of negative comments, mainly on social media.
Uhh. Like: What are you? Who are you? Lose weight! What are you wearing, you have only one song! BDS! [Editor's note: Boycott Divest and Sanction movement, which advocates an economic and cultural boycott of Israel because of its occupation of the Palestinian territories]. A lot of hatred about where I came from, how I look, what I say. It was so difficult facing all these obstacles and it took me eight months to decide what to do about it. And this is what came out.
Critics also say that holding the Eurovision Contest in Israel is whitewashing Israel's occupation of Palestine. There are calls by international artists to stay away from the event because of Israel's violations of Palestinian human rights. What is your response?
I believe in dialogue, I believe in a healthy one. I believe in protest. I don't believe in bullying. Standing on a 26-year-old musician who doesn't have a political agenda is bullying. Come, participate. It's a European thing. It's not from Israel. Israel just participates. When you don't come, when you boycott, you spread darkness.
Read more: Should Germany snub artists who boycott Israel?
Israeli fans express joy after Netta barzilai's song Toy won the 2018 ESC.
"Toy" was seen by many as a song about the #Metoo movement. The new song is more about your personal freedom to choose what is right for you, no matter what others think. Hence the symbolic image of the rhino in your video?
I think Toy was more a campaign song, very "me too," very girl power. This one is a very independent one. I love it, it's a tribal pop anthem. I grew up in Nigeria until the age of seven. I remember Nigerian women carrying me and singing me to sleep. I feel the rhythm in my heart. So when you hear that, you feel this energy. And that is my energy. This song is my song, I wrote it, together with two wonderful men, Stav Berger and Avshalom Ariel. "Toy" wasn't written by me. "Bassa Sababa" is a piece of me. And I am proud to release it.
It's the first time in 20 years that Eurovision will come to Israel. How do you experience the atmosphere here right now?
To realize that everything happened because of us. We went there and we brought it home. It's incredible. We are waiting for this like a birthday party. Every day there is something in the news about Eurovision, everybody is super excited! I believe it is so magical - all these countries on the same stage."
Israel boycott: Who joins and who performs?
Roger Waters, Pink Floyd co-founder
Waters supports the British branch of the "Artists for Palestine" organization and thus the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights and statehood. BDS is asking musicians to cancel concerts in Israel as part of a broader boycott aimed at putting pressure on the Israeli government to end illegal settlements, for example.
Kate Tempest, rapper and Artist for Palestine
She supports Artists for Palestine and makes it clear that she is appalled by the actions of the Israeli government against the Palestinians. "After much thought, I joined the cultural boycott as an act of protest," she said. She has rejected accusations of being anti-Semitic and says she is of Jewish decent. As a result of pressure from both sides. she canceled an October concert in Berlin.
Elvis Costello: a matter of 'conscience'
For years, well-known bands and musicians have canceled concerts in Israel. They include Carlos Santana, the Pixies and Elvis Costello, who in 2010 explained the reason for his boycott. Writing on his website, he said it's "a matter of instinct and conscience" to protest "conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security."
Depeche Mode stay silent
During their Delta Machine Tour of 2013-14, the English new wave band shared every day of their tour extensively online. But they did not say a word about the gig in Tel Aviv. Were Depeche Mode ashamed about the concert? In mid 2006, the band had canceled a show in Israel for political reasons due to the ongoing Lebanon war.
Johnny Rotten: no problems with Israeli
After calling for anarchy in the UK with the Sex Pistols, he uses real name Johnny Lyden with band PiL these days, and was happy to play a concert in Tel Aviv in 2010 after Elvis Costello had announced his Israel boycott. His reasoning: "Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won't understand how anyone can have a problem with how [the Palestinians] are treated."
Elton John takes to the stage
Elton John has often performed in Israel but has faced increasing pressure from the BDS movement since it was founded in 2005. The petitioning hasn't worked, with the Rocket Man playing sold-out Tel Aviv shows in 2016 and 2010, when he greeted fans with the words: "Shalom! We're spreading peace and love on this stage and we're happy to be here."
