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Please note that the opinions expressed in articles on this page, or biases reflected in the items on the Headline News Pages — [U.S. News] [International News] [Europe News] — do not necessarily reflect opinions or attitudes of members of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, who maintain these news summaries. We strive for balance in presenting issues of potential interest to our readers.
June 10, 2014 – United Nations
[Thanks to Nancy Lyon in Geneva]
A United Nations side event, World-wide Human Rights, Religious Liberty and Religious Minorities, was held in Geneva on 10 June 2014. The event was sponsored by the Permanent Delegation of the Council of Europe, Permanent Mission of Uruguay, Spain, and Canada and the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty. The event presented and discussed perspectives on protecting freedom of religion and the rights of religious minorities, highlighting the importance that all actors work closely together to promote world peace.
The International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty proposed a holistic... more
Washington, D.C., May 29, 2014 – Religious freedom is one of only three factors significantly associated with global economic growth, according to a new study by researchers at Georgetown University and Brigham Young University. The study looked at GDP growth for 173 countries in 2011 and controlled for two-dozen different financial, social, and regulatory influences.
As the world navigates away from years of poor economic performance, religious freedom may be an unrecognized asset to economic recovery and growth, according to this new study. The study examines and finds a positive relationship between religious freedom and ten of the twelve pillars of global competitiveness, as measured by the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index (see example in chart at right).
The study, however, goes beyond simple correlations... more
Newsletter 21 December 2013
Dear Friends,
On behalf of all of us working at the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at BYU, I want to extend our warmest personal holiday greetings. We approach the conclusion of another year of endeavor with gratitude for new friendships made and longtime friendships strengthened and renewed.
Reviewing the events of the past year while preparing our 2013 Annual Report has reminded me of the remarkable opportunities we have had to collaborate with others. This year we held our 20th Annual International Law and Religion Symposium, devoted to discussions about "Religion and Human Rights."... more
Pew Research Religion & Public Life Project, January 14, 2014
The share of countries with a high or very high level of social hostilities involving religion reached a six-year peak in 2012, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. A third (33%) of the 198 countries and territories included in the study had high religious hostilities in 2012, up from 29% in 2011 and 20% as of mid-2007. Religious hostilities increased in every major region of the world except the Americas. The sharpest increase was in the Middle East and North Africa, which still is feeling the effects of the 2010-11 political uprisings known as the Arab Spring.1 There also was a significant increase in religious hostilities in the Asia-Pacific region, where China edged into the "high" category for the first time.... more
Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, and Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief
Report by Lawrence Richard Peterson Jr.
Between October 28 and 30, 2013, Professor Cole Durham of the J. Reuben Clark Law School's International Center for Law and Religion Studies was involved in events featuring Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief.
On Monday, October 28th, the Canadian Mission to the United Nations hosted a side event on the UN campus moderated by Andrew Bennett, Canada's Ambassador for Religious Freedom. On Tuesday, Professor Durham attended the UN Committee on Human Rights where Professor Bielefeldt presented his report.
On Wednesday the International Center for Law and Religion Studies co-hosted with the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief a luncheon and panel discussion featuring Professor Bielefeldt. Other panelists were Laksmi Puri, deputy executive director of UN Women, Gulalai Ismail, founder and chairperson of Aware Girls, Margareta Grape, representative to the UN of the World... more
The third lecture in the Faith, Family and Society series at Brigham Young University was given by R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Monday, Oct. 21, at noon in the Wilkinson Student Center Varsity Theater. The lecture was titled "A Clear and Present Danger: Religious Liberty, Marriage and Family in the Late Modern Age."
Since 1993, Dr. Mohler has served as president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world. He has been recognized by many... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
Puskar v. Krco, (IL App., Sept. 23, 2013), involves a complicated dispute over whether or not the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanante of New Gracanica Diocese of the United States and Canada reunited with the Serbian Orthodox Church based in Belgrade, Serbia. In 1992, the two organizations took steps to unite by adopting Transitional Regulations. Bishop Longin, appointed by the Belgrade church, announced in 2009 that a reorganization had occurred and that there is no longer a split between the Metropolitanante Diocese and... more
George O. Wood
The Brigham Young University Lectures on Faith, Family and Society series hosted George O. Wood, CEO of the Assemblies of God, Monday, Sept. 16, at noon in the Wilkinson Student Center Varsity Theater. His lecture was titled "Faith and Family: My Personal Journey." The lecture was sponsored by the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding, Religious Education and the International Vice President's Office.
Wood was elected CEO of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, in August 2007. The church has more than 12,400 congregations in the U.S. with more than three million members and adherents. He also serves as chair... more
Results of a new Pew Research Religion & Public Life Project study on social hostilities toward and global restrictions on religion were released on 20 June 2013. This is the fourth time the Pew Research Center has reported on religious restrictions around the globe.
From the Report: "At the onset of the Arab Spring in late 2010 and early 2011, many world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, expressed hope that the political uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa would lead to greater freedoms for the people of the region, including... more
Chancellor Angela Merkel with the Kirchentag President, Gerhard Robbers (photo credit: Kirchentag Jardine)
As President of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag (German Protestant Church), Professor Gerhard Robbers presided over the 34th Annual Protestant Church Conference held May 1-5, 2013 in Hamburg, Germany. Some 160,000 people — including a number of high-profile politicians — met to pray, celebrate, and discuss together in the event, whose theme was "Soviel du brauchst" ("As much as you need").
The 650-page program of the Congress listed 2500 events, from the opening service on Wednesday afternoon to the "vast closing Eurcharist" on Wednesday evening. The text for the closing eucharist was from Micah: "They shall all sit under their own vines, and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid." The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd... more
News today included news on a number of amicus briefs filed in the Supreme Court Case Town of Greece v. Galloway. Due to the Court's briefing schedule, almost all of these briefs support allowing legislative prayer in the Town of Greece. Other briefs opposing the town's practice of prayer will be filed later. A complete list of the briefs will be posted here For convience, we link directly to the briefs filed which were notable:
- The United States argued that prayers with Christian references are consistent with Marsh v. Chambers.
- 85 members of the House
Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School, took the oath of office as Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on 9 September 2013. Professor George was appointed to the Commission in 2012 by Speaker of the House John Boehner and is serving his first term as a Commissioner.
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, USCIRF's outgoing Chair and an appointee of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, announced Professor George's selection. "I have... more
Washington, D.C. – (June 27, 2013) For over 10 years, the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE), in partnership with its Vietnamese country partners have convened government and religious leaders to build consensus about how to best make religious freedom viable and sustainable in Vietnam. Through IGE's work with government officials and religious organizations, IGE has catalyzed and contributed to sustainable change in the country, developing trusted networks of partners with which to inculcate policies that ensure that people of all faiths and none have full freedom of... more
26 June 2013
Today the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case United States v. Windsor that a federal law, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and woman, "has the necessary effect... to demean" persons in a same-sex marriage if it is recognized by the state. While this has no effect at this time on how a state defines marriage, the language has broad implications for future cases.
In a separate ruling, in the case Holligsworth v. Perry, the Court also ruled that it could not decide if California's Proposition... more
New York City, NY (16 May 2013) – Tonight Elder Dallin H. Oaks received the highest honor awarded by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the nation's premier religious liberty law firm, at the 18th anniversary Canterbury Medal Dinner at the Pierre in New York City, NY.
The Canterbury Medal, the Becket Fund award, is given to a person who has "most resolutely refused to render to Caesar that which is God's." This year's medalist, Elder Oaks, Apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, received the award in recognition of his work defending religious liberty, as a Chicago Law professor, Utah Supreme Court Justice, and Church... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
May 9, 2013. In a long-running free-exercise/ free-speech case, in March a the federal district court in Puerto Rico, on remand from the 1st Circuit, ordered neighborhood homeowners' associations (urbanizations) that allow entry into the neighborhood only through an unmanned locked gate operated by a key, access code or beeper to provide Jehovah's Witnesses who wish to proselytize in the neighborhood access equal to that of residents. (See prior posting.) Apparently the negative response to the ruling impelled the court to issue... more
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Conference Call Transcript – 30 April 2013
A new Pew Research Center survey of Muslims in 39 countries around the globe finds that most adherents of the world's second-largest religion are deeply committed to their faith and want its teachings to shape not only their personal lives but also their societies and politics. While many Muslims favor making sharia official law in their country, the report finds that there also is widespread support for democracy... more
