"MARRIAGE" In The News
 (January 2009)

The news articles and features presented below are simply an indication of how topical, controversial, and all-encompassing the issues surrounding marriage are throughout our society—and the world—today. Some of the views and opinions expressed, and their respective web sites, do NOT reflect the views or opinions of The Real Proposal™ magazine. Many are highlighted largely to reiterate that the alarming statistical trends on the chaotic state of "Marriage" and "Family"—outlined in "A Mere Glimpse"—will continue unabated without a fundamental grasp and purposeful dissemination of TRUTH on the issues.

• Prop 8 Urges Court to Enjoin Campaign Finance Reporting Rules That Have Resulted in Harassment of Prop 8 Supporters   ProtectMarriage.com- Yes on 8, Contact: Frank Schubert, January 29, 2009
   Acting on behalf of supporters of Proposition 8 who have experienced extensive acts of harassment including death threats, the ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8 committee today urged a federal court judge to issue a preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from requiring further disclosure of the committee's donors. The request was made before US District Court Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. in a federal court hearing in Sacramento. The Yes on Prop 8 campaign has challenged the constitutionality of California's campaign finance laws that compel disclosure of personal information of Prop 8 donors. At today's hearing Judge Morrison C. England, ruled against ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8 committee denying their request for a preliminary injunction to protect the identities of those donors who have contributed $100 to $999 since October 18, 2008. "We are disappointed that we did not receive the preliminary injunction," said Frank Schubert, Yes on 8 Campaign Manager. "But this fight is really about how donors to a future campaign will be treated. We are committed to ensuring that supporters of traditional marriage can do so without fear of intimidation and harassment." . . .
  
  Questions and Answers ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on 8 vs. Bowen (Challenging California's Campaign Disclosure Laws):
  *  Isn't this an attempt to shield large donors to Prop 8 from the public?. . .
  *  Doesn't the public have a right to know who is contributing to support Proposition 8?. . .
  *  What is wrong with disclosing the identity of people who contribute $100?. . .
  *  What changes to the law would satisfy ProtectMarriage.com?. . .
  *  If large contributors have already been disclosed, what is the point of the lawsuit?. . .
  
  FACT SHEET: California's Campaign Disclosure Rules Have Resulted in Harassment of Hundreds of Contributors to the Yes on Proposition 8 Campaign. . .

RELATED SITE: Election Track: Proposition 8 Search
What you will find:  All contributions of over $1,000 and all contributions of over $100 given before October 17 are included (e.g. Search "Brad Pitt"). All contributions will be available after January 30.


RELATED SITE: Yes on 8 — Protect Marriage.com   (Final Approval 52.3%)

RELATED ARTICLE:  Anti-Gay Marriage Donors Fear Increased Threats After California Judge's Disclosure Ruling  FOX News, By Joshua Rhett Miller, January 30, 2009
Supporters of Proposition 8, the California constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage in the state in November, say they expect discrimination, harassment and intimidation to continue after a federal judge denied a request to keep private the names of donors to the initiative. . . . "You don't know in today's world where threats will lead," the real estate executive told FOXNews.com. "There's a delicate balance between the rights of an individual and disclosure.". . .


RELATED ARTICLE & COMMENTS:  Federal judge refuses to block names of gay marriage foes  Los Angeles Times- LA Now, January 29, 2009
Comments. . . The article fails to mention that the Campaign Donor Discolsure Law was enacted by a votor initiative in 1974. So we have the same group defending one voter initiative (Prop H8) by claiming that the initiative process is inviolate and that the courts "must bow to the will of the people, no matter how unelightened" (a quote from their peitition pending before the California Supreme Court), while at the same time suing in Federal District Court to have a voter approved initiative invalidated. Hypocrisy is an article of faith for these people. Posted by: TomTallis | January 29, 2009 at 05:07 PM. . .

• Health Buzz: Birth of Octuplets and Other Health News
  Fertility Experts Weigh In on Birth of Octuplets  US News & World Report, Posted January 28, 2009
  While doctors at a California hospital haven't said whether a woman who gave birth Monday to octuplets received fertility treatments in order to conceive the babies, infertility specialists told the Los Angeles Times that they question whether enough was done to prevent such a risky pregnancy. Chances are very small that the babies were conceived naturally, experts said, and reproductive-medicine specialists have the expertise to avoid high-risk pregnancies such as this one. The octuplets—two girls and six boys—were born via cesarean section about 9½ weeks early at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center in Bellflower, Calif. The babies weighed between 1 pound, 8 ounces and 3 pounds, 4 ounces, according to the Times . The parents of the babies have not been identified. The octuplets are in stable condition, the hospital reports, and two babies who initially had needed help breathing were well enough to have breathing tubes removed yesterday. Infertility can be a frustrating, upsetting problem for affected couples. U.S. News delved into the mysteries of unexplained infertility and described a fix for one cause of male infertility. And here's another fertility tip: Try eating right. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  Too many babies: What went wrong?: Birth of octuplets is not a 'medical triumph,' caution fertility experts   MSNBC, By By Linda Carroll, January 29, 2009
  As the world marvels over the miracle births of eight seemingly healthy babies in California, medical ethicists and fertility experts argue that the media is sending the wrong message with its focus on the creation of an instant Brady-Bunch like family. It’s fine to celebrate the healthy delivery, said Sean Tipton, spokesperson for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. But, a pregnancy resulting in this many babies is “clearly is not a medical triumph. Eight babies is not an outcome anyone should want.”. .

RELATED VIDEO:  Sharing the wealth: The cost of raising octuplets  MSNBC.com


RELATED VIDEO:  Doctor Says Newborn Octuplets Appear Healthy AP


RELATED VIDEO:  From One Family to Another, Advice for Octuplets AP

RELATED ARTICLE:  Octuplets' mother 'already has six children' : A woman who gave birth to octuplets earlier this week already has six children - including twins, it has been claimed.  The Telegraph- UK, By Caroline Gammell, January 29, 2009
Two people claiming to be grandparents of the octuplets rang a radio station and disclosed that the mother had six other children. Medical experts said questions would be asked if it emerged that a woman with six children received fertility treatment.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Common Chemicals May Delay Pregnancy: Use of PFOS, PFOA as additives is being phased out, researchers note   US News & World Report, By Steven Reinberg, Posted January 29, 2009
Chemicals known as perfluorinated chemicals, which are pervasive in food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products, may delay pregnancy, a new study suggests. These chemicals are being phased out in the United States because of their toxic effects, and are expected to be completely gone by 2010. However, they remain in the environment and in the body for decades, and have been linked to developmental problems. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Octuplet births remind him: Miracles happen  Los Angeles Times, By Shari Roan, January 28, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  Delving Into the Mysteries of Unexplained Infertility  US News & World Report, By Deborah Kotz, August 08, 2008 
What's shocking, though, is how common it is for infertile women to be given treatments that haven't been rigorously tested for effectiveness. "As a direct result of lack of evidence, many couples with unexplained infertility endure [and even request] expensive, potentially hazardous, and often unnecessary treatments," reproductive medicine specialists Tarek El-Toukhy and Yacoub Khalaf write in an editorial that appears in BMJ. Clomid, for example, increases the risk of twins and triplets and could potentially increase the risk of ovarian cancer in those who take it for several months.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Fighting Infertility May Be Easier Than You Think  US News & World Report, By Deborah Kotz, April 29, 2007
A growing body of evidence suggests that controllable health habits (and not just a delay in child bearing) may be a reason 1 in 8 couples can't conceive. . .

