Some online retailers are rethinking their Web sites in light of a recent federal court ruling that says they must by more accessible to the blind.
In a class-action lawsuit filed in Berkeley, Calif., by the National Federation of the Blind, a federal district court judge ruled that the Target online shopping site, which has no audio component, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and could be sued.
The retail giant had sought to have the case thrown out on the grounds that its site didn't constitute a "place" and, as such, was not covered by disability-access laws.
"To limit the ADA to discrimination in the provision of services occurring on the premises of a public accommodation would contradict the plain language of that statute," U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel wrote on Sept. 9, allowing the case to proceed.
Despite the ruling, which applies only to businesses with both online and brick-and-mortar outlets, Patel rejected a request for a preliminary injunction that would have required Target to update its site immediately, saying more time was needed to weigh the retailer's claim that its site was already accessible to the average blind person.
Blind Internet users normally access Web sites using keyboards and screen-reading software, according to the National Federation of the Blind, an advocacy group based in Baltimore.
The group claims Target.com contains "thousands of access barriers," including a lack of alt-tags embedded beneath its images that would allow screen-reading software to give blind users a vocal description of the contents, according to papers filed in court.
"For blind people, the Internet is a great place to shop, because Web sites are usually far more accessible than stores," said John Pare, the group's spokesman.
Pare noted that most online retail sites are accessible to the blind, and those that aren't are generally quick to fix any obstacles. "Usually, they're unaware that there's a problem, and once we let them know they're happy to make changes," Pare said.
Kathy Wahlbin, the director of user-experience services at Mindshare Interactive Campaigns, a Washington-based e-commerce consultancy firm, said that when it comes to accessibility, most online retailers face a "hurdle of understanding."
"What they need to know is how a blind person uses a Web site, how it sounds to them, and how that's different from other users," Wahlbin said.
Wahlbin said online retailers can start by conducting an accessibility audit of their site. "It's not costly, and once you understand the basic issues it's easy to implement," she said.
Judy Colbert, a Web usability consultant, said online retailers should welcome any chance to make their site as accessible as possible to everyone.
"It takes only a few minutes to put in alt-tags and if it's done while youre building a site, there are no additional costs," Colbert said.
The tags are also more easily picked up by search engines, Colbert added. "So as far as accessibility goes, it's an implied obligation for online retailers," she said. "But one that's good for business."
The lawsuit against Target is expected to be heard in the coming months.
#3
Judge Marilyn Hall Patel is a Jimmy Carter appointee. People like her are a shining example of why it is vital that the presidency remains in Republican hands after GWB.
#4
This is nonsense, it is easy to design a website compatible with screenreaders, you don't need audio.
Screenreaders can read basic HTML with no problem, the only issue is photos. In Targets case the photos will always show the product being discussed on that page so this also is a non-issue.
Any halfway decent lawyer could humiliate the Nation Federation of the Blind and their little dog too.
#6
Okay, let's hit the slippery slopes here and ask if the websites should provide audio descriptions only in English or (start counting) how many other languages? Who pays for all the translating, text generation, voice recording and extra server capacity? Must sighted consumers who represent the vast majority of online shoppers finance, through price increases, these new services for the blind? We all know that the retailers aren't going to take a hit in their profits to fund this.
A more equitable solution would be for all blind Internet users to have a braille pad that outputs in English only and they can all learn English-based braille. Lawyers screaming bloody murder in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...
#7
For heaven's sake, Zenster, they just want the websites to be screenreader-friendly. Don't blow it up into something bigger than it is just so you can pontificate.
#8
...This is far from new. About 15 years ago, NFB took over running the supply stores at most stateside USAF bases. The majority of the workers were legally blind, and as such had a dickens of a time assisting the troops. Complaints were made, and we were told to hut up and be understanding. I found myself on the recieving end of a chewing-out when I asked why a facility operated by the blind had a giant poster/banner over the counter that proclaimed: OUR VISION.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
10/24/2006 16:44 Comments ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
10/24/2006 17:14 Comments ||
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#11
Perhaps the blind should just not shop at Target. That's generally how Capitalism works. When you go to the courts my first assumption is not that you want the world to be fair and wrongs addressed but that you want cash.
#13
PW, I think Zenster is dead on; if it's good enough for ( fill in the blank here) then it needs to be available for me to and all my other (fill in the blank again) friends. Like RJS sez: quit shopping @ Target. Remember Target also doesn't support the USMCs Toys for Tots, so it looks to me like there are at least 2 demographics that could take their dollars elsewhere.
#14
#13 - the main reason I don't go into at Target unless I can't find something anyplace else is it's a lousy store. The few times I've been in there, they didn't have anything I wanted.
#18
I can't imagine why Target is fighting this. It really isn't a big deal to fix something like this for any competent web designer, and the additional business should cover the expense in almost no time. ADA can be a pain, but this is a case where it's a lot smarter to switch than fight.
A WWF study says that we have been living beyond the environment's means for two decades I didn't know this. I'm sure it was very scientific 'n stuff. Say Doom!
The Earths natural resources are being used 25 per cent faster than the planet can renew them, analysis by WWF indicates.
Measurements of crop yields, carbon-dioxide emissions, fishing and the use of forests suggest that Mankinds ecological footprint is too big to be sustained. Gotta kill off some folks, I guess. So, who's first?
Since 1961 it has more than tripled in size and, for the past 20 years, mankind has been living beyond its ecological means, a WWF report said. It is the equivalent, in banking terms, of living off capital rather than interest. Big feet. Getting bigger. Okay, so who out there is breeding like maggots, eh?
Using United Nations projections of the worldwide growth of the human population and economies, the report predicts that by the middle of the century large-scale ecosystem collapse is likely. Ah, UN figures - excellent source! Did the soon-to-depart-for-greener-pastures (Think: Maurice Strong's Power Corp or similar) Jan Egelund provide the numbers, perhaps?
The worlds average footprint is calculated to be 2.2 hectares per capita but only 1.8 hectares of each persons consumption can be regenerated by the planet each year. Got it calculated down to the quick, I see.
Carbon-dioxide emissions are the biggest single factor within the footprint, accounting for up to 48 per cent of mans impact on the globe, according to the WWF Living Planet Report. Gotta kill off those cows and sheep, too - all that methane, y'know. Medium rare good for you?
The speed at which resources are being used has had the effect of destroying biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. Uh oh, I feel a snail-darter moment coming on.
By tracking the fortunes of 1,313 species of vertebrates from around the world, the report indicated that there had been a 30 per cent slump in wildlife since 1970. Slump? Wotta weird choice of words.
Tropical species, including mammals, reptiles and birds, were the most badly hit of the 695 land-based animals monitored. They declined by an average of 55 per cent, while the populations of temperate creatures have, overall, remained stable since 1970. So, um, it's obviously the fault of the countries in the temperate zone! Cuz they have the deep pockets, ya think?
Marine species declined by an average of 25 per cent in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans. The index monitored 274 species and there was particular concern about the loss of cod, tuna and turtles. Now they're actually onto something of substance. Over-fishing does, indeed, occur. I suggest sinking the intruders - that will create some new fish reefs - a two-fer.
Late last century the land habitat that vanished fastest were tropical grassland, flooded grasslands and savannas, and tropical dry forests. They were replaced with either crops or grazing land for livestock. Man. Fuckin' parasite. I prefer salamanders 'n stuff. Obviously the developed world's fault. Get those populations under control you filthy 1st-Worlders - or we'll do it for you, by Gum.
Mangroves were highlighted as the most endangered habitat, with more than a third being lost to developments between 1990 and 2000, twice the rate at which tropical forests are being destroyed. The crocs 'n gators are doomed. I guess I'll hafta switch to cowhide products.
Jonathan Loh, of the Zoological Society of London, one of the authors of the report, said: The Living Planet Index is a stark indication of the rapid and ongoing loss of biodiversity worldwide.
Populations of species in terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems have declined by more than 30 per cent since 1970, a rate that is unprecedented in human history. In the tropics the declines are even more dramatic, as natural resources are being intensively exploited for human use. Kill the humans! Kill 'em all. Gaia!
His colleague, Ben Collen, added: It makes depressing reading. Its another stark indication that we are losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. But one of the messages is we do have a choice at this point. We can moderate our consumption and become a less throwaway society. "I'm depressed. So you should kill yourselves. I'll feel much better if you do. Thanks."