Pew Research Center Report, April 30, 2013. A new Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the globe finds that most adherents of the world's second-largest religion are deeply committed to their faith and want its teachings to shape not only their personal lives but also their societies and politics. In all but a handful of the 39 countries surveyed, a majority of Muslims say that Islam is the one true faith leading to eternal life in heaven and that belief in God is necessary to be a moral person. Many also think that their religious leaders should have at least some influence over political matters. And many express a desire for sharia – traditional Islamic law &ndash... more
Pew Research Center Report April 8, 2013. Across the United States, religious courts operate on a routine, everyday basis. The Roman Catholic Church alone has nearly 200 diocesan tribunals that handle a variety of cases, including an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 marriage annulments each year. In addition, many Orthodox Jews use rabbinical courts to obtain religious divorces, resolve business conflicts and settle other disputes with fellow Jews. Similarly, many Muslims appeal to Islamic clerics to resolve marital disputes and other disagreements with fellow Muslims.... more
Pew Research Center Report, updated June 19, 2014. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has updated a report first issued on 8 February 2103 concerning gay marriage worldwide. A growing number of governments around the world are considering whether to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. About a dozen countries currently have national laws allowing gays and lesbians to marry, mostly in Europe and the Americas. In three other countries, including the United States, some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to wed, while others do... more
On Friday, 12 April 2013 in New Dehli, the Vice-President of India, Janab M. Hamid Ansari, launched a new book by Professor Tahir Mahmood commemorating the author's 50th year of academic pursuits: Religion, Law & Society across the Globe. Friends and colleagues worldwide were invited to attend the event, which was chaired by Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder-President of Amity chain of Universities.
Professor Mahmood is a renowned jurist, well-known in India and abroad for his expertise in religion and the law, human rights and civil liberties, especially the law relating... more
Reported by Don and Ellen Holsinger in Geneva
GENEVA (22 March 2013) – In its concluding day, the 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council passed resolution A/HRC/22/L.9 on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The resolution was adopted by consensus, meaning without vote, even though one Ambassador spoke against it. Following the intervention of the US ambassador, who made repeated and accusatory remarks about Iran's failure to respect freedom of religion and to protect religious minorities... more
OIC Coat of Arms
Reported by Don and Ellen Holsinger in Geneva
GENEVA (22 March 2013) - ARTICLE 19 and Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) welcome the new resolution on combating religious intolerance, which was adopted by consensus on 22 March 2013 at the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). We call on all States to continue to engage in dialogue in good faith to protect the mutually reinforcing rights to freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief and non-discrimination, including... more
The Oxford Journal of Law and Religion was introduced to the Oxford Journals collection in 2012. The first issue appeared in print on 1 April 2012, followed by the second issue on 1 October. These issues, along with advance access to the third issue, to appear in early 2013, are available free of charge on the Journal's website.
The new journal was developed "in response to the recent proliferation of research and writing on the interaction of law and religion cutting across many disciplines." The launch of the Journal was marked by Oxford Journal of Law and Religion Colloquium, hosted by the Religion and International Relations Programme of the Centre for Christianity and Culture and held 19 April 2012 at Regent's Park College, Oxford... more
A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Major Religious Groups as of 2010
Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group. A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion.... more
Americans Learned Little About the Mormon Faith, But Some Attitudes Have Softened
America's "Mormon moment" is over, and public opinion appears to be little changed. Eight-in-ten Americans (82%) say they learned little or nothing about the Mormon religion during the presidential campaign, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. Most Americans still are unable to correctly answer basic questions about the history and sacred texts of the Mormon Church. And three-in-ten Americans continue to consider the Mormon religion a non-Christian faith, though there appears to be some warming of attitudes toward Mormonism, especially among religious groups that voted heavily for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.... more
The University of Heidelberg (Germany) and the John Templeton Foundation hosted a major conference on "The Science and Religion Dialogue: Past and Future" from October 25th to 29th, 2012.
Featuring renowned speakers in the area of science and religion, the event commemorated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Templeton and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the John Templeton... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
In United States v. Dillard, (D KA, March 7, 2013), a Kansas federal district court held that the clergy-communicant privilege extends only to members of the clergy and not to a lay counselor providing religious counseling or other support through a religious program. Defendant, Angel Dillard, visited inmates at the Sedgwick County jail through a non-profit religious ministries program. In the case, the federal government is seeking information on Dillard's communications through the program with Scott Roeder, who is serving... more
Howard Freidman, Religion Clause
In Thompson v. Commissioner, (USTC, March 4, 2013), the U.S. Tax Court faced the question of the extent to which a taxpayer entering an installment agreement for the payment of back taxes should be allowed to continue to tithe to the Mormon Church. George Thompson, who was a volunteer shift coordinator and a stake scouting coordinator for the Church, sought a partial payment installment agreement with the IRS for the over $880,000 in taxes and penalties he owed. The IRS offered an agreement under which he would pay $8389 per... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking building on last March's Advance Notice, designed to accommodate objections of religious non-profit organizations to the Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage mandate. Under today's proposal:
Group health plans of "religious employers" are totally exempt from the contraceptive coverage mandate. Today's proposal revises the definition of "religious employer" from the March release. The proposed exemption now conforms to language... more
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
25 October 2012 – A United Nations independent expert today urged the international community to consistently respect, protect and promote the human right to freedom of religion or belief in the area of conversion.
"The right of conversion and the right not to be forced to convert or reconvert belong to the internal dimension of a person's religious or belief-related conviction, which is unconditionally protected under international human rights law," the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, said in a news release, issued as he presented a report on his work to the UN General Assembly.
In his report, Mr. Bielefeldt analyses the patterns of abuses that are perpetrated in the name of religious or ideological truth claims in the interest of promoting national identity or protecting... more
(L-r) Professor W. Cole Durham, a member of ODIHR's Advisory Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Robert-Jan Uhl, ODIHR's Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Floriane Hohenberg, the Head of ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination
Religious and belief communities should be granted quick, simple and non-discriminatory access to legal personality, said participants at a meeting on the margins of the OSCE's annual human rights conference in Warsaw on 2 October 2012.
Representatives of civil society and religious communities at the meeting noted that in the 1975 Helsinki Document, all participating States committed themselves to "recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and practice, alone or in community with others, religion or belief".
"Although this means that religious or belief communities are not obliged to seek official recognition for their activities, they do often need recognition of their legal personality as a practical matter: to be able to open bank accounts, enter into contractual obligations and purchase real estate, for example," said Robert-Jan Uhl, ODIHR's Adviser on Freedom... more
The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life has on September 20, 2012 released the third in a series of reports analyzing the extent to which governments and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. The new report looks at the extent and direction of change in religious restrictions from the year ending in mid-2009 to the year ending in mid-2010. Where appropriate, it also compares the situation as of mid-2010 with the situation in the baseline year of the study (mid-2006 to mid-2007). According... more
The First Freedom Center has published a "major report monitoring freedom of religion and conscience," its second Minority Religious Communities at Risk. Authors of the report were experts / practitioners who were asked to give their views on "factors which most affected the lives and fortunes of members of minority religious communities during 2011." The authors are Ambassador Akbar Ahmed (Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University), Ambassador Randolph Bell (President of the First Freedom Center), Commissioner Felice Gaer (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom), Daniel S. Mariaschin (Executive Vice President of B'nai B'rith International), Tad Stahnke (Director of Policies and Programs at Human Rights First), and the Rev. Canon Dr. Andrew White (vicar of St. George's Anglican Church in Baghdad).... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
In a ceremony at the White House (President's remarks), President Obama yesterday [August 6, 2012] signed HR 1627, the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act. Section 601 of the Act prohibits demonstrations (including picketing, speeches and handbilling) within 300 feet of a military funeral or at the residence of the deceased service member or veteran's family during the period from 2 hours before to 2 hours after the funeral. It also prohibits activities within 500 feet of a military... more
