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Friday, May 18, 2012
Ramblin' on Recent Issues
Please note that in all of this gay marriage discussion I've taken NO position, pro or con, regarding homosexuality. That was on purpose, btw, to watch the various conclusions that people would jump to. The only position I've taken is that I don't feel it's in any way right or American for my personal religious beliefs to determine your personal freedoms and protections. An America which is no more than a Christian version of the Taliban or a Christian version of a fundamentalist Islamic country under Sharia law isn't an America I want to see or live in.
Let's look at this notion of "redefining" marriage. Total BS. My advice would be to tune out, immediately, someone who uses any form of an argument that includes the words "redefining" or "definition" in conjunction with marriage. Why? Because prior to the gay marriage debate, had you asked someone who uses that argument to define marriage, I'd give you infinity-to-1 odds that their definition would NOT have been "one man, one woman". The irony is that words like "definition" and "redefining" have been co-opted and redefined by cultural warriors, because we know that in a culture war - "He who defines, wins." Their definition of marriage is a RECENT one. 20 years ago, their definition would've been something about "two people coming together for life" or something or other. "One man, one woman" is ambiguous, and could describe the queue down at Burger King - so it isn't even a definition, but a parameter which needs a definition. Use an argument like "redefining marriage" and you might as well be waving a white flag at me, cause you're just a shill for your culture, having bought the propaganda on emotional levels, with a shallow faith that's threatened by any wind of change or disagreement.
In the bible, there's no sanctioning of a piece of paper signed by an officer of a local civil court. That's all the gay people want. If that threatens your faith, you have no faith. None. "But, but, Lew...They'll force churches to marry them!!!" SMH. Don't be so gullible. Churches/pastors can already discriminate regarding who they'll perform ceremonies for. This won't change that. In the unlikely event that they tried to force churches to marry them, then, and only then, you'd have a legitimate argument, and I'd be right there with you raising hell about it.
It also doesn't help the other side of the argument when the loudest voices I've encountered in the last week have belonged to people who've been married and divorced on multiple occasions, or have many children by many different women, or have fat asses from being lazy gluttons, or are dishonest people, or who listen to Rush Limbaugh describe the President as "declaring war on traditional marriage", when ole Rush seems to be doing a smash up job all by himself, what with 4 failed marriages, and fail to see the hypocrisy.
Step out of a black and white world and into some color, people.
41 comments:
- AnonymousMay 18, 2012 at 4:43 PM
you are right on. I look at it this way. I personally still feel that homosexuality is wrong whether you were born that way or not...BUT....and this is a big BUT.....Others don't believe like I believe and should not be forced to live like I live. Last I checked we all had a choice to follow Jesus or not. And if someone decides not to follow him, what business is that of mine? Sure, I can try to get them to change, but in now way should I force them to abide by my religious beliefs. I may even be wrong but that is correct about every aspect in others 'beliefs'. If in fact it is WRONG to be homosexual, then guess what? God will deal with it when the time is due, won't he? WHy should they be forced to live the 'christian' lifestyle when God himself said we all had a choice. Gays marrying has no effect on me whatsoever other then the 'ewww' factor, which is fine with me. No-one has the right to 'not' be offended. If you don't like something, don't do it. But others shouldn't be forced to live a certain way because of someone else's religious beliefs, and that is all this whole fight is about, others religious beliefs and nothing more.ReplyDelete
Also, what I can't stand is are the one's crying about the sanctity of marriage. The one's who cry about it the most are married numerous times, had numerous affairs. I would love to ask them which marriage that 'the sanctity of marriage' applies to. The first marriage, their 2nd one, their 3rd one? And actually get an honest answer.Replies
Thanks, Anon.Delete
That's what I was taught concerning religion and the power of the state. Your religion dictates what YOU can and can't do but has no (and should never have any)power over what other people can and can't do. Our country was founded on this principle.
Religious wars in Europe killed too many people, on one side and then the other. Religion does not belong in government. Period.
Anonymous. You, sir, are fabulous. Or madam. For some reason I assume you're male. Either way, thank you for saying exactly what I'm thinking.Delete
- BridgeMay 18, 2012 at 4:54 PM
It's not the government's job to dictate morals. It's the government's job to protect American citizens and their property. The Bible lists drunkenness as a sin; how come the Christian community isn't trying to make drunkenness illegal? It's perfectly legal to be drunk. However, it IS illegal to drink and drive. The distinction is because drinking and driving provides a threat to other people and their property. It's not a moral issue, it's a safety issue.ReplyDelete
There is a federal law that states (paraphrasing here) a legal contract in one state must be upheld in other states. Marriage, in the ink and paper sense, could be defined as that. I wonder if someone will bring that up regarding the amendment issue?Replies
That's one reason they claim to "need" the amendment.Delete
- NatashaMay 18, 2012 at 9:05 PM
"'But, but, Lew...They'll force churches to marry them!!!' SMH. Don't be so gullible. Churches/pastors can already discriminate regarding who they'll perform ceremonies for. This won't change that. In the unlikely event that they tried to force churches to marry them, then, and only then, you'd have a legitimate argument, and I'd be right there with you raising hell about it."Delete
Just a FYI, I'm from Canada where gay marriage is already legalized & has been for several years. There have already been a number of cases where pastors have been charged & brought to court for refusing to marry same-sex couples. I think it has more to do with the fact that people who are authorized to perform marriages here are considered government representatives or some such thing- I don't know if that's the case in the US.
@Natasha...Clergy here in the US can discriminate as to whom they will perform ceremonies for. Most bible colleges and seminaries teach prospective pastors a litany of qualifications a couple will need to achieve before the prospective pastors can marry them - a certain amount of counseling, certain doctrinal positions, et cetera.Delete
- AnonymousMay 19, 2012 at 11:04 AM
I agree with you on so many levels, Lewis. I think gay marriage should most definitely not be banned in this country because it is not our job to pick which Christian morals everyone else must abide by.Delete
However, I do want to be careful with assuming that pastors would not face any kind of increased pressure to marry gay couples. While I doubt that the government would create laws about it, I think there would be a lot of private citizens who would consider refusal to marry gay couples as hate crimes and probably try to take legal action at the individual level against the particular church. (I don't know what the results of that legal battle would be, but that's not quite the point). I think legalizing gay marriage would create a favorable situation for people who want to accuse pastors of perpetrating hate crimes and discrimination.
Is this a reason to keep gay marriage illegal? No. Of course not. But it's important, in a debate like this, to recognize how far each side's concerns are valid, and I don't think the church's fear that they would face increased pressure is 100% unfounded.
"I think there would be a lot of private citizens who would consider refusal to marry gay couples as hate crimes"Delete
No; that's a severe misunderstanding as to what a hate crime is. The best they could come up with is a civil rights/discrimination complaint, and, even so, religious groups in the US are broadly free to discriminate. They are not considered a public accommodation (i.e. those places where discrimination is banned under the Civil Rights Act.
Hate crimes are violent crimes and property crimes that are motivated by bias. So if a gay couple came to a pastor to be married and the pastor beat them up, or spray-painted epithets on their car, that would be a hate crime. But refusing to marry them? No. They are just as free to refuse to marry a straight couple because they are living together, not "saved", not tithing church members, etc.
Exactly what Joy said.Delete
Churches/pastors can make any rules they want about who they will/won't marry: Family of church members only, Christians only, people who ascribe to our doctrinal beliefs only. Religious freedom is sancrosanct in American.
All a church needs to do is be plain in THEIR by-laws about who they will marry. That's where they need to put their religious beliefs about "one man, one woman". They don't need to force the whole country to support their position with our actual laws.
Bridge, religious fanatics actually went their way to outlaw drunkenness: they got the 18st Amendment passed. A little more than a decade later, the American people finally realized what a bad idea that was an repealed it. But there are still vestiges of the Prohibition era lingering in many states. Homosexuality might be the new "in-thing" for most fundamentalist churches right now, but give it some time and people will realize just how discriminatory it is.Delete
- AnonymousMay 22, 2012 at 8:27 AM
I agree with you guys, for the most part. Although notice that I didn't say the law would consider it a hate crime; I said certain individuals might. My point is that legalizing gay marriage could put more social pressure on the church (not legal pressure), and there will be more instances of individuals feeling that this has opened the door for them to accuse non-willing pastors of being somehow anti-American or hateful.Delete
I personally know people who would level the accusation of "hate crime" against someone whether the act had anything to do with violence or property under the legal definition. The law wouldn't back them up on it, but it's still damaging and hurtful to start using that allegation against people within a community.
Again, let me repeat; this is not a reason to keep gay marriage illegal. It's simply something we have to be realistic about so we won't be surprised by it if it happens, and we will know how to handle it in a way that maintains the dignity and freedoms of both parties.
I know America does not have all the same legal structure as other countries (such as Canada) that have legalized gay marriage, but we do have to assume that if church and state clashed a bit in those countries, that we will have some working-out to do in our own situation. It may be a bumpy road for awhile, even if it doesn't look exactly like their path.
"I personally know people who would level the accusation of "hate crime" against someone whether the act had anything to do with violence or property under the legal definition. The law wouldn't back them up on it, but it's still damaging and hurtful to start using that allegation against people within a community."
When I read this, I wonder what special protections, if any, you would like to see for people who believe that it is a sin to be (or, as views on that are shifting) or to be and express romantic love as a gay person, that are not currently afforded to gay people? Surely it is "damaging and hurtful" to hear that you're going to hell, that homosexuality is not something that God will forgive.
Or even if you don't hear those specific words, what if you sit among the people whom you consider your community, and worship God with them, but you know that you cannot be yourself, not fully yourself among them, because many would shun and/or pity you because of something that is not a characteristic you can control, and is likely something you have trouble accepting about *yourself*.
Might that be "damaging and hurtful"?
I am not denying the right of people to hold different views of what scripture says. I also do not approve of government telling churches what to do and what not to do (presuming the church is not doing something that is illegal, eg, child abuse). I don't see, though, why holding a particular interpretation of scripture affords them protection against potentially getting their feelings hurt.
- Petticoat PhilosopherMay 22, 2012 at 7:17 PM
I don't get it. You acknowledge that there would be no legal backing for a person wishing to bring hate crime charges against a pastor who refused to marry gay couples. So what are you worried about? That marriage equality will open the door to people saying things that will hurt those pastors feelings? I'm sorry, but tough.Delete
If that is your fear then, yes, I think it is founded. Marriage equality will probably help homosexuality to become more accepted in American society and, as that happens, more people may well start to look with disapproval upon religious leaders that discriminate against LGBT folks. They might think they are being bigoted and hateful. They might even say so which, in many ways, could constitute social pressure. Guess what? Those religious leaders do not have a right not be socially pressured, any more than anyone else does.
And what of the social pressure that gay people face? Those same religious leaders, along with many other cultural forces exert a CONSTANT social pressure on them to not be gay. They have to deal every day with the fact that a large segment of their fellow Americans thinks they are disgusting, sinful, depraved, weak, or just plain shouldn't exist. That sounds like pressure to me. What anti-gay religious leaders might face is NOTHING compared to what your average openly gay person faces, every day, before they're old enough to get a driver's license.
When anti-gay religious leaders discriminate or when they preach their anti-gay views, many people (I'm one of them) believe that they contribute to an atmosphere in which gay people feel pressured, bullied, or just plain unwelcome in their own country, and that upsets them. These religious leaders have every legal right to direct their organizations as they see fit and they are allowed to discriminate. That is a right conferred upon them by the first amendment and, as repugnant to me as the actions that it protects are in this case, I will defend that right until I die.
But religious leaders do NOT have a right to protected from the reality that their words and actions hurt, and that that makes a lot of people angry. They do not have a right to be protected from the changing social tides of this country. They do not have a right to protected from social pressure and disapproval. Any more than gay people do now. You are siding with the powerful in a serious way.
- AnonymousMay 23, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Wow. Um....okay.Delete
I'll repeat it again. I think gay marriage should be legal, and I don't think that we should keep it illegal out of fear of what the church will or won't be "forced" to do. And for what it's worth, I think the way the church has treated homosexuals is horrendous. Far from being "afraid" that homosexuality might become more accepted and open, I would welcome a climate that no longer discriminated against them.
I'm simply saying that, realistically, when other countries have openly permitted homosexuality, there have been some scuffles between the church and the state. I just think we should be prepared for some scuffles here, rather than pretending they won't happen. Those scuffles will probably be good and necessary in the end. I'm not at all advocating that we avoid those scuffles and allow homosexuals to keep feeling like second-class citizens. I'm just saying, let's not jump to conclusions and assume those scuffles won't happen and that church and state will settle smoothly into complimentary roles right from the get-go.