The ecological footprint is designed to measure the extent of human demand on the land and seas, and the report concludes that, for the past two decades, people have been turning resources into waste faster than the planet can turn waste back into plants and creatures. Humanity is no longer living off Natures interest but drawing down its capital, the authors said. Wow, I thought it was yet another scheme to extort money from the PC idjits into a big pot that could be skimmed and distributed to "scientists" who would then produce more studies "proving" more money was needed. Silly me.
This growing pressure on ecosystems is causing habitat destruction or degredation and permanent loss of productivity, threatening both biodiversity and human wellbeing. Odd that human "wellbeing" isn't mentioned until the 17th paragraph. Serves us right.
They called for radical changes in human consumption, and said that a 50 per cent reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions and fish catches would make it possible to close the gap between resource use and replacement by 2080. Wow, full phoney science employment for the next 74 years plus a big pot of money. Good plan!
The report added: Moving towards sustainability depends on significant action now. Population size changes slowly, and human-made capital homes, cars, roads, factories or power plants can last for many decades. Okay, everybody back to the trees!
Given the slow response of many biological systems, there is likely to be a considerable time lag before ecosystems benefit significantly from peoples positive actions. Meanwhile, back at the Institute of Planetary Schemery, we'll party carry on, doing Gaia's work.
We share the Earth with five to ten million species or more. By choosing how much of the planets biocapacity we appropriate, we determine how much is left for their use. Five to ten million? Holy Shit! I feel so, um, insignificant. I'm getting Helstrom Chronicles flashbacks!
To maintain biodiversity it is essential that a part of the biospeheres productive capacity is reserved for the survival of other species. Okay. They can have Belgium.
James Leape, WWFs director-general said: We are using the planets resources faster than they can be renewed. We need to stop. We must balance our consumption with the natural worlds capacity to regenerate and absorb our wastes. If we do not, we risk irreversible damage. As countries improve the wellbeing of their people they are bypassing the goal of sustainability and going into what we call overshoot using far more resources than the planet can sustain. The Boss's Summation.
The calculations for the report are based on figures up to 2003. In 2003 the global ecological footprint was calculated to total 14.1 hectares. Only 11.2 hectares of the worlds productive surface was restored to previous levels. And you know it has only gotten worse. Blame Bush, not Lulu or Mugabe.
Among the animals to have suffered the largest declines is the saiga antelope, whose numbers have dropped by 90 per cent in the past decade because of hunting in Mongolia. Mongols. Never were very sensitive or moderate. I say we ace the lot of 'em.
Wildebeest have declined by 20 per cent in the past 30 years because of encroachments on their migration routes by farmers. Polar bears have suffered population falls of up to 30 per cent, mainly because of the loss of sea ice, which is attributed to global warming. OMG! Polar bears, too? Global WarmingCoolingClimate Change Thingy! Say Doom!
In Britain, the corncrake was one of the animals monitored. From 1970 to 1993 there was a fall from 3,250 calling males to 478, a reduction of 80 per cent. But since then conservation programmes have halted the decline and helped the species to recover slightly. A comeback? So, did they kill off a buncha Brits, or what?
In the marine environment, the creatures that are among the worst affected include the endangered fin whale, the jackass penguin and the dugong. I'm sold.
#2
The WWF is in full line of the "zero growth/ungrowth" theory, has been since its creation, along with other malthusian orgs and think tanks like the club de Rome.
That's basically using ecology used to further a very malthusian, elitist worldview, with the sweaty masses being singled out for their impact on Mother Nature... kinda like Jacques Cousteau and his belief humanity should be reduced to 20% of its then current level to have a "sustainable" (another favorite notion) ecosystem.
Of course, this goes well with the suicidalism of the West in general (think "deep ecology") and is used to advocate departing from the industrialized system, go back to an agrarain, egalitarian society,... this has some mainstream spilling, re-the "décroissance" leftists one can find showcased from time to time on the limousine-liberal news channel I-télé.
#3
Here's how I see it. Environmentalists Our Betters want us to DIE!! moderate consumption so Environmentalists Our Betters can have a socialist sustainable society so Environmentalists Our Betters can live and breed without worry a better master race. sustainable socialist society.
#9
The worlds average footprint is calculated to be 2.2 hectares per capita but only 1.8 hectares of each persons consumption can be regenerated by the planet each year.
Carbon-dioxide emissions are the biggest single factor within the footprint, accounting for up to 48 per cent of mans impact on the globe, according to the WWF Living Planet Report.
So, BA, the President of The Reality-Based and Science Using Dept. at Rantburg U says this is ALL bunk. Just takin' their own numbers, if we quit using CO2 as a "pollutant" (like the Global Warming Climate Change freaks use), that "impact" # drops to 1.1 hectares per capita, far UNDER the 1.8 hectares the planet can "regenerate." This doesn't even get into what mankind itself can "regenerate," a'la recylcing, switching to nuke power, switching to methane/propane fuels, and getting off of Middle East oil. Thanks, and any tips to Fred's tip jar for my new Dept. can be made out to BA, lol!
Posted by: BA ||
10/24/2006 13:39 Comments ||
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#10
Dr. Malthus, paging Dr. Malthus- the study you ordered is ready. Please report to the dustbin of history for pickup.
Posted by: Baba Tutu ||
10/24/2006 13:43 Comments ||
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#11
I'm in favor of walking softly but carrying a big stick. I don't know what that does to your footprints.
#17
.com: I like it, heh. I, um, lost my entire ginormous library of "art". All of it. Gone. So to see one of the oldies but goldies makes me smile - Thx!
#18
I would be much more impressed with the sincerity of these pukes if they would say something like: "In order to demonstrate my belief that this is a real problem, I am going to kill my wife, my son, his wife, and our granddaughter, and then commit suicide. There are too many people in the world, and I want to do my part to reduce the number"
#1
"The procedure is generally performed by elderly women, in unsterilised conditions with no anaesthetic. Children as young as five have parts or all of their clitoris or labia removed. Some have their vaginas sewn up or the flesh shrunk with corrosives."
If it was good enough for Ayesha / Aisha, it's good enough for modern Brit Muzzy femalians.
#3
Instant protracted felony prison time on charges of attempted murder without early release for good behavior and no possibility of parole. Intense scrutiny of visas issued to African individuals who have no relatives or other legitimate business connections inside the USA.
This goes far beyond child abuse or torture. Charges of attempted murder must await anyone who arrives in America with the intent to mutilate young children.
Venezuela has ceased issuing tourist visas to Israelis, its embassy in Israel said Monday, accenting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's harsh criticism of Israel. However, a Venezuelan official said the halt was technical in nature.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
No Tour, no Visa to America, no entrance hombre. Close the damn gates immediately to venezuela until that pumpkinhead is gone. Few short weeks.
President Hugo Chavez has suffered a string of international setbacks, seeing his campaign for a U.N. Security Council seat fall short and his favored leftist candidates losing elections in Peru and Mexico. President Bush "the devil" still rallies faithful Chavistas in Venezuela, where Chavez leads in the polls six weeks ahead of elections. But critics say his superheated rhetoric is turning away some potential supporters elsewhere.
Leftist presidential candidates in Peru and Mexico saw their leads disappear just months after Chavez traded verbal barbs with those countries' leaders. Mexico's conservative Felipe Calderon reversed his fortunes by incessantly linking opponent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to Chavez, even though the two leftists had never met. In Peru, Alan Garcia won by a surprisingly wide margin after accusing Chavez of meddling by endorsing leftist Ollanta Humala.
"Chavez's support for Humala's candidacy, instead of strengthening it, sank it, since Peruvians felt the Venezuelan president interfered in Peru's politics," said Farid Kahhat, a political commentator in Lima. Chavez's influence has fared better in Bolivia, where socialist President Evo Morales considers him a mentor, and in Nicaragua, where Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega leads the polls heading into the Nov. 5 presidential election. But Chavez also has been notably quiet about the prospects of Ecuadorean leftist Rafael Correa, who faces a runoff next month in a presidential race with pro-U.S. businessman Alvaro Noboa.
"Chavez has proven to be political kryptonite in several electoral races, so I think you are seeing some backing away from Chavez," said Erikson, at Inter-American Dialogue.
#2
Once they have a sizeable population, the demands begin. I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Inform them that they can take the earliest barge back to their own shithole of origin to celebrate. This means nothing in the western civilized world. And while you're gone, maybe some urban renewal of mosks can be scheduled.