Washington, DC — On the heels of a months-long heated debate on religious liberty, a new national survey finds that a majority (56%) of Americans do NOT believe that the right of religious liberty is being threatened in America today. Roughly 4-in-10 (39%) believe religious liberty is under attack.
The new PRRI-RNS Religion News Survey conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service, allowed those who said religious liberty is under attack to explain in their own words why they felt the right of religious liberty... more
Pew Research Center Report, August 9, 2012. The world's 1.6 billion Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and almsgiving to assist people in need. But they have widely differing views about many other aspects of their faith, including how important religion is to their lives, who counts as a Muslim and what practices are acceptable in Islam, according to a worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public... more
East Rutherford, New Jersey (ENInews)—It has been described as a spiritual calling, a labor of love, a rich opportunity to connect with thousands of years of Jewish history and religion. It has also been called a relentless endeavor and a marathon of study. There are no vacations, no shortcuts, Religion News Service reports. For 7 1/2 years, day in and day out, Jews around the world have studied a new double-sided page of the Talmud, the biblical commentary that, written over centuries, serves as a guide to spirituality and practical life. On the evening of 1 August... more
"Religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society. It empowers faith-based service. It fosters tolerance and respect among different communities. And it allows nations that uphold it to become more stable, secure and prosperous." – Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
The annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom – the International Religious Freedom Report – describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report... more
"Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, and is essential for a stable, peaceful, and thriving society. ... Freedom of religion is not just an American right, but the right of all people. It goes hand-in-hand with freedom of expression, freedom of speech and assembly. And when religious freedom is restricted, all these rights are at risk. And for this reason, religious freedom is often the bellweather for other human rights; it's the canary in the coal mine.... more
"Where religious freedom exists, so do the others." – Secretary Hillary Clinton
Religious freedom is under attack around the world, from religious extremists who consider any deviation from their own beliefs as sufficient justification for violence to governments who fall short of their obligations to protect the rights of all their citizens. In the face of these threats, the United States and others face the challenge of how best to protect and promote religious liberty around the world. This task is particularly important at a time when many countries in... more
State Department unveils upgrades for 2011 International Religious Freedom Reports
Media Note, Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC, 30 July 30, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has transmitted the 2011 International Religious Freedom Report to Congress and released it to the public. This report is a valuable tool for interested citizens, students, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and governments. The report focuses special attention on key trends such as the impact of political and demographic transitions on religious minorities; the effects... more
President Obama announced on 26 July 2012 his intention to appoint two new Members of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: Maria T. Nagorski and Elder Steven E. Snow.
Maria T. Nagorski: Maria T. Nagorski is the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Fair Chance. Fair Chance partners with community-based nonprofits to increase their ability to address issues related to child poverty. Previously, from 1999 to 2007, Ms. Nagorski provided leadership and training services to a variety of organizations, including the United Nations World Food Programme, the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, and the International Youth Foundation. From 1994 to 1999, Ms. Nagorski was the Founder and Executive Director of Center for Youth as Resources, a national organization focused on engaging youth in service, philanthropy, and leadership in their communities. Concurrently, from 1985 to 1999, she was the Deputy Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council. Ms. Nagorski is an active member of Leadership Greater Washington and was awarded a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellowship by Civic Ventures. Ms. Nagorski received a B.A. in History from the University of Rochester.
Elder Steven E. Snow: Elder Snow currently... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
Last Friday, the Catholic Health Association (CHA), which represents more than 2000 Catholic health care organizations and facilities, submitted a comment letter (full text) to the Department of Health and Human Services taking issue with the Obama administration's proposed compromise to deal with objections of religious organizations to the mandate that health insurance policies cover contraceptive services. CHA's letter has attracted a good deal of press attention (Washington Post; National Catholic Register) because CHA's support was... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced last week that at its Spring meeting which ended Friday, the National Review Board (NRB), a lay group advising it on handling of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy, issued "A Ten Year Progress Report" (full text of June 1, 2012 report). Here are excerpts from the Report:
In 2002, the bishops of the United States approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Ten years later, there has been striking improvement in the Church's response to and treatment of... more
Howard Friedman, Religlion Clause
A study published in the June/July issue of Free Inquiry magazine titled How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the United States estimates that federal, state and local governments, through tax deductions, exemptions and direct expenditures, subsidize religion in the United States in an amount equal to at least $71 billion per year. Yesterday's Washington Post reports on the study.
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
Baptist Press reports on a June 11 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from over 140 leaders of Christian churches, educational institutions and other Christian organizations protesting the "two-class concept of religious organizations" that has been created by attempts to accommodate faith-based objections to the Obama administration's mandate on contraceptive coverage in health insurance policies. (Full text of letter.) The letter says in part:
[W]e are united in opposition to the creation in federal... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
On Tuesday [14 June 2012], the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions held a hearing on "Equality At Work: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act" (full text of witness statements and video of full hearing). The bill, S. 811, would bar employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In connection with the hearing, 37 faith groups released a letter they had sent to each member of the Committee urging passage of the bill, saying "we cannot tolerate arbitrary discrimination against... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
Voters in North Dakota yesterday soundly defeated Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 3 that would have placed a broad version of state religious freedom restoration laws in the state's constitution. With all votes counted, the results were 107,680 (64.04%) No; and 60,465 (35.96%) Yes. (Official results).
The proposed constitutional amendment... more
The latest Pew Research Center American Values study finds that the United States continues to be a highly religious nation. Two-thirds of the public (67%) agrees with each of a series of three religious statements, affirming that prayer is an important part of their daily life, that "we will all be called before God at the Judgment Day" and that they never doubt the existence of God. When the first values study was conducted in 1987, a virtually identical number (68%) agreed with all three of these statements.... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
On June 6, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings on a series of bills, one of which was HR 2720 (full text) which is designed to clarify the VA's role in military funerals. Witnesses on Panel 3 and the submission of Rep. Poe at the focus on this bill, which was prompted by a dispute last year over rules at the National Cemetery in Houston, including allegations that the Department of Veterans Affairs restricted religious content at ceremonies. (See prior posting.) The government claimed... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
On May 24, the State Department released the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in a new streamlined format that includes a country-specific executive summary and examples of the significant human rights problems reported in each country. The report can be accessed for each country, or a customized report across any number of countries by human rights topic can be created online. A report by CNS News this week illustrates, however, that the new format has become part of the partisan... more
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause
Surprising scientific disclosures in a lengthy New York Times article today could change the debate over the Obama administration's health insurance contraception coverage mandate. The free exercise challenges to the mandate have been given special force because the mandate covers Plan B and Ella-- so-called morning-after pills-- which until now had been thought by most of the public to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus. That is seen by many objectors as equivalent to abortion. (Background... more
WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on May 23, 2012 announced his appointment of Mary Ann Glendon to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
"USCIRF welcomes Mary Ann Glendon," said Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, Executive Director of USCIRF. "Given her remarkable depth of knowledge, experience, and commitment, I am confident that she will be a great asset to our Commission and its mandate, helping us advance the cherished right of freedom of religion or belief around the world and support its integration into our country's foreign policy... more
On May 11, 2012, President Obama announced his appointment of the Reverend William J. Shaw to his second term on USCIRF. President Obama appointed Reverend Shaw on June 2010 to serve his first term. Reverend Shaw has served as Pastor of the White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia since 1956. Reverend Shaw served as President of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. from 1999 to 2009. He currently sits on the Board of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and has served as President of The Baptist Ministers' Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity... more