An 'extremely upsetting experience' for Radiohead
Radiohead were also under massive pressure in July 2017 before their gig in Israel. But singer Thom Yorke spoke of his decision to reject a petition signed by Desmond Tutu, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and others asking Radiohead not to play: "There's an awful lot of people who don't agree with the BDS movement, including us. I don't agree with the cultural ban at all," he told Rolling Stone.
Michael Stipe encourages dialogue
The R.E.M. singer spoke out publicly during the intensifying debate around the Radiohead's looming appearance in Israel — its first since 2000. "I stand with Radiohead and their decision to perform. Let's hope a dialogue continues, helping to bring the occupation to an end and lead to a peaceful solution." R.E.M. and Radiohead toured Israel together in 1995.
Nick Cave: stands against 'censorship'
The Facebook page "Nick Cave, Hold On to Yourself - Don't Play Apartheid" was set up as part of the Artists for Palestine campaign to encourage Cave to cancel his November 2017 concert in Tel Aviv. But he still played, saying: "[It] became very important to make a stand against those people who are trying to shut down musicians, to bully musicians, to censor musicians, and to silence musicians."
'Bryan, tell the world again that you do not support apartheid'
BDS is currently petitioning musician Bryan Adams to "unplug from Israeli apartheid" and cancel scheduled December concerts in Israel. Adams once said that the war in Gaza was a war against humanity. In addition, he canceled his Mississippi tour in 2016 in protest against the homophobic laws there. But Adams hasn't listened to BDS and instead will perform an additional concert in Jaffa.
Boney M in Palestine
Concerts in Israel can go on without indignation and protest. In 2010, the German disco pop group Boney M performed in the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah, where many Israelis were in the audience. However, they were requested not to sing their biggest hit "Rivers of Babylon," as one line is the biblical yearning for the Land of Zion. The musicians accepted the censorship without complaint.
Lorde scraps tour finale in Tel Aviv
The Croatian-New Zealand performer Lorde originally planned to end her "Melodrama" 2018 tour in Tel Aviv, but reversed this decision on the urging of her fans. In a statement, she said visiting Tel Aviv has long been a dream of hers, and that she hoped one day "we can all dance."
Author: Silke Wünsch (sb)
Eurovision clashes with Israel as host country
Ahead of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, organizers have required a promise from the Israeli government to grant visas irrespective of political affiliation. The demands clash with the country's current policies. (05.09.2018)
Eurovision Song Contest 2018 results: Israel wins
Millions around the world watched as Netta of Israel claimed victory at the Eurovision Song Contest. A dynamo in a kimono, she delivered a message that fitted the Eurovision theme of diversity. (13.05.2018)
Boycott activists fined for canceled Lorde concert in Israel
An Israeli court ordered two New Zealanders to pay a fine of over €10,000 for having spurred Lorde to cancel a Tel Aviv concert. The duo said they would fundraise instead of paying — and they've already raised thousands. (12.10.2018)
Forget Eurovision – Lisbon's heart beats and bleeds for fado
The Eurovision Song Contest is taking over in Lisbon, but Portugal's capital has its own long musical history. Musician Telmo Pires told DW why the authentic fado tradition beats the glamor of Eurovision. (11.05.2018)
Should Germany snub artists who boycott Israel?
Because of their support for the BDS movement, the band Young Fathers didn't perform at the Ruhrtriennale festival. In lieu of their concert, a heated debate was held on a topic that's affecting Germany's stages. (20.08.2018)
Israel boycott impacts Berlin music festival as several acts cancel
A global campaign to boycott goods and services from Israel is hitting the arts scene. Six artists due to appear at Berlin's Pop-Kultur festival this week have canceled. (14.08.2018)
Will it be 'douze points' all round for Netta?
