News

Church prayer angers French gay rights groups – France – FRANCE 24

Church prayer angers French gay rights groups – France – FRANCE 24.

The Catholic Church in France will revive an old tradition next week: “Prayer for France” will be read out in churches across the country.

The mobilization of churches to pray across France, is in response to President Francois Hollande’s desire to legilise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt. Prayer for France will be attacking the governments proposed changes to the law. The church’s plans have angered gay rights groups in France.

The “Prayer for France” used to be an annual event, started by King Louis XIII, but died out after World War II. Louis XIII made August 15th a day for the churches across the country to pray for the good of France.

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San Francisco County – highest number of Gay and Lesbian Couples in Cali, but whats up with DC?

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Unsurprisingly, San Francisco County data shows the highest number of gay and lesbian couples in California according to demographic census analysis by the Williams Institute.

What may or may not be surprising though, is that California ranks fourth in the nation at 7.8 couples per 1000.  First is the District of Columbia at a staggering 18.08 couples per 1000.

See Institute reports same-sex couples by county | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog.

News

Pelosi: Spirits talking to me in the White House

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To much applause, San Francisco based Democrat Nancy Pelosi describes the spirits who are with her, and relates the relief they had at gaining access in the government.   She described the encounter when she first became part of the democratic leadership.

Pelosi has described this spiritual encounter more than once, most recently at a gathering of the Women’s Political Committee.  On another occasion at the Trinity Washington University’.

Pelosi feels that there is more than one spirit that is with her and feels like they are Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul.

Coincidentally, Pelosi also happens to be an ardent supporter of Buddhism, and openly supports the head of the Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, who Buddhists believe is the 14th reincarnation of the first Dalai Lama.  The Dalai Lama preached from the lawns of the Capitol Building in Washington DC in his recent visit to the USA, gaining access to many senior government politicians, and those in the White House.

See Pelosi ‘Swears’ Spirit of Susan B. Anthony Spoke to Her in White House | CNSNews.com.

News

AHMADINEJAD: “WORLD FORCES MUST ANNIHILATE ISRAEL”

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Muslims around the world are currently observing the fast of Ramadan. During Ramadan Iran hosts an anti-Zionist conference, where leaders from the Islamic world gather. During the event this year, on August 17th, Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), President Ahmadinejad gave what many believe, is his most anti-Israel speech yet.

Ahmadinejad has reiterated calls for the annihilation of Israel, he believes that only the “liberation” of Palestine will bring about world peace. Ahamadinejad said, “Anyone who loves freedom and justice must strive for the annihilation of the Zionist regime in order to pave the way for world justice and freedom.” Ahmadinejad believes the “Zionists” control the world’s media, banking system, and governments.

This latest speech will only intensify the fear in Israel at this time. Israeli journalist Amos Harel, defense correspondent for Haaretz believes there is a 50% chance of Israel launching an attack on Iran before November, in a pre-emptive move to try and stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman said, they want the international community to unite to “prevent the Iranian regime –with its fanatical and hate filled agenda – from obtaining nuclear capability.

The Iranian leadership believe they are called by Allah to usher in the reign of the ‘Mahdi’ – an Islamic messianic figure, who will come to earth at a time of great trouble, and establish an Islamic kingdom of peace. However, they believe to bring about the Mahdi’s coming Israel must be destroyed. Israel understand that Ahmadinejad is a man to take very seriously.

 

Random Events, Free Will or Something Darker?

Storm shuts down Lollapalooza Festival – Chicago – crowds evacuated

8/04 Storm video
http://www.weather.com/weather/videos/news-41/top-stories-169/closing-act-storm-halts-lollapalooza-29969
Storm shown from the lake shore 150,000 people lost power. 75,000 of which were in Cook County alone.

8/04 Lollapalooza reopens after heavy storm puts on show
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-weather-forecast-saturday,0,2262040.story
The incoming storm front hit about an hour into the evacuation,  and mostly calm crowds on Michigan Avenue gave way to yelling clumps of people sprinting towards the nearest shelter as a greenish-gray dark clouds devoured the sky and torrential rain began to fall.

News

Chick-fil-A operating permit in dispute over LGBT issue in Chicago

The discrimination disputes continue as local politicians use their power to try to block commercial enterprise and religious freedom.

Who’s rights are being violated here?

Read on and you decide…..