#3
How about a national Muslim emigration day to celebrate those Muslims who, having refused to assimilate into the culture of the countries that graciously allowed them entrance, pack up and go back whatevever beknighted Islamic cesspool from which they initially sought refuge. In other words, if you want Muslim holidays, go back whence you came.
#6
Go ahead and snark all you want; it is only a matter of time that not only will there be "national re-wrap your turban" or some other POS, I predict that we will all get to play "Ramadamadingdong" complete with all that goes with it. I understand the Granola State has already put into play a 2 week "Pray like a Muzzie" program in public schools, so this demand for a day of their own is right in line. (Granola State = California, cuz what ain't nuts and fruits, is flakes)
#9
Muslims should have made the demand prior to Sept 11. They'll face outrage now and the politicians will back off despite their dhimmi for votes feelings.
At first I thought this had something to do w/Paris Hilton - silly me.
PARIS - Around a dozen Japanese tourists a year need psychological treatment after visiting Paris as the reality of unfriendly locals and scruffy streets clashes with their expectations, a newspaper reported on Sunday.
"A third of patients get better immediately, a third suffer relapses and the rest have psychoses," Yousef Mahmoudia, a psychologist at the Hotel-Dieu hospital, next to Notre Dame cathedral, told the newspaper Journal du Dimanche.
Already this year, Japan's embassy in Paris has had to repatriate at least four visitors -- including two women who believed their hotel room was being bugged and there was a plot against them.
Previous cases include a man convinced he was the French "Sun King", Louis XIV, and a woman who believed she was being attacked with microwaves, the paper cited Japanese embassy official Yoshikatsu Aoyagi as saying.
"Fragile travelers can lose their bearings. When the idea they have of the country meets the reality of what they discover it can provoke a crisis," psychologist Herve Benhamou told the paper.
The phenomenon, which the newspaper dubbed "Paris Syndrome", was first detailed in the psychiatric journal Nervure in 2004.
Bernard Delage of Jeunes Japon, an association that helps Japanese families settle in France, said:
"In Japanese shops, the customer is king, whereas here assistants hardly look at them ... People using public transport all look stern, and handbag snatchers increase the ill feeling."
A Japanese woman, Aimi, told the paper:
"For us, Paris is a dream city. All the French are beautiful and elegant ... And then, when they arrive, the Japanese find the French character is the complete opposite of their own." Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.
#1
Already this year, Japan's embassy in Paris has had to repatriate at least four visitors
I'd think this article was a joke - seeing as how the four people were plain old fashioned nuts and it's almost Nov so four isn't exacly a plague. But they have an actual syndrome name for it, so it must be real. Besides, the image of polite Japanese v/s rude French is such a fun and humorous visual.
#2
Not to defend the French but I wonder how many Frenchman would come off of a Tokyo subway ride with some kind of feeling that the Japanese are rude.
Okay everyone breathe in while they push one more guy into the car! Of course Japan doesn't market Tokyo as the city of romance but instead as a city that acts as a magnet for giant monsters so the expectations are lower.
#3
That's weird... judging from the anime I've seen, most notably the "Noir" serie which was aired on teevee a couple of years ago, or the early work of Hayao Miyazaki (notably "Porco Rosso" and "Kiki's Delivery Service" which I have offered to my niece), japaneses seem to have a very outdated and idealized idea of Europe in general, and France in particular... in fact the "Noir" show was almost funny/sad, because there was such a disconnect between that foreign vision of a beautiful, colorful, illuminated France, and the depression and malaise and feelings of decline felt at home... no wonder those tourists get depressed themselves.
Btw, IIRC there was an article about that very same syndrom posted here at RB quite some time ago, so this is a re-hash.
#5
I found Paris to be dirty, filled with rude, unwashed people, and impossible to get around in. I had no problem with the rest of France, but Paris left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was back in 1983...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/24/2006 17:04 Comments ||
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#6
I was in Paris in 87 and found the people rude as well. There was an old WW2 generation guy that was very polite, and a bartender of college age that was a blast, but the rest were obnoxious.
#7
Paree was the same in the early 1970's, OP - plus the Phrenchies seemed to think our asses were handles (fixed more than one idiot who tried that).
We stopped in Britanny a few years later and it was like we were in another country.
Interesting side note: My parents came to visit me when I was living in Germany and rented a car to go play tourist while I was at work. They decided they didn't have time to go all the way to Paris, but wanted to visit France, so they drove across the Rhein at Strassburg and drove north up the French side of the Rhein, coming back into Germany somewhere around Karlsruhe. When they got back to Frankfurt Daddy told me they didn't need any signs to tell them when they weren't in Germany anymore - the place was dirty.
#8
The Paris of "Noir" was pretty but VERY violent. Actually, I thought the series made Taiwan look very scenic. I don't know if the scenes bore any resemblance to reality, though.
#9
A few years back, Mr. exJAG was watched, followed, and finally attacked by six Moroccans in Paris. I presume it was because he's tall, fair, and with his head shaved almost to the scalp, likely to be mistaken for something else. He managed to get the f*** outta dodge. Needless to say, we'll never return. On road trips, we even drive around France to avoid the countryside, which looks and smells like, well, Mexico. It's enough to make you wish one of England's or Germany's conquests had been successful.
Actually, I thought the series made Taiwan look very scenic.
There are parts of Taiwan that are jawdroppingly beautiful. In Portuguese "Ilha Formosa" means "beautiful island". Its people are among some of the nicest I've ever met in all my travels. There are times when I literally feel "homesick" for the place.
Pope Benedict's expected revival of the old Latin mass has provoked protests from Roman Catholic clergy in France, a major center of the traditionalist schism the Pontiff hopes to overcome with the gesture. Five bishops and 30 priests -- a considerable number in a church normally wary of open dissent -- have expressed grave concern about making this concession to ultra-conservatives who reject the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
Not too sure what the gripe is here. Maybe one of the Catholic readers has a handle on it. To me, it seems like the mass was good enough in Latin for 1500 or 2000 years, same thing, every day, day in and day out. It enabled Catholics to wander from Poland to Portugal, go to church, and still have the same service. Why dump it, especially if the vernacular version's also available?
Unswerving loyalty to the old Latin, or Tridentine mass, often goes hand in hand with a rejection of the Vatican II reforms, which opened the church to respect for and cooperating with other faiths and switched to a modern mass conducted in local languages.
If the mass is in Latin, y'see, then y'got no respect for other faiths. Got it.
The protests printed in the Catholic press highlighted serious issues the Vatican faces if, as church sources have reported, it announces soon that priests are free to say the vintage mass as an alternative to the modern liturgy.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
AFAIK, dropping the Latin Mass symbolizes the many changes wrought in the RCC by Vatican II. It's not about what language is used, but the other changes since the 60's. Personally, I was disappointed, having studied Latin for 3 1/2 years & just being able to understand the whole ceremony, when the language almost disappeared from the liturgy.
#2
Latin IS a language I wish I could have seen used as a primary for a people in this lifetime, unfortunately, English is the business language and is pretty darn conscise.
Shame to lose another language - a beautiful language at that.
#3
It's just lots of inside politix. I am pretty sure that the clergy getting their panties in a twist are way over on the lefty side (think that liberation theology crap...Pope Benedict has been a major opponent of that bs), and can't see the attraction for many traditionalists to go back to the Latin rite.
#4
But most people do not understand Latin. Mr. Wife enjoys coming to synagogue with me, explaining that he didn't understand the Latin Mass as a child, and now he doesn't understand the Hebrew, but at least in our service there are English translations in the prayer book, and prayers said in English as well, so he at least knows what's going on.
However, while Stateside the traditional Latin Mass is presented as an option, I suspect elsewhere this is freighted with political meaning, as the true conservatives in Europe are not the fascists, but those who hearken back to the happy days of powerful monarchies backed by the singular Church.
#5
I'm a non-practicing, barely educated catholic in name only... but I do greatly respect traditionalist catholics, who are the only actual catholics remaining in France... and they put their ideas into action, too, they're a vital component of the home-schooling mvt, they tend to have large families with a strong emphasis on education and values, are quite involved in orgs like scoutism, and are over-representated in "mission-driven" careers like officers schools, and prietshood...