Israel's Netta Barzilai is a hot contender to win the Eurovision title this year. But what is it that makes this young performer stand out from the crowd? (11.05.2018)
Israel music scene struggles with international boycott
Israel's Meteor Festival aimed for a Woodstock-like ambiance with global indie groups, but many acts canceled this weekend as part of a boycott. Other artists have called for a global boycott of next year's Eurovision. (10.09.2018)
After ex-Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters was declared persona non grata on German radio and television stations, the discussion about the Israeli boycott by celebrity musicians has grown louder. (01.12.2017)
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/29/the-bbc-should-press-for-eurovision-to-be-moved-from-israel
Author Tania Krämer
Related Subjects Israel, Fatah
Keywords Netta Barzilai, Eurovision Song Contest, Israel, Palestinian, Toy, BDS
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3CrEw
Opinion: Should the Eurovision Song Contest be politicized? 17.05.2019
Orthodox rabbis and pro-Palestine activists are fiercely critical of the Eurovision Song Contest this year in Israel. But most people just want to enjoy the music and have fun. Bernd Riegert reports from Tel Aviv.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 picks up steam 10.05.2019
The artists and their entourages are now in Tel Aviv. As the city prepares to receive thousands of guests, rehearsals have begun on the Expo grounds.
Eurovision in Israel: Tel Aviv caught between partying and politics 14.05.2019
"Dare to dream" is the motto of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv. For some it's a big party, others are determined to boycott it. Sarah Hofmann reports from Israel.
Pride, film history — What 2019 means for the LGBT community
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that sparked the gay pride movement. 2019 also marks 100 years since the first movie to deal with homosexuality, which caused an uproar back then.
Cornelia Funke and Guillermo del Toro turn 'Pan's Labyrinth' into a novel
Both are masters of the fantasy genre. Now, the Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker and bestselling German author have collaborated on a literary adaptation of del Toro's acclaimed dark fantasy film "Pan's Labyrinth."
Cosmic sound - Brian Eno
British musician Brian Eno has composed music for films and space. An asteroid has just been named for him. He's reissuing his legendary album "Apollo" to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. A talk about the sound of the universe:
A festival of stars
The Starmus Festival has seen greats such as Hans Zimmer, Brian May, Neil Armstrong and Stephen Hawking. This global festival of science communication and art is taking place in Zurich for the fifth time this year. The star of 2019 is the moon.
YouTube in schools: A digital revolution in the classroom
Teachers and parents might not have noticed, but students don't only use YouTube for fun. According to a new study, about half of them watch videos to learn things as well. How does this affect the educational program?


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Fine foods, timely tunes, familiar faces!
The kettle chips with Gorgonzola were amazing! Such a filling, tasty appetizer.
This dish was delcious and so filling. The garlic pita was the perfect addition. Never disappointed with the Mohawk.
The half order of Mac was plenty to fill me up! I love the old Mohawk!
I love the Old Mohawk! It's such a wonderful staple of German Village, By far, my favorite dish is the crab pasta. Their sweet potato tots are delicious as well!


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Various States Help Support Sexual Assault Victims with Grants from DOJ
In December, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $6.5 million in grants to over 50 anti-sexual-assault programs operated by non-profits, state agencies, and hospitals.
This money will go towards funding local hotlines and services for sexual assault victims, including counseling, therapy for trauma, and assistance with advocacy, as well as local prevention and education efforts in communities, schools, and colleges. Grants like these are representative of a nationwide effort to support sexual assault victims across numerous states and communities.
The Department of Justice's Role in Assault Prevention
The purpose of the Office on Violence Against Women within the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is to provide leadership in developing the country's capacity to reduce violence against women and bolster services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. The Office has given out over $30 million to applicants nationwide.
The money goes to organizations working to combat sexual assault and abuse. The grants also support assault and abuse survivors—including assistance with transitional housing, legal assistance, and education to help civil and criminal justice systems respond to assault.
There are also awards targeted specifically for traditionally underserved populations including children, tribal lands residents, women with disabilities, and rural residents.