7/25 Alderman to Chick-fil-A: No deal
Moreno tries to block restaurant that opposes gay marriage from opening in his Northwest side ward
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-25/news/ct-met-chicago-chick-fil-a-20120725_1_1st-ward-gay-marriage-ward-alderman

“If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don’t want you in the 1st Ward,” Moreno told the Tribune on Tuesday.
Moreno stated his position in strong terms, referring to Cathy’s “bigoted, homophobic comments” in a proposed opinion page piece that an aide also sent to Tribune reporters. “Because of this man’s ignorance, I will now be denying Chick-fil-A’s permit to open a restaurant in the 1st Ward.”
The alderman has the ideological support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values,” the mayor said in a statement when asked about Moreno’s decision. “They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty.”
Moreno is relying on a rarely violated Chicago tradition known as aldermanic privilege, which dictates that City Council members defer to the opinion of the ward alderman on local issues. Last year Moreno wielded that weapon to block plans for a Wal-Mart in his ward, saying he had issues with the property owner and that Wal-Mart was not “a perfect fit for the area.”
“I think it’s important that the city sends a message that we want business here … but what we can’t have and don’t want are businesses that have discriminatory roles,” Garcia said, adding that he’s a defender of free speech.
Moreno, meanwhile, said it will take “more than words” to get him to reverse course.
“They’d have to do a complete 180,” the alderman said. “They’d have to work with LGBT groups in terms of hiring, and there would have to be a public apology from (Cathy).”

8/01 Chick-fil-A Supporters Turn Out for Appreciation Day
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/01/chick-fil-a-supporters-to-turn-out-for-appreciation-day/

“You could easily imagine another jurisdiction someplace in which a business owner could express a view in favor of gay marriage and have his zoning permit pulled. Would that be OK? I mean, is that fair? I mean, of course not,” said Chicago GOP vice chairman Chris Cleveland. “We are all in danger if permits someone’s permits can be pulled, and if the government can engage in economic bullying.”
The Chicago Republican Party believes it has an airtight case, based on a statute that forbids unlawful discrimination in real estate transactions – even in an oral statement.
“(Moreno) has used government power to engage in overt religious discrimination against a person who has merely expressed a sincerely-held religious belief,” Cleveland said. “Under the Illinois human rights law, that’s illegal.”

Moreno also said last week that he is unconvinced that Chick-Fil-A will not discriminate against the LGBT community.
“If they are violating Chicago and Illinois law by discriminating against a section of our population, I think that has grounds for an irresponsible business, and that the community would not want that in there,” Moreno said.
But in a statement, Mayor’s office spokeswoman Tarrah Cooper said this does not mean the mayor will be involved in trying to block the restaurant.

8/02 Chick-fil-A plucks one-day record from gay marriage blowup
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-gaymarriage-chickfilabre871197-20120802,0,5563468.story

The chain restaurant had a “record-setting day” on Wednesday, according to a spokesman, as customers descended on its roughly 1,600 locations across the United States in support of its president’s contentious stance against gay marriage.

8/04 Same-sex kiss day at Chick-fil-A draws kissing activists
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/chick-fil-kiss-164759658.html

News

Parade of Chariots – Venice Beach today

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Procession starts at 10:00 AM Sunday at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and proceeds south on Main St, with three fully decorated four-story tall chariots leading a parade toward the Ocean Front Walk Plaza at Venice Beach. The festival will arrive at Venice Beach at noon. Festival ends 6pm.

Main points:
Worship of 3 deities of Hare Krishna hence 3 chariots.
Started in USA by their guru in San Francisco in 1967.
Distribution of food to public from their gods.
Chanting and dancing as forms of worship.

Here’s some history from the Festival of chariots website:
“Sometimes referred to as Ratha Yatra, literally meaning Chariot Festival. Ratha Yatra originated 5,000 years ago in India, on the East Coast state of Orrisa, in a city called Jagannatha Puri. 
The Festival celebrates Lord Krishna’s return to Vrindaban and is held annually to honor Lord Jagannatha, which means Lord of the Universe. Lord Jagannatha is a particular Deity form of Lord Krishna, fashioned from neem wood and brightly painted. The residents of Puri have been worshipping this form for many centuries. Five hundred years ago, Lord Chaitanya, the reincarnation of Lord Krishna used to daily visit Lord Jagannatha in the temple and see Him in a mood of intense separation, much like Srimati Radharani who was parted from her beloved Krishna most of her days. 
For the festivities; there are three chariots, one for each of the three deities; Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra. The canopied chariots are decorated with flowers and balloons and are pulled with long, thick ropes by hundreds of people. The chariots are accompanied by a procession of devotees who are ecstatically dancing and chanting the Lord’s Holy Names: 
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. 
The first time the Festival of Chariots was performed outside of India was on July 9, 1967 in San Francisco, under the supervision of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977). Srila Prabhupada, as he is more affectionately known, is the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and is the tenth generation from Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupada lead the Hare Krishna Movement, guiding his disciples to open temples and perform festivals all over the world.