Photo by Gage Skidmore
On May 15, 2012, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced his appointment of Elliott Abrams to USCIRF. Mr. Abrams was a Commission member for three years beginning in 1999, serving as chair from 2000 to 2001. Elliott Abrams is a lawyer and foreign policy expert who served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. From 2005 to 2009 Mr. Abrams served President Bush as Deputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Strategy. Mr. Abrams has held many senior positions in the White House and at the Department of State.... more
The U.S. Congress has appointed the Honorable Sam Gejdenson to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recommended Mr. Gejdenson.
"USCIRF welcomes Representative Gejdenson as our newest incoming Commissioner," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. He will make significant contributions to our work on behalf of the cherished right of freedom of religion or belief and its fuller integration into U.S. foreign policy and national security." ... more
Brett Scharffs with JRCLS London Chapter Members & Guests
On 21 April 2012 the London Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society sponsored an event hosted by the law firm Latham & Watkins, Bishopsgate, London. The event featured a discussion of the topic "A secular state preserves religious freedom" by Dr. Ronan McCrea, a barrister lecturing at University College London, and Professor Brett G. Scharffs, Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, USA, and Associate Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies.
Dr. McCrea is author of Religion and the Public Order of the European Union (OUP 2011), which was Shortlisted for The Peter Birks Prizes for Outstanding... more
The 34th book by renowned Muslim scholar Dr. Tahir Mahmood has just been published by the Universal Law Publishing Co. The work, Muslim Law in India and Abroad, is co-authored by Dr. Mahmood's son, Dr. Saif Mahmood, Advocate, Supreme Court of India. Earlier versions of this book have been extensively cited in many Supreme Court and High Court judgments, and the work is considered as the most reliable contemporary authority on the Muslim Law of India.
The book was launched on Tuesday, 27 March 2012, at the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Chief Justice of India-designate, at a function jointly organized by the the Association of Scholars of Religion and Law and the publishers. Hon'ble Mr. Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad, Judge, High Court of Delhi spoke on the book... more
The U.S. Congress has appointed two individuals, Dr. Robert P. George and Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, to serve as Commissioners on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Comprised of nine commissioners, USCIRF monitors and advocates for religious freedom abroad wherever that right is being abused. USCIRF also offers policy solutions to improve conditions... more
Lantos Foundation Media Release - 28 March 2012
The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is pleased to announce that Katrina Lantos Swett has been appointed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The appointment was made on Monday, March 26th, 2012 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The USCIRF was created by Congress as part of the International... more
On 23 January 2012, Suzan Johnson Cook, United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, was joined by Dr. Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement, in a discussion of "Religion and Foreign Policy," as part of the State Department's online video series "Conversations with America."
Dr. Seiple and Ambassador Cook, among others, serve as Co-Chairs to the Religion and Foreign Policy working group of Secretary Hillary Clinton's Strategic Dialogue... more
The International Center for Law and Religion Studies joins the international religious freedom community in mourning the death on 2 January 2012 of Tunisian human rights advocate Professor Abdelfattah Amor. Professor Amor served from 1993 to 2004 as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. At the time of his death, Dr. Amor was a member of the UN Human Rights Committee, and had recently been appointed as president of Tunisia's National Commission for the Investigation of Corruption and Bribery.... more
"This is a huge win for religious liberty. The court has unanimously confirmed the right of churches to select their own ministers and religious leaders. It has unanimously held that the plaintiff in this case was a minister for purposes of the rule. It has unanimously held that the courts cannot inquire into whether the church had religious reasons for its decisions concerning a minister. The longstanding unanimity in the lower courts has now been confirmed by unanimity in the Supreme Court." – Douglas Laycock, Counsel for the Petitioner
29 January 2012. The Supreme Court has shown unity, but little guidance. (Robert Barnes, The High Court, The Washington Post... more
From The New York Times Opinion pages' Room for Debate, a discussion by American religious freedom experts on the topic "Is America's Religious Freedom Under Threat?"
Tim Shah and Tom Farr
Michael McConnell
Rajdeep Singh
Noah Feldman
Salam Al-Marayati
Helen M. Alvaré
Hamza Yusuf
Winnifred Fallers Sullivan
The Committee on the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives held a hearing on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 on the subject "The State of Religious Freedom in the United States." The hearing convened under the auspices of the Subcommittee on the Constitution by direction of the Chairman of the Committee, Trent Franks. Witnesses included Bishop William Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State; and Colby M. May, Senior Counsel and Director of the Washington Office of the American Center for Law and Justice. Reports of the hearing and testimony transcripts are available at the following links... more
From the Institute for Global Management: 24 October 2011
On October 18th, the U.S. Department of State (Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs) launched its Working Group on Religion and Foreign Policy as a part of the Secretary of State's "Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society." Representatives from civil society—including religious leaders from around the... more
18 October 2011. Embrace secularism; keep religion out of politics. (Ronald A. Lindsay, The Washington Post)
18 October 2011. Secularism and its discontents. Interview with José Casanova. (McGill Daily [Canada])
10 September 2011. Tolerance and Secularism (II) (Salman Arshad, The International Herald Tribune)
10 September 2011. Secularism: The religious touchstone in vogue. (Rümatho Nyusou, The Morung Express)
7 September 2011. Secularism doesn't equal tolerance. (Daniyal Noorani, The International Herald Tribune)
Heidi Carmack
BYU Law School Reporter
South Africa's Justice Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob was the keynote speaker in the opening session of the 18th Annual International Center for Law and Religion Studies Symposium, "Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age: Trends, Challenges and Practices.' Justice Yacoob called listeners to action, stating that all people have the potential to add value in this critical fight for religious freedom.
"Religion, conscience, thought and belief should, I believe, be regarded as the core of our humanity as a crucial component of our humanness," Justice Yacoob said. "They are indeed so crucial and so essential that I doubt whether we would be able to call... more
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed a gathering in the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University, on the evening of 11 September 2011. Before his calling as an Apostle in 1984, Elder Oaks had served as a distinguished practitioner and teacher of law in Chicago and Utah. Formerly President of Brigham Young University, Elder Oaks was at the time of his call to Church leadership a member of the Utah State Supreme Court.... more
In keeping with its mission to "affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction [and] strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law," the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) has produced a video, "Lawyers as Healers," now showing on YouTube. The video features attorney and public servant James E. Faust (1920-2007), who was a member of the governing council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving an Apostle and as counselor to the President of the Church.
The JRCLS also invited interested parties to visit its Facebook page... more
Beginning Thursday, September 29 the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and BYU Law Alumni hosted the annual Leadership Conference at Aspen Grove in Provo Canyon. Professor Gary B. Doxey, Associate Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, with additional remarks by Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr., ICLRS Director, as well as William F. Atkin, International Chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. Other highlights of the conference included showcasing keynote speaker Judge Milan Smith from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the highly anticipated LDS Church Area Legal Counsel Reports on Friday. Training sessions led by Chapter leaders on technology tools, pro bono programs, Women in the Law and chapter finance were held Friday afternoon. BYU Law Alumni board officers and class representatives along with members of the JRCLS chapters and delegates representing several countries were in attendance for the conference.
"Given the state's size and influence, New York's legislation will surely be a baseline for any state that recognizes same-sex marriage through legislation going forward. The wrangling over ... religious protections is evidence of just how important they are. Without such protections, groups that hew to their religious beliefs about marriage would be at risk of losing government contracts and benefits and would be subject to lawsuits from private citizens. ... If New York's law stands for anything, it is that legislatures can advance one civil right without simultaneously eroding another." – Robin Fretwell Wilson, The New York Times (Opinion)
24 July 2011. Liberty's loss:... more
3 June 2011. Leonard Leo (USCIRF Chair), Thomas Farr (Berkley Center), Joseph Grieboski (Institute on Religion and Public Policy), and Brian Grim (Pew Forum) testify at Congressional Hearing: Prioritizing International Religious Freedom in U.S. Foreign Policy.
3 June 2011. Arab Summer: How unstable will the Middle East's new democracies be? (Fred Kaplan, Slate Magazine)
3 June 2011. Europe must rise to the challenges presented by the Arab Spring. (Timothy Garton Ash, Huffington Post)
2010 Rex E. Lee Moot Court Competition Finalists
Febuary 2011 - Washington, D.C., New York, Chapel Hill
Students from the J. Reuben Clark Law School, including several ICLRS Student Research Fellows and members of the Symposium Executive Committee, are participants in the 2011 Moot Court competitions. 2009 Student Fellow Elsa Jacobsen is part of the 5th Annual National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition hosted by the George Washington Law School and sponosed by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. 2010 Student Fellow and Executive... more