Recent Grants from the Office on Violence Against Women
Two communities in Wisconsin recently received federal funding from the DoJ's Office on Violence Against Women, for assistance in responding to sexual assault and domestic violence issues.
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska also received two grants from the DoJ's Office on Violence Against Women, on top of an additional $2 million in federal grant money to aid victims of domestic violence obtained from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In Oregon, the District Attorney's office in Curry County and a shelter received a federal award for almost half a million dollars for funding for jobs and prioritize cases involving sexual assault and violence.
These grants help and go a long way in a system that's often very hard to navigate for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Without this funding, states will be less able to assist their citizens who have suffered assault and abuse rebuild their lives and hold their perpetrators accountable.
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Challenger Ramos urges Peralta to leave IDC over leader's sexual harassment allegation
Democratic challenger Jessica Ramos calls on state Sen. Jose Peralta to leave the IDC and return to the Democratic Democratic Conference amid allegations of sexual harassment by IDC leader Jeffrey Klein.
Courtesy Oscar Frasser
Nearly one year after he joined the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference, state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) is defending his move in light of sexual misconduct allegations against IDC leader Jeff Klein.
Jackson Heights resident Jessica Ramos, Mayor Bill de Blasio's former director of community and ethnic media, who is challenging Peralta in November, issued a statement last week after news broke that a former aide had accused Klein of forcibly kissing her outside an Albany bar in 2015. Klein, of the Bronx, denies the accusation.
"Today, amid serious allegations of impropriety and sexual harassment by Senate IDC leader Jeffrey Klein, I call on State Senator Jose Peralta to end his defection and return to the Senate Democratic Conference," Ramos said. "If Senator Peralta wants to be counted as a Democrat, he must stand up for victims of sexual assault and refuse to be a part of a conference led by a sexual predator.
"The #MeToo movement is inspiring women across the country to speak out against sexual misconduct and I stand in solidarity with the bravery and truth. We deserve to trust our elected leaders with our voice and our safety."
Peralta joined six other IDC members in issuing a joint statement standing by Klein, calling him a longtime champion for women and for the state. As for Ramos's demand, Peralta was defiant.
"As a father, a husband and a son, I have zero tolerance for any attacks against women, and my record as a legislator is clear evidence of that," Peralta said. "I have always fought tirelessly to protect women, to combat sexual harassment, to advocate for women's rights, and funded groups that support victims of domestic violence.
"When I first ran for the state Senate, my campaign focused on battling domestic violence and ensuring survivors had the necessary resources available to escape their abusers. I take all sexual harassment allegations seriously, and welcome any independent investigation into this matter, as does Senator Klein. I am also a strong supporter of Governor Cuomo's proposal to fight sexual harassment and looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass this much-needed reform."
During a rally at City Hall with a coalition of progressive Democratic women's groups standing in solidarity with the former aide, Erica Vladimer, Ramos slammed Peralta and the other IDC members, calling their defense of Klein "straight out of the Republican playbook" as members of Empire State Indivisible called on Cuomo to hasten an independent investigation and remove Klein from his position of power.
"Just as Republican elected officials offer thoughts and prayers after a school shooting but offer no action on gun control, in the same way that we see the devastation that Hurricane Maria left in Puerto Rico but Republicans take no action on climate change, we need the IDC and the rest of the Senate to take action on this one, to stand up for women, to stand up for victims of sexual assault," Ramos said.
After the rally, Black Institute founder and President Bertha Lewis said the City Hall rally degraded the #MeToo movement by politicizing, trivializing and minimizing it.
"The political opportunism without investigation or due process is rampant," Lewis said. "It is clear that some groups are more concerned with taking down the IDC than addressing real concerns about abuse by men in power. Both Senator Klein and Ms. Vladimer have called for an investigation. Let truth, not politics or agenda, rule the day."


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Richard Straver on how connections are vital to international expansion
Richard came to the Rise programme as a lifelong entrepreneur. His love for comic books and video games evolved into a passion for software and website design, and he has founded a variety of successful web-companies in the years since.