I'm not sure why you guys are so ready to see me as an enemy; I think we basically believe the same about how badly the church has treated homosexuals, and I think we basically believe the same things about what rights the gay community deserves.
- AnonymousMay 23, 2012 at 12:05 AM
And by the by, Petticoat Philosopher, I completely agree with your assessment that religious leaders already exert said pressure upon the gay community every day. Thanks for bringing that up; it is often easy for us to forget how constant is the struggle of those whose voices are the minority. I'm sorry if, in the context of that, my comments sounded like I was pitying oppressors over the oppressed. That really wasn't my intention. My intention was to debate what real-life consequences might happen from hypothetical situations in the future. That in no way negates that the reality right now is that gays are discriminated against every day.Delete
- Petticoat PhilosopherMay 23, 2012 at 12:59 AM
Well, I'm glad we agree about the issue of pressure on the LGBT community and their treatment by a lot of religious leaders. I apologize if I jumped to conclusions about your views.Delete
But I'm still not entirely sure what you are worried about if you readily acknowledge that anti-gay religious leaders won't be legally vulnerable. All you seem to be talking about when you speak of "scuffle" is strong criticism of such leaders, because that would be "damaging and hurtful" to them and their communities. I think that's why a couple people have responded how they did. Because fretting about how hurtful it will be to anti-gay clergy to have their views criticized while not even mentioning the hurtful things that gay people are subjected to all the time (in many cases WITHOUT the legal protections that religious leaders are afforded) seems like a blatant double standard. I don't view you as "the enemy" at all, but I would urge you to really consider the implications of what you're saying here.
Also, "scuffles" between LGBT-affirming people (including clergy) and non-LGBT-affirming clergy is NOT a conflict between church and state. LGBT-affirming people are not acting on behalf of the state, nor do they speak for the state when they speak out against religious homophobia. They are private citizens speaking their minds, as they have a right to do. I am not denying that such conflicts exist or that LGBT people and their allies will not be empowered to speak up more if the state ceases to discriminate against gay people in the area of marriage (because that's all we're talking about). But that does NOT constitute an attack of the state upon the church, or any conflict between church and state and all. All that is is a shift in public opinion which, yes, may create social pressure on those being left behind. Nothing illegal or unconstitutional about that.
Again, I don't you're "the enemy," I'm just confused. What exactly are you worried about besides the possibility (or the probability) that legal non-discrimination will empower people to say things that might make anti-gay clergy feel bad?
I agree: I do not see Anon as "the enemy", and never have.Delete
I don't understand the concern that some people might have their feelings hurt basically because of the recognition of other people's rights. I'm not going to be verbally attacking clergy or anything--I just don't see why it's worth much time thinking about it.
Though since the topic was brought up, let's not forget that some of these anti-gay clergy will be protected by the insular arrogance I've observed in *some* clergy members who interpret scripture in a way that leads to sexist conclusions, and then see that their interpretation of scripture is implemented accordingly in their church and in as many marriages as they can influence. I don't see these particular men as having hearts soft enough to be disturbed by people who are bothered by the fact that gay people can't get married in their church.
Speaking of hate crimes, please read this article and look at the graph:Delete
Anti-Christian (Protestant and Catholic) hate crimes don't even ping this chart because there aren't many of them (compared to hate crimes against Jews; the number of hate crimes against Christians are is about 1/9 of the number of hate crimes against Jews) and their proportion in the population is much greater. Who has the greatest chance of being victim of an actual hate crime, i.e. be attacked or have their property damaged or destroyed? Who has the most cause to be outraged?
Yes! Exactly. The ONLY possible way homosexuality may be viewed as a sin is through the lens of religiosity, which should have zero bearing in our secular nation. If people here want to be homophobic bigots in their homes and churches, fine, that's their right, but once they try to limit the freedoms of their fellow Americans through those beliefs, that is just so obviously messed up. Things NEVER end well when religion is forced on people through legislation.ReplyDelete
- lucrezaborgiaMay 21, 2012 at 4:31 PM
- AnonymousMay 27, 2012 at 5:29 PM
The legal authority to conduct marriages should be removed from pastors and religious bodies. This should be considered to be beyond their capacity. The couple seeking a union should have their lawyers draw up the necessary documents,get them signed and then registered at the Town Hall. The state should have no part in the choice or the purpose of such partners because that's their private business. Should they, in addition, ask to have their union blessed by some particular religious group, which is good but not necessary, then they should of course be willing to submit to the teachings on marriage and divorce of that religion. Only scoundrels would use religion for their own ends but then avoid them and quickly run to the Law Courts for a divorce when things don't work out as expected.ReplyDeleteReplies
The only flaw with your plan is the "couples should have their lawyers" clause. I don't what demographic you are from, but it's wealthier than mine! Most of us don't have lawyers on retainer.Delete
I do agree that pastors should not have the legal authority of the state to "marry" people. Everyone should be legally married at the courthouse, and then followed up with a religious ceremony if it's important to them. That's how it is in other countries, and it makes way more sense.
Funny-- I'd take the other view. I think marriage should be a solely religious thing, with the government(s) not involved at all.Delete
Why would you think that? Marriage is a legal status: it legally makes your spouse your next of kin and automatic heir. It also establishes legal parents of children born into the marriage without DNA tests/medical proof. That legal status is the only point of marriage. It was intended to protect widows/widowers and orphans from having to go through probate, being kicked out of the family home, and/or being excluded from medical/funeral decisions.Delete
Religion is completely separate from the legal system. People of any or no religion benefit from the legal status of marriage. Couples of any or no religion (and their children) stand to suffer great legal harm without the benefit of the legal status of marriage.
A church wedding is an add-on. Making the legal arrangement of marriage into some kind of religious ritual with religious obligations is completely unnecessary as far as the law is concerned. It adds nothing legally to the arrangement at all, and is merely a public display of the faith and beliefs of the two people getting married.
It is unconstitutional to mix private religion with laws that govern everyone. I think it's already a huge mistake to ALLOW clergy to perform weddings. It should have always been confined to the local county clerk's office or a justice of the peace. it would be government establishment of religion if the law were to REQUIRE clergy to marry people.
I am puzzled by your p.o.v., Michelle. Do you not know anyone who is not religious? Do you not know anyone married at the courthouse? I know many non-religious people who were married by civil authorities. Do you think non-religious people should be forced to convert to a religion before they could get married?
What a scam it would be for religions if the law declared everyone had to pay a clergy to perform their wedding! Easy money and completely unconstitutional.
Excellent points. Yes, I am acquainted with folks who come from a wide variety of beliefs and backgrounds and count a number of them among my friends.Delete
I think what I actually want is a time machine: The legal status would not be called "married" at all, but be referred to by an entirely different term. A government that does not include a state religion should never have co-opted the language of religion to identify a particular legal status. Please correct me if I am mistaken about the history of the terminology.
I am certainly busted in the, "If wishes were horses, we all could ride," sense. :)
I don't know the etymology of the word "married", to be honest. I remember reading the term Goodwife in British Literature of the Middle Ages though! =DDelete
I am embarrased to admit that most of my pre-Christian era reading is confined to the Bible. I know that people of other nations and continents had what we call marriage, though in most cases it amounted to sexual slavery. Dad is either paid by or pays the groom to take ownership of the young woman in question.
I have only read English translations, where of course the terms wives and concubines were used. AS best I understand the terms, a wife is entitled to more decision-making power in the master's household than a concubine. The Asian movies I have watched show special entitlement to the first one to marry the master.
I have a lot of work to do today, but finding out the etymology of the English word "marry" is going on the wish list. =)
- AnonymousMay 27, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. G. K. ChesteronReplyDeleteReplies
Loving your neighbor is both virtue and conviction - and simply the right thing to do.Delete
- AnonymousJune 6, 2012 at 6:14 PM
True. But loving doesn't mean we have to condone/tolerate the sin. Hate the sin, love the sinner! :)Delete
Why hate sin? Jesus never said, "a new command I give to you, that you hate sin." He never said, "Hate sin as the Father hates sin." He didn't say, "Hate the sin in others lives as you want them to despise the sin in your own life." Insert big Southern smile here, then turn and walk away.Delete
It's so weird, that statement, and I do mean weird in the literal sense. It's just a fancy way of saying, "I really do hate you, but it's so ugly to admit. Let's be civil about it and instead of calling you a faggot to your face I'll just advocate for laws that keep you and your kind away from me and my kind."
Though I do see why one would choose your way of phrasing it both for the catchy alliteration and the brevity.
I suspect I'd hear something similar from my in-laws. It's a bit too late, though, since I observed a pamphlet on their kitchen table a few years ago about how to treat those who are "enemies of Christ", namely gay people (and others I won't mention here, as I don't want to get too far off-topic). They'd say what you say, but I don't see their gay or lesbian friends, or gay or lesbian relatives...probably because folks know better than to "come out" (read: "be themselves") around them.Delete
There's a blog here I link to below, though it claims to debunk the "love the sinner, hate the sin" from the fundamentalist perspective, I believe that some evangelicalism is merely fundamentalism with more smiles + alcohol and an attempt to seem hip.
Also, why in the world is being gay or seeking a relationship (even a monogamous, committed one) with another person of the same sex the only time "love the sinner, hate the sin" comes up? How 'bout the sin of hubris? What about compulsive liars? How about those who steal?
How does that phrase not apply to *all* of us?
- AnonymousJune 22, 2012 at 8:45 PM
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12: 9).Delete
Psalms, Chapter 97, Verse 10
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
It's very unbiblical to wish harm on unbelievers and those that mock his name. But its very biblical and what God's word says to hate evil. Because I love God so much I will hate anything that he hates, for he hates much that opposes his will and his word. God's servants hate evil, and hate what God hates, for such is an enemy of God. Its wrong to hate sinners, but its biblical to hate their sin.
Sin is like a cancer. When someone has cancer, we don't stop loving them because of it, but we hate what the cancer does! God hates what sin does to his children, but He still loves them.
- AnonymousJune 22, 2012 at 8:46 PM
IT does apply to all of us. Hate the sin in ourselves as well!!Delete
Problem is, most Christians are more interested in officiating over and labeling the sins of others than in examining themselves. "Sinners" won't be won over with officiating, or with people pointing out the sin in their lives, or with Christians trying to legislate away things they consider to be sin.Delete
Another HUGE problem - a heck of a lot of what the fundamentalist and evangelical Christian community very publically pronounces to be sinful isn't evil in the slightest.
- AnonymousJanuary 23, 2014 at 6:10 PM
I personally am of the opinion that any one who quotes G.K. Chesterton on this subject has already invalidated their own argument. The man was a vicious racist (and not just against those with a different skin color then his, but rather against anyone who had the audacity to be NOT ENGLISH), a raging misogynist and blatantly anti-semitic.Delete
- AnonymousMay 30, 2012 at 4:51 PM
I hope your parents are proud of you, because if you were my son my buttons would be flying off. YOU ROCK, kid. Preach it!
There is so much here i want to comment on - tho the comments on the whole are so brilliant I'd be redundant. What courage I read here. It gives me hope for my country when I see so many people leaving the fundie movements.
I knew about Rushdoony years ago. I was friends with a couple who were involved with him. (I'd never heard of him.) I didn't think anything of it , not being interested in their brand of christianity, until I saw the interview on '60 Minutes." I still feel the chill when Rushdoony calmly replied to Mike Wallace that yes, he'd do away with the Constitution. The very instrument that literally saved his parents' lives. What an ingrate.
I would love to see a study or two on why we are producing this Taliban mentality, in my generation or younger. What is wrong with these people? Why are they so afraid?
And thanks for the warning about the 'Unless the Lord..." article; I had the wastebasket handy. If someone had suggested to my tough, common-sense, Naval officer dad that I shouldn't go to college, he would have beaten them up. Now THAT would have been paternal protection!
Keep putting it out there, Lewis. You are doing the Lord's work!
Navy Brat
- AnonymousJune 2, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Well, I went completely off-topic there, sorry.ReplyDelete
We are having an exciting time up here in the Great Unchurched, godless, knee-jerk liberal Northwest. Our legislature passed a law allowing same-sex marriage, and then the cretins (oh, sorry again, so uncharitable) the conservative element got enough signatures to get a referendum on the next ballot. So we fight the battle all over again....
I have family in same-sex relationships. They have, amazingly, raised entirely heterosexual children. they pay their taxes and support their communities. They are such a terrible influence, I just don't know what to say. The country is plainly going to hell, with all these gay soccer moms.
But, Anonymous June 22, 2012 8:46 PM, the *only* time I have ever heard, "Love the sinner: Hate the sin", is when someone who believes gayness is sin is talking about the way that LGBT people should be treated.ReplyDelete
I have never before heard "Love the sinner: Hate the sin", said about any sin of any heterosexual person.
So while you may apply the saying even-handedly, I don't think that is common at all.
I hope all is well with you, Lewis.ReplyDelete
You've been awful quite.
I miss your presence in the blogsphere.
- HoppyTheToadJuly 24, 2012 at 9:43 PM
Hey Lewis, I hope everything is going well for you. I rarely comment here, but I visit your blog several times per week.ReplyDelete