text:
Bangalore/ Mumbai/ Delhi: July, 2012 – This July, The Collective makes everybody's Fashion Bucket List come true! So if you have always desired to own a stylish dinner jacket or a pair of true religion denims or have been waiting to find yourself that perfect little black dress, now is the time. The world's best fashion brands are on sale at your favourite shopping destination, The Collective.
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Tel: +91-11-40878888
Store Hours: 11.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. daily.

subset: commoncrawl


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TROY, N.Y. - The jury found former Troy City Councilman Michael LoPorto not guilty on all counts in the ballot fraud re-trial Wednesday. A decision that brought tears to LoPorto's eyes.
LoPorto was charged with 22 counts of possessing forged absentee ballots for the prosecution's claims that he knowingly possessed the ballots, which had been forged in a scheme to steal the Working Families Party primary in 2009.
"Just really, really happy for Mike and today is a good day. I'm going to have three dirty martini's, three and I'm going to have my husband pick me up," Defense Attorney Cheryl Coleman said.
This is the second trial LoPorto has had to endure. The first trial, with former Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough, ended in a mistrial in March.
"Its like I'm born again. The truth came up. He lied, he cheated, he forged documents. He should be on trial," Michael LoPorto said.
The Rensselaer County jury deliberated for two days, and decided the not guilty verdict Wednesday around 2 p.m. after hearing read-back testimony from LoPorto and for a defintion of the charge along with reasonable doubt.
On Monday, LoPorto spent three hours on the stand and two hours in what Special Prosecutor Trey Smith described as "pretty hot and heavy" cross examination.
NEWS10 asked Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally for comments on the case. He responded by saying "I am not commenting in any way shape or form on this case."
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Telephone: 518.436.4822
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Posted at 08:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Jill and I have taken a plunge and bought a small (1100 ft2) house about a mile away in West Tisbury. I have a couple more posts tee'd up for House 5 on window insulation and on the electric mini-boiler I've installed, so stayed tuned (I've been really busy with the Zero Energy Homes Online Course, for one thing). I just blower door tested this new house on Sunday at about 3,100 CFM50, so there is more "opportunity" than House 5 offered :-) - that's about 0.6 CFM50/ft2 of shell, which is 3-1/2 times worse than House 5 was when we started on it. A huge chunk of that leakage is because they made a small attic in this one story home that is vented to the outdoors, and that's where they installed the furnace and ductwork (don't try this at home.)
New house below
Posted at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
I've now had a year with the Geyser HPWH. With the exception of the puddle on the floor in July 2011, it has performed consistently. It's performance has not been thrilling, though. In the summer, it was making hot water at about 0.13 - 0.15 kWh/gallon, with incoming water in the mid-60Fs and basement air temperature around 70F. In the winter, with basement temperatures in the low to mid 50Fs, and incoming water at 50F or a bit below, this consumption ratio increased to 0.25 kWh/gallon. I switched to using only the upper electric element in mid-January 2012 and the consumption ratio was 0.31 kWh/gallon, so the HPWH was saving about 20%, actually more, since the HPWH was heating the entire tank, and the electric element only was heating the upper 30% of the tank. This was verifiable by the way with the infrared camera - a sharp temperature gradient below the element location.
If I didn't give myself the flexibility with the 85 gallon tank to do the HPWH or add solar thermal hot water I would have installed a 50 gallon Marathon instead. We have very good data from the Eliakim's Way homes that show about 0.21-0.23 kWh/gallon. So over a year I'm not sure my HPWH and the larger tank saved me anything over a smaller electric water heater. One very significant factor is our very low hot water usage of about 13 gpd. This means that the HPWH spends a significant portion of its operating time working against the standby losses, which means that it's cycling in the 110F - 120F water temperature range, where it is least efficient. And of course that energy is not being used to heat hot water to replace hot water we've used.
I have data on another HPWH, the Accelera made by Stiebel Eltron.
It was installed late this past winter in a Deep Energy Retrofit South Mountain did on a small house in Chilmark. The basement had about R-20 walls and R-3 floor. There is a ducted miniplit heat pump air handler and insulated ducts in the basement as well as the Stiebel Eltron. The S-E has an 80 gallon tank which has the refrigerant heating coil wrapped around the outside of the tank beneath the insulation. It has a 1.7 kW back-up electric element with a separate thermostat. This unit was set to make 130F water. We installed a water meter on the cold water inlet and measured the electrical usage with the Powerhouse Dynamics eMonitor. Over the first six months, the household averaged 45 gpd of DHW usage.
As in other MV homes, the incoming water temperature varies, starting at 50F in early March and rising into the low 60Fs in August. Basement temperature began in the upper 50Fs and rose to the upper 60Fs. The HPWH made 7,980 gallons of hot water and used 477 kWh of electricity, a consumption ratio of 0.060 kWh/gallon. Over three times more efficient than the 50 gallon Marathon tanks at Eliakim's Way, which used 0.20 kWh/gallon over the same months in six houses that averaged 43 gpd. This performance is in a whole other ballpark than that of the Geyser. Also, the unit seems to have low standby losses. On days with no usage it was using about 1/2 kWh. My biggest question is, how long will this expensive device (list price about $2,600) last?
It's worth noting that a HPWH takes heat from the house, at least during the heating season, so how you heat the house matters. Here are some cases to consider:
1 - The HPWH is in a basement with a gas furnace and leaky uninsulated ducts that keep the basement at 70F. The HPWH is operating efficiently because it is taking heat from nice warm air, and that heat is only indirectly getting to the living space. Probably a good application.
2 - The HPWH is in the thermal envelope of a direct gain passive solar house with a wood stove back-up. Again, the heat pump is operating in a favorable temperature regime, and the source of the heat is either the sun or firewood. And often during the winter the space may be overheated and the cooling is not objectionable.
3 - The HPWH is in the thermal envelope of an electrically heated house. Each unit of energy removed from the air is replaced by electric resistance heat. Not a good choice.
4 - The HPWH is in the thermal envelope of a house heated with minisplit heat pumps that operate at a COP of 2.5. The HPWH COP of 2 is effectively reduced to 1.4 because of the energy required by the heat pump to offset the cooling effect of the HPWH. If the house is in heating mode for six months of the year, and the rest of the time the cooling effect of the heat pump is negligible or welcome, then this changes to 1.7.
And finally, the more the climate shifts towards being cooling-dominated, the better the HPWH looks. A HPWH in your house in Florida supplies free cooling and dehumidification as it heats water.
The other thing we've learned with the S-E is the effect it has on the basement humidity. We know a HPWH will both cool and remove moisture from the air, but we didn't know if it would make that air higher or lower relative humidity. It could possibly cool the air and not remove enough moisture to keep the RH from rising as the air was cooled. Here's a 3-1/2 hour run of the HPWH, and the conditions of the air at the start and the end:
What we see is that the basement both cools and drops in relative humidity. As my friend and SMC colleague John Guadagno says, good stuff, good stuff! The reason it's good is that the moisture content of materials is based on the relative humidity of the surrounding air, and lower moisture content means lower opportunity for mold. I agree with JG!
To sum up how I'm thinking on how to make domestic hot water, given my preference to think in terms of electrically powered buildings to mate with renewable power generation:
- Low DHW users, say up to 20 gpd, use electric resistance in either a superinsulated tank or maybe distributed instantaneous electric heaters (caveat emptor - lots and lots of amps!)
- Medium DHW users, say 20 - 50 gpd, consider a heat pump water heater. Pick the highest efficiency and one with a large tank, which keeps the electric back-up off.
- Large users of DHW, consider solar thermal DHW. Look at the Wagner system, which is a clever packaged drainback system, as one possibility.
Posted at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
I've written an article about House 5 in the latest issue of BuildingEnergy, the magazine of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. It's got other excellent articles, too. You can find it here:
House 5 article BuildingEnergy
You are a NESEA member, aren't you? There's no better community to join if you're passionate about great buildings. Most of my closest friends and colleagues have come from my 30+ year involvement in NESEA, and the most exciting thing these days is the influx of amazing young folks, ready to take over from the tottering geezers like me! I was the second Lifetime Member of NESEA - it was an obvious choice when the category was created - nothing has had as much effect on my professional journey as the relationships I've made within the NESEA community. Join here:
Posted at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
I'm pumped about this. It's taking a huge amount of time - I've taken this week off to get started - but I know it will make me better at communicating this information. I've set a bar that I think exceeds most similar courses - my goal is to give the participants the insights and tools to really design a zero net energy project themselves. Take a look!
Posted at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
I've been AWOL for a while, sorry about that. I'm putting together my first online course, on Zero Net Energy Homes, for the NESEA Building Energy Masters Series. You can read about it here:
Meanwhile, the House 5 PV system just passed 8,000 kWh generated! And we have a surplus credit of over 3,700 kWh, which we can allocate to another meter.
I have plans to post more about the hot water question, especially on heat pump water heaters, and also on the insulating blinds. Stay tuned!
Posted at 08:05 AM in Data | Permalink | Comments (0)
At the end of June we had one full year of operating with the PV and taking energy usage and production data. From July 1st, 2011, through June 30th, 2012 we used 3,755 kWh, which would have cost about $700. This is below the THC target and likely meets the Passivehouse primary energy limit as well. During that period the solar electric system produced 6,779 kWh, meaning that we had a net export of 3,024 kWh – handily achieving zero annual net energy. The surplus could be used to run an electric car over 10,000 miles. It's important to note that this was an uncommonly warm winter, and I'd expect to use 6-700 kWh more in an average year. It's also important to note that we are a household of two – add a couple of teens and the energy balance would be different – yet I believe we could still be net zero and meet THC under those circumstances. With the balmy winter, we were actually net zero every month except December and January.
We spent about $26,000 after subsidies to get here. Some of this work was subcontracted and some I did myself. I got some good deals, too. I think another person might have spent $40,000 to have the same work performed. The energy bill of this house when we got it would be in the neighborhood of $3,300 annually, so the simple payback of this effort seems well within the range of reasonable, and we got a more comfortable house with better air quality.
Posted at 11:22 AM in Data | Permalink | Comments (0)
For the first time in my sheltered life, I have a range with a self-cleaning oven. After over a year which included roasting a number of chickens (which we've been raising the past few years) we had an oven covered with enough spattered grease to cause the smoke detector to go off any time we turned the oven on. The manual that came with the range cautioned against using the usual oven cleaners and recommended the use of the self-cleaning feature. This process locks the oven and heats it up to a very high temperature - Wikipedia among others says 900F. I was curious what this would be like - would the range feel really hot to the touch; how much would it smoke; woudl it actually clean the oven; how much energy would it use?
You have to clean any serious accumulations of stuff out first, perhaps so it doesn't combust. Also, you're not supposed to leave the racks in - they warn against the high temps destroying a finish that makes them slide easily. This was a major bummer since we'd been dumb enough to leave the plethora of racks this range comes with in the oven while we only needed one to roast the chicken :-( Duh - they were really grimy and we (OK, not we, Jill) cleaned them by hand. Note to self...
Once we started the process, the oven heats up quickly and smoke comes spewing out the vent. We had windows open and the range hood running. In the first hour of the three hour cycle the visible smoke stopped. I didn't abort the cycle because I thought I should go through it at least one time. The front and sides of the range felt surprisingly un-scary in terms of temperature - there might actually be some reasonable insulation in there
Once it turns off, the door stays locked and it indicates on the display that it's still hot for close to another hour, until it cools down. It did get pretty clean, and there was some ash remaining. And the entire process used 8 kWh of electricity. That night we had friends come to share homemade pizza, so we added another 3 kWh. The day's total of 11 kWh exceeded the usage in some months!
Posted at 08:09 PM in Technical | Permalink | Comments (1)
Phil Forest flipped our 4.76 kW Sunpower PV system on during the afternoon of June 9th, 2011. At the end of the day June 8th, 2012, the system had produced 6,694 kWh. On the following day, it made 22.5 kWh, so take half of that for a full year's worth of production - afternoon to afternoon - and the total is 6,705 kWh. I'm really pleased and not a little surprised at this total, it's significantly over what we predicted. The system has some winter shading, too. Nonetheless, the yield was 1.41 kWh/W/year, and during the time when I had a small (1.06 kW) system at my NH home in the late 1990s/early 2000s, that system never made over 1 kWh/W/year. Likely a cloudier climate, and I know this past year has been sunny (Eliakim's Way PV production is up 6% over the first year), but some of this has to also be technology improvements. Sunpower claims their technology is more productive in low light conditions and high temperature conditions than their competitors, and just maybe they're right!
Posted at 02:19 PM in Data | Permalink | Comments (0)
It's now two full years since the eight households moved into their new homes at Eliakim's Way that South Mountain Company designed and built. We've continued to read the sub-meters monthly and now have two full years of data. Here's the comparison between the two years, by house and by end use:
Some observations:
- Heating energy was down due to the mild winter
- PV output was up - 1.42 kWh/W!
- House 4 got within 300 kWh of zero net energy
- Most households increased their use of energy once heating is disregarded
- House 8 used an amazingly low amount of heat
Our meter reader has said Enough! so from now on out we'll be looking once a year at these totals.
Posted at 03:20 PM in Data | Permalink | Comments (2)