• How the faceless and amoral world of cyberspace has created a deeply disturbing... generation SEX   The Daily Mail- UK, By Olivia Lichtenstein, January 27, 2009
  Remember that Hilaire Belloc cautionary tale - Matilda told such dreadful lies, it made one gasp and stretch one’s eyes? I used to love it as a child when telling lies was one of the naughtiest things you could do: Matilda ended up getting burned to death. These days, however, everything has changed and it’s the truths that children tell that make one gasp and stretch one’s eyes. A couple of years ago, my daughter Francesca, then aged 13, told me about a party she had been to one Saturday night. In the course of the evening, she came upon one of her friends, also aged 13, performing oral sex on a boy in the garden. The boy was standing and videoing the event on his mobile phone. My daughter, in whom the feisty gene has always found strong expression, pulled her friend off the boy, knocked the phone out of his hand and slapped him round the face. I apologise for shocking you, but then there are a number of things shocking about this event: the casual nature in which such an intimate act is performed in public, the young age of the participants and last, but by no means least, the fact that it is being filmed. This not only signals the boy’s disassociation from the physical experience, it also indicates his intention to replay the event and, no doubt, to share his triumph with his friends as one might brandish a trophy above one’s head for all to see. Nor was this the only such event on this particular evening. I am no prude, but Francesca painted a picture of Bacchanalia that certainly made me gasp. That week at school, when conducting a post mortem of their weekend as teenagers do (and always have done), the girls at her then school (she’s since moved), a private girls’ school in London, exclaimed: ‘Hurrah, now we’re more slutty than Slutney’, the affectionate nickname of another school. Call me old-fashioned, but when I was a gal, sluttishness was not a condition one aspired to. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Generation P  Townhall.com, By Mike S. Adams, June 27, 2005
For those who don’t know, Ben (Shapiro) is an underachiever. At 21, he is a Harvard Law Student, a nationally syndicated columnist, and now the author of his second book, Porn Generation. . . . . Porn Generation also deserves credit for criticizing some of the “cultural icons” who have profited immensely from the corruption of our children and our culture. For example, Shapiro describes Madonna as “a fabulously successful musician, a failed actress, and a cultural icon.” He goes on to say that “She is also a whore, selling her promiscuity for power and financial gain.” And that “She isn’t just any whore either. She’s a whore with a microphone.” .   .   .  . Sticking with the most important theme of the book-the sexualization of children-Shapiro correctly observes that TV portrayals of casual sex itself are not the problem. It is the fact that TV depicts these characters as having casual sex without experiencing negative consequences that causes harm. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Bottling Up Smut-- Cleaning Up the Public Square   Breakpoint.org, By Chuck Colson, June 27, 2005
--We expect Christians to complain about our sex-saturated culture. But when a self-described "sex-industry insider" complains, people ought to take notice. . . According to a new book, we have failed our children because we haven't fulfilled "our function as guardians of their cultural environment." The "American media's obsession with sex," says the author, "has gotten so out of hand" that "even the provocateurs are being provoked."  Whose words are these? Chuck Colson? Jim Dobson? No. They're the conclusions of a "provocateur" himself, a "staunch believer in the First Amendment" and a "member of the American Civil Liberties Union" -- someone who opposes "any element of government control of human expression."  That's how Gil Reavill describes himself in his new book, Smut: A Sex-Industry Insider (and Concerned Father) Says Enough is Enough. . . Getting older made him “put away,” as he put it, the “arrogance that delights in offending others.” And then he had kids, and that’s when he really came to realize that smut is what he calls the “cultural equivalent of second-hand smoke.”. .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Tired of touchy-feely friendships and being the vulnerable one in romance, a new breed of steely female is beating guys at their own game. Fembots: The New Breed of Women  WebMD Feature from "Marie Claire" Magazine, By Theresa O'Rourke
I'm at a sake bar watching a man get drunk on an ice-cold woman. He shamelessly admits he can't stop thinking about her. "Really," she says, devouring a fat slice of tuna in one tidy bite. "That's interesting." Her raw beauty recalls a young Debbie Harry. He soldiers on: Why in God's name is she single? What brought her to New York City? She smiles coyly. "You know all you need to know . . . for now." Another eavesdropper might have made the assumption that this tight-lipped minx reads dumb-and-dumber books on seducing men. But I prefer to see her as proof of a new kind of woman, one who isn't fighting the urge to prattle on about her feelings. And though I don't know this carnivorous vixen, a part of me wants to shove my fist in the air and cry, "Atta girl!" . . .

 

• Perspectives: Change we never imagined   OneNewsNow,  By Matt Barber, January 23, 2009
  Well, the high-sheen veneer and cult-of-personality euphoria surrounding America's new oratory endowed president looks to be dissolving rather quickly. While millions had hoped for a political "messiah," it's fast becoming evident that, instead, we've stuck ourselves with an extreme leftist ideologue whose brand of "change we can believe in" is, in fact, "change we never imagined." (Sorry to burst the Barack bandwagon bubble, but I say it like I see it.) The examples are piling up in terms of the radical pro-abortion polices he's planning to implement, the many-times-failed Marxist fiscal policies he's promised to test yet again, and – relative to his national security goals – the noxiously naive peacenik policies that have Mahmoud and Osama giggling themselves to sleep at night. But on issues involving marriage, family and sexual morality, Obama's been even more brazen than some of his most ardent detractors could have expected. (See related article) Literally within minutes after he took the oath of office, the official White House webpage was updated – under the heading of "The Agenda: Civil Rights" – to detail his wholesale "support for the LGBT (homosexual activist) community."  His stated plans include the following:. . . . . . The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. Right out of the chute, Obama has told the world that he is signing off, without exception, on every demand of the extremist homosexual and transsexual lobbies. The radical homosexual agenda and religious/free-speech liberties cannot occupy the same space.  It's a zero-sum game.  When 1-2 percent of the population is granted exclusive rights based on the aforementioned deviant sexual proclivities and changeable sexual behaviors – to the detriment of everyone else – that's called tyranny of the minority. . .

RELATED SITE:  The White House- The Agenda- Civil Rights


RELATED SITE:  The White House- The Agenda- Women

RELATED ARTICLE:  White House outlines Obama's pro-homosexual agenda   OneNewsNow, By Fred Jackson, January 21, 2009
The Barack Obama administration has wasted no time in announcing what his pro-homosexual agenda will include. Just hours after becoming president, the Whitehouse.gov website has laid out Barack Obama's agenda. Under a section of that agenda titled Civil Rights is a very detailed outline of what Obama plans to do for the homosexual community. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Letter to Obama Supporters  Townhall.com, By Mona Charen, January 20, 2009
I did not vote for the man who today becomes the 44th president of the United States, and in fact, advocated for his opponent. But I am not immune to the happiness of those who did support him, particularly African-Americans, and -- to slice it a little thinner -- particularly older African-Americas who actually lived through the contempt and cruelty of Jim Crow America. I do not for minute deny the symbolic greatness of the moment, and despite my wariness of President Obama's policies, it makes me happy to see so many of my fellow Americans in a celebratory, patriotic mood. (If the shoe were on the other foot, however, I doubt that they would reciprocate these sentiments.). . . . . Let's not delude ourselves, America's enemies remain our enemies. They were not George W. Bush's personal hate club (that distinction belongs to others, like the BBC and The New York Times). . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Obama has little in common with Lincoln  Townhall.com, By Star Parker, January 19, 2009
It's ironic that Barack Obama chooses to infuse these opening days of his presidency with the imagery of Abraham Lincoln. I don't think there could be two more different men. Understanding why may help us think about what to expect in the days ahead. . . . . On the hardest moral dilemma of his day, Abraham Lincoln stepped up to the plate and took a stand. He did not say that it was above his pay grade. And this is what makes Abraham Lincoln very different from Barack Obama. Each time has its challenges. Americans feel betrayed by what they see as unethical behavior in American business and in Washington. Yet few seem to appreciate that moral problems lie at the root of our faltering economy. . .