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During our study abroad in Scotland and Ireland, we had a free weekend. We had three things we wanted to visit: Hampton Court Palace, The London Comic Con, and the Science Museum.
Being a computer science teacher, the Science Museum was definitely a must see for me. We only really had an hour to visit the museum but that was enough to see what I wanted.
The museum is located in South Kensington in London and the entrance is free. Some of the items that are there are the first jet engine and a reconstruction of the Francis Crick's and James Watson's model of DNA. We took some time during the first floor and toured the Power exhibit which helps tell the story of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. We also looked as some of the space and flight exhibits.
However, most of our time was spent in the computing section. There they have examples of Napier's Bones and other computing devices. I was in awe when I came across Charles Babbage's Difference Engine. The science also has the coolest odd exhibit I've ever seen in that they have Charles Babbage's brain on display.
Here are some pictures of our trip to the Science Museum:
It was truly great to see some of the items, such as Babbage's Machines fully built after years of reading about them and teaching about them. If you want to learn more I highly recommend The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer by Sydney Padua.
Many of the great museums of London are publically funded which means they are free to go. They do accept donations which we gladly gave. If you plan a trip to London, plan a museum visit. And we highly recommend the Science Museum.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Lower Corporate Tax or Lower Sales Tax: What Does RI Need More?
Monday, March 11, 2013
dropped to 9.8 percent in January of this year sparked a lot of debate over what Rhode Island could do to further pull its economic and job climate out of the bottom of national rankings.
But that topic has been discussed in detail ever since the recession began and now, as the General Assembly begins to analyze and scrutinize Governor Chafee's proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, two potentially dramatic shifts in Rhode Island's tax structure have been heralded as the end-all, be-all cures for the state's woes.
The question is, however, which proposal should lawmakers focus their efforts on this legislative session: Reducing the corporate tax rate from nine percent to seven percent, as Governor Chafee advocated in his State of the State address, or reducing/eliminating the state's sales tax, an idea backed by a number of lawmakers in the House of Representatives?
Not Just a Hypothetical
The idea of pitting the lower corporate tax rate against the lowered sales tax rate is not just a hypothetical meant to spark workplace conversations around a water-cooler, it's been one of the leading topics of discussion for the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity (RICFP), a group that argues only one of the two proposals would have an immediate, lasting impact.
In an analysis done earlier this year, and promoted heavily on social media by the group last week, the organization says the true impact of the lowered corporate tax rate would be about 144 private sector jobs and local receipts of roughly four million dollars.
By contrast, the group says, eliminating the state's sales tax would create 23,873 jobs and be bring in $157.7 million locally.
Does that mean the state would be better served focusing on lowering its sales tax rate, which the non-profit organization the Tax Foundation says is the second-worst in the country, or reducing its corporate tax rate, which many economists argue is a leading roadblock to attracting new businesses?
It depends whom you ask.
Pros and Cons of Chafee's Corporate Tax Proposal
The concept of a lower corporate tax rate has been floating around the Rhode Island State House for years but it wasn't until Governor Chafee's State of the State speech that it truly picked up steam.
Experts on the state's economy all say the benefit of such a move is crystal clear and would go a long way in the state's efforts to create a business-friendly environment that could potentially attract a rash of new companies who otherwise would never have considered making Rhode Island their home.
Even the majority of the state's political leaders couldn't find fault with the concept.
But some question just how big the immediate impact would be as the proposal, as currently outlined, would not be revenue-neutral and would still leave some loopholes that could have a devastating impact on the state's efforts to turn itself around.
Gary Sasse, former Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) director, called Chafee's plan a "step in the right direction," but stopped short of fully endorsing it for this very reason.
As chair of the Governor's Tax Policy Strategy Group, Sasse helped write a report back in 2009 that concluded that the "modest changes in the Corporate Income Tax might be insufficient" and recommended "taking a more dramatic step" that would place Rhode Island in "the horizon of companies as they look toward economic recovery and renewed business activity."
The group said it favored a phased-in elimination of the corporate income tax outright and felt it would "distinguish Rhode Island from other states as being business friendly" and would be "striking enough to alter the negative perception of taxes in Rhode Island."
Sasse said the group concluded that eliminating the corporate income tax and replacing it with a franchise tax system featuring a tiered system based on a corporate net income would be the best result going forward but that's not the plan in place and one of the primary issues Sasse takes with the governor's current initiative.
"Lowering the corporate tax rate is a step in the right direction, it's not a negative thing, it's a positive thing," he said. "But then the question you have to ask is how are you going to pay for it and what impact do you think it will have on your competitive position? Those are the two questions."
The Sales Tax Issue
Opponents to a bill introduced by Representative Jan Malik and cosigned by Reps Brian Newberry, Joseph McNamara, Samuel Azzinaro, and Arthur Corvese that would completely eliminate the tax say it would leave the Ocean State with a $887 million hole to fill each year.
Supporters, meanwhile, say that the immediate impact would be felt as it would spur economic development by way of shopping and redirect money currently leaving to businesses in Massachusetts and Connecticut back into the Ocean State.
To this end, the RICFP says the budget gap is more in the $105 million range.
And that's why Malik, a liquor store owner, believes having the state legislature address the issue of Rhode Island's sales tax would go a lot further than any potential corporate tax reduction.
"I honestly think if you talk to any business that's affected by the state's sales tax issue, that is at a disadvantage to neighboring states, they will tell you and I will tell you, that we would rather see the sales tax lowered than the corporate tax go down," he said.
Sasse says reducing the state's sales tax is a more complicated issue than just dropping a number. He argues that the way to analyze what impact a change in the sales tax would have is through "dynamic forecasting," and even that strategy is troubled.
"What dynamic forecasting means is if I'm going to change the tax, I'm going to need to change behavior and that change in behavior and that change in behavior is going to make for more revenue to offset the price difference," he said. "But the problem with forecasting that way is the timeline is for two-three years, even if the dynamic forecasting is right and there are no economic changes, it takes time to catch up so you have a hole in the budget for that period of time which is a problem."
The second issue, Sasse says, is that the forecast is based on models and "those models are only as good as the assumptions that are put into them."
"That's a theoretical model that says if we do this, people's behaviors will change and this will happen and it's based on the lag period," he said. "How do you make up the revenue you forgo until economic habits change? That's the real issue with the sales tax proposal."
The Small Business Connundrum
For Malik, the choice is clear. The corporate tax reduction, he says, will predominately affect only larger businesses. Trimming or eliminating the sales tax, he argues, would not only benefit the state's small businesses but its residents as well.
Malik adds that, because the proposed lower corporate tax rate wouldn't reduce or eliminate the minimum corporate tax of $500 that most small businesses pay now, it would only affect larger corporations that may or may not decide to locate in the state.
The Barrington/Warren State Rep argues that Rhode Island is at a real, competitive disadvantage with neighboring states like Massachusetts right now and needs to spend more time dealing with hard facts than hypothetical business models when deciding what policies to focus on.
"What happens is if I'm on an even playing field with my neighboring community or my neighboring state, you can be competitive," he explains. "The tax on gas is 11 cents cheaper per gallon, there's a seven-percent difference in sales tax on liquor from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. There's a 0.75 percent sales tax from their 6.25 to our seven percent tax so people are shopping."
A Matter of Choice
Sasse says choosing which tax reduction to target is a complicated issue.
"It depends on what kind of industries you want to attract," he said. "If you want to attract manufacturing jobs, if you want to attract med/ed jobs, research jobs and you want to attract companies to produce, for example, medical devices, then you want to lower the corporate tax. That has a much more direct impact. If your objective is to try to attract more retail jobs, then it's the sales tax."
Sasse says he believes the tax choices a state makes have to be a part of a broader economic strategy.
"If you look at the jobs numbers, and this is pretty interesting, between the recession, and last month, we still have lost 22 percent of our manufacturing jobs, we've lost 35 percent of our construction jobs," he said. "We're gaining jobs in sectors that depend on government spending and we're losing jobs in sectors that depend on private investment so you want to change tax policy to incentivize companies to make private investment here and … it really depends on the type of company and the type of business sectors that you're trying to attract."
URI economist Dr. Len Lardaro agrees and says the state has to "totally reinvent itself" if it really wants to make a change.
"Our tax and cost structure consists of our taxes, fees, regulations, electricity costs, and most importantly, the lack of skills of our state's labor force," he said. "Given our fees, regulations, and inappropriately skilled labor force, the overall impact of changes in any particular tax will be somewhat muted since the world is not linear.
The impact of a lower corporate tax rate, for example, depends among other things on whether firms who want to locate or expand here are able to secure enough adequately skilled labor to fulfill their needs. As that is problematic, the effect of lowering our corporate tax rate will therefore have some positive effects, but not as many as one would observe in a state with a more competitive economic climate."
Something Must Be Done
"A gradual reduction in the corporate tax rate and the sales tax rate would be beneficial to Rhode Island businesses and citizens," said Dr. Edward M. Mazze, a professor of business administration at the University of Rhode Island. "The reductions would put the state in a better competitive position to attract and retain businesses. Our tax rates would then be competitive with the other New England states. This would a major boost to economic development in Rhode Island."
"In one sense this is a false alternative," said Susan Wynne, the President of the Rhode Island Tea Party. "Both reductions (or eliminations) are moral and just: they leave the money with the proper owners rather than 'redistribute it,' which means expropriate it. And both will help signal nationally that we are slowly opening the doors for free enterprise and capitalism to return to RI. Currently we are doing the opposite! We are running Hasbro, MetLife and possibly CVS jobs out of town with RI's notorious regulations and taxes."
Representative Doreen Costa agrees the topics are worth discussion but says it's entirely possible the General Assembly may not address either issue.
"Honestly the way things are going in this state it would be a small miracle if either were to happen," Costa said. "Legislators are too busy making gun laws, putting camera's at traffic lights, revoking voter ID laws and submitting legislation that in no way will help the taxpayer from what I have seen in hearings so far."
Mark Zaccaria, the head of the RI GOP, says Rhode Islanders should be clamoring for both proposals "given the long-term benefits," and hopes the ideas don't die out before getting serious consideration.
"Legislators are notorious for their short-term vision," he said. "If I had to suggest which order these two taxes should be cut I'd probably opt for the Corporate Tax first then the Sales Tax second (but) these benefits might take a year or more to be felt, and legislators don't have nerves of steel when it comes to waiting for results so nothing is easy."
Related Articles
- Chafee Proposes Lower Corporate Tax Rate
- Group Claims Eliminating Sales Tax Would Create Thousands of Jobs
- Doherty & Cicilline Battle Over Corporate Tax Rates
- Mass vs. RI: Sales Tax Wars
- NEW: Bill Would Reduce/Eliminate Minimum Corporate Tax
- State Reps: Time to Close Big Corporate Tax Loophole
- Chafee Not Backing Down on Sales Tax Proposal
- Dan Lawlor: Sales Tax of Doom
- Don Roach: RI Sales Tax Needs to go
- Don Roach: Rhode Island Needs a Sales Tax Holiday