Of course, since I'm a regular listener to their talk-shows on Radio-Courtoisie, I'm a bit slanted toward them, despite some real disagreements on issues here and there... true, there is an old background of antijudaism (not antisemitism)... but then again post-WWII french jews traditonally have been representated by their most leftist, multiculturalist, secularist, especially their vocal representative in the msm... so in addition to doctrinal and political motivations for this bias, there's a justifiable paranoia IMHO... you also might want to know than the catholic Philippe De Villiers is now quite popular among french jews, who have been driven to the right by Reality(Tm)... don't forget that IIRC even antisemite pépé Le Pen scored better among french jews than in general population in 2002.
AFAIK, the Vatican II council was a terrible thing for the Church; no wonder it coincided with the massive decline in church attendance; it was an effort, marked by its time, to merge "modernity" and the Church. Oldspook will of course be more relevant than me here, being a real catholic and all, but this is my feeling.
And without even falling into my favored Paranoid Conspiracy Mode, I can assure you than the french Catholic hierarchy is very liberal (as seen in its multicultural slant, his support of immigration, its dhimmi attitude toward islam,...), and has a strong free-masonry component... but then again the whole Republic is a free-mason shrine where the State is worshiped.
#6
I'm not an expert on the matter, but I'll toss in my .02
1) Pastors have always had the option of using Latin as an alternative to the vernacular during a post-Vatican II Novus Ordo Mass. It is the specific Tridentine Rite that required specific permission from the bishop.
2) During a Tridentine Rite Mass, the congregation is not completely silent, there are, however, fewer responses and most of the celebrant's portion of the liturgy is directed towards God in a whisper. That's why the bells were so important :)
3) The pre-Vatican II Tridentine missals had accurate vernacular translations for every portion of the Mass. My 1962 version does, and the rubrics are in red.
4) French Church-State relations, as I've perceived it, are far more problematical than in most other places, with the possible exception of Mexico. I suspect that national politics isn't too far away from the topic in this Reuters article (which reminds me: Consider the source).
Personally, I rather like the Novus Ordo (post-Vatican II) Mass. I don't care for the vestigial 60's-70's do your own thing stuff that priests of that era were too prone to do. But the good news is that both JPII The Great and Pope Benedict have made strong efforts to bring steadier and more conservative youmg men into the priesthood, and that is a good thing.
#8
Vatican II clearly stated that Latin had 'Pride of Place' in worship. The 'Liberal' Bishops were the ones who banned it in their diocese. They continue to severly repress it. Oddly, the Latin Rite Masses I have attended are filled with 18 to 39 year olds while the Novus Ordo masses are over 50.
#9
Oddly, the Latin Rite Masses I have attended are filled with 18 to 39 year olds while the Novus Ordo masses are over 50.
From the little I know, it's true in France too... traditionalists are young (many kids), very active (pilgrimages, notably) and involved, their churches are few but full, and there's a real demand for them... while Vatican II following churches are empty, or only welcome an aging population (over 60, I'd say from experience).
#10
Ah yes, those evil Christians. Jews were treated so much better elsewhere in the world, weren't they?
Jew-baiting ill becomes you, anon. I attached no judgement in my statement, either to those who miss the simplicity of a singular Catholicism, or the simplicity of monarchical rule. In fact, my dear anon, had you bothered to read my post a little more closely, you would have noticed that Mr. Wife is Catholic.
#11
as the true conservatives in Europe are not the fascists, but those who hearken back to the happy days of powerful monarchies backed by the singular Church.
#12
I have too much respect for you to get into a slugfest over this - but I do feel that your comment that I was "jewbaiting" for simply calling you out on your comments was beneath you.
When Vatican II was implemented, there was a rule laid down that to use Latin Tridentine Mass, you had to have the Bishop give you permission. You were otherwise expected to use the Novus Ordo (new) mass, in the local vernacular.
The Society of Pope Saint Pius IX rejected this and caused a schism - Pop John Paul II excommunicated many of them when they refused to stop creating their won bishops without the Pope's permission. that's the splinter group spoken of.
Pope Benedict is said to be on the verge of reversing the order; so that ANY accepted Mass can be used - and that it would take special actions by the local Bishop to FORBID it in order to stop a priest from saying the Tridentine Mass (or the Novus Ordo mass in Latin for that matter).
The frogs who are complaining are the lefty types who came into the Church in the 60's-70's. Typical leftist radicals, they are threatened by any ability of people to revert to traditional ways of worship.
So that's why the French are fussing.
Us conservative Catholics are cheering - its about time we are allowed to have our local priests use the Tridentine mass without some of the lefty Bishops (Tod Brown in San Diego and Pervert Mahoney in LA come to mind) preventing it due to inaction (passive aggressive behavior on their part). Its basically forcing the hands of the bishops who are easy on the homosexual lifestyle and other forms of adultery, protect pedophiles, and prevent traditional worship in their diocese.
Pope Benedict has brought their day of reckoning on them, so naturally they are going to squeal. This is no longer the old lefty church that gave in on everything. This is a Church that is shaping itself to fight once again, for its survival against libertine-ism and the Muslim threat.
#15
Oh and I left this out: the Pius IX group will likely be back into the chuch and relieved from its Schism, although tis Bishops will likely be "demoted" until a select few of them can be properly installed by Pope Benedict.
Of course this will not satisfy 100% of them, but this does remove the biggest stumbling block that a lot of schismatics and old-time Catholics have had in their way in returnrning to full communion with the Church.
Now as for fitness to recieve communion, thats going to bite very hard when the next ruling on that comes down. There will be no more wiggle room for Catholic politicians on Abortion, Euthanasia, Embryonic Stem cells and Gay Marriage. Its going to be "self excommunications by deliberate action". And any Catholic voting for a politician because they favor them for those reasons (abortion, etc) will have broken their commmunion with the Church as well.
Basically, Ted Kennedy and al lthe other "pro choice" Catholics will be refused communion. Its not the Church refusing them, its them refusing the Church. If they disagree with fundamental tenets of the Catholic Church they should not claim to be Catholics - they should find a nice "morally flexible" church, like the Unitarians, or the Anglicans, and go there.
#16
Unfortunately the protestants don't have a Benedict to return the KJV and BCP derivesd liturgy to their pulpits. That's why Catholocism will recover and pretestantism won't.
#17
thosee who hearken back to the happy days of powerful monarchies backed by the singular Church.
TW While there are poeple like this those have seceded from Rome. The points for the latin mass are that 1) The Church has tossed away an outstanding liturgy designed by strong beliveers with the help of the greatest musicians of their time (like Bach despite being a protestant) for the cantics and replaced them by something designed by liberation theologists who probably didn't believe in God (cf the unceremonious handling of hosts, who are supposed to represent Christ's body) and the cantics are plain stupid for the text and uuuuuuuugly for the music.
2) Because it was the same words everywhere any Catolic, provided he had brought his own missel, (where the latin is translated to his language) felt equally at home in any country (except of course for teh sermon part).
) The Church has tossed away an outstanding liturgy designed by strong beliveers with the help of the greatest musicians of their time (like Bach despite being a protestant) for the cantics ...
Whoa! Stop right there, hoss! I will not, I cannot, allow a Frenchman to mention Bach without including one of the greatest composers of Catholic sacred music (and Bach's contemporary), Marc-Antoine Charpentier.
His Te Deum H.146, Missa "Assumpt est Maria" H.11 , and Litanies de la Vierge H.83 are musical jewels of the French Baroque, and they are stirringly Catholic. Even at our Haugen/Hass-ridden parish, the organist often closes the Mass with the Te Deum's prelude.
#19
I quite agree about the old music -- back in the day I enjoyed singing such things in my school chorus, and the trailing daughters are now doing so in theirs. (One soprano, one alto, and they practice their harmonies in the car. Heaven!)
anon, European conservatives look back to their old way of life, which means rule by monarchy and hereditary nobility and the Church. Those who think like American conservatives, meaning minimal taxation, minimal government regulation, minimal government intrusion into personal life, and the kinds of rights listed in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, in Europe those are called liberals. I learnt this fact here at Rantburg, as it happens.
My mother was born and spent most of her first decade of life in the tiny city of Hildesheim, Germany, which was the seat of the Bishop. That is to say, until the Napoleonic conquest, the city was ruled by the Bishop who acted in secular matters exactly as the princes who ruled the rest of the German prinicpalities. My mother is perhaps more familiar with such things than most, because it was the Catholic school where she was educated after the Nazis decreed Jewish children could not go to the public schools. And then Mama got her high school diploma through a school run by nuns in Amsterdam, connected to Oxford University (an interesting experience, as she had six months to accomplish three years' work in English, a language she didn't know when she started).
anon, I have close connections to Catholicism through my husband and my mother's experiences, and to evangelical Christianity through my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law. I've also taken a good many courses in comparative religion over the years, as well as reading widely on the history of Christianity and of Judaism. So it's remotely possible that I actually know what I'm talking about.