Today he runs Online Payment Platform – a payment services provider that greases the wheels for online payments, connecting customers with merchants and protecting transactions for all parties. In just 7 years, Online Payment Platform has established itself as a game-changer in payment services. Not only does it handle single payments, but it also deals with multi-split payments to multiple merchants, escrow payments and recurring payments, and offers everything from dispute handling to a fully-fledged insights platform, all whilst being compliant to the very latest European regulations.
With a client list that included PayPal, Marktplaats and ANWB, Online Payment Platform was already well established in the Netherlands when Richard applied to be part of the first Rise batch. The Netherlands is a relatively small market though, and Richard was keen to push Online Payment Platform international in order to continue the company's rapid growth. Specifically, he was hoping to internationalise in Germany, where Online Payment Platform was in discussions with eBay Kleinanzeigen.
As a payment services platform, Online Payment Platform works by collecting money from buyers, then paying it out to sellers from their own bank account. The first step towards internationalising is setting up a business bank account in another country, but that can be a long, tedious process. 'It's not a requirement,' he says, 'but it's something that makes our product and services better because naturally, consumers in Germany feel safer when they receive the money from a German account.'
But going further than eBay, we've met some other really interesting strategic partners – some of which we've already partnered with – through the Rise programme. We have some more big partnerships right around the corner.
Richard Straver - Founder Online Payment Platform
One of the major assets available to all Rise programme alumni is access to Techleap.nl's international networks. In this case, Rise was able to open the door for Richard to reach contacts at the Dutch embassy in Germany, as well as contacts with German banks. 'They did the same thing for us in the UK actually,' he says. 'That really helped to speed up the whole process of opening bank accounts in those countries.'
'In general, it always helps that we have been selected by a programme like this,' he adds. 'It gives us that stamp of approval and reinforces the story that we're telling to eBay and other clients – that we're a truly innovative fintech company with a lot in store.'
It's impossible to quantify what makes the difference in client negotiations, but in November 2020, Richard announced that eBay Kleinanzeigen – the largest marketplace for the sale of (used) items in Germany – would be using Online Payment Platform to handle its online payments, escrow services and support. It was Online Payment Platform's big international splash – a huge client in a huge market – and it set the company up for a phenomenal 2021.
'eBay is fantastic, of course,' Richard says. 'But going further than eBay, we've met some other really interesting strategic partners – some of which we've already partnered with – through the Rise programme. Some of these things are still in process so I can't talk about them just yet! But we have some more big partnerships right around the corner.'
GoGlobal has been created for all ambitious entrepreneurs who want to expand their business abroad and become a serious player in the international arena. This website is your one and only ultimate guide on global expansion with valuable data and interactive maps, regional insights, video tips from fellow Dutch entrepreneurs, checklist and must-knows.
How Manon van Essen upscaled her homemade vegan pizza into the Magioni brand
Listen to Manon van Essen sharing her inspiring entrepreneurial story, defined by strong dedication and determination to succeed. Find out how she made Magioni a successful business despite all the difficulties that came her way.
Richard Straver running one of the Netherlands' leading payment service providers Online Payment Platform
We talk to Online Payment Platform Founder Richard Straver about his journey from comic books and computers to running one of The Netherland's leading payment service providers.
Rick Schmitz establishing LTO Network as the only viable blockchain technology in its market
In the first of a series of articles with our Techleap.nl Rise programme entrants, we catch up with Rick Schmitz – CEO and founder of blockchain data security startup LTO Network.