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Child will disappear soonAccording to Media Life Magazine, "Meredith is closing Child, one of five titles it picked up from Gruner + Jahr in 2005. Its June/July issue will be its last and 30 people will lose their jobs. It will remain as an internet destination, explains a Meredith spokesperson. "We felt in the long term as a brand it would be more sustainable as an online product. It's something we've been looking at for a while."
Overall the parenting category has been suffering for some time as both readers and advertisers migrated online, and that suffering has only been heightened by the entry of two new titles, Cookie, from Conde Nast, and Wondertime, from Disney.
Ad pages for the parenting category were down by 11.1 percent through February after finishing 2006 essentially flat, and Child in particular was suffering, with ad pages down 15.2 percent in 2006 and 33.7 percent for the first two months of 2007. Child's circulation was also on the slide, falling down 18.5 percent for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2006, versus the year-earlier period."
Article here.


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February 14, 2014
With tax season in full swing, you are likely busy compiling all of your tax documents and expense receipts to support the preparation of your return. When you think about it, there is a lot you can learn from preparing to file your tax return. It provides the perfect snapshot of where you stand financially, which can offer important insights into your money management habits. While there are many different components that impact your finances, three key questions to consider when it comes to your taxes include:
Are You Saving Enough for Retirement?
You can tell by looking at your tax return whether you made the maximum allowable contribution to tax-advantaged retirement saving options. If you didn't this year, you may want to consider looking into setting up a Roth IRA, or another eligible investment account. Business owners who have SEP-IRAs but aren't making their full contribution may also want to increase them.
Did You Maximize All Available Tax Deductions and Credits?
There are some deductions and tax credits that many taxpayers are aware of, and many more that they are not. By taking the time to review your tax return with our firm you can learn about all of the options you have available to you to lower your tax obligations.
How Should You Use Your Refund?
In addition to making sure that you take the appropriate steps to maximize your tax refund, you should also consider what you do with it once you receive it. One option is to have your refund deposited directly into a savings or retirement account, effectively reducing the temptation to spend it right away. Another smart use for your refund is to use it to pay down any debts that you may have.
If you have questions about your financial situation, remember that we can help. Our team of financial professionals are dedicated to working with clients like you throughout the year to help you ensure that your tax return represents the financial picture you desire.
Using Your Client Organizer
How to Review My 1040
Using File Exchange
Using Your 1040 Tax Portal
29 Hollister Road
Whitehall, NY 12887-4229
Phone: 518-499-2072
Fax: 888-MARY CPA
The combination of running a business and your life and preparing for tax time can drive some people into a slight panic. But no need to get stressed if you are prepared. Now is the time to start organizing all documents required to file your tax return.
Like the old paraphrased saying goes: In this world, two things are certain—death and taxes. The recent federal tax overhaul changed a lot of rules, so it's as important as ever to understand your tax obligations, including those on Social Security benefits.
Unfortunately, cyber scammers never take a vacation. In fact, the IRS has issued a warning of a surge in fraudulent emails that bait potential phishing victims with fake tax transcripts. Links within these emails lead recipients to documents containing the well-known malware, Emotet.