#20
TW, I think Classical Liberal is the term most in the US subscribe to, to descibe our from of conservatism. Its definitely not the European "conservatism" which quite frequently reinforces statism every buit as much as socialism (or US "Country CLub Repub" that we see a lot of in US Repuublican politicians - the big spenders who balekd at buildiing a fence and wanted to wrap immigratin into it: c.f. Bus43 and why they are in trouble now).
#21
TW I never doubted for a moment that you knew exactly what you were talking about. Your words and your point was very clear. As for all of your best friends being Christians - I was aware of much of that and am not sure why that matters. One of the most frothing Christian bigots I know is a jewish person married to a Christian. And no, I'm not saying that you are a frothing Christian bigot, as I know that you are far from it - I'm just saying that I'm not sure how that changes the point that you made.
I have much that I could say - but I will just point out that perhaps it is not the Christian Church that is the source of problems today (not saying that you said it was)- but that the death of Christian values is. The values of forgiveness, charity, loving your neighbors, showing mercy whenever possible etc have not been instilled in this generation of children, especially in Europe. It's not about looking inward to find your better nature anymore but demanding perfection in others while demanding nothing of yourselves. Go watch that video that anon5089 put up and see what has been lost. Worse things could certainly happen to the Jewish population of the world than the rise of the Catholic Church or "those who hearken back to the happy days of powerful monarchies backed by the singular Church".
Looking back at the abuse of power by the Christian clergy is like looking back at our forefathers and pointing out that they had slaves, slaughtered Indians and every other imperfection of their time. It's conveniently ignores the fact that, despite their flaws, they gave us a great gift by setting up the conditions for the freedoms that we enjoy today.
#22
anon, I am a simple soul. My words are best understood literally, rather than for deep and subtle meaning. When I wrote that bit about those who hearken back, I meant precisely that to them those were the happy days. Hearkeners back usually prefer to dream about times that to them were better, surely.
My original statement said nothing about the treatment of Jews by Catholics, within Christendom, by Muslims within the Ummah, or otherwise. I said nothing about Christians being evil, nor did I intend to so imply, as that is not something I believe. For that matter I didn't susequently say all my best friends are Christians, as that isn't true.
The first time I noticed your posts on the subject, you were going on about your visit to the Holocaust Museum in DC, offended that the Jews had put up an exhibit about the history of antisemitism in Europe. In this thread your first post put words in my mouth that I certainly never intended. I've been posting at Rantburg for a number of years now. Surely if I were as anti-Christian as you seem to think, the old hands would have attacked my statement as unacceptable, and lotp, who actually studied religion seriously at one point, would have chastised me or banished me to the sinktrap.
#23
TW - Quite frankly, I don't see any of the innocence you are claiming in this comment in this context on this thread "I suspect elsewhere this is freighted with political meaning, as the true conservatives in Europe are not the fascists, but those who hearken back to the happy days of powerful monarchies backed by the singular Church." but I will give you the benefit of the doubt because you are a good person.
I took pain to note in my post that I did not think you anti-Christian, in fact I said "you are far from it". It is precisely because you are a reasoned person that I felt compelled to call attention to your comment. And as for saying that "all of your best friends are Christians" that was a play off of the common joke that excuses a bigoted comment "Some of my best friends are____"(fill in blank with black, jewish, mexican, purple). As I said, I don't see how being married to a Christian makes any difference to the statement that you made.
The first time I noticed your posts on the subject, you were going on about your visit to the Holocaust Museum in DC, offended that the Jews had put up an exhibit about the history of antisemitism in Europe.
That is not at all what I said. I said that I found it offensive that there is a room in the museum that puts forth the premise that Martin Luther set the stage for the holocaust and Christians share much of the blame for it because of their belief that the Jews killed Jesus. Thus it was not Hitler and his propaganda machine's zionist cabal that whipped up the anti-semitism in 1938 but rather the Christian anti-semitism that was to blame. I find it highly ironic, the blame of an entire group (Christians) that had nothing personally to do with the holocaust supposedly because they blamed an entire group (Jews) for killing Jesus when they had no personal responsiblity for his death. It is a parody of itself. That you say that I was offended the Jews had put up an exhibit about the history of antisemitism in Europe is completely disingenous on your part.
I will take you at your word that I have read too much into your comment. I'm personally tired of hearing that today's Christians are to be blamed for the past sins against Jews in the same way that today's Jews are tired of hearing about the past sins against Muslims or the death of Jesus. Yes... you are saying that was not your intent and as I said, I will take you at your word for that and accept that perhaps I read too much into it.
In a rare foray into politics, Islamic leaders in Kosovo on Monday added their voice to the Albanian majority's call for independence from Serbia. Most of Kosovo's two million ethnic Albanians are nominally Muslim, but they are proud of the territory's secular tradition. This year's Ramadan passed with little trace of piety. Marking the Eid al-Fitr feast in the capital, Pristina, the head of the Kosovo Islamic community, Mufti Naim Ternava, said independence for the breakaway Serbian province was the only acceptable outcome to talks expected to end within months.
"We are waiting for the U.N. Security Council to make its decision," he told worshippers at the 15th century Sultan Mehmet Fatih mosque. "The will and desire of the people should be respected. Independence is the only option."
Islamic leaders have little influence in Kosovo and rarely venture into politics, contrary to Serbia's warnings that an independent Kosovo would become a hotbed of extremism in Europe. Ismail Hasani, professor of religion at Pristina University, said just 8-10 percent of people regularly attend prayers, "and the majority of these people are 50 and older."
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I personally walked those streets.What a waste of my damn time.
No islamic leader knows how to run anything. Maybe I should give it all back to the Serbs since you are hell bent on converting everyone to the religion of satan.
#2
The agreement that ended the Clinton-War, recognized Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo Province.
Reminder: 1300 Christian Orthodox shrines, cathedrals and churches were either destroyed of vandalized by Kosovo Muslims. And this was done under the watch of NATO. No wonder the Taliban has such a low regard for Western resolve. We did their ethnic cleansing for them.
#4
Another surprise. Isn't it amazing that Billy Boy and his crowd got it assbackward again ? The Serbs were reacting to the rapes and vandalization of their historic homeland. And, DF Blowjob comes in and defends the Muzzie oppressors ? Why does no one notice this and talk about it ?
#5
How long before Europe has their very own Taliban run Afghanistan complete with Sharia and Al Q training camps?
Back in 2002 or so, Debka had a very scary and alarmist (lol, goes with the territory, ain't it so?) about an islmaic balkan secret army. I'll try to find it; anyway, regardless of hyperbole, there's no doubt bosnia and kosovo are muslim enclaves with many terror connections (cf. the golden chain), not to mention a *serious* organized crime factor, including drug trafficking, white slavery, and gun running (with assault rifles, explosives and rpg making their way to even small fry hoodlums in gun-banning Europe).
KGB Letter Outlines Sen. Kennedy's Overtures to Soviets, Prof Says The antipathy that congressional Democrats have today toward President George W. Bush is reminiscent of their distrust of President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War, a political science professor says. "We see some of the same sentiments today, in that some Democrats see the Republican president as being a threat and the true obstacle to peace, instead of seeing our enemies as the true danger," said Paul Kengor, a political science professor at Grove City College and the author of new book, "The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism."
In his book, which came out this week, Kengor focuses on a KGB letter written at the height of the Cold War that shows that Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered to assist Soviet leaders in formulating a public relations strategy to counter President Reagan's foreign policy and to complicate his re-election efforts.
The letter, dated May 14, 1983, was sent from the head of the KGB to Yuri Andropov, who was then General Secretary of the Soviet Union's Communist Party. In his letter, KGB head Viktor Chebrikov offered Andropov his interpretation of Kennedy's offer. Former U.S. Sen. John Tunney (D-Calif.) had traveled to Moscow on behalf of Kennedy to seek out a partnership with Andropov and other Soviet officials, Kengor claims in his book.
At one point after President Reagan left office, Tunney acknowledged that he had played the role of intermediary, not only for Kennedy but for other U.S. senators, Kengor said. Moreover, Tunney told the London Times that he had made 15 separate trips to Moscow. "There's a lot more to be found here," Kengor told Cybercast News Service. "This was a shocking revelation."