RELATED RESOURCE:  The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises  Politifact.com
PolitiFact has compiled about 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on our Obameter. We rate their status as No Action, In the Works or Stalled. Once we find action is completed, we rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken. . .

• Just In: Beyonce's Inaugural First Dance Song Revealed  ET Online, January 16, 2009
  Just in! What song is superstar Beyonce singing at her performance on inauguration night? "I am so honored that I will be performing for President Obama and the First Lady. To sing 'At Last' while they have their first dance is a dream come true," says the Grammy-award winner. "I could not be more honored and excited that they have asked me to be part of this moment in history." . . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  'What I Want for You — and Every Child in America'   Parade magazine, By President-elect Barack Obama, January 14, 2009
  Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.
  
  Dear Malia and Sasha,
  I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. .

RELATED INFO:  Times and places for inaugural events  CNNPolitics, January 17, 2009
The official inauguration ceremony will be Tuesday afternoon, but there is a long list of events that will also take place before and after the big moment. Inaugural festivities will take place January 17-21. . .


RELATED INFO:  Inauguration Preview: Where to Be in D.C.  People magazine, By Alyssa Shelasky, January 17, 2009
With the presidential inauguration just days away – and stars like Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez and Scarlett Johansson poised to descend on the nation's capital – PEOPLE.com presents a guide to Washington, D.C., hot spots for those who want to see and be seen – and those who prefer to monitor the fun from home. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Malia Obama Plays Photographer on Mom's Birthday  People magazine, By Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, January 17, 2009
Like the hundreds of thousands flocking to Washington to witness history, Malia Obama, 10, is already at work on her inauguration photo album. As President-elect Barack Obama launched his whistle-stop tour on a restored 1930s train car to Washington, D.C. on Saturday – which happened to be wife Michelle's 45th birthday – daughter Malia snapped pictures on a small digital camera – of her father in profile and of little sister Sasha, 7, leaning into Mom on stage inside Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. . .


Yes, we did. But we're not ready to throw confetti   Editorial: The Real Proposal magazine, November 08, 2008
The people of America have spoken. And who among us could not feel pride at this transcendental moment in American history when we, the people, elected the first African-American president of the United States of America? To not acknowledge and savor this historic moment in a nation that once considered blacks property would be churlish. Indeed, Mr. Obama is to be sincerely congratulated. It is a historic accomplishment for him to become the first African-American to be elected to the highest office in the land, and we can understand the nation's pride and jubilance in this achievement. Many of us desired to vote for Mr. Obama not just because of its historical significance but because, to be sure, on several other levels he is qualified for the office of the presidency. But we couldn’t. And, instead, many of us find ourselves in a grieving process of sorts, not because of Mr. Obama's victory but because his advent represents a potential threat to what many in this country revere as core foundational principles that have been the cornerstones upon which our great nation has been built, and upon which we have thrived to become, certainly, one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations on this planet. . . . . .We have no interest in deciphering Mr. Obama's "nuances" such as when he states his belief that marriage is "between a man and a woman," and that he is "not in favor of gay marriage," while, at the same time, reiterating his clear opposition to Proposition 8 — the California ballot measure which has, at least for now, restored to the state of California the traditional definition of marriage that was usurped by a renegade State Supreme Court to include same-sex couples. Let's just look at the facts. . .


RELATED SLIDESHOW: Barack Obama's Election Night: Behind the Scenes

• OPINION: Obama Should Admit Support for Same-Sex Marriage   Opposing Views.com, By Peter Sprigg, FRC Action (Family Research Council-- Defending Faith, Family and Freedom), January 16, 2009
  In recent weeks, there has been a spate of stories suggesting that Barack Obama has begun moving to the center. On issues ranging from the Iraq war to terrorist surveillance to gun control, Obama has been moderating some of his previous liberal positions.But there is at least one issue on which Obama has been moving steadily to the left. In fact, it's now fair to say it--Barack Obama supports same-sex "marriage." All that's left is for him to admit it. You may not find a statement anywhere from Obama in which he comes right out and says, "I support same-sex marriage." In fact, on March 2, Obama said, "I will tell you that I don't believe in gay marriage... I believe in civil unions... [but] I don't think it should be called marriage." But when Obama says, "I don't believe in gay marriage," what is he really saying? The evidence suggests that he is not saying what most people would mean by that statement-namely, that there is good reason why marriage, in principle, ought to be defined as the union of one man and one woman. In fact, when you examine it closely, it is clear that Obama's supposed "opposition" to "gay marriage" is a matter of political strategy-nothing more. All it means is that he is unwilling, for political reasons, to make legalizing it a policy priority for which he will actively campaign. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Obama's record on Gay Marriage  FOX News, By Bret Baier, January 16, 2009 
  A 13-year-old document shows President-elect Obama has flip-flopped on the issue of same-sex marriage. Chicago's Windy City Times has posted a copy of a 1996 questionnaire on its Web site that was filled out — and signed — by Mr. Obama when he was running for the Illinois State Senate. He wrote, "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages." Tracy Baim at the paper writes, "there was no use of 'civil unions,' no compromise whatsoever." But the president-elect now opposes same-sex marriage. He told Evangelical Minister Rick Warren in August that marriage is "a union between a man and a woman." Mr. Obama does support civil unions.
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Putting Obama's questionnaire in context   Windy City Times, By Timothy Stewart-Winter
  In this issue of the Windy City Times, the world learns for the first time that almost thirteen years ago, during his first campaign for office, Barack Obama answered a questionnaire with the phrase, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages.” The response appeared in a questionnaire that his campaign faxed to the office of Outlines—a local LGBT newspaper that purchased and merged with Windy City Times in 2000—on Feb. 15, 1996. Later that year, in its voter guide for the general election, Outlines summarized Obama's positions: “Supports gay rights, same-sex marriage; increased AIDS funding, abortion rights, affirmative action.”. . .
  