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Peter Butterman's 'Quitting Jobs I Don't Have' video has become an internet hit.
The three-minute clip sees him walking up to shop and fast food counters and 'quitting' while secretly being filmed.
In some scenes, Butterman is able to convince staff he works there before they realised they were being pranked. The video has gone viral and has attracted over 260,000 views on YouTube.
Watch the prank below:
> Teen's prank text accidentally sent to police
> Football elevator prank - watch video


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For those suffering from ski withdrawal during the summer months there is fresh powder calling south of the equator.
I've chased the winter twice in past summers on two different continents, and during my time in the Andes on the Argentine side, I experienced some of my finest days on snow. While everything initially seemed to move at a slower pace, the culture was rich, the terrain was unique, and the food was first-class. There were several aspects of the experience skiing in Argentina that made it one of a kind.
The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching about 7,000 kilometres. I spent most days hiking in the Cerro Catedral resort where backcountry is easily accessed, up to massive granite spires that led to either wide-open alpine powder bowls or steep couloirs, followed by moss-filled Palmero forests, with perfectly spaced bamboo trees.
When the snow wasn't stable and the avalanche risk was high, I enjoyed my time in the resort. Chairlift rides were always amusing opportunities to practice my broken Spanish with patient, friendly locals, who were more than keen to divulge travel secrets of their country. While ripping down the mountain in the resort, I occasionally skied into military training zones, full of soldiers, dressed in camouflaged helmets, jackets, and snow pants.
As I ordered empanadas and Quilmes beer during ski après, mobs of Brazilian tourists who had never seen snow before jumped out of tour buses, eager to start snowball fights. The flamboyant vibe coupled with the laissez-faire attitude added to the adventure. The pace in South America could be slow — or tranquilo, as they say in Spanish — but the experience is authentic and genuine.
Besides the terrain that South America has to offer and the joy of being immersed in a different culture, there's something else that makes the ski experience in the Andes not only highly desirable, but 100 per cent unique in comparison to a ski trip in North America: During the off-season, several North American pro skiers and snowboarders, as well as the ski industry's top mountain guides, flock to South America to coach at adult ski camps.
Joining one of these camps not only ensures that itinerary details are sorted out for you, but also allows you to receive some of the best coaching a skier could possibly get, at an affordable cost. From participating in a big mountain ski camp, I learned how to ski steeps from some of the top professional freeskiers in the world and how to make calculated decisions in the backcountry from some of the most knowledgeable off-piste guides and avalanche forecasters on the planet.
Skiing in South America isn't only for the hardcore extreme skier. It's an experience for anybody with an open mind, a passion for learning, and a craving for snow. If you're feeling adventurous and haven't had enough of winter, maybe now is time to start waxing the skis and packing the bags for winter again.


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Having probably sat through 6-months of training in my 17-year career, I have been exposed to some very targeted well thought through training and I have sat through some pretty shocking soul destroying death by PowerPoint courses. So in my humble opinion (which if you haven't already worked this blogging thing out, is why you are reading this) these are my top tips:
- Native English speakers make the best presenters to a multi-language audience
- The human brain can only absorb information in 45-minute bursts at best.
- The total presentation time in any one day cannot exceed 6-hours
- If it takes 50-slides to get a message across, then start your slides again
- The biggest value from any training might not be the training material, so plan for networking
- If the font on the slide is less than 18 to accommodate the amount of words you need, use less words!
- Spreadsheets don't copy and paste well into PowerPoint slides
- Speakers always over-run so allow catch-up time in the agenda
- Allow people time to recover from the 'networking' the night before, so no 8.00am starts
- Employ a charismatic host, any session needs levity and humour...
If you follow these simple steps then it won't necessarily be an amazing training course, but at least the people taking it will not be asleep or be constantly planning their escape from every session...


text: hello, we just ordered/confirmed last week and have included the premium lighting. just a quick question to the owners out there that have this feature - do the interior lights work in combination with the headlights, or are they on all the time? also, i hear people complaining about lack of lighting in the trunk - does premium lighting add any more light to that area (it does not say so on Tesla's description, but thought i'd ask).