It is not evident with whom Tunney actually met in Moscow. But the letter does say that Sen. Kennedy directed Tunney to reach out to "confidential contacts" so Andropov could be alerted to the senator's proposals. Specifically, Kennedy proposed that Andropov make a direct appeal to the American people in a series of television interviews that would be organized in August and September of 1983, according to the letter. Rest at link.
Posted by: ed ||
10/24/2006 06:36 ||
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#1
So, he secretly asked for a foreign power, specifically one inimical to the United States, to intervene in internal political matters.
This surely fits the spirit and letter of the definition of treason.
Posted by: DanNY ||
10/24/2006 7:13 Comments ||
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#2
Ted Kennedy, KGB stooge.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 7:26 Comments ||
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#3
Hm, liberals conniving with the enemy in order to score points at home...where have I seen this before?
And the media totally ignoring it...sounds familiar somehow.
#4
This one needs the graphic showing the surpise meter reading zero.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
10/24/2006 7:27 Comments ||
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#5
Does anyone think this isn't happening now? We have Bagdad Bob [McDermitt D-AlQuada] working with Saddam and CAIR. Who knows what Ted Kennedy is doing.
And no, Kennedy isn't a KGB Stooge - he knew exactly what he was doing.
#6
NOT FRIGGIN SURPRISED! I also would not be surprised to learn that some of our current politicians (Democrats) were secretly discussing surrender with the bad guys. Lets not forget that Biden and Kerry flew to Nicaragua to kiss Noriegas ass while Reagan was fighting a proxy war there. Yup you can really trust those Dems with matter of national security.
#7
This fat, f**kin' whale has been a traitor since he stepped onto the Senate floor. He did every possible thing he could to subvert our military in Nam also. He was constantly trying to undercut defense spending budgets, or dreaming up some investigative committee to foul up the works. This fool has been a complete bottom feeding dirtbag his entire life. He should have been charged with murder in the Kopechne case. I cannot believe how the voters in Massachusetts can justify this low life as their Senator. But , to confirm how ignorant they really are, they've put another loser in with him. Our favorite...Kerry. Just as bad as the Kalifornia rubes with the dunce twins, Feinstein and Boxer babe.
#8
I hold no brief for Kennedy, but this seems a somewhat tenuous chain: What Chebrikov said that Tunney said that Kennedy said...
Posted by: James ||
10/24/2006 11:22 Comments ||
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#9
what difference does it make? The only thing that will ever make him leave his office with be the cold hand of death. Massachussets is a mess. One big money suck from the hardworking taxpayers into the pockets of organized crime. For a guy who gets away with murder - what difference should a little treason make?
#10
Apologies, I posted this a year or two ago, but it seems to apply here, for some reason...
If a man once indulges himself in murder,
very soon he comes to think little of robbing;
and from robbing he next comes to drinking
and sabbath-breaking, and from that to
incivility and procrastination.
-- Thomas DeQuincy
#12
For a guy who gets away with murder - what difference should a little treason make?
Right. Even if it's true it won't matter. My fellow sheep citizens of Mass would re-elect him even if he was caught in bed with a live boy and a dead girl.
Salt pic included, though there is no doubt there's a globalist/transnational/post-national ideology well-entrenched in western Elites, main example being the EU.
About 1,000 documents obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request to the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America show the White House is engaging in collaborative relations with Mexico and Canada outside the U.S. Constitution, says WND columnist and author Jerome Corsi.
"The documents give clear evidence that the Bush administration has created a 'shadow government,'" Corsi said.
The documents can be viewed here, on a special website set up by the Minuteman Project.
Bureaucrats from agencies throughout the Bush administration are meeting regularly with their counterpart bureaucrats in the Canadian and Mexican governments to engage in a broad rewriting of U.S. administrative law and regulations into a new trilateral North American configuration, Corsi contends.
"We have hundreds of pages of e-mails from U.S. executive branch administrators who are copying the e-mail to somewhere between 25 to 100 people, a third of whom are in the U.S. bureaucracy, a third of whom are in the Mexican bureaucracy and a third of whom are in the Canadian bureaucracy," said Corsi.
"They are sharing their laws and regulations so we can 'harmonize' and 'integrate' our laws into a North American structure, not a USA structure."
Corsi claims the process is well along the way.
"This is totally outside the U.S. Constitution, virtually an executive branch coup d'etat," he said. "SPP is creating new trilateral memoranda of understanding and mutual agreements which should be submitted to Senate for two-thirds votes as international treaties."
Corsi said the documentation he received is missing key pieces.
"We received very few actual agreements, though many are referenced," he said. "Many of the work plans described lack the work products which the groups say they produced."
Posted by: Mike ||
10/24/2006 15:59 Comments ||
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#2
Sounds like a Democratic plan. Does Bush know? When will he know? When will there be a call for an investigation?
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/24/2006 17:28 Comments ||
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#3
Don't forget that Bush was pushing heavily for integration of the America's until 9-11 interrupted. That is one reason he has been resisting secure borders, either North or South.
Alas, the reporter has no tape and no documentation -- he "was taking notes on his Blackberry" during the purported conversation. We just have to trust him, by gum.
Methinks Mr. Spencer just ran into his personal October surprise.
No! Reeeeeeaaally? Surely Hillary wouldn't be that obvious? I mean, the rubes would pick up on that right away, right?
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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... suggesting she had had "millions of dollars" of "work." She should request all her money be returned.
#3
Per American Thinker, "Anyone who takes a close look at Senator Clintons changing facial landscape over the years must conclude that some kind of seismic forces have been at work. And those of us who noticed the differences before and after she went on an extended journey to Africa with her daughter, during which she often wore veils and was never photographed in a close-up, concluded that she was healing the scars of extensive facial plastic surgery."
As a celebrity, Senator Clinton is subject to such speculation. That is one thing. But for a rival candidate to refer to her younger visage with such contempt is counter-productive. God-given looks are not a political issue, though plastic surgery is not quite in the same category.
Posted by: Captain America ||
10/24/2006 0:47 Comments ||
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#4
I find it uncomfortable when posters/bloggers criticize the physical attributes of national personages, espec females. Should try to scrutinize + criticize only public policies, actions, decisions, + hypocrisies to the best extent possible.
#5
I find it uncomfortable when posters/bloggers criticize the physical attributes of national personages, espec females. Should try to scrutinize + criticize only public policies, actions, decisions, + hypocrisies to the best extent possible.
yep me too Joe, but dosen't it depends on what the definition of physical is?
#1
The question may be "nonsensical" but it better be answered damn quick. Seems in the view of many in our judicial system, the only people that don't have rights are ordinary American citizen that pay taxes and obey the law. Perhaps, from a career perspective, the mistake the Border Patrol agents made was in wounding the perp. Sentences like this will lead some to adopt the same policy to dangerous illegals that California property owners have to "endangered species" they find on their land, shoot them quick and bury them deep.
#4
Actually, this case should be under appeal, and as such, neither Bush nor his representatives should be commenting on it, since an appellate victory is far more valuable long term (setting legal precedent etc.) than a pardon.
#5
Mr. Ramos and his lawyer were on TV indicating an appeal was filed. Seems three of the jurors were told by the foreman they could not vote acquital if it would mean a hung jury.
#6
Sounds like an easy appeal...if the foreman gave incorrect, or misleading instructions.
Obviously they (apparently) covered up evidence. That is grounds for removal. However, to say "question on officers' prison time 'nonsensical'" is, nonsensical. A conviction on the covering up evidence, and probation...unless I am really missing something here.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israel Beitenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman signed early Monday evening the agreement making Israel Beitenu a member of the coalition. The Knesset will vote on the agreement on Wednesday.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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Oops - Damn! I didn't see this. I posted a dupe article. Apologies.
The Labor Party's central committee will convene Sunday to decide whether to quit Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition in protest over the addition of Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu party.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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MECCA: Fear of the spread of Islam in non-Muslim countries motivates attacks on Muslims in the West, the imam of Islams holiest shrine told worshippers celebrating Eid on Monday. Did you wonder why this issue is raised every now and then? Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid asked at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.He was referring to controversial remarks by Pope Benedict XVI last month in which he cited a 14th-century Christian emperor who said Prophet Mohammed (PTUI PBUH) had brought the world evil and inhuman practices. The issue was raised only because the hearts of observers among the adversaries are filled with resentment over the spread of this faith, said Bin Humaid.