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Bob Costas is talking about the backlash he got following comments he made during Sunday night's NFL game.
Costas talked about the Javon Belcher murder suicide and said he agreed with a column written by Jason Whitlock who criticized what he called the "gun culture" in the U.S.
Costas said he expected blowback and argues he never once mentioned "gun control" or the second amendment.
Larry Elder was here to discuss...
KSAZ-TV & KUTP511 W. Adams St.Phoenix, AZ 85003Phone: (602) 257-1234Fax: (602) 262-0177


text: Candlemass are without a doubt one of the most important doom metal bands in the world. Ever since their incredible debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus they've gone a long way paving the way for other bands. They're among the founders of modern doom metal and while I enjoy each and every Candlemass record I consider the first 4 absolutely essential.Ancient Dreams is the second album with doom metal vocal god Messiah Marcolin and the third Candlemass album. It picks up where the classic Nightfall left off. Leif Edling's songwriting and bass playing is at its best and Marcolin's voice is simply incredible. The guitar solos are brilliant. It is hard to believe this was released back in 1988 when almost everyone was into glam, hard rock or thrash metal. I appreciate and respect Candlemass for their courage to stand up for themselves and make the music they believed in even though they knew it would never sell millions. That is why they have lasted all these years and are considered fathers of doom. They always remained true to their roots be it with Marcolin, Vikstrom or Flodkvist. My personal favourites off this record are "Cry from the Crypt", "Darkness In Paradise", the title song, and "Bells of Acheron". There's not a single filler on Ancient Dreams though.You might also want to check out Memory Garden, Solitude Aeturnus, Abstrakt Algebra and some other bands.


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Maine Maritime Museum
On the western bank of the Kennebec River, this wonderful museum preserves the Kennebec's long shipbuilding tradition. The Maritime History Building contains paintings, models and hands-on exhibits that tell the tale of the last 400 years of seafaring. One highlight is the remains of the Snow Squall, a three-mast 1851 clipper ship.


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Well, If anyone here is a video gamer like myself, you've been waiting for the Madden 12 ratings to come out. Our guys' overall team is an 80. And our highest rated players are-
Leach-91 (i know they put the old roster prior to F.A.)
"Meco- 89
Other notables-
J.J. Watt- 80
Glover Quinn-81
Here's a link to the rest of the team's ratings.
Any Thoughts?


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Definition: A slim tower rising from a mosque, from which the adhan may be called. Early mosques did not have minarets; the adhan was simply called from any high point near the mosque. In modern times, microphones and speakers are often used to project the adhan, but minarets remain a common element in Islamic mosque architecture throughout the world.
Minarets are always attached to a mosque, and vary in height and style. Minarets may be square, round, or octagonal and are usually covered with a pointed roof. A mosque may have one or more minarets.
Pronunciation: min-a-ret
Examples:The minaret of the mosque stands out in the city skyline.


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After the first two weeks of the 2012 NFL season, the Cardinals are still officially undefeated! But that definitely does not mean the team has no questions circulating around them.
Hit the jump for the ROTB Writing Staff answer's to three of these questions, and don't forget to answer the questions yourself in the comments below!
1) This week, the Cardinals take on the Philadelphia Eagles at home. Who or what will be the biggest factor in a potential Week 3 win?
Jesse Reynolds: The run game. The Eagles are being overlooked by a lot of Cardinals fans right now. Digest this, despite 8 turnovers the Eagles have generated the most yards offensively. That's impressive. The Eagles defense has been playing very well and is one of the best against the pass. Cardinals have to be able to run the ball if we are going to win this game.
Tyler Nickel: Once again, I'll say it comes down to Kevin Kolb and how well he can move the offense. They will need to put points on the board and against two top flight cornerbacks.
Alex Mann: The Offense. Defense will manage to keep us in the game, but our Offense will need to manage the game and limit mistakes.
Cdeveau: I still think the offense, and Kevin Kolb. Ball security and game management are what is needed of Kolb, with the defense he has backing him up.
Jess Root: Turnovers. Teams that lose the turnover battle do not win much. Win it and you are in good shape usually. In Week 1, Vick throws four picks and the team wins...why? Weeden threw four picks as well.
Jesse Reynolds: Quentin Groves. I was expecting big things out of O'Brien Schofield bit so far it has been Groves who has been making plays.
Tyler Nickel: Whether Todd Heap is a scratch or not, I'd like to see Rob Housler get some more burn. He creates mismatches which the Cardinals can really take advantage of. Thus far, they have failed to do so.
Alex Mann: Quentin Groves. He's turned his career around it seems and with Schofield facing injury issues early on this season he needs to get some playing time to see if he's worth keeping past the 2012 season.
Cdeveau: Quentin Groves is one, Stewart Bradley is another. Bradley is overpaid as a backup...
Jess Root: Kurt Warner? He sure hasn't gotten much PT recently. I know, not funny. I would say more Groves, but I think much of the reason why he doesn't get more snaps on defense is because he still has a lot to learn about coverage assignments. He is showing that he can get pressure, but the team still clearly feels that Schofield is the better option overall. I am also curious about Reggie Walker and Stewart Bradley. Neither got a defensive snap, after Walker got a lot in nickel packages against Seattle.
3) Although the Cardinals won, WR Larry Fitzgerald received very little action. Is this a cause for concern?
Jesse Reynolds: Larry played a great decoy last game and opened up the field for the other WRs. Kolb just didn't take advantage of the coverages. This game he needs to and force teams into better coverages for Larry.
Tyler Nickel: Actually, it's a cause for celebration. Think of how much better they will be once their best receiver starts getting the ball.
Alex Mann: No. He had the Patriots all over him, and Kolb still has yet to find Fitz when he's open. The Refs also missed Fitzgerald's catch late in the game.
Cdeveau: It was one game, and the Patriots concentrated on taking him away. Good teams find ways to win the chess matches. The Cards won. No worries there. If this continues through the other 14 games, it will become an issue.
Jess Root: Not yet, especially since the team is winning. If the team is winning, even he isn't concerned.


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Killington Description:
Located in Killington, Vermont, Killington offers 200 trails, 32 lifts, a 430 foot long superpipe and several terrain parks. With 87 miles of trails stretching across seven mountain peaks, Killington Resort is one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. The resort rates 26% of its trails for beginners, 34% for intermediates, and 40% for advanced and expert skiers and riders.
Killington Location/Directions:
Killington Resort is located in the town of Killington, Vermont. It is approximately four hours from New Haven, CT; three hours from Boston, MA, and five hours from New York City. The nearest airport is 13 miles away in Rutland, Vermont. In addition, train service is available via The Amtrak Vermonter to Brattleboro, Vermont, and the new Ethan Allen Express to Rensselaer/Albany.
Killington Statistics:
- Trails: 200
- Lifts: 32 (2 gondola's, 6 high-speed quads, 6 fixed-grip quads, 6 triples, 4 doubles, 8 surface lifts)
- Uphill Capacity: 52,000/hr
- Acres: 1,215
- Snowmaking Coverage: 70% (850.5 acres)
- Summit Elevation: 4,241 ft. / 1,293 m (Killington Peak)
- Base Elevation: 1,165 ft. / 355 m (Skyeship)
- Vertical Drop: 3,050 ft. / 930 m
- Longest Trail: 6.2 mi / 10.4 km (Juggernaut)
- Terrain Parks: 6 (see Killington Parks & Pipes website)
- Halfpipe(s): 1
- Average Snowfall: 250 inches / 635 cm annually
- Night Skiing: No
Killington Reservations :
Lodging and lesson reservations as well as lift ticket and season pass purchases can be made online by visiting Killington's website or by calling 1-800-621-MTNS.
Alternative Activities:
Killington consistently ranks at or near the top in the U.S. for nightlife. A quick drive up or down the mountain's access road reveals bars, restaurants and shopping galore. Both the Pickle Barrel and The Wobbly Barn are legendary for their nightlife, with dancing and live entertainment from some of the biggest names in the music industry. Dining options abound, from New York Style Pizza courtesy of the Pizza Jerks to world class gourmet dining at Hemingway's Restaurant just down the road on US Route 4.