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Somewhere along the way the people of the past few generations have decided that it is ok to sacrifice health, fitness, happiness, and really overall wellness. We have swapped these things for money, expensive toys and gadgets, stress, climbing the corporate ladder, crammed schedules, less sleep, bigger houses, faster cars, endless hours in front of the TV, and fast food. We are also become a society of loners. Our communication continues it's progression towards completely non-intimate. We've gone from spending time with one another, to talking to each other on the phone, to using instant messenger, then to text messaging, and now we don't even customize our communication anymore (i.e. Twitter post or Facebook status, where we just make very short broad statements for all to see). This is not a slight against technology. Technology has it's place and many of these tools are wonderful to maintain relationships when separated by distance. It does seem however, that we are attempting to customize technology in a fashion so we no longer have to leave our homes, move around, or interact with anyone. I suggest we take a step back and re-evaluate. What factors are essential to our overall well being?
Food & Nutrition
Food is the cornerstone of society, our days are often based around meal times. We get a great deal of enjoyment out of eating. Eating can be an emotional release or an emotional hide out. A great deal of our social interaction is based around meals. Food is also the building block of our lives…through food our bodies & mind get the nourishment needed to function, grow, and even exceed others. I think most people would agree on the importance of eating, so the question is, why do we eat foods we know our bodies do not want? Why do we eat foods of which we are unsure of the origin? Why do we eat foods that, well…are barely food at all? There is a common myth out there that eating healthy foods and eating delicious foods are mutually exclusive. This is absolutely false. My goal is to make everyone understand the importance of eating the right foods, and for everyone to get the maximum possible enjoyment out of eating healthy, delicious, REAL, food.
Movement, Exercise, Play
As technology advances we become more and more sedentary in our lives. We now live in a culture that sees walking as exercise. This is a pretty disturbing thing…walking is part of being a person….this probably shouldn't be our only form of exercise. We spend the majority of our time sitting in front of computers or on the couch watching TV, without realizing the detrimental effect sitting has on our body. People are not designed to sit, particularly for long periods of time. Exercise & movement have benefits far outreaching weight loss. When we exercise and sweat we flush out toxins, we strengthen our bodies systems (cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, etc…), and we stimulate chemicals in our bodies that make us feel better!
Rest, Relaxation, Fun
This is overarching. In the three items above, these four items SHOULD all be encountered. Some of the combinations sound a bit odd, but is it not relaxing and restful to sit around the dinner table after a delicious meal? Is a slow walk or a relaxing swim not restful and relaxing? Exercise should not be grinding away on a treadmill or at some massive $5,000 weight machine, it should be fun and playful!
Community, "Tribes", Interaction
Human interaction has been a part of life for millions of years. People are stronger in numbers and we thrive in a community setting. Even in the animal kingdom there are very few animals that go it alone…the majority exist in packs, prides, flocks, etc. Being around others drives REAL emotions & brings happiness (and sometimes negative emotions too…but we need those as well). So many times we see collective groups far exceed their aggregate individual talents, we have seen sports teams with inferior abilities topple the best of the best through teamwork and a chemistry they have forged. It is upsetting to me that we seem to be losing the connection to community. People now would rather drive all the way to the store than ask a neighbor for an egg or a can opener, we skip a personal visit in favor of discussion via the internet, we settle for TV rather than meeting a group of friends for a drink or for conversation. The encouragement and confidence gained from a strong community is very valuable, and we need to resist draw of individualism.
So where do we start?
Food & Nutrition: EAT REAL FOOD! Go back to the way men ate for millions of years. Meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and fruits should be the mainstays. Enjoy the process of food…Go talk to a local butcher or farmer or get to know the person at the meat counter at whole foods or the grocery store, learn to cook (and make it a family affair), turn the TV off and eat dinner with the family or others, slow down and enjoy each bite. Try to know where the food comes from, try to buy local. Don't buy foods where you are unsure of what certain ingredients are (i.e. cabon diaxylase or some crazy ingredients that sound like they came from your Chemistry class). Don't let the social pressures defer your eating. Skip the cake at work. Find a support partner who will also try to eat healthy…and skip the cake with them!
Exercise & Movement: Make it fun, varied, sometimes challenging, and sometimes relaxing. Somehow we started confusing exercise with punishment or unpleasantness. Remember how to play, run and jump, throw and catch, swim, run slow, run fast, climb, row, whatever brings a smile to your face or lets you feel free. Go to the gym, lift weights, play a sport, join a league, or run a race. The potential here is endless. Just don't fall into the trap of couch + TV. We often here the phrase, "it takes money to make money". Well, this can also be applied to exercise and movement in that it takes energy to make energy. You might be surprised how good you might feel if you just get up and move around a little. Personal training is a great way to get started and to start getting in shape with some human connection.
Rest, Relaxation, Fun: Don't forget to unwind. We don't always have to be doing something. Turn on some music, turn off the TV, and just sit and relax. Turn of the cell phones and the TV and have a great conversation. Trade back massages with your significant other. Go to bed early. Take a catnap. Let yourself feel at ease once in a while.
Community: Buck the trend. Unplug a little bit, leave the iphone in another room, skip a TV show. Set up meetings or meet-ups with people of similar interests. Have neighborhood cookouts or parties. Ditch the big gym membership and join a smaller community. Develop your community…get to know the guy who fixes your car, the librarian, and the barista. Support local Cincinnati business…buy local if you can afford it, help others. Surround yourself with people that are good influences, people with similar goals, and people that challenge and inspire you.
It doesn't have to be a drastic change, but think about a few of these things and how they can improve your overall wellness starting TODAY!


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Next came a video presentation of the Dawes sisters. They played Fall Fun as a duet while several pictures of the girls were displayed on the big screen.
A brief intermission followed in which the audience helped themselves to flavored popcorn and soda which was consumed during the silent movie which followed.
Students played Christmas carols as the silent movie, Twas the Night Before Christmas played on the big screen. The movie was produced in 1905 and was fun to watch as well as listen to.


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- Visit
- Explore
- Preservation
- School & Youth
- Get Involved
This album includes photomechanical prints of elevations, perspective drawings, and photographs of civic and residential buildings by the architectural firm of John Spofford and Charles Brigham. It was produced in 1894. The album documents the Methodist Church in Everett, Mass.; the State House in Augusta, Maine; the Washburn residence in Melrose, Mass.; and the Shaler House in Brookline, Mass. See pages 8, 13, 18, and 32 for wallpaper. The album also includes proposed plans for homes and hotels. Of particular interest are buildings in Lewiston and Bangor, Maine and residential work in Boston suburbs including Waltham. The album also includes advertisments related to architectural subjects.
elevations (building divisions)
exterior elevations
interior views
exterior views
architecture (discipline)
renderings (drawings)
photograph albums
album number 40
1 photograph album
Photograph albums collection
Everett (Middlesex county, Massachusetts)
Augusta (Kennebec county, Maine)
Melrose (Middlesex county, Massachusetts)
Brookline (Norfolk county, Massachusetts)
Maine (United States)
Waltham (Middlesex county, Massachusetts)
Brigham and Spofford, Architects (Architect)
photograph albums
Strickland, Charles Rutan, Mr., 1907-1991
Spofford, John Calvin, 1854-1936
Brigham, Charles, 1841-1925
Everett, Mass
Augusta, Maine
Melrose, Mass
Brookline, Mass
Lewiston, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Waltham, Mass


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Milky Butter Churn 1 Gal
New design Milky Butter Churn has moved the motor to the side yet remains simple in design and convenient to operate. The transparent cover makes it possible to visually monitor the butter churning process. A safety feature turns off the motor when the cover is removed. The cover has a hole for adding cold water for washing the butter while the motor is on and the bottom of the cream container has an outlet for draining. The churn will handle from 1 to 4 liters of cream. Instruction booklet included.
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President Barack Obama said on Thursday he reserves the right to step up American military and diplomatic efforts to push out Syria's Bashar Assad, but warned he has "no magic formula" to end that country's civil war. Speaking at a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama also played down the prospects of unilateral U.S. action.
"There are a whole range of options that the United States is already engaged in, and I preserve the options of taking additional steps—both diplomatic and military," Obama said.
But "there's no magic formula for dealing with an extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria's," he continued. "If there was, I think the prime minister and I would have already acted on it and it would already be finished."
Obama is under pressure from Congress to escalate America's role in Syria, where fighting has claimed an estimated 70,000 lives. Sens. Robert Menendez and Bob Corker, the top Democrat and Republican, respectively, on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced legislation on Wednesday encouraging the White House to arm rebels fighting to topple Assad.
The pressure has increased ever since the White House disclosed that U.S. intelligence had evidence that Assad used chemical weapons, apparently crossing a "red line" Obama set last year. But the president has taken a cautious approach to ramping up America's participation. On Thursday, he said that "the sooner the better" when it comes to Assad losing power—while playing down prospects for unilateral American action.
"It is very much my hope to continue to work with all the various parties involved, including Turkey, to find a solution that brings peace to Syria, stabilizes the region, stabilizes those chemical weapons," Obama said. "But it's not going to be something that the United States does by itself. And I don't think anybody in the region, including the prime minister, would think that U.S. unilateral actions in and of themselves would bring about a better outcome inside of Syria."
And he defended his refusal to respond militarily to the apparent use of chemical weapons.
"With respect to what I've said in the past around red lines: What I've said is that the use of chemical weapons are something that the civilized world has recognized should be out of bounds," Obama said. "And as we gather more evidence and work together, my intention is to make sure that we're presenting everything that we know to the international community as an additional reason, an additional mechanism, for the international community to put all the pressure that they can on the Assad regime, and to work with the opposition to bring about that political transition."