  
  

• Warren praises Obama for inviting homosexual bishop  One News Now,  By Fred Jackson, January 16, 2009
  Rick Warren is applauding Barack Obama's decision to invite homosexual Episcopal bishop V. Gene Robinson to pray at an inauguration event next week in Washington, DC. Christianity Today quotes a statement from Warren, who says "President-elect Obama has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen." Warren's comment came in the wake of a controversy over Obama's decision to invite Warren to give the invocation prayer at the swearing-in ceremony at next Tuesday's Presidential Inauguration. Robinson, who became the Episcopal Church's first openly homosexual bishop back in 2003, joined other homosexual activists and their supporters in condemning Obama for inviting Warren, saying "it was like a slap in the face." Warren has received heavy criticism for openly supporting California's Proposition 8 last November, a voter intiative that amended the Golden State's constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman. Obama eventually gave into the pressure over Warren and has invited Robinson to give a prayer at another inaugural event next week. Robinson has said he will not use the Bible when praying, and states "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer.". . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Federal Judge Tosses out Newdow’s Challenge of Inaugural Prayers, ‘So Help Me God’  CNS News.com, By Pete Winn, January 16, 2009
  Atheist Michael Newdow and 30 other "nontheistic" plaintiffs say they will decide Friday whether to appeal Thursday's decision by a federal judge dismissing their demand that President-elect Barack Obama be barred from saying “So help me God” when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Anglican Church offshoot founded by traditionalists in Jerusalem   The Telegraph- UK, By Martin Beckford, June 29, 2008

RELATED ARTICLE:  Rick Warren vs. Gene Robinson   Belief Net blog, Posted by Tony Jones, January 15, 2009
Last weekend, news came out that Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, has been chosen by BO to deliver a pre-inauguration prayer at the Lincoln Memorial. That appointment hasn't gotten nearly the buzz: 1153 on Google News and 10,022 on Google Blogsearch. It seems to me that the Robinson appointment should receive far more buzz than the Warren appointment, for Robinson is a more polarizing and controversial figure. Say what you will about Warren, but for the most part he steers clear of polemical issues.  Robinson (or, more accurately, his election as bishop), on the other hand, has been responsible for a schism in one of Christianity's major denominations, for the Archbishops of Canterbury's censure of the Episcopal Church, and for some Anglican bishops to refuse to take communion with other Anglican bishop. Robinson is, by any measure, more controversial than Warren.  And yet his participation in the inauguration has gotten far less coverage. . . . the Warren story stayed in the news do(sic) long because of the pressure put on the media by GLBT groups.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Obama Coming Out of the Closet  Washington City Paper, Posted by Jule Banville on January 15, 2009
To make up for the boo-hiss the Prez-Elect’s getting from the GLBT community, organizers of the star-packed Lincoln Memorial concert on Sunday signed up the Rev. Gay himself, V. Gene Robinson, Episcopalians’ openly man-loving bishop. AND he promises not to go all Christian on the invocation. But that’s not all. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington is playing some role. From the GMCW release: This is the first time in American history that the GLBT Choral Movement will be represented at an inaugural ceremony. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Robinson to "Pray" at Obama Inauguration...Ft. Worth Remnant Stymied...Warren Offers Refuge for Anglicans  Virtue Online- The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism, By David W. Virtue, Janaury 14, 2009
Of course, it's no surprise that he's not going to be "especially Christian" in his prayer, since many Episcopalians believe he's really not Christian at all. The truly sad and indeed outrageous thing this has done is elevate homosexuality to high camp status in the Obama administration giving revisionist Episcopalians the leverage they want and need to push their pansexual agenda even further at General Convention 2009. After all, who is going to beat up on Robinson, Louie Crew, Susan Russell, et al for their warped sexual behavior when the nation's newest political savior has "baptized" sodomy in the name of inclusivity?. There will be rejoicing in the streets of Anaheim this summer led by the pro-gay, Proposition 8 hater Los Angeles Bishop J. Jon Bruno. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Bishop Robinson To Give Invocation at Obama Inauguration Event: He Doesn't Have a Prayer  Virtue Online- The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism, By David W. Virtue, Janaury 13, 2009
If one needed any further evidence that the Episcopal Church is on a one- way railroad ticket to hell (that does not run from Philadelphia to Washington DC), the invitation by President-Elect Barack Obama to the homogenital Bishop of New Hampshire to give the invocation at his inauguration event should be the clincher. In a memorandum to the Trustees of the Church Pension Fund, Robinson said, "I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, "We are One," to be held at the Lincoln Memorial, Sunday, January 18, at 2:00 pm. . . . . . Warren, by contrast, stands for the exact opposite. He fought for Proposition 8 in California that upheld marriage between a man and a woman. For his stand, he took major hits from the LGBT community including a number of bishops from The Episcopal Church. No two men better define the American religious landscape at this historic moment. One man is unfaithful to the gospel, a divorced homosexual promoting sodomy to defend and define his understanding of self. The other denies self to promote the Kingdom of God and a gospel that calls us to repentance and faith. For Robinson, there is no need to repent of our sins, for no sin has been committed. For Warren, we are all sinners in need of repentance. That is the difference between Robinson and Warren and between heaven and hell. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  AFTAH: Obama’s Choice of Homosexual Bishop (Vicki) Gene Robinson to Pray at Inaugural Event Is a Slap in the Face to Christians  Americans For Truth about Homosexuality, January 13, 2009
 – Peter LaBarbera, President of Americans For Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH), issued the following statement regarding President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of V. (Vicki) Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, to deliver the invocation at an official inaugural event Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial: “President-elect Obama has signaled a tragic departure from America’s godly, Judeo-Christian heritage with his choice of a defiant homosexual activist, (Vicki) Gene Robinson, to recite a prayer at an official Inaugural event Sunday. Choosing Robinson — who supports homosexual ‘marriage’ and compares his agenda to mainstream sinful and changeable homosexual behavior to the noble Black civil rights struggle — is a sop to ‘gay’ activists who blasted Obama’s for picking evangelical pastor Rick Warren to say an Inauguration Day prayer. “By choosing Robinson, who left his wife and family to embrace homosexuality – and who claims to revere the Bible as ‘holy and sacred’ while defying its clear teachings on sex and marriage – Barack Obama has given his first indication of how he could use the bully pulpit to undermine biblical values. (Obama promised homosexual activists that he would work to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents states from being forced to recognize out-of-state same-sex ‘marriages.’ He pledged that as President he would advocate for homosexual adoption, and has distorted the Bible to justify his support for homosexual relationships.) “Bishop Robinson is a radical sexual activist masquerading as a man of God. . . .



RELATED ARTICLE:  Gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson to give invocation at Lincoln Memorial inaugural event: Choice affirms Obama aim to represent views across entire spectrum   Chicago Tribune, By Christi Parsons and Manya A. Brachear, January 13, 2009
Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who advised Obama on gay-rights issues during the campaign, is set to deliver the invocation at an event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial two days before the swearing-in ceremony, aides to Obama said Monday. . .  .When Warren was invited to pray at the Jan. 20 inauguration, Robinson called the decision a "slap in the face." On Monday, though, Robinson lauded what he called Obama's commitment to inclusiveness. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: Anglican Church offshoot founded by traditionalists in Jerusalem   The Telegraph- UK, By Martin Beckford, June 29, 2008
Their final statement stated: "We cherish our Anglican heritage and the Anglican Communion and have no intention of departing from it." But they said that some parts of the Communion were using "false Gospel" to rewrite the Bible along liberal lines, forcing some dioceses to break with their leaders in America and Canada and join churches in Africa and South America. And they claimed that the "colonial structure" of Anglicanism had failed to discipline those churches which had broken the rules by consecrating gay clergy and blessing same-sex unions. . .