 Prabhupada first got the idea for performing the festival in San Francisco, while looking out the window of his room above Frederick Street. Noticing flatbed trucks passing below, he thought of putting the Jagannatha deities on the back of such a truck and conducting the Ratha Yatra festival. He had even sketched a truck with a four-pillared canopy on the back and decorated it with flags, bells, and flower garlands. And he had called in his disciple Syamasundara: Make me this cart for Ratha Yatra, Now, ready and sitting outside the temple on Frederick Street, was the cart – a yellow Hertz rental truck, complete with five-foot columns and a pyramidal cloth canopy. 
When the devotees asked what else they should do, Prabhupäda said that the devotees should make a procession, distribution of prasadam (food offered to Lord Jagannatha) and kirtana (chanting the names of the Lord). The people should get a chance to see Lord Jagannätha and chant Hare Krishna. There should be chanting and dancing in front of the cart throughout the procession. Do everything nicely,” Prabhupäda said. Do it as well as you can, and Lord Jagannatha will be satisfied.” 
From there in San Francisco, the Festival of the Chariots has been performed every year since, and now there are festivals celebrating Lord Jagannatha in every country in the world. The Festival of the Chariots was first performed in Los Angeles in 1977 and is now in its 30th year. 
News

San Francisco Killing(s) Averted; Man Arrested In Haight-Ashbury

Somehow, police in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park averted what could have been a major high profile killing spree.

Robert Johns was only smoking a cigarette when he was arrested in the Golden Gate Park.  The police caught something about him which caused them to dig deeper and what they found was disturbing.

Police believe they diverted a major attack.

Johns had a number of guns, knives, 5800 rounds of ammunition and a list of a number of political leaders which possibly included President Obama in his car.

See Man With Bounty Of Firearms, List Of Politicians Names Arrested In Haight-Ashbury: SFist.

News

Markets crumble as Draghi bond plan deemed too vague – Telegraph

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Markets crumble as Draghi bond plan deemed too vague – Telegraph.

The President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, had promised that the ECB would do “whatever it takes” to save the Euro.

However, after the latest round of talks his promises sound rather shallow.

Instead of a firm plan of action, yet again difficult decisions have been postponed. Draghi has hinted that the ECB will buy up Spanish and Italian bonds on a scale not yet seen, though no concrete plans have been announced. Draghi’s “whatever possible” at present is three teams of ECB experts looking at what can be done.

In the meantime: Spain, Greece and Italy are quickly running out of time.

News

A ‘Superpower’ That Couldn’t Keep the Lights On

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Things are not so bright in India right now.

Initially we saw corruption of a magnitude not seen in the developed world.  Then we saw a tax on the job creators.  The economy therefore predictably slowed and the rupee devalued.

Now India’s infrastructure is showing its frailties and is demonstrating how it can’t keep the darkness at bay.

This has affected over 600 million people, maybe more.

See A ‘Superpower’ That Couldn’t Keep the Lights On – Business News – CNBC.

Random Events, Free Will or Something Darker?

UN ARMS TREATY CONFERENCE FAILS TO FIND CONSENSUS

Through July the United Nations security council were meeting in New York. They were seeking to produce a UN Arms Treaty. Amongst those taking part in the negotiations were Iran.

The Arms Treaty would have had implications on the Second Amendment Right of Americans to bear arms. After the Colorado shooting many believed the arms deal would find enough support to be passed.

However, the conference has ended without agreement.

Nevertheless, this should not only be of concern to Americans but people in all nations. The United Nations has passed many bills in the past which impact on our lives. Do we really want Iranian diplomats deciding on the legitimacy of the Second Amendment, for example? Do African nations want US and European diplomats telling them they must legalise gay marriage?

The Arms Treaty has been defeated for now, but the UN has made it clear they want to curtail the freedoms of American citizens to own fire arms.

Random Events, Free Will, Pre-destiny or Something Darker ?