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"I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am!!!"
If you didn't, you're not alone. I DIDN'T and now I'm paying the price. Woke up yesterday and was face to face with a giant flu bug.
Okay, stuff happens...The flu is the reason I'm a day late with this week's blog.
Let me please call your attention to the headline at the top of this page. That's the title of a song that was a big hit for Merle Haggard, a guy I had the pleasure of M.C.-ing a show of his 6 or 7 years ago. This song was also recorded on Dean Martin's album, "Dean Martin on Reprise". I love both versions.
I begin this blog with a few personal responses that is unusual for me. I have graciously turned down interviews in the past because I'm one of those "Just do the Work" kind of guys.
At the risk of of you great readers saying, "Bor-ring", I'm going to admit to something I did that I was "called out" on which was careless on my part and to clarify a thing or two about some things I've been quiet about.
I know. This has "boring" written all over it, doesn't it?
During my radio and television days, I wrote a lot of commentaries that were seen and heard. I was lucky enough to have been awarded a few gold statues for some of these commentaries. I was never (correctly) challenged for being wrong about anything I wrote or said because I was very careful.
A couple or so weeks ago, I was challenged by a guy who said I was wrong about a couple of things I had written and he chose to forward his complaint to a lot of other people while suggesting I might be a guy who makes up a lot of stuff in these blogs that I write. I'm not going to mention his name, but I will say I was surprised by what he decided to do because I had voiced some free image liners for his online radio station and when he wanted me to say nice things about a book he had written, I did that (for him) on two radio stations. Uh, huh. Classic example of "No good deed goes unpunished", right? In this case, it was "deeds", but who's counting? What bothered me about this was him not simply bringing up his correction complaint to me about two mistakes he was sure I made. In this case, he was right about one thing and wrong about the other. He was also ticked off because of some things I had written about "Colonel" Tom Parker, but that will be covered a little later here.
Those of us who have been part of the Los Angeles radio community lost one of our favorite members when Bill Mouzis passed away recently. I wrote several items about Bill in these blogs and I had the pleasure of communicating with him often about politics and military things because he and I were "brothers". Before finishing two or three paragraphs about him in one of the blogs I wrote, I told him I was planning on referring to him as having been a "highly decorated" soldier and would he be cool with that? He laughed and said, "Write what you want!". Right after Bill died, I wrote another piece about him. Before I began writing I spoke with a guy who (unintentionally) gave me bad information when he said that Bill had been stationed at Pearl Harbor. The person who told me this thought it was true, I accepted what he said as being truthful and printed it. The person who complained about this was right and I felt like an idiot. There was another person who lives walking distance from me I could have contacted for verification (or not) about Pearl Harbor, but for reasons I'll never know, I didn't.
Shame, shame on me! The truth? Bill Mouzis was supposed to be in Pearl Harbor, but his orders were changed and the rest, as they say, is history. Later on, Bill was discharged from the military because of injuries he had suffered.
Right now I feel a need to clear something else up.
Are we bored yet?
Bill liked to talk about a 2-hour Gene Autry special he produced. Yes, he did do that, but along the way he seemed to have either forgotten something or there were things he didn't know.
There was a Gene Autry special that was done more than 7 or 8 years earlier than that. The person chosen to do that by Gene Autry his own self, was me. It was a 7-hour special. I had a staff of three. Me, KMPC Engineer Bob Maryon and KMPC Program Assistant, Marilyn Covington. I sent Marilyn to Nashville and her mission was to try to talk every Nashville star she could find into coming on the phone with me so that our conversation(s) could be recorded. Marilyn was a beautiful young woman, those Nashville hound dogs couldn't resist her and she would later become the love of my life. But that's another story. I decided on what would be played and when, but Bob Maryon, in addition to being great at editing, also had some great ideas about "order".
The people who ended up on that special were a number of our presidents, (Ronald Reagan participated just before he won his first election), singing stars like Frank Sinatra who of course did it "his way" and big name actors who had worked with and or were friends with "The Singing Cowboy".
I mention all this because Bill never said that the famous people he had on the special he produced were people that I had interviewed. I'm assuming that the people who lifted those interviews from my special simply forgot to tell Bill.
Because of the length of what I just finished writing, I'm going to hold off on "Colonel" Parker and Elvis stuff, buuut...In a future blog, I'll tell you some Elvis related stories, some "Colonel" Parker stories that are in best selling books, stories about Parker that were told to me by people who were in charge of "who sat where" at Elvis shows and my invitation to see Elvis at "The International" in the first week of his "comeback" in 1969.
As you probably know, we have a killer on the loose here in the Southern California area. A killer who used to be a cop and a guy who's made it very clear that he wants to kill more cops and family members of cops. So far, he's killed three people that we know of with guns.
And speaking of guns...I think that most of you are familiar with the name Jim Lampley. I call him, "Mr. Boxing". In a note he sent to me recently, Lampley reminded me that he and I have been friends for 25+years, he's a regular reader of this blog, but he also made it clear there could be limits to his blog reading if I don't (in essence) drop the "Hammer" on the N.R.A.
In the past, I've been a supporter of the NRA folks, but like a lot of other people who have been supporters, I find myself saying things like, "Hmmmmm" when I read or hear something said by NRA leaders that amounts to, "Our way or the highway" positions.
Yo, NRA folks. Chill it with this nonsense about our government taking your guns away from you. Ain't gonna happen. For me personally, I know it ain't gonna happen where I live. Let's live with tougher "background checks" for openers. To take the position that no "changes" are acceptable is an idiot's position. I mean look at all these gun killings we keep reading about.
You hear about what the Postal service is going to do? Sometime in August, unless something changes, we will no longer be getting mail on Saturdays except for packages.
Are you paying attention to this business involving the Boy Scouts? Delaying a possible "acceptance decision" regarding gays? And am I the only one who wonders if the reason for this might be because they are trying to make sure they've gotten rid of all the pedophile "leaders"?
First of all, if you would like to read what I think is the best daily radio column in America, I call your attention to the daily column written by Jack Roberts here in Los Angeles. I mean, this guy hasn't taken long at all to become THE column to read if you care about the radio and music business. How can YOU read his column. Very simple; www.hollywoodhillsgroup.com Once you check it out, you'll be thanking me.
Do you plan to watch the Grammy Awards this Sunday? It'll be on CBS and a lot of big stars will be performing.
I saw three new films this past week. "Bullet to the Head", starring Sly Stallone, "Gangster Squad", starring an all-star cast and "Girls against Boys", starring Danielle Panabaker and Nicole LaLiberte.
I thought "Bullet to the Head" was fun, "Gangster Squad" was more fun (I love you, Emma Stone) and that "Girls against Boys" was mind blowing. Heavy, heavy stuff. Not for everyone, but done well.
THOUGHTS AND OR COMMENTS: Please write to me at firstname.lastname@example.com and I'll respond to you ASAP. Don't write to the blog because there's no way for me to know your email address which means I wouldn't be able to respond to you. I respond to everyone unless you refer to yourself as "Anonymous". Those emails are ignored.
THE NEXT BLOG? Barring unforeseen circumstances, next Thursday (Valentine's Day) night, February 14 or very early Friday morning, February 15.
Meanwhile, I hope that all of you have a very pleasant weekend, a very nice Valentine's Day and don't forget...


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Definition of Misjudged
1. Verb. (past of misjudge) ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Misjudged
1. misjudge [v] - See also: misjudge
Misjudged Pictures
Click the following link to bring up a new window with an automated collection of images related to the term: Misjudged Images
Lexicographical Neighbors of Misjudged
Literary usage of Misjudged
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Life of Thomas Jefferson by Henry Stephens Randall (1871)
"Ike President's Inconsistency in respect to France—His Embarrassments—His misjudged Course towards General Washington—He casts away Washington's ..."
2. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut [1636-1776] by Connecticut, Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut Council, James Hammond Trumbull, Connecticut Council of Safety, Charles Jeremy Hoadly (1880)
"Complaining that the jury therein erred and misjudged, and praying for a new tryal of said action, etc., as by the petition on file: It is thereupon and ..."
3. Trilby by George Du Maurier (1894)
"I've misjudged you so, and been so unjust, that I would give worlds to make you some amends . . . besides, I should be just as fond of you if you'd ..."
4. Curran and His Contemporaries by Charles Phillips (1850)
"He misjudged when he transferred himself to the English Parliament. He forgot that he was an oak of the forest, too old and too great to be transplanted at ..."
5. The Life of the Lord Jesus Christ: A Complete Critical Examination of the by Johann Peter Lange (1864)
"MARY, THE misjudged AND JUSTIFIED. (i. 18-25.) Issuing from the deep concealment of their humble circum- . stances, Mary and Joseph, the two scions of the ..."
6. The Philippines to the End of the Military Régime: America Overseas by Charles Burke Elliott (1916)
"... Days of the Empire Nature of the War—Filipinos misjudged—Aguinaldo at Zenith of Power— The Malolos Congress His Creature—Character of Leaders—Encouraged ..."


text:
From: Jakob Heckert (email@example.com)
Date: Thu Apr 25 1996 - 09:55:23 EDT
I agree with Noam Hendren. On b-HEbrew I should not have to hide the fact
that I am a Christian as long as I don't foist my position on other
participants. Blessings.
On Mon, 22 Apr 1996, Noam & Joan Hendren wrote:
> Leonard Berkowitz wrote:
> >>In a message dated 96-04-20 02:21:32 EDT, firstname.lastname@example.com (Martin
> >>Jackson) writes:
> >>>>The listserv will not be used as a theological debate forum.
> >>and then he signs his note:
> >>>>I look forward to discussing BibleWorks with you. Any questions can be
> >>>>directed to list manager Martin Jackson, firstname.lastname@example.com OR
> >>>>email@example.com.
> >>>>In Christ,
> >>That theological signature is not appropriate to b-hebrew.
> I think we should allow people to signoff as they are accustomed to without
> trying to "homogenize" all the contributors. One's signature is a form of
> personal identification and should not be construed as an imposition on
> anyone else's conscience. Furthermore, as to what is or is not
> "appropriate to b-hebrew," I would like to quote from the "Welcome to
> b-hebrew" message which I received from the list owner when I signed on:
> "The list is sponsored by the the Center for Christian Study, an
> independent Christian ministry at the University of Virginia. The Center
> for Christian Study has been dedicated to providing quality Christian
> Education since its inception in 1976. The main purposes of the Center
> are to maintain a caring University outreach ministry and to encourage
> Christians (and others) to think seriously about the Christian faith.
> If you wish more information about the Center for Christian Study please
> write:
> The Center for Christian Study
> 128 Chancellor Street
> Charlottesville, VA 22903
> (804) 295-2471
> Questions about this conference may be directed to David John Marotta."
> Somehow I doubt that the list owner will kick Martin off the list for the
> inappropriateness of his "In Christ." On the contrary, I deeply appreciate
> this organization for providing a forum where we can discuss issues from
> any faith (or non-faith) perspective, without imposing its own position on
> any of us.
> Noam Hendren
> Kfar Saba, Israel
> "Tolerance is a two-way street--If we want it, we've gotta give it!"
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:37:41 EDT