RELATED VIDEO:  Gay US bishop on UK visit  BBC News, July 13, 2008

RELATED VIDEO: Protest at gay bishop's sermon  BBC News, July 13, 2008

• Allies rally behind Prop 8 in judicial battle
  'The people have spoken unequivocally regarding the definition of marriage'   World Net Daily, By Drew Zahn, January 16, 2008
  A pair of legal organizations has stepped into the battle over California's definition of marriage by filing amicus briefs in support of the voter-approved Proposition 8, which is being challenged in California's Supreme Court. Vincent McCarthy is senior counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, one of the organizations filing in support of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that California's voters passed by a margin of several hundred thousands votes, or 52 percent to 48 percent, last fall. "The fact is that the voters of California took appropriate and constitutional action when they approved a valid amendment codifying marriage as an institution between one man and one woman," McCarthy said in a statement. "The challenge to this amendment is legally flawed and improperly rejects the will of California voters. We're hopeful the California Supreme Court will take the action necessary to uphold this amendment and clear the way for its implementation." . . . .. The other organization supporting Proposition 8, the United States Justice Foundation, makes a separate argument that focuses primarily on question of the same-sex marriages that took place before the amendment was passed. According to the USJF brief, the same-sex marriages were never valid. "The Supreme Court did not, and cannot, change the language of California statutes, because changing the language of statutes may only be done by the California Legislature," the brief argues. "The power to write laws belongs to the people and political branches of government, not the judiciary." Consequently, the brief argues, that while the Supreme Court did strike down California's laws restricting marriage to only heterosexual couples, the administrative agencies that acted on that ruling by altering marriage certificates to include same-sex couples acted prematurely. The USJF brief argues that only the state legislature can enact new rules and laws to comply with the Supreme Court's decision, and until those laws are written, there is no legal basis for performing or recording marriages unregulated by state law. . . .

RELATED SITE: Yes on 8 — Protect Marriage.com   (Final Approval 52.3%)

RELATED ARTICLE:  Legal Groups File Brief in Support of Same-Sex Marriage   NBC Los Angeles,
A state ballot measure that changes the state Constitution to ban gay marriage violates the document's guarantee of equal protection, 40 bar and legal organizations said Thursday in announcing they filed a brief with the state Supreme Court. . . . Backers of the measure maintain it is constitutional and have criticized efforts to overturn the will of voters through the courts. But Los Angeles County Bar Association President Danette Meyers said the effort involves protecting the rights of minorities. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Liberty Counsel Files Brief in Defense of California’s Marriage Amendment   Liberty Council-Press release, January 14, 2009
The legal question is simple, as the California Supreme Court previously stated: (1) Is the amendment “an enactment which is so extensive in its provisions as to change directly the ‘substantial entirety’ of the Constitution by the deletion or alteration of numerous existing provisions?”; or (2) Does the amendment “change … the basic plan of California government, i.e., a change in its fundamental structure or the foundational powers of its branches?” The answer to both questions is “No!” The California Supreme Court previously stated: “The right of initiative is precious to the people and is one which the courts are zealous to preserve to the fullest tenable measure of spirit as well as letter.” And as the California Supreme Court said in its May 15, 2008, decision, “the provisions of the California Constitution itself constitute the ultimate expression of the people’s will.” In re Marriage Cases (2008) 43 Cal.4th 757, 852. . . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Is California ready for 2010 vote on gay marriage?  Los Angeles Times Blog, By Shelby Grad, January 15, 2009
Could California be voting on gay marriage again next year? Well, there is a new group, Yes! on Equality, that is beginning a campaign for the "2010 Marriage Equality Initiative." It's hard to say how serious this is, and whether voters really want to take this issue up again, but the website says organizers have learned their lesson from Prop. 8:. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Gay-Marriage Ban Sets Up Host of Battles: California's Proposition 8 Is Challenged in State Court; What Happens to Previously Wed Couples?   The Wall Street Journal, November 7, 2008
California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 8, which adds to the state constitution the following sentence: "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." While the wording is simple, the situation quickly became complicated. For example, what happens to those same-sex couples who married before the ruling? Legal challenges filed Wednesday raised other questions: Was the referendum process itself lawful? Does the new language conflict with other parts of the state constitution? Separately, should Proposition 8 opponents have filed challenges saying the proposition violated the U.S. Constitution? David Cruz, a constitutional-law expert at the University of Southern California, has some answers. . . . .WSJ: Please explain the grounds upon which Proposition 8 is being challenged in court. . .

• US Airways Hero Pilot Searched Plane Twice Before Leaving
  C.B. Sullenberger, a Pilot of 40 Years, Is Credited With Heroic Water Landing    ABC News, By Russell Goldman, January 15, 2007 
  The hero of Flight 1549, pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III, walked the aisle of the downed US Airways jet twice looking for passengers before exiting the plane he safely ditched in the Hudson River, saving the lives of more than 150 people onboard. "It would appear that the pilot did a masterful job of landing the plane in the river and then making sure everybody got out," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said of the veteran pilot and Air Force Academy graduate. Sullenberger, 57, has more than 40 years of flying experience and served as an air force fighter pilot and instructor. Reached at her home in California, Sullenberger's wife Lorraine confirmed to ABCNews.com that Sullenberger was the pilot of Flight 1549 and said she was waiting to hear from US Airways personnel to confirm he was safe. No stranger to safety and accident investigations, Sullenberger, known to his friends as Sully, has assisted in several National Transportation Safety Board investigations, served as safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association and founded an air safety company, Safety Reliability Methods, according to the company's Web site. Sullenberger is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and received masters degrees from Purdue University and the University of Northern Colorado. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE: Heroic Pilot Headed to Obama Inauguration?  ET Online, January 17, 2009
  He received a congratulatory phone call from President-elect Obama on Friday night. Now, a trip to D.C. could be "in the works" for Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and family, says the heroic pilot's wife. . .

RELATED VIDEO: Wife: Husband is 'Pilot's Pilot'  My58.com- KCRA 3 News, January 16, 2008


RELATED VIDEO:  Crash Survivor: "Just Happy to Be Alive"  YouTube-AP, January 15, 2009

RELATED VIDEO:  Plane crashes in New York - all survive   YouTube-RussiaToday, January 15, 2009

RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  Wife: Sullenberger Is A 'Pilot's Pilot' : All Passengers, Crew Members Survive  My58.com- KCRA 3 News, January 16, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  Thrilled to be Alive: "Thank You, and Thank God":  The young mother of the littlest survivor tells of his dramatic rescue  NBC Los Angeles, By  Brian Thompson, John P. Wise, and Michael Clancy, January 16, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  Birds Hit Planes Every Day, but Don't Usually Cause Crashes: Experts Say Bird Strikes Cause More Than $300 Million in Damages Annually   ABC News, By Sarah Netter, January 15, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  Staying Alive During a Plane Crash: An Expert Explains What Steps You Can Take   ABC News, By Nick Watt, January 17, 2007
There were 309 people onboard an Air France jet that overshot the runway upon landing and burst into flames at Toronto's Pearson Airport one night in August 2005. Somehow, everybody survived and the incident became known as the Toronto miracle. A clearly shaken survivor told reporters after the crash, "When I was inside the plane, I think I will be die." He thought he would perish because his only experiences of air disasters were what he'd seen in the movies. And in the movies, people die. But between 1983 and 2000, more than 95 percent of people involved in U.S. plane crashes survived. So what can you do to avoid being part of the 5 percent fatalities?. . .