Bin Humaid was delivering a sermon to worshippers led by King Abdullah on the first day of Eidul Fitr. His remarks were reported by the official Saudi SPA news agency. Copies of the Quran are a bestseller among non-Muslims and the numbers of those converting to Gods religion (Islam) are quickly multiplying in Christian and other non-Muslim countries, he added. Religious and political leaders there have warned against the victory of Islam and its expansion, he said.
Bin Humaid, who did not mention Western countries by name, cited what he said was a specialised study produced by them, and which predicted that Islam would prevail. The study said that the future world order will be religious, and the Islamic order will prevail despite its current weakness because it (Islam) is the only religion that enjoys a comprehensive power, he said, adding that this explained why the symbols of Islam were being abused and Muslims activities and charities were subjected to scrutiny.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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Posted by: ed ||
10/24/2006 0:44 Comments ||
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It must really suck being a preacher for a false religion and God and all.Tell Imam Bin that I'm not angry at him and that I have a preacher Binny Hinn and I ain't mad at him either.
Bottom line, the proof is in the pudding. One puddit to some young girls and modified Gods law to fit his needs and wants. The other is a logical expression of said laws and a reconfirmed reproofing and correction of doctrine.
So, you muslims who wonder why everything in the world around you sucks, God is building life completely around you and your ways. And while you sleep at night, God even watches Muslim children even though their parents are too fucked up to save.
#4
Because of the fact of the dangers of Koranic terror ideology (jihadism) Islam must be treated differently from the bona fide religions.
Does everyone know of the context in which Mohammad began claiming "prophet" status? At the age of 40, he went on a cave retreat. He must have been depressed because he was living with the humiliation of being wed to a rich woman, 15 years his senior. In fact, soon after he began his "prophet" plunders, he began to take the first of 13 new wives. Each of the women were young, the most junior being 6 years of age.
One has to assume that his role as sex toy to an old hag, caused members of his Quereshi tribe to humiliate him. When he conned pliant Arab primitives to treat him as a "prophet," he spent most of the rest of his wretched life waiting to inflict revenge on the Quereshis.
Not only did the cult enable Muhammad to satisfy his pedophile lusts, he also enjoyed the fruits of plunder. He claimed that Angel Gabriel said that Allah allowed him a "Khums Tax" in which 20% of everything his bandits stole from working people, would go to the "prophet." His Shariah concoctions limited male polygamy to 4 brides, while his concubinage and marital harem was unlimited.
Roots of Islam = quenching pedophile lust + legalizing misogynist violence + theft from working people + revenge against bullies
#5
In one sense, I think he's right. I do fear the spread of Islam, just as I would fear the spread of the Bubonic Plague or Avian Infuenza. It's an infectious virus that destroys both minds and bodies. I have a natural fear of things that can destroy life as well as liberty.
However, courage is the ability to overcome fear with action. I'm for taking the actions necessary to stop the spread of this virus, just as I am other viruses.
#6
The issue was raised only because the hearts of observers among the adversaries are filled with resentment over the spread of this faith, said Bin Humaid.
Well it looks like somebody thinks he's in a war...
And you wonder why they say truth can be stranger than fiction?
We all know that IP addresses are notoriously unreliable in tracking down who may have committed an online crime. Most of the time, we see this in civil cases filed by the entertainment industry where they accuse someone without enough evidence or (better yet) without a computer at all.
However, sometimes, the myth that an IP address identifies you has bigger consequences.
A year ago, reminiscent of the computer bug in the movie Brazil that created a mixup over whether or not someone named Buttle or Tuttle was responsible for a crime, a Cox Internet employee gave police the wrong info about an IP address, leading a completely innocent couple in Wichita, Kansas to be accused of distributing child porn.
It seems that a similar situation has again happened, this time in Virginia, where another wrong IP address resulted in a family having their house raided in search of child porn.
This was pointed out by Radley Balko who notes that the story gets even weirder when you realize that basketball star Shaquille O'Neal may have been a part of the raiding team.
The original report doesn't mention the Shaq connection, but others do, and a separate report does say he participated in an attempt to execute a child porn warrant that weekend in that county.
So, beyond the question of why Shaq is apparently participating in such raids, can we ask no one does things like double check IP addresses or, say, look for additional evidence that a particular household is guilty of a crime before sending in people with guns drawn?
The same report that suggests Shaq was a part of the raid also notes that "Shaq did some computer work" with the team. Anyone know if Shaq is familiar with the way IP addresses work? The RIAA is now dropping all charges of music piracy against people who state in court that "IP addresses are not people", and/or who have a factory default WIFI network for several computers, which is commonplace, and note that anyone could access their network to unlawfully download music. The RIAA doesn't want to risk losing such cases, or having it widely known that they can't win such cases, so they drop the lawsuit.
#2
Shaq has often said he intends to move to law enforcement after he's done with the NBA, and he's apparently put in the time and effort to get some real training to prepare. He's not one of these guys who gets an honorary badge or two and thinks he's a cop.
Someone with that attitude must have found working with Kobe Bryant pretty difficult his last season in LA.
Aug. 10, 2005 On the court, Shaquille O'Neal is virtually unstoppable. Off the court, O'Neal is just as relentless, but now he's taking on a very different kind of adversary online pedophiles.
"We want to get these predators off-line," O'Neal told "Good Morning America." "It's very disturbing to see that anyone would want to harm a child especially in a sexual manner, very, very disturbing."
O'Neal is the national spokesman for a group called the Safe Surfin' Foundation. But he's more than just a figurehead; he's also a cop a real one. O'Neal is a trained reserve officer with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, working on a task force aimed at busting Internet pedophiles.
Shaq on the Case
At a secret location near Roanoke, "Good Morning America" recently found O'Neal working a case, exchanging e-mail messages with a suspected sexual predator.
"I don't like to give away my secrets, but I just say 'hi,'" O'Neal said. "They ask how old I am and they get right into it. Ninety-eight percent of it's sexual right away."
The idea, he said, is to keep the dialogue going until the suspect sets up a meeting.
"Once they want to meet in a certain location, we'll be there," Shaq said.
An estimated 77 million kids use the Internet. And according to the FBI, nearly all of them will eventually meet an adult sexual predator in a chat room.
O'Neal and the Safe Surfin' Foundation have some advice for kids faced with that situation.
"What I tell the children is just simple things," O'Neal said. "Don't give out personal information online. If you're having a conversation with someone and they start to get nasty, just sign off. Just be smart and have a lot of common sense."
Trading in the Jersey for a Badge?
The Bedford County Sheriff says O'Neal is the real deal.
"I've known a lot of police officers and in my 40 years in the business, and I think I'm pretty hard to fool," Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown said. "There is absolutely nothing phony, fake about Shaquille O'Neal and his desire to help kids and to be a viable part of law enforcement."
O'Neal says he has long been interested in police work. In addition to his work in Virginia, he's also a reserve police officer in Miami Beach, Fla., and Los Angeles, and has undergone extensive police training.
O'Neal recently signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. But, at age 33, he is also contemplating his life after basketball a life wearing a badge instead of a jersey.
Good guys aren't rare, but those who can get important issues noticed, such as pedophilia and predatory behavior, are a real boon. I normally find him far too self-satisfied and annoying, but Bill O'Reilly's effort to take the SP Idjits in the judiciary to task is another example. Maybe Shaq could be a BIG (lol) help in shaming the asstards, mainly in the NE for some "odd" reason, into passing Jessica's Laws where the effort has failed, thus far.
Wal-Mart, already battered by the left-wing, is now coming under pressure from the right.
While union-backed groups accuse Wal-Mart of supporting a "right-wing agenda," a conservative activist group now accuses Wal-Mart of supporting the homosexual agenda.
The American Family Association is reminding its supporters that Wal-Mart recently joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. AFA says Wal-Mart plans to give "two large grants" to the NGLCC -- and it also plans to give domestic-partnership benefits to homosexual employees' partners.
Moreover, the president of the NGLCC said he expects Wal-Mart to use its influence to pressure suppliers such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Gillette to give preferential treatment to businesses owned by homosexuals.
The American Family Association, noting that the NGLCC is a leading promoter of homosexual marriage, is urging conservatives to take action:
"Send your email to Wal-Mart expressing you displeasure with their promotion of homosexual marriage," AFA told its supporters. "Call your local Wal-Mart manager and express your displeasure."
The group wants Americans to know about "Wal-Mart's funding of the homosexual agenda."
The American Family Association also is leading a grassroots movement against Ford Motor Company, which reneged on a promise to stop financially supporting homosexual advocacy groups.
AFA says says almost 600,000 people have signed a pledge to boycott Ford, which posted its biggest quarterly loss in 14 years on Monday.
The American Family Association believes its boycott is partly responsible for Ford's current financial difficulties.
"Over 40 pro-family leaders urged Ford to remain neutral in the homosexual marriage battle, but Ford refused," the AFA says on its website.
Left hook
A union-back group called WakeUpWalMart.com on Monday circulated an open letter to analysts attending Wal-Mart's annual meeting in Teaneck, N.J.
The group is calling attention to Wal-Mart's "declining public image, sluggish sales, a rebellion by employees in its own store, and a growing grassroots movement to change the company."
WakeUpWalMart says it wants to change Wal-Mart into a "better, more responsible business" -- which means unionizing the retailer.
The group claims that a "solid one-third" of the American public now holds a negative view of Wal-Mart, and it is urging stock analysts to "join with us in calling on Wal-Mart to change for the better."
WakeUpWalMart.com is demanding that Wal-Mart pay higher wages, offer affordable health benefits, and which means paying higher wages, and "treat its employees with dignity and respect."
"Together, we can help Wal-Mart expand into new markets, appeal to higher income customers and grow into an even more profitable business," the group claims.
Despite all the pressure and criticism, Wal-Mart stock was up on Monday, helping to propel the Dow Jones Industrial Average to yet another record close.
Accrding to the Associated Press, Wal-Mart pleased investors with its announcement that it "plans to bring costs in line with a slowdown in sales and earnings growth."
Even so, the company reportedly plans to open stores in 600 new locations next year.
(CNN Spit) -- Gas prices continued their downward spiral across the nation, falling by an average of nearly 8 cents a gallon over the past two weeks, the publisher of the national Lundberg Survey said Sunday. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline is $2.20, according to the survey taken of more than 7,000 U.S. filling stations between Oct. 6-20, Trilby Lundberg told CNN.
Prices at the pump have dropped more than $.82 since Aug. 11, she said. The price drop "is due to another sizable dip" in the price of crude oil, Lundberg said, which fell despite a decision made Friday by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day. "The market is doubtful that (OPEC) will cut that much and that's why on the actual day of the decision, crude price fell again this past Friday by $1.68," Lundberg explained.
Gasoline prices have been closely watched, and they will get even more scrutiny this week as the no. 1 U.S. oil company Exxon Mobil is expected to report earnings Thursday. Shares of exxon edged lower Friday after OPEC's announcement. Stocks of other oil majors BP,ConocoPhillips, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell also edged lower Friday.
For the latest survey period, Tulsa, Okla., had the lowest average price for a gallon of gasoline at $1.98. The most expensive gas was in Honolulu at $2.84 a gallon.
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10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Average prices are kind of deceiving. Parts of the country seem to be always high, other parts lower. Ohio and Missouri are consistently cheaper than Illinois and Indiana. Along the corridor running from Cleveland OH to Albuquerque NM, which I drive once or twice a year, Tulsa is usually the cheapest to fill up. Here in NE OH I just bought gas at Murphy USA (affiliated with Walmart) for $1.899/gal with a Walmart cash card, and noticed a Speedway station down the block selling gas for $1.889/gal to all. It's lower here than in more than a year. Diesel is still a lot more than gas & has been for about a year. These prices are down $1.10/gal since Aug. 8.
#2
Not even a local average, but 25 miles south of DC, a common price is $1.979, with the high being $1.999 and the low $1.959.
I think Prince William County is outside the EPA zone that requires reformulated gas - maybe that's why it's consistently cheaper than Fairfax County, adjacent to DC.
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/24/2006 7:01 Comments ||
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#3
Did a 1600 mile quick trip to Parris Island and back this weekend - IIRC - SC $2.09; NC $2.19; Virginia $2.04; WV $2.24; OH $2.04. I imagine differing state taxes account for some of the difference.
The sand fleas were free though ;) Little bastards.
It's nice to have people call you "Sir" without saying "You're making a scene" for a change.
#6
We would never hear it from the media - but I can't help noticing that the prices of oil started to fall immediately after they announced that found that huge oil reserve off the gulf.
#8
It's nice to have people call you "Sir" without saying "You're making a scene" for a change.
LOL
We would never hear it from the media - but I can't help noticing that the prices of oil started to fall immediately after they announced that found that huge oil reserve off the gulf.
Where I live the press is "questioning" the "coincidence" of the oil prices falling ahead of the election.
#9
I suddenly feel so old, lol. Who else remembers when it was merely The Lundberg Letter, a 4-page mimeograph subscribed to only by those in the awl bidness who contributed their data, and any mention in the MSM would've caused him heart palpitations? Lol. Trilby, heh. Dunno if I ever "knew" that bit - can't recall. Learn something new every day. :-)
#12
#6 - I really doubt the fall in oil prices had anything to do with the announcement about the new Gulf reserves. It wasn't until I returned from my 9-week, 7,000 miles, $1,200 in gasoline gigantic road trip this summer that the price finally fell. It was all about me.
#13
H.E.B.? I lived in Useless, once upon a time, lol. I have to wonder how many here know what that stood for or where it is, lol.
Funny that, I'm living just across the highway from Euless. In that narrow finger of Fort Worth. I posted the H.E.B. just to see if it caught anyones attention.
It's not a bad place, but it sure has grown up over the years, the whole place is nothing like it was when I was a lad.
Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose, extending October's record-breaking rally, as falling oil prices bolstered optimism that consumer spending will sustain the economy. ``If oil prices continue to stay in this range or move lower, I can see the market jumping from here,'' said Don Schreiber, who manages $250 million as president of WBI Investments in Little Silver, New Jersey. ``You combine that with an attractive interest-rate environment, with the Fed pausing, and you have the market moving higher.''
The Dhimmicrats promise to reverse the course of our country.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 102.14, or 0.9 percent, to a record 12,104.51 at 3:39 p.m. in New York. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 6.83, or 0.5 percent, to 1375.43, heading toward its highest close since December 2000. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 10.77, or 0.5 percent, to 2353.07.
Optimism that the pace of consumer spending will shore up the economy and companies will beat earnings estimates spurred stocks to build on an October rally that pushed the Dow above 12,000 for the first time. The S&P 500 has climbed 3.4 percent this month, putting it on pace for its best month this year.
Central bankers begin a two-day meeting tomorrow. All 106 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged at 5.25 percent for a third straight month as a weakening housing market slows the economy.
Gross domestic product probably rose 2 percent in the July through September period, according to economists, easing from a 2.6 percent rate in the second quarter. The Commerce Department will release the data on Oct. 27. The GDP report is also projected to show consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy, grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent last quarter, up from a 2.6 percent gain the previous three months.
Today, oil retreated for a second day on skepticism that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut production by as much as members pledged last week. Crude oil for December delivery declined 0.9 percent to $58.81 a barrel in New York. Prices have plunged 25 percent from the record of $78.40 a barrel reached July 14.
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10/24/2006 00:00 ||
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BP PLC reported a 3.6 percent drop in third-quarter profit on Tuesday because of lost production in Alaska, higher taxes in Britain and a slump in refining margins.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Pope Benedict's expected revival of the old Latin mass has provoked protests from Roman Catholic clergy in France, a major center of the traditionalist schism the Pontiff hopes to overcome with the gesture. Five bishops and 30 priests -- a considerable number in a church normally wary of open dissent -- have expressed grave concern about making this concession to ultra-conservatives who reject the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
The antipathy that congressional Democrats have today toward President George W. Bush is reminiscent of their distrust of President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War, a political science professor says. "We see some of the same sentiments today, in that some Democrats see the Republican president as being a threat and the true obstacle to peace, instead of seeing our enemies as the true danger," said Paul Kengor, a political science professor at Grove City College and the author of new book, "The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism."
Wal-Mart, already battered by the left-wing, is now coming under pressure from the right.
(CNN 
Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose, extending October's record-breaking rally, as falling oil prices bolstered optimism that consumer spending will sustain the economy. ``If oil prices continue to stay in this range or move lower, I can see the market jumping from here,'' said Don Schreiber, who manages $250 million as president of WBI Investments in Little Silver, New Jersey. ``You combine that with an attractive interest-rate environment, with the Fed pausing, and you have the market moving higher.''