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Thursday, August 28, 2014
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Mom who drove kids into ocean faces charges
Written by Associated Press
13 March 2014
This booking photo released by the Volusia (Fla.) County Division of Corrections shows Ebony Wilkerson. Wilkerson, accused of driving a minivan carrying her three young children into the ocean ...
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Mother Charged With Child Abuse After Children Found On Streets Alone
Written by Sentinel Wire Services firstname.lastname@example.com
13 March 2014
A mother whose two toddlers were found wandering the streets of South Los Angeles alone was charged March 7 with child abuse, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. Sidnicka ...
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Baby Recovers from HIV Infection
Written by City News Service
13 March 2014
Highly aggressive three-drug treatment gets rid of virus 30 hours after birth A baby born with HIV at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach nine months ago immediately received highly ...
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King daughter asks brothers to reconsider MLK sale
Written by KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press
13 March 2014
Bernice King on Thursday March 6 urged her brothers to search their consciences and reconsider their plan to sell the civil rights icon's Bible and Nobel Peace Prize. The daughter of Martin ...
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Giggles, Smiles and Joy Abound as LAUSD Girls Choose Prom Gowns
Written by Nicole Williams
12 March 2014
The Los Angeles Unified School District partnered again with Operation School Bell for the annual free prom dress extravaganza. This year, 56 girls from 17 schools picked their dream dresses, along ...
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Obama Appoints Urban League's Morial to Financial Advisory Council
Written by James Wright Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
06 March 2014
National Urban League President Marc H. Morial Obama Appoints Urban League's Morial to Financial Advisory Council President Obama appointed Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, to ...
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L.A. Council Bans E-Cigarette `Vaping' at Bars, Clubs, Restaurants and Some Public Places
Written by ELIZABETH HSING-HUEI CHOU City News Service
06 March 2014
Electronic cigarette resembling a tobacco cigarette - The Los Angeles City Council moved to ban e- cigarette use, often called ``vaping,'' inside bars, nightclubs, restaurants and other public areas ...
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Hawthorne's Mayor Chris Brown will Do Lateral Recruit to Strengthen Police Force and will Address Diversity Concerns
Written by Sentinel Wire Service
06 March 2014
After meeting with Hawthorne's Police Chief Bob Fager and the HPOA (Hawthorne Police Officer Association) last week, the newly elected Mayor came up with an idea to address his Officers concerns ...
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Cedars-Sinai Presents Stem Cell Program and Essay Contest for High School Students
Written by Sentinel News Service
06 March 2014
(Photo courtesy of cedarssinai.edu) All high school students – essayists or not – and parents and teachers are invited to the March 11 program, "Introduction to the World of Stem Cells," from ...
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx to Keynote GLAAACC Dinner
Written by Sentinel News Service
06 March 2014
Gene Hale, Chairman of GLAAACC US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx Gene Hale, Chairman of GLAAACC, said the White House has confirmed to him that US Secretary of Transportation Anthony ...
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NAACP Mourns Passing of Jackson Mayor
Written by James Wright Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
06 March 2014
Chokwe Lumumba (Courtesy photo) NAACP interim President and CEO Lorraine C. Miller joined civil and political leaders across the country in mourning the death of Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. Lumumba, ...
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Wesson and Council Move to Protect West Adams Residents
Written by Sentinel News Service
06 March 2014
Council President Herb Wesson and the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance suspending the use of the controversial drilling technique of hydraulic ...
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Lonnie Bunkley's Book Chronicles African American's Journey to Freedom
Written by Sentinel News Service firstname.lastname@example.com
06 March 2014
Danny J. Bakewell, Sr, Publisher Los Angeles Sentinel, Lonnie Bunkley Author and Rev. Kelvin Sauls,Pastor, Holman United Methodist Church In Journey to Freedom--which traces eight generations of the ...
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Community Rallies Around George McKenna for L.A. School Board
Written by Sentinel News Service
06 March 2014
Dr. George McKenna (right) welcomes Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters (left) to his school board campaign's headquarters in Leimert Park Saturday, March 1, 2014 (Photo credit: Courtesy of George ...
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Strength and Passion Guides BOA Executive Gail Lannoy
Written by Xavier Higgs Sentinel Contributing Writer
06 March 2014
Gail Lannoy is a wife and mother at home and women advocate in community Gail Lannoy, Community Development Banking West Region Market Executive, Bank of America Los Angeles catapulted her profile ...
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Trojan Couple Endows Scholarship for Future Principals
Written by Barbara Goen
06 March 2014
Carlton (PhD '87) and Eloise (BA '64) Blanton (Photo/Kathy Christie) Eloise (BA '64) and Carlton (PhD '87) Blanton love to share memories – with many details and specifics –of the principals ...
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BLSA Honors Giant Attorney Robert H. McNeill Jr.
Written by Kenneth D. Miller Assistant Managing Editor firstname.lastname@example.com
06 March 2014
OUSTANDING ALUMNI: Robert H. McNeill Jr. receives the Black Law Students Association Outstanding Alumni Award from BLSA co-presidents, Shonnie Harris and Davetta Selma on Feb. 27 at Southwestern Law ...
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Leimert Planning Initiative Wants 20/20 Vision with Media
Written by Brian W. Carter Sentinel Staff Writer firstname.lastname@example.com
06 March 2014
The Leimert Park Village Initiative held a panel to facilitate a better network between the community and local media outlets. On Monday, March 3, the Leimert Park Village 20/20 Vision Planning Initiative ...
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Fisk Jubilee Singers Perform at First AME
Written by Staff and Wire Report
06 March 2014
The internationally renowned Fisk University Jubilee Singers perform to a crowd of about 1000 at First AME Church in Los Angeles The internationally renowned Fisk University Jubilee singers stopped ...
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Black History Month Finds African-Americans' Optimism on the Rise
Written by Sentinel News Service
06 March 2014
MassMutual Study Reveals Positive Steps to Help Overcome Remaining Financial Challenges As the country wrapped up Black History Month celebrations, a recently released study showed that African-Americans ...
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Sharpton Talks about the Struggle Today
Written by LaGloria Wheatfall Houston Defender
06 March 2014
Al Sharpton HOUSTON – Al Sharpton said the assault on voting rights continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing African-Americans today. Sharpton made the comments during a trip ...
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Mandela Honored in London
Written by Sentinel Wire Service
06 March 2014
Daughter of South African leader Nelson Mandela, Zindzi, poses on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the royal film premier of "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" in central London. British ...
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Fashion Industry Pioneer and Newspaper Publisher Is Remembered As Trailblazer
Written by Sentinel News Service firstname.lastname@example.com
06 March 2014
Ophelia DeVore Dr. Ophelia DeVore Mitchell Dies at Age 93 Dr. Ophelia DeVore (Mitchell) died peacefully on Friday, February 28, 2014. She was 92. Known for her pioneer efforts in the ...
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The 311th ESC celebrates Black History Month
Written by 1st Lt. Fernando Ochoa
06 March 2014
Michelle Cruz, Yellow Ribbon administrative assistant, and Veronica L. Blackmon, Department of the Army supervisory staff operations and training officer, attended an observance for African-American/Black ...
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Obesity Rates on the Decline Among Young Children
Written by Sentinel News Service email@example.com
06 March 2014
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined First Lady Michelle Obama in Des Moines, IA, to kick off a nationwide tour celebrating the second anniversary of "Let's Move!" They were joined by fitness ...
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Karen Bass Speaks at Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Home Going
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Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III Sings at Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Home Going
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Family Cries for Justice for Ezell Ford
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Music Mogul Suge Knight Shot at Night Club
Obama steps into another racially charged incident
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How Apple Is Changing Your Grocery Shopping Experience
Advertising company InMarket has started rolling out its use of Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iBeacon indoor positioning system technology in conjunction with its Checkpoints app across 100 grocery stores in Cleveland, Seattle, and San Francisco, with plans to expand to hundreds more locations as the year progresses, according to a report from Apple Insider.
The use of iBeacon with the Checkpoints app will send push notifications to iOS devices when a shopper enters the grocery store. Those notifications could include shopping list reminders, coupons, and information about discounts the store is offering at that particular time. The ultimate goal for InMarket is to use the app to send location-based advertisements to shoppers.
"This has the potential to disrupt the retail experience as we know it," InMarket CEO Todd Dipaola told Apple Insider. "Think about all of the benefits of online shopping, but applied to the real world. Shopping list reminders, specific coupons tailored to things you like, eventually mobile checkout. We're in the top of the first inning right now with iBeacon, so the possibilities are very exciting."
InMarket wants to install the technology in thousands of locations across the top 20 markets in the United States by the end of 2014. Apple's indoor position system technology was more appealing than other options because iBeacon makes things easier for both retailers and consumers, according to the advertising company. The hardware needed for the system is "barely larger than a quarter," Dipaola said to Apple Insider, and iBeacon automatically starts sending notifications to users' phones when they enter a store without that person having to do anything to get it started.