• TCW Talks to Kate Gosselin
  The mom of twins and sextuplets and star of the TLC hit reality show Jon & Kate Plus Eight talks candidly about nagging her husband, trusting her God, and living her crazy life in front of the camera  Christianity Today – Today's Christian Woman, January – February 2009 Issue
  All Kate Gosselin wanted was one more baby. She and her husband, Jon, had three-year-old twins, Cara and Madelyn (called "Mady"), who had arrived, with the help of fertility treatments, in 2000. Due to Kate's polycystic ovary syndrome, she had to undergo fertility treatments for her second pregnancy as well. The stunning result was not one baby, but six. When Kate's obstetrician suggested selective reduction, both Kate and Jon immediately rejected the idea. "Who would live and who would die was not a decision that rested in our hands," Kate explains. After months of grueling medical treatments and bedrest (and 65 pounds of baby weight!), Kate gave birth to Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel in 2004. An army of friends and strangers invaded their suburban Pennsylvania home to help with feeding, bathing, changing, and monitoring the bustling brood. Their presence was both life-saving and stress-inducing for uber-organized, type-A Kate. Intrigued by news reports on the Gosselins' unusual family, producers at Discovery Health filmed Surviving Sextuplets and Twins, which aired in May 2006, as well as Surviving Sextuplets and Twins: One Year Later. These shows eventually birthed Jon & Kate Plus Eight, currently TLC's highest-rated show. Now in its fourth season, the show takes its millions of fans inside the Gosselins' home, where there are strict rules, abundant laughter, frequent nagging, and constant praise for God's provision. This past November, Kate, 33, and Jon, 31, released Multiple Blessings (Zondervan), a book chronicling their amazing pregnancy and difficult first year as parents of eight (the twins are now eight and the sextuplets, four). Click here to read a chapter from this book, sharing six lessons Kate has learned from being a mom of sextuplets. And read on for our conversation with this exhausted, faith-filled, and refreshingly real woman. . .

RELATED SITE: Jon and Kate Plus 8 : TLC


RELATED SITE:  Meet the Gosselin Family


RELATED BOOK EXCERPT:  One Day at a Time: Excerpt from Multiple Blessings  By Kate Gosselin

RELATED ARTICLE:  Should Jon & Kate Plus 8 Be Taken Off the Air?   Associated Content, Posted by Tmmy G, January 2, 2008
Kate and Jon Gosselin are the proud parents of a set of 6 year old twins and 3 year old sextuplets and are featured on the TLC/Discovery Health show Jon & Kate Plus 8. This show is supposed to focus on the difficulties and pleasures of raising eight children yet lately the producers have been focussing more on Kate's aggressiveness towards her husband than the kids themselves. They are cashing in on the circus that is Kate's OCD and tendencies towards verbal abuse towards her husband and many viewers find this unacceptable. While I respect Kate for managing eight children and the commotion that comes along with it, my respect instantly vanishes when I see her howling at her husband and embarrassing him time and time again. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  THE GOSPEL TRUTH: How did I miss what Jesus had to say about me and my marriage?   Christianity Today, By Gary D. Chapman, Fall 2008
Someone once told me that marriage is like flies on a window pane. The flies on the inside are trying to get out and those on the outside are trying to get in. I can identify with that picture.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Old Fashioned Marriage: Men at the Head  Joseph C. Phillips.com, March 9, 2008
The argument truly came as a surprise. I was speaking before an audience at Kansas State University and confessed that I am what is known as old school. I believe that men should be the head of the household and that God should be at the head of the house. I explained that I wasn't referring to a division of power - of men being the boss of the house. I have been married far too long to talk crazy. . .


RELATED RESOURCE: The Crazy Cycle: The Foundational Principle of Love and Respect  By Emerson E. Eggerichs, Ph.D
OVERVIEW: The powerful truth about Love and Respect is that the conflicts couples experience are not the root problem. Successful couples know that harmony and happiness in marriage are not primarily achieved by solving daily problems. Though these problems are real, they are not the root issue. Find out what the root issue is. This is part of the secret!

• Swindlers find growing market in U.S. foreclosures  International Herald Tribune, By John Leland, January 15, 2009
  As home values across the United States continue to plummet, the authorities say a new breed of swindler is preying on the tens of thousands of homeowners desperate to avoid foreclosure. Until recently, defrauders tried to bilk homeowners out of the equity in their homes. Now, with that equity often dried up, they are presenting themselves as "foreclosure rescue companies" that charge upfront fees to modify loans but often do nothing to stave off foreclosure. The Federal Trade Commission brought lawsuits last year against five companies representing 20,000 customers, and state and local prosecutors have brought dozens more. In Florida, Attorney General Bill McCollum recently sued a company that he said had more than 600 victims. "There's no way for the consumer to sort out the legitimate companies," said McCollum, who added that he had limited resources to fight what he called "a sheer volume question." The companies under suspicion typically charge an upfront fee of up to $3,000 to help borrowers get lower rates on their mortgages from their lenders. But borrowers often cannot afford the fees, the service can be bogus and, in the worst cases, the homeowners lose their chance to renegotiate with their bank or to file for bankruptcy protection because of the time wasted. There are companies that provide legitimate foreclosure services, but the industry is largely unregulated, making it difficult for homeowners to separate the good from the bad. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  The Bust is a Boom  CNN/Money
  From California to D.C., falling home prices and cheaper mortgage rates are making dream homes possible.

RELATED RESOURCE:  Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure  US Department of Housing & Urban Development
Whether you're in foreclosure now or worried about it in the future, we have information that can help.


RELATED COVERAGE:  Complete Coverage: Wall Street of Shame  ABC News

RELATED ARTICLE:  Does Money Really Wreck a Marriage?   Boston Globe, By Alison Lobron, January 18, 2009
Actually, no. It may cause arguments; it certainly causes tension. But even in these gloomy financial times, there is no evidence that money dooms relationships, even when one partner is the financial opposite of the other.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Madoff-Swindled Kevin Bacon Admits 'I Need To Work'  FOX News, January 15, 2009
Kevin Bacon doesn't have any projects lined up at the moment. And that may be a problem. The actor, who was taken to the cleaners in Bernie Madoff's alleged Ponzi scheme, is coming to terms with his and wife Kyra Sedgwick's new, more modest financial situation. "There are a lot of things I'm grateful for: my health, my family, my career, my family's health," he told Life & Style magazine last Friday. "We'll march on. We have to. There's nothing you can do about it." And that may be a problem. The actor, who was taken to the cleaners in Bernie Madoff's alleged Ponzi scheme, is coming to terms with his and wife Kyra Sedgwick's new, more modest financial situation. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  The conman who duped the world: The rise and fall of Wall Street legend Bernie Madoff  The Daily Mail- UK, By Philip Delves Broughton, December 16, 2008
He was a multi-millionaire Wall Street titan regarded by investors as a pillar of the financial community and the ultimate safe pair of hands. His clients were some of the richest individuals and institutions on the planet and they trusted him with billions. He entertained them on America’s best golf courses and in its finest restaurants, and promised he could gain them steady and attractive returns on any investments they made with him.Their wealth was safe with him, he would assure them. He was a man who understood money, a man they could trust. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Charles Ponzi: The Italian who gave his name to the famous scam   The Daily Mail- UK, December 16, 2009
Named after one of the most notorious conmen in US history, the Ponzi scheme is an elaborate version of the oldest scam of them all - pyramid selling. In its classic form, a Ponzi fraudster sets up a fund with a 'fail-safe' business plan. Investors join in their droves, lured by the huge returns on offer. But when the profits prove illusory, the fraudster will pay off old investors with the new money that comes into the fund. This creates a halo effect, attracting yet more gullible investors. All Ponzi schemes are doomed to collapse under the weight of new money flooding in. . .