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(576b) Reduction Kinetics of Manganese Oxide Based Redox Catalysts for Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane
Group: Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
Catalytic Hydrocarbon Processing II
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 - 3:35pm-3:55pm
Neal, L., North Carolina State University
Li, F., North Carolina State University
Sofranko, J. A., EcoCatalytic Technologies
Yusuf, S., North Carolina State University
The use of chemical looping redox catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODH) has the potential to greatly reduce CO2 and NOx emissions from ethylene production. Steam cracking/pyrolysis of ethane, the traditional industrial process for ethylene production, is high temperature (> 1100 K), highly endothermic, and equilibrium-limited. It also requires a significant steam generation load, making the process energy and carbon intensive. Additionally, the high temperatures needed in the reactor lead to significant NOx emission, and the reactor requires periodic shutdowns to burn out coke. These issues can be addressed in ODH, where ethane is partially oxidized to water and ethylene. The production of water as opposed to hydrogen can push the net reaction to exothermic, removing the need for an external heat source and reducing the corresponding CO2 and NOxemissions. Furthermore, the need for energy intensive air separation in ODH can be eliminated through a chemical looping strategy, in which active lattice oxygen of a redox catalyst is reversibly donated (to ethane) and replenished (by air) in a cyclic manner.
The reactor design for chemical looping-ODH is complicated by complex reaction kinetics combined with a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor. At the reaction temperatures above 750 °C, significant amounts of thermal cracking in the gas phase occur. The catalyst should be selective for dehydrogenation and/or hydrogen oxidation over the deep oxidation of ethane and olefin products. The ODH reactor catalyst inventory and circulation rate must be sufficient to consume adequate hydrogen to produce the necessary energy without oxidizing significant amounts of olefins. Our work has shown that doped magnesia-supported manganese oxide can achieve high activity and reasonable selectivity for ethylene vs. deep oxidation. In this work, 15 wt.% manganese is impregnated onto a magnesia support with and without sodium or sodium pyrophosphate doping. The reduction kinetics of the catalysts in ethane, ethylene, and hydrogen are characterized in a Setaram SETSYS TGA. An empirical fit is obtained for the reduction kinetics and correlated to the performance of the catalyst for ODH in a packed bed reactor.


Discussion in 'Google TV Help' started by harshrealm, Jun 23, 2012.
Hi. It looks like Symbaloo users can only delete/add single tiles to their own personal webmixes that they create (and not other users webmixes). So for now the best way is to register an account on Symbaloo (if you haven't done that already) - and then create a personal webmix with exactly the tiles that you want on it.
To delete a single tile from one of your own personal webmixes - click near the top left on your Symbaloo webmix (when you're signed in) where it says "edit webmix". Next click on the tile that you want to delete. A menu will then pop up with various choices. Click where it says "delete".
Just a follow up.. so if I create a account, is there then an easy way to "copy" your webmix and then edit "my copy" of the webmix? If not is there a list of all the links that you have on your various wemixes that can then be used by others to create their own webmix?
I don't believe their is a way to "copy" a webmix for editing purposes in the manner that you suggest. Unfortunately the only way that I can figure out is the kind of "tedious" way.
I don't have a list of links per se - so what you would need to do is click on the tile of the site that you want to add to your own web mix (to go to that web site). Once on that site you then need to copy the URL into your browser - and then paste the URL onto Symbaloo (when designing your own webmix through the usual procedure of adding a tile to your webmix).
thanks catfish,the single deleat did work as you said,i was thinking of doing the "edit webmix' if this post didnt work................by the way i knew you over at webtv in the forums the last one i went to was "set top box forum" we should have one here.i turned you onto "AVS forum" post name jaywambold se ya later !!


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Weymouth murder investigation - update
Police were called to a flat on Bath Street at around 8am on Sunday 8 November 2015 and discovered the body of a 23-year-old man.
A murder investigation was subsequently launched by Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team.
Yesterday, detectives named the man as Abdal Rahman Al-Rabia, from the London area and who is originally from Jordan.
A post-mortem examination established that Mr Al-Rabia died from a single stab wound to the chest.
His next of kin have been informed and the coroner has been notified.
Three people arrested in relation to the incident, a 16-year-old boy who had previously told police he was 18 years old, a 20-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman have been released without charge.
Detectives are still questioning a 43-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
Issued: 12 November 2015