Beverly Hills disowns Miss California contestant

Thu Feb 25, 12:05 am ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Less than a year after dethroned Miss California USA Carrie Prejean stirred up controversy with her remarks against gay marriage, a similar war of words is brewing in Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne said Wednesday she is outraged over a Miss California USA contestant who is claiming to represent the city in the upcoming pageant and who spoke out against same-sex marriage in recent media interviews.

Krasne said in a statement that 23-year-old Lauren Ashley does not live in Beverly Hills or represent the city in any capacity. Krasne said she was shocked to see statements made by a beauty pageant contestant under the name of Beverly Hills, “which has a long history of tolerance and respect.”

Ashley recently told Fox News and other media outlets that same-sex marriage goes against God and the Bible.

Keith Lewis, a K2 Productions stage director for the Miss California USA pageant, told the Los Angeles Times that contestants choose the area they represent and Ashley chose to compete as Miss Beverly Hills in November 2010.

A phone listing for Ashley could not be found.

Krasne said the city has contacted Miss California USA pageant officials to determine ways to formally prevent any beauty contestants from claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills in the future.

Ashley’s comments came just months after Prejean, the former Miss California USA 2009, reached a confidential settlement with pageant organizers on dueling lawsuits over her outspoken stance against gay marriage.

Prejean sued Miss California USA organizers in August for libel, slander and religious discrimination. She accused them of telling her to stop mentioning God even before her controversial remarks against gay marriage.

Prejean was fired in June after pageant officials accused her of missing events, an allegation she denied. The pageant later countersued Prejean.

Prejean said she was dethroned because she said during the Miss USA pageant that gays shouldn’t be allowed to marry.

 Courtesy of Yahoo News at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100225/ap_on_re_us/us_miss_beverly_hills

[Via http://faithandthelaw.wordpress.com]