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Now before I start this off I'd like to say that I am avid supporter of Matt McGloin. He brings a very fun and a very missed offense to the raiders. I dont understand any judgement that goes towards this young quarterback. As a current JuCo football player, I am amazed by his ability to come in half a season and accomplish the things he has accomplished. I know a little about QBs seeing that I am an offensive lineman, my job is to protect these guys. I have experienced the pocket QBs and the running QBs, and let me tell you first hand, Linemen like pocket QBs better. The low production of Pryor this season wasn't fully because of shuffled and last minute put together O line. It was mostly because Pryor likes to scramble and when you scramble you usually kill the OTs mission of keeping the DE outside. After a few scrambles it gets very frustrating to block for that kind of QB. Now I do not think that a scrambling QB cant win a SB, I just believe that you have to be a QB THAT CAN RUN, instead of a RUNNING QB you get me? Thats why Russell and Andrew Luck are good. They are pocket QBs that run as a last resort, and I believe Cam is getting to that mindset.
But anyway, with that said, thats why I prefer MM over TP (and the fact that MMs accuracy and pass release quickness is brilliant).
So on to the topic of the Raiders "need" at QB. There is no need at QB. MM is doing good. He is showing everything you want out of a QB. I think that because of this recent uprising of rookie QBs looking like franchise QBs, it causes everyone to think that DRAFT PICKS are supposed to be an instant success. When that is not the case. The draft is basically based off of pure POTENTIAL. You go into the draft, you pick who you THINK has the most potential to bring you wins, and you try to give them the tools to become what you envisioned. Little amount of draft picks become instant successes. That's what we're not getting. We can pick Winston from FSU but who's to say he won't be the next Jamarcus Russell? Why waste a pick on something we don't need?
MM has proved he CAN be an elite passer. He comes in and gives our previously "shitty" WRs chances to make plays that make them look like potential #1 WRs. He has had a crappy O line but still manages to steadily put up 200+ yards passing. The Jets game was atrocious but he came out and scored I THINK 3 TDs for us.
Our problem isn't QB, our problem is DE, WR, GAURD, CORNER, and most importantly DEPTH.
Instead of going on a wild goose chase for a franchise QB, lets build one. Better yet, build around one. MM has proven he has the tools. All he needs is a coaching staff and a team.
Leave your thoughts below.


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Throw Your Weed Overboard When The Police Board Your Yacht Like Rick Ross
Rick Ross was on his yacht last Thursday April 19th. Apparently the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission smelled the odor of some fine green or purple buds being burned. The FFWCC boarded the boat to give a full search. They came up empty handed with absolutely nothing. I bet you he just flashed his badge and everything was cool. I'm kidding, that's old news. But the comment section isn't letting up on that.
A representative for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicated that a member of Ross' crew admitted to smoking weed on board and throwing it overboard when he saw the police.
I bet it was Gunplay, rapper part of his group Triple C's, who threw that weed overboard. Gunplay really doesn't care about anything but drugs, money and women.
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VICKSBURG, Miss. (KNOE 8 News/AP) - Reports of two violent crimes within weeks at Vicksburg's City Park have officials looking at safety and security there.
A free-for-all involving more than 100 people at the park pavilion on June 21. Last Monday, two teens leaving the skate park were held up.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed both incidents in a secret session Wednesday. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. had a conflicting meeting.
The mayor says his nominee for police chief is certified in a program called Neighborhood Enhanced Training, which involves creating a unit to combat youth violence.
North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield says the area has problems with fights among teens.
Police Chief Walter Armstrong says most calls there are for minor fights and misbehavior.


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One day, I was daydreaming, and I was coming up with all of these questions that had me frustrated, irritated, concerned, amused, delighted, and perplexed. I had questions: Questions About the Fashion and Plus Size Fashion Industry regarding things that, from my experience, could totally be … [Read more...]
Monday Musings- It Was All a Dream
After returning from Blogalicious, hearing Amy Dubois' story, and hearing YOUR comments, I wanted to start a weekly Monday morning conversation with you to talk about life and what it has inspired, motivated, or impacted us in ways that leave us scratching our heads. You asked about hearing more … [Read more...]
Two Steps Forward or Back? JAG Agency and the Plus Size Model
I was reading Full Figure Plus's article about 10 Problems Jag Agency will bring to the forefront of plus size fashion industry and I had to share with you the article and my thoughts around an agency made for all sizes. While I love the inclusion of it all, I have serious questions and it seems I … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday To Me- A Year of Personal Growth
32 Years. HA! 32 Years. get the card here at Zazzle!! Happy Born on Day to me! (and to GabiFresh and my lil sister Kaprice who share this day!) and to all the other Virgos in the world… heyyy boo! Happy Birthday to me! I am truly blessed to have seen a new year, celebrate a new … [Read more...]
I am Always More than JUST a Blogger
A few days ago, I was listening to a fellow blogger buddy of mine share a story about how she was expressing her love for a particular furniture design. She is a fan girl of this brand and happened to share her adoration of this on her FB page. In conversations about this brand, someone retorted to … [Read more...]
When I am Not Talking Fashion…
There is more to life than clothes. This I know. Yeah, I am a fashion blogger. Yeah, I run a business. But there is way more to me than that! I thought I would share with you a bit more about me and what gets me ticking and that drives me- beyond the blog… when I am not talking fashion. Asides … [Read more...]
Reading Comments on Facebook Has Me Thinking…
So here is the thing... I love what steps we are making in plus size fashion. There are more options for varying personal styles, budgets, aesthetics, and lifestyles. Change IS HAPPENING- WHEE! What does this mean? While perusing through the comments last week and for the past few weeks, there … [Read more...]
A Second Look at My Top 10 Plus Size Community Wishlist
In 2010, I created a wishlist of sorts of what I would like to happen throughout the year in the plus size community. Then at the end of the year, I revisited this list to chart our progress… Plus Size Community Wishlist Today, I realized that so many more successes and changes have arisen and … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to the Limited Brands and Eloquii
Last week, news broke about the Limited's phasing out of their plus size line, Eloquii. I remember the email I received, vague at best. I had questions. I had concerns. Most importantly, I was UPSET. So, I took to my FB page and left my immediate thoughts and today, I decided to fashion an open … [Read more...]
It's My Blog Anniversary Month! Updates and a Video!
Hey, Hey, Hey, there! I am really excited about December! Four years ago, I never would have guessed that this little space on the internet would change my being in so many ways! Today, I bring a video to you to explain it all! I apologize for the shaking; I was holding my camera and was a bit … [Read more...]


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Yadi, Adams, MCarp, Freese, Descalso, Kozma, Holliday, SRobinson, Jay, Beltran, Waino, Wacha, Kelly, Lynn, CMart, Rosenthal, Siegrist are solid ins. Plus Craig, that's 18. Maness, Axford, Choate, Tony Cruz are likely in as well so that's 22. That leaves Mujica, Miller, Wong, or Chambers.
According to Jenifer Langosch, "John Mozeliak suggested that (the roster breakdown) will remain as it was for the first two rounds of the postseason. If that's the case, the Cards will carry 13 position players and 12 pitchers…The likeliest candidate to lose his spot seems to be second baseman Kolten Wong, who is hitless in five pinch-hit at-bats this month."
Pinch hitters aren't as needed in DH games, so I can see a position player being replaced – but why not Chambers instead of Wong? Chambers is also 0-5 as a pinch-hitter this month. They are both left handed hitters and both have good speed. Descalso is likely the first player off of the bench, so in an extra innings game it's more likely the Cards need an IF replacement instead of an OF replacement. Throw in Freese's potential calf tightness and it's a no brainer that it's Chambers that goes in my mind (if not Mujica).


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About six and a half months ago (January 27th, 2010 to be specific), most technology bloggers and analysts chose the casket for the Kindle. The iPad was going to kill the Kindle device and distribution model. iBooks was going to take over as the de-facto eBook marketplace just like iTunes … Read the Full Story →
Tag Archives: iPad eBooks
In a perfect world, well Apple's version of a perfect world, there would be no iPads outside of the US at the moment. But there are! In a few of the countries that the iPad will officially be launched the iBookstore app is starting to show up some locally available … Read the Full Story →
Alice for the iPad Rating: A Beautiful Representation of the Lewis Carroll Classic Novel! One of the selling points of the iPad was it's ability to act as an eReader and the iBook Store was released to sell books to be read on the iPad. While the iBook Store is … Read the Full Story →
Apple shares are still rising, iPads are selling like hot cakes "virtually", as well as receiving last minute design changes. Microsoft, Palm and Android are playing catch-up in the mobile space at GDC, and in sales figures. Some with more success than others…. Oh, and eBooks, or iBooks?, may be … Read the Full Story →