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James Cooke Brown (July 21, 1921 - February 13, 2000) was a sociologist and science fiction author. He is noted for creating the artificial language Loglan and for designing the Parker Brothers board game Careers.
He passed away in a hospital in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, halfway through a cruise round South America.
1. He designed the game Careers, and a re-design, expanding the
three original goals of Fame, Happiness and Money by adding Wisdom,
Power and one that I forget. For instance, the richest source of
Wisdom is "The Mountain-Top of the Hermit", and the richest source
of power is the NORAD command center (if you push the button to
launch the missiles).
The re-design was never published, but I had a chance to play a
prototype in the mid-1970's.
2. He published a Utopia novel (thinly disguised as science fiction)
entitled The Troika Incident. It influenced my political and
economic ideas.
3. He invented the synthetic language "Loglan". It's a fascinating
language; read about it on the web (search for both "Loglan" and
"Lojban"—there was a schism).
I think that is a "golden triad": Wisdom, Power and... Money.


text:
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) --One person was killed in a crash on the West Loop near Bellaire early Saturday morning.
It happened on the southbound lanes at Beechnut around 2 a.m.
The collision involved a white pick up truck and black SUV.
Investigators say the driver of the white pick up was going the wrong way and slammed head-on into the SUV.
The driver of the SUV was killed. The person driving the truck was not hurt.
Officials on the scene say the driver will be charged with intoxication manslaughter.
A portion of the West Loop was closed for nearly six hours following the crash. It reopened just before 8 a.m.
Eyewitness News reporter Pooja Lodhia is live at the scene of the collision and will have updates on ABC13.
Report a typo to the ABC13 staff
Police say the driver of the white pick-up will be charged with intoxication manslaughter. He was not injured. The other driver died. pic.twitter.com/QdV2Yvwu4L— Pooja Lodhia (@PoojaOnTV) August 12, 2017


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Find the recipe here.
This week I'm doing a tiny little sugar fast until Friday. I usually disapprove of such craziness. In fact, generally I'm sort of a moderation snob if I'm any kind of a snob at all. But ever since Christmas, the sugar in this house has been out of control. Usually I consider that a problem my kids have, but lately I've gone from my bit of dark chocolate after dinner to two large pieces of chocolate after dinner, oh and maybe a brownie after lunch, and a few bites throughout the day, and let's not forget that lick of Nutella off the spoon. It kind of adds up and I was starting to crave sugar, which seems like a bad sign. So I thought to myself, "I'm just going to take a breather until I go to my friend's baby shower on Friday."
Taking a breather has been embarrassingly hard. I've got to say if you can't do a tiny little sugar fast, you've probably got a tiny little sugar problem. Hopefully, a few days of abstinence will nip it in the bud and I can go back to my slice of dark chocolate at night. But let me tell you this post didn't help.
Oh, sure, it needed doing. Last week when I made these Coconut Lime Cupcakes for my friend's birthday, I looked up the recipe and saw my sad little pictures for this fantastic bit of cake. That just didn't seem right. So I took new, prettier pictures in an effort to do them justice. And now I'm blerging and drooling all over the keyboard. Oh dear.
You can leave them plain like this. They're perfectly delicious.
But to doll them up for my friend, I mixed up a bit of lime zest and a bit of coconut. It was pretty and delicious.


text:
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text:
Danbury-area Democrats join Clinton's state team
Bartlett, D-Bethel, said while he has favored Clinton for more than a year, he also respects Sen. Chris Dodd and waited for him to withdraw from the race before throwing his support behind Clinton.
"She has the experience and is ready to make an impact," Bartlett said. "She has positioned herself well on the issues and knows what it takes to run a successful campaign."
Bartlett said he also supports Clinton's efforts on universal health care, education and the economy.
"Most folks are predicting that we are close to a recession and we need a change of course," he said.
Also named to the committee are Debbie Devauz, Kent's tax collector, Stan Madaloni, a Ridgefield businessman, and Susan D. Cocco, chairman of Ridgefield's Democratic Town Committee.
"I chose to support Hillary because her campaign is a historic breaking of the glass ceiling for American women and she is the person who can really make change happen," Cocco said. "She's the right choice for Connecticut and the right choice for the nation."
Both Bartlett and Cocco said the committee has a lot of work to do before the presidential primary in Connecticut on Feb. 5. The committee is responsible for organizing volunteers in the state and "get out the vote" efforts.
Bartlett said he has met with Democrat town committee members in Bethel and Redding and plans to meet with Danbury members on Monday to urge their support for Clinton.
"We will work as the liaisons between the national campaign and the Connecticut voters," Bartlett said. "I'm very excited to have such a good team that was put together in such a short period of time."
Cocco noted more than 3,500 residents throughout the state have already signed on to work as volunteers for the campaign. An organizing meeting open to anyone interested in volunteering will be held on Saturday in Wallingford. The meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Bricklayers Union Hall at 17 North Plains Industrial Road.
Anyone who is interested in participating in the committee's activities can contact Bartlett by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com or by e-mailing email@example.com.
Contact Dirk Perrefort at email@example.com
or at (203) 731-3358.


text:
PLASTIKARD is a specially balanced composition of a number of ingredients, each one of which is chosen to provide certain properties. The resulting material is tough yet flexible. This amazing sheet plastic is produced to very fine tolerances of thickness, is damp proof, and is not affected by normal climatic changes. It bonds almost instantly with a suitable solvent and nothing seems impossible with PLASTIKARD and MEK-PAK, the perfect bonding medium.
PLASTIKARD has no grain so the edge of a cut is always clean and sharp. It is ideally suited to all forms of model making: architectural, railways, boats, military, etc., and is extensively used in Art and Handicrafts. It is far ahead of any other medium for all model-making purposes. In short, there is no model, which can be made from card, paper or wood, and in many cases, metal, which could not be made quicker and better in PLASTIKARD. The speed at which models can be constructed using MEK-PAK for fixing is positively staggering!


text:
Mary O'Neill bouyant after her birdie on the 18th
After months of meticulous preparation, the National Strokeplay Championships got underway on Saturday July 10th at Cunnigar. Everything was in place for the most important weekend in the club's 20 year history. The course was in perfect condition, the clubhouse was immaculate, the competitors were gathered…..and the heavens opened. Despite looking like a scene from 'The Poseidon Adventure' the course was deemed playable, and play commenced at 9am.
In the Junior Section, after 2 gruelling rounds in driving rain, there was great anticipation in the clubhouse as Cunnigar provided four of the six players in the final 18. Corinne Mcgee (Cunnigar) posted a superb 59 to be clubhouse leader on + 29 and it was up to the final pairing of Mary O'Neill (Cunnigar) and Jacinta Nugent (Tipperary Hills) to displace her. With a final round of 62 Mary O'Neill was a comprehensive winner on a score of +25 while her playing partner Jacinta Nugent had to be content with 3rd place. Breda O'Donnell and Stella Kinsella also played fantastic pitch and putt to finish in the top 6.
It was a fantastic achievement to have three of our competitors achieving National honours both for themselves and for the club. Congratulations to all!
Final ResultsResult Junior:
1st Mary O'Neill (Cunnigar) +25
2nd Corinne McGee (Cunnigar) +29
3rd Jacinta Nugent (Tipperary Hills) +31
Result Intermediate:
1st Bernie Somers (Cloghogue) +12
2nd Donna Cockwell (Cunnigar) +14 (on final 18)
3rd Kathleen Carton (Kilbeggan) +14
Result Senior
1st Geraldine Ward (Portmarnock) -15
2nd Tracey McGrath (Erry) -5
3rd Margaret Hogan (Tullamore) -4,
All in all, our hosting of these National Championships was an overwhelming success. It would be impossible to mention all the people who made this possible. Suffice it to say that we can take collective pride in what we achieved over the past 6 months. The club will benefit from our efforts for years to come.


text:
Touchpads are no longer revolutionary. But they are still not flawless either. The ones we've managed to test so far have all fallen seriously short of being the best thing since sliced bread. However, our experience with LG KF600 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona revealed a huge step forward for touchpad-navigated devices. You can imagine we were more than eager to make a full review of the handset. Luckily, the pre-release unit we got was good enough for that purpose. So, here we go.
Key features:
- 2" 256K-color TFT LCD display of QVGA resolution
- 1.49" 256K-color TFT 176 x 240 pixel InteractPad
- 3.15 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
- Tri-band GSM/EDGE support
- Bluetooth and USB v2.0
- Cool additional themes by Keith Haring
- FM radio
- Cool games