Home is Where the Heart Is

It’s been six and a half months now since I left Germany to study abroad in the United States. This is not my first time of being over here. Actually, I’m feeling very much at home on the other side of the Atlantic. My second cousin in Texas always says I “hop across the ocean as if it were a puddle.” I guess I fit in quite well by now; at least, it’s been a while since the last time that someone noticed that I’m a foreigner or said to me “You have such a cute accent! Where are you from?” And I love it. I love that I have managed to adapt to American culture to an extent where no one can tell that I wasn’t born and raised here.
I’m not exactly sure when that adaptation process started, but it probably all began, when I was about eight years old singing along to songs like Jessie by Joshua Kadison and Give it away by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the radio. Although, singing along is probably saying a bit too much considering I didn’t even know any English then. As soon as my brother, Michael, started learning English in school, I started asking him how different words are pronounced and what they mean. I remember asking him over and over again about a band name on one of the posters in his room. “It’s EAST SEVENTEEN,“ he would say, obviously getting annoyed. I couldn’t wait to finally be in fifth grade and learn English myself.
My first years of English in school were a breeze; it all seemed to come to me almost naturally. I enjoyed doing my English homework and studying irregular verb forms. I even thought about the everyday words and grammar we learned in school during my everyday life. Sometimes, I would even talk to myself in English when I knew there was no one around. So, while my grades in Math and other subjects dropped from an A in elementary school to a C in secondary school, I received mostly As and a few Bs in my brand-new, favorite subject English.
At the beginning of seventh grade, my grandparents promised my brother and me to take us on a trip to visit our relatives in Michigan the following spring. Of course, we had to fulfill our part of the deal first. “We’re only going to take you guys if you bring home some good grades on your mid-year report cards,” my grandfather said with a wink. I knew we would get to go with them even if our grades weren’t going to be outstanding.
The day we got our report cards that February, my brother and I raced home on our bikes. Taking the corner onto our street, I could already see my grandparents car. We jumped off the bikes, leaving them on the driveway, and ran into the house. Both of us were really out of breath. My grandmother just started laughing when she saw us. She and my grandfather, with his boyish grin, were sitting in the kitchen together with my mother. “Let’s see these report cards,“ said my grandfather, so we gave them to him. After what seemed like forever, he looked up. “I guess that’s good enough,“ he said with a smile on his face. Then, my grandmother told us that we were going to fly to Michigan for my second cousin Ralph’s wedding in May.
At school, I told my friends about my upcoming trip. Soon, I began to think of things I needed to bring: something nice to wear for the wedding, my walkman for the long flight, and my camera. And I had to save up money, because I wanted to buy cool American things to show off when I got back home.
At last, three months of waiting had come to an end, and it was time for the four of us to start our trip to the other side of the Atlantic with a nine-hour flight. While our grandparents were trying to catch some sleep on the airplane, Michael and I used the time to get ourselves ready for all the English we were going to be exposed to over the next two weeks by watching some movies and listening to the radio in English. I don‘t remember what movies we watched, but I got a bit scared by how fast everyone was talking. I asked my brother if he understood everything that was being said. “No. You just have to keep watching, though,” he said. So, I did.
Around four o’clock in the afternoon, my great-aunt Inge, who was also the only one we knew over here who could speak German, picked us up from the airport. My brother and I were exhausted but still too excited to fall asleep on the ride to her house. Our grandparents already knew everyone from their previous trips and had told us a little bit about our relatives. Yet, we kids couldn’t wait to meet everyone over the course of the following days.
One day, we went to a nearby lake, where the grown-ups took us kids to ride in the boat and on the tube they were pulling across the lake. My brother and I had the time of our lives – we didn’t know anyone back home who owned a boat, so that was our first time of going tubing on a lake. We had a huge barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, and cookies for dessert, and the entire family was there. I remember thinking this must be what America is about.
On other days, we had dinner at someone’s house. One time, we drove out to Ralph’s house, which actually is an old farmhouse. He also still has an old barn standing on his big piece of property. We had another barbecue, and my brother and I got to ride the lawn mower. Again, back home nobody we knew had one of those, so we were really excited about it. “Make sure not to crush the little pine trees over there. I just planted them last year,” Ralph said, but my brother was a bit too enthusiastic driving the lawn mower; that was the end for those pine trees.
Of course, our relatives also took us to the nearby malls. I loved all the stores and that I got to pay with the American dollars I had gotten from my bank in Germany. A bit confused about the conversion rate, I spent way to much on a tie-dye shirt and a candle, which I thought looked really cool. “Are you sure you don’t want to return this stuff?“ Inge asked after she saw the price tags. But I kept my overpriced shirt and candle; it was my cool American stuff. What really impressed me, though, was the politeness I encountered. “How are you?“ and “Can I help you find something” were the first two things I heard whenever I entered a store, and inside, everybody constantly apologized for almost bumping into me or blocking my view.
On the wedding day, Inge helped me get all dressed up and ready before we had to head out to go to church. I have to admit that I didn’t understand everything, but the wedding was beautiful. Later, at the reception, we all danced and laughed and had the greatest time together; I felt like this was where I belonged.
Since I had only had a little under three years of English in school, I didn’t talk a whole lot during this first trip to the USA; I just listened closely and tried to follow everyone’s conversation, because by the time I had figured out what I wanted to say their conversation had moved on to a different topic. Still, everywhere we went I quickly felt at home. All those strangers that were my family were so welcoming and loving that I couldn’t help but feel comfortable around them.
As a matter of fact, I enjoyed my stay and being around my relatives so much that I decided to use all the money I got for my confirmation on a five-week trip to visit them over my summer break the following year. After that I wanted to go back to the US to stay for a year and go to high school, but my parents said I was too young to be away from home for that long. Moreover, it would have been really expensive. So, after that plan fell through, I decided to finish high school in Germany and then come back to be an AuPair for a year. Even during my time as an AuPair, my relatives were always just a phone call away and helped me to get used to living in a part of the US I hadn’t been to before. Thereafter, I kept coming back every summer to visit friends and family in Illinois, Wisconsin, Idaho, Michigan, and Texas, and now, I’m an international student at College of DuPage.
Over the years, the USA have become my second home. Of course, I don’t like everything over here, but I don’t like everything in Germany either. Just the same, it doesn’t matter which side of the Atlantic I’m on, I’m always missing something from the opposite side. I’m sure that I wouldn’t know these feelings if it hadn’t been for my grandparents and my relatives over here, and without them I might not be “the family’s globetrotter” that I am today.

[Via http://thinkcreateexpress.wordpress.com]

The RIGHT Way to Celebrate Valentine's Day in Elementary School

I see some problems with Valentine’s Day as it is currently taking place in some schools.  If the holdiay is going to be celebrated with class parties in elementary school (as opposed to students giving out their own valentines privately, without anything to do with the school), in my opinion, there is only ONE way to do it.

Having been an Elementary Teacher of many years, the ONLY way Valentine’s Day should be celebrated at school is for children to be required to make a card for every other child in the class. This prevents some children going home upset, deflated, egos damaged.

I taught for many years in an overseas American school in a country where Valentine’s were not sold in large packets, as they are in America.

Valentines in America are sold in easy, class-sized packages

I solved this problem by making heart shapes on a paper, writing “to” and “from” on the card, and photocopying the papers. I gave each child a packet to cut out the 25-30 necessary for the whole class, and kids sat with their friends in groups to color valentines and write simple messages on them.

Since we don’t commonly have shoeboxes easily available in this country, I made large envelopes for each child by folding and stapling at the sides an 18″ x 24″ piece of construction paper, and wrote each child’s name largely in fancy cursive on the envelope. That way we could have a Valentine’s party where everyone could go around distributing valentines to everyone else’s desk, and no one would feel left out.

We also had envelopes taped up around the room for other classes, in case someone wanted to send a card to a brother or sister, or friend in another grade. Of course they could make additional valentines “from your secret admirer,” and we always made a special one to take home to Moms and Dads.

This way, at the end of the day, everyone in the class has a whole packet of Valentines to take home, from the whole class, and is NOT LEFT OUT, while other, more popular children get ALL the valentines!

I was surprised to find how many high school children still  had their class valentines, saved from our elementary school parties.

–Mary Mimouna

[Via http://elementaryteacher.wordpress.com]

Dogfish Head Squall IPA

Dogfish Head is one bad ass brewery.  Located in Delaware, Dogfish Head continually pushes the boundaries of beer, while at the same time being repsectful of brewing traditions.  I love these guys, and will buy any of their beers without hesitation.

The Squall IPA came out last spring.  If you see any bottles at your local beer emporium, grab them, because this a tasty treat.  This Imperial IPA is super hoppy, and packs a 9% ABV. Very fragrant, and even with that high alcohol content, this drank very easily.    I had this with some friends at a boy’s weekend in Vermont, and this was easily the standout beer of the weekend.  A solid 9/10.

[Via http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com]

Friends and family.

The thing about having to go between two countries, is that here are plenty of friends and family that you don’t get to see but every few years. People that I grew up with and love immensely. That is something I had to give up with moving here, but I’m thankful to get to spend the little bit of time that I can with people when we do manage to make it to the US.

During our trip in June we were able to visit with friends and family, as I’ve shared other pictures before (on the other blog), but here are the last of those pictures.

One set of pictures with my friend Irene and her son, Jason. (Irene wouldn’t let me take any pictures of her.) *sigh* Irene and I grew up together and were best friends during high school. She is a fantastic person and I miss her a lot! Her son Jason is crazy and a talker. ) He and Fredrik had a lot of fun together while Irene and I were about to talk. And the grass in the pictures.. American grass.. REAL grass. None of this hard, crunchy, mossy grass that we have here in Sweden. But REAL, soft, GREEN grass. It made me miss American summers!

Here is a set of pictures with Leia getting to meet her Aunt Melissa and boyfriend Dustin and her cousin Amanda. (Leia only got to meet cousin Amanda, her other cousins, Josh and Craig, were unable to make a trip to come see us.) Leia also was able to meet Amanda’s daughters, Hailey and Savannah.

Aunt Melissa bought Leia her first ice cream from an American ice cream truck.
Which Leia thoroughly enjoyed.

It is always sad saying goodbye, especially because you don’t know when we’ll ever see each other again – if we ever do.

[Via http://hillarymolin.wordpress.com]

White House adjusts strategy on Republicans

NEWS
White House adjusts strategy on Republicans
By Peter Nicholas
February 21, 2010

The Obama administration aims to put members of the GOP on the spot, forcing them to compromise on issues or be portrayed as obstructionists.

Reporting from Washington – As voters lose patience with political gridlock, the Obama administration is embarking on a strategy aimed at putting Republicans on the spot: Either participate in bipartisan exchanges initiated by the president, or be portrayed as the party of obstruction.

The new approach is part of a series of adjustments the White House is making as it deals with the aftermath of Republican Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Right now, it’s not clear voters blame one party more than the other for paralysis in Washington. A recent poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal showed that voters are as apt to blame congressional Republicans as Democrats for the standoff. Virtually everyone surveyed agreed there is too much infighting in the capital.

In a flurry of recent public appearances, President Obama has sent a message that he is prepared to embrace GOP ideas. But he is also signaling that if Republicans balk at compromise, he’ll exact a political price.

Republicans, said White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, “have a role to play in solving problems in this country, or be accountable to the electorate for choosing not to.”

Republicans don’t see Obama’s overtures as sincere. They view with particular suspicion Obama’s invitation to hash out differences on healthcare at a televised meeting Thursday. Republicans who boycott the gathering risk looking obstinate. But showing up isn’t a winning strategy either, some Republicans caution. They fear the format is one that guarantees the president will appear the statesman.

“When you’re the president, you have the loudest microphone and clearest TV camera,” said Mark Corallo, a Republican strategist. “You get to stand up and look reasonable, bipartisan and leader-like. And anyone else ends up . . . looking like a petty partisan who is just interested in saying no. There’s no upside for the Republicans in even attending the healthcare summit.”

Obama has been busy on other fronts positioning himself as the seeker of bipartisan solutions to the nation’s problems. Last week he named GOP former Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming as co-chairman of a commission that will look for ways to curb the trillion-dollar deficit. He also announced billions of dollars in federal loan guarantees promoting nuclear power, an energy source that many Republicans see as a solution to the country’s electricity needs.

In a recent news conference, Obama said he was open to giving ground in exchange for GOP support for his energy plan, which is foundering in the Senate.

“I’m willing to move off some of the preferences of my party in order to meet them halfway,” the president said. “But there’s got to be some give from their side as well.”

An administration official said that in coming months, the White House would be quicker to point out instances of what he described as Republican intransigence. Though the White House has long believed that Republicans were committed to derailing Obama’s agenda, officials will be more aggressive in making the case.

“The Massachusetts election obliterated the argument that we could [govern] all on our own,” said the administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. “What we’re doing now is actively reaching out and demonstrating our interest in bipartisanship — but not passively standing by if Republicans are not willing to meet us halfway.”

The White House will be relying on a wider network of people to drive home its message. As part of its retooled communications strategy, more Cabinet secretaries will be in front of the cameras to defend the administration’s record.

The plan is already on display. Cabinet members fanned out across the country on the anniversary of the $787-billion stimulus package being signed into law, touting projects now underway and countering GOP criticism that the bill was a waste of money that did little to curb unemployment.

Last year, by contrast, Obama often carried the administration’s message alone. “There was a reluctance to hand off the ball,” said the White House official.

© 2010 The Los Angeles Times

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

Tax avoidance Texas-style

Hmm…bass guitar seems easy enough…maybe I should take up piano…

The case of Joseph Stack is a bizarre one.

Man is disgruntled with the state of his nation – in particular the tax authorities – man snaps, man flies plane into Internal Revenue Services building, man dies in crash, injuring two people with one other ‘unaccounted for’.

Another pointless death or two in Usania.

Stack left a rambling 6 page suicide ‘note’ :

Stack complained that anyone who stood up for the principal of “no taxation without representation” was now labelled a “crackpot.” He accused corporate leaders of being “thugs and plunderers” guilty of “gluttony and overwhelming stupidity” and politicians were “thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags.”

He said the US health system was a “joke” and accused drug companies of “murdering tens of thousands of people a year” but his strongest words were reserved for the tax system.

Stack said: “Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand.

“The law requires a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing. If that’s not duress then what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.”

Stack claimed his attempts to get to grips with the tax system had cost him more than $40,000 (£24,000) and 10 years of his life.

He said: “It made me realise for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie.” Stack claimed tax legislation in the 1980s had made him a “criminal and non-citizen slave.” Stack then spent $5,000 (£3,000) and 1,000 hours of his time writing to politicians about tax.

Much of which I find hard to disagree with, particularly the first paragraph above. So, whilst I can’t approve of the way in which he expressed his anger and frustration I can understand why he felt that way if not why he chose such a drastic method to express it.

However, in a surreal moment he also states:

“Here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle.”

A piano?

However, it’s the little piece of coding that places ‘related’ adverts after news stories in the Telegraph which must surely have the last ironic word on the subject:

You really can’t make this shit up.

[Via http://steveshark.wordpress.com]