• KIDNEY BEANED: Transplant Wife Fires Back at Her Lifesaver Hubby   NY Post.com, By Selim Algar, January 13, 2009
  A Long Island woman yesterday struck back at the husband who wants $1.5 million for the kidney he gave her, calling him insanely jealous and "hyper-suspicious." "He was rummaging through her underwear drawer and sniffing the underwear" to see if she had cheated, said Douglas Rothkopf, the law yer for Dawnell Batista, 44. Rothkopf asked Special Referee Jeffrey Grob to place a gag order on the case since Batista's es tranged husband, Rich ard, 49, held a news conference last week accusing her of adultery. Rothkopf said in Mineola matrimonial court that his client has never been unfaithful, the allegations of cheating are "grotesque," and the hus band is "hyper- suspicious." Grob denied the request for a gag order but said he might impose one today. The Batistas were in court yesterday but never made eye contact with each other. Richard Batista, a vascular surgeon at Nassau University Medical Center, claims his wife left him after having an affair with her physical therapist. He gave her one of his kidneys in 2001 and now wants it back. Since he knows he can't have the organ, he is seeking $1.5 million, which he claims is the value of the transplant. Jill Stone, the law guardian for the couple's three daughters - ages 14, 11 and 8 - also requested a gag order, saying the media blitz has embarrassed the girls and made it hard for them to go to school. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Man demands estranged wife pay for kidney: He wants $1.5 million for the organ he gave her when they were together  MSNBC.com- AP, January 8, 2009
  A Long Island surgeon embroiled in a nearly four-year divorce proceeding wants his estranged wife to return the kidney he donated to her, although he says he'll settle for $1.5 million in compensation. Dr. Richard Batista, a surgeon at Nassau University Medical Center, told reporters at his lawyer's Long Island office Wednesday that he decided to go public with his demand for kidney compensation because he has grown frustrated with the negotiations with his estranged wife. . .

RELATED VIDEO:  Kidney at the center of divorce  MSNBC.com

RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  New Charges for Pilot Suspected of Faking Death: Schrenker Is Under Police Custody in a Florida Hospital After Suicide Attempt, Facing a Menu of Possible Charges   ABC News, By Sarah Netter, January 14, 2009
The missing pilot who bailed out of his plane, apparently to avoid a growing trail of lawsuits and investigations, now faces two new felony charges stemming from his attempted disappearing act. . . . His home and business were raided by authorities Dec. 31 as part of an investigation into possible securities fraud, Gavin said, based on "complaints made to the Indiana Securities Division ... by investors." During the raid agents seized passports, $6,036 in cash, the title to a Lexus and deposit slips for bank accounts in Michelle Schrenker's name, according to The Associated Press. Also taken were six computers and nine large plastic tubs filled with various financial and corporate documents. . . . Schrenker's wife, Michelle, had filed for divorce last month and a hearing had been set for Feb. 5, according to court documents. . . Until the last week's events, life appeared to be good for Schrenker. He had a $4 million waterfront house, a beautiful wife and three children. But he was living under mounting scrutiny as lawsuits and accusations about his business dealings began to pile up. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Australian woman accused of torching husband's genitals, charged with murder  The New York Daily News- AP, January 6th 2009
An Australian woman accused of setting her husband's genitals on fire because she thought he was having an affair has been charged with murder. Prosecutors said 44-year-old Rajini Narayan confessed to neighbors that she set her husband on fire on Dec. 8, 2008, after she saw him hug another woman. She was initially charged with endangering life and arson but the charges were upgraded to murder after her 47-year-old husband, Satish Narayan, died from his injuries last week. Prosecutor Lucy Boord said Narayan told neighbors she was a "jealous wife" but she hadn't meant to kill him when she doused the sleeping man's genitals with an alcohol-based solvent and then set him on fire. Boord quoted Narayan allegedly saying: "I just wanted to burn his penis so it belongs to me and no one else. ... I didn't mean this to happen." . . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Planning Divorce: The Benefits of Divorce Mediation Instead of Litigation   XStilla.com- Resource for Divorce
The divorce mediation process uses the services of a third, neutral party whose purpose is to help both spouses to reach an agreement as to the terms of their divorce settlement. These terms must be mutually accepted by both sides before their attorneys takes the agreed upon draft and prepare a formal agreement for the divorce. Mediation is most always less expensive than litigation, which is why a large majority of couples choose this option when trying to agree upon financial or custody issues. The mediation process doesn't require any court appearances, and the mediator will obtain and prepare all of the necessary legal documents. Mediation avoids the hostility or resentment that often results after court appearances, and helps to outline a custody agreement that's fair to all with the children's best interests put first. . . .

• Developing an Exit Plan When Nothing Else Works
• Tips to Prepare Your Child for an Impending Divorce
• Planning Your Divorce When You're Broke
• Understanding the Difference Between Legal Separation and...
• Choosing a Divorce Attorney
• How to Choose the Right Marital Counselor
• Stress Busting During the Divorce Process
• Preparing for Divorce - Getting Your Finances in Order
• How to Prepare Yourself Emotionally for a Divorce
• Divorce Help - Legal Terminology Explained
• Divorce: What Happens?
  
  
  
  

• 'The Bachelor 13' Aftergasm: They Can't Be For Real   BuddyTV.com, By Debbie Chang, January 13, 2009
  This is my first season ever watching The Bachelor. I guess I started watching it because I figured that there must be a reason why it has lasted for 13 seasons. Maybe someday we will be watching The Bachelor ∞. The thing is, I don't get it. I'm sure that a ton of ink has already been spilled on the subject of whether or not one can actually find love on a reality show like The Bachelor, but since I'm new to the show, allow me to indulge in this oft-discussed issue. . . . . . Even with massive amounts of pre-screening, I would hazard that in any given group of 15 people, there are bound to be at least two or three or 10 that you want to Lemon Law. And yet, Jason said that he had a hard time choosing which two women he had to cut last night, and all 15 of the women were convinced that Jason was the love of their lives. Are they for real? I don't feel confused at all by the VH1-type dating reality shows, like Rock of Love or A Double Shot at Love. These trashier cousins of The Bachelor tend to attract fame whores who are so deeply in love with themselves that they would do anything, humiliating or otherwise, to get on TV. Their need for attention dwarfs any remaining self-respect that they still have. Very often, rather that having a relationship with the ostensible star of the show, the real prize is getting to be the star of a show of your own. But I don't think that the women on The Bachelor are fame whores like Megan Hauserman. These women, like Raquel who was cut this week, really, genuinely seem to be in it to find their future life partner and husband, going so far as to beg and plead for Jason's attention. I just don't get it. . .

RELATED SITE:  The Bachelor  ABC TV

RELATED ARTICLE:  Bachelorette DeAnna’s New Job: Wedding Show Host!  People magazine TV Watch, November 13, 2008
The Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas didn’t get her happily ever after, but she’ll be helping other brides-to-be plan their dream weddings. Pappas, 26 — who recently called off her engagement to show winner Jesse Csincsak — will be co-hosting Lifetime network’s Get Married, a show that covers everything about weddings. The second season premieres Jan. 5. On the show’s blog GetMarried.com. . . . . In light of Pappas’s breakup, some question her as a choice to host a wedding show. But Get Married CEO Stacie Francombe, who hired Pappas after watching her on The Bachelorette’s fourth season, maintains Pappas is the right person for the job.  “I know there’s stuff going on about the breakup and Hollywood,” says Francombe. “But the truth is going to come out as to what really happened. . .

• NYC wants to be Vegas-like marriage destination  Reuters- UK, January 13, 2009
  - New York City has issued an open challenge to Las Vegas, seeking to become a premier destination for people to get married in what officials hope will boost tourism during uncertain economic times. The new Manhattan Marriage Bureau opened to the public this week following a $12.3 million renovation, and the 24,000-square-foot (2,230-square meter) space has won enthusiastic reviews from newlyweds. "We're taking Las Vegas on," said First Deputy City Clerk Michael McSweeney. "The city hopes to advance New York not just as a tourist destination, but as a marriage destination." But will it be enough to unseat Las Vegas -- known for quick weddings presided over by Elvis impersonators -- as the U.S. wedding destination capital? In 2007, New York City issued about 66,000 marriage licenses, including more than 21,000 licenses in the borough of Manhattan, city records show. Clark County, Nevada, which includes Las Vegas, issued 108,963 licenses in 2007, a spokeswoman at the city's tourism office said. Applying for a marriage license in Las Vegas, where there is no required waiting period, is still less cumbersome than in New York, where couples must wait 24 hours after filing a marriage application before holding their wedding ceremony. NYC & Company, the city's tourism agency, said the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park hotel has already created a wedding reception package tied to the new location, and the agency said it plans to market New York as a wedding destination abroad. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO: Manhattan's new Marriage Bureau earns wows as a place to say your vows  New York Daily News, By Eloise Parker, January 8, 2009
  New York’s newest wedding venue has everything you’d expect: chandeliers, sleek modern couches and marble pillars. And one thing you don’t expect: a $60 price tag. The new Manhattan Marriage Bureau, which opens Monday, Jan. 12, downtown at 141 Worth St., is situated just one block from the old City Hall municipal building, where last year almost 70,000 people obtained licenses and around 15,000 people tied the knot at the Office of the City Clerk. The brand-new space, however, is a world away from the cramped warren of offices and harsh strip lighting that linger in the wedding memories of previous City Hall brides and grooms. . .
  
  
  

• Parenting Issues:  Making Room for Miss Manners Is a Parenting Basic   New York Times, By Perri Klass, M.D., January 12, 2009
  For years, I took care of a very rude child. When he was 3, I called him rambunctious — and I talked to his mother about “setting limits.” At 4, I called him “demanding.” At 5, he was still screaming at his mother if she didn’t do what he wanted, he still swatted me whenever I tried to examine him, and his mother asked me worriedly if I thought he was ready for kindergarten. I could go on (he didn’t have an easy time in school), but it would sound like a Victorian tale: The Rude Boy. I never used the word “rude” or even “manners” when I spoke to his mother. I don’t describe my patients as rude or polite in the medical record. But I do pass judgment, and so does every pediatrician I know. It’s always popular — and easy — to bewail the deterioration of manners; there is an often quoted (and often disputed) story about Socrates’ complaining that the young Athenians have “bad manners, contempt for authority.” Sure, certain social rubrics have broken down or blurred, and sure, electronic communication seems to have given adults as well as children new ways to be rude. But the age-old parental job remains. And that job is to start with a being who has no thought for the feelings of others, no code of behavior beyond its own needs and comforts — and, guided by love and duty, to do your best to transform that being into what your grandmother (or Socrates) might call a mensch. To use a term that has fallen out of favor, your assignment is to “civilize” the object of your affections. . . . And of course, one of the long-term consequences of being a rude child is being a rude adult. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Mom arrested, jailed for disciplining kids on plane  OneNewsNow, By Charlie Butts and Jody Brown, January 23, 2009
The Patriot Act, designed to help fight terrorism, may be being misused. The Patriot Act was enacted following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. But it has given airlines some latitude in dealing with what they may consider unruly behavior. A case in point is Tamara Jo Freeman, who in 2007 was flying on Frontier Airlines to Denver when she moderately spanked her unruly children, then responded with some profanities when confronted by a flight attendant. . . . . .According to the Times, Freeman's conviction cost her custody of her children, who were placed in foster care during her incarceration. She is now trying to turn back legal proceedings in which the foster parents are seeking to adopt the children. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  In Praise of Spanking  Townhall.com, By Doug Giles, December 1, 2007
This week in the uber-liberal state of Massachusetts (y’know . . . the one Romney used to govern) another dense liberal has come up with one more dumb idea to potentially add to their states’ stack of stupidity. The brain fart the libs pulled out of their booty this time was the proposal to make it illegal for parents to spank their unruly kids’ backsides.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Dishing out some Hart-felt wisdom  Townhall.com, By Rebecca Hagelin, September 20, 2005
Have you ever met a perfect parent? Me neither. Yet book after book, magazine after magazine, could easily lead you to believe otherwise. Oh, they don’t literally promise perfection. But the relentless series of easy, multi-step formulas -- designed to stop tantrums, break your kids of junk food, get little ones to sleep through the night and avoid screaming matches -- certainly leave you with the impression that perfection is (more or less) attainable. Of course, it could be that the publishers of these books and magazines know their audience -- and its hunger for pat answers. “We want guarantees,” writes Betsy Hart in her new book, It Takes a Parent. “But the only thing we really know is that we have a duty to as parents to persevere. And in that perseverance lies the best hope for our children.”. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  The politics of the Supernanny   Boston Globe, By Ellen Goodman, May 15, 2005
The one reality show that I became addicted to was ''Supernanny." Week after week, episode after episode, the producers featured children who gave new meaning to the word ''brat" and parents who made the doormat look like it had a spine. Then in stepped Supernanny to perform an extreme family makeover in a week. ''Lord of the Flies" meets ''Mary Poppins."  The appeal of the show to parents was the voyeuristic certainty that our kids were nowhere nearly that bad, our homes were nowhere nearly that chaotic, and we were nowhere nearly that hapless. It was months before I wondered how come all these families had only one problem: discipline. How come all the makeovers had the same solution: getting parents in charge and putting kids in the naughty circle? I was not surprised when Focus on the Family decided to sponsor the last episode. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Approaches to Discipline   Focus on the Family.org
All parents seek disciplinary techniques that work. However, not all techniques work for all ages or for all children. Use this list as a guide for age-appropriate discipline. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Does Spanking Work for All Kids? There are other explanations   Focus on the Family.org, Answered by Dr. James Dobson
Q:  I have spanked my children for their disobedience, and it didn't seem to help. Does this approach fail with some children?

• Sharpton decries churches pushing Prop. 8
  Atlanta alliance forms to counter anti-gay religious rhetoric   Southern Voice, By Matt Schafer, January 12, 2009 
  From the pulpit of Tabernacle Baptist Church on Sunday, Rev. Al Sharpton called out the Mormon Church and other conservative faiths for mobilizing to support Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage in California while refusing to be as involved in any other social concerns. “It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being delegated into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners,” Sharpton told a packed audience on Jan. 11. “There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people’s bedrooms and claim that God sent you,” Sharpton added. Sharpton came to Atlanta to celebrate the launch of the Alliance of Affirming Faith-Based Organizations. Started by Rev. Dennis Meredith, who recently came out as bisexual, the Alliance includes Dr. Kenneth Samuel, pastor of Victory for the World Church; Rev. Paul Graetz of First Metropolitan Community Church; Rev. Geoffrey Hoare of All Saints Episcopal Church; and Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED SITE: Above the Hate
  Please sign the petition below to join us as we stand together to say "Enough!" to the campaign of hate and intimidation being waged against the LDS Church and other supporters of California's Proposition 8. Now is the time to stand together to protect the rights of minority religious communities to participate in the political process without fear of violence, intimidation, or vandalism.

RELATED RESOURCE:  Myths, Facts, and Consequences of the Homosexual Lifestyle  EarstoHear.Net

RELATED BLOG & COMMENTS:  Al Sharpton: Churches should focus on social woes, not gay marriage  Los Angeles Times, By Shelby Grad, January 13, 2009
. . ."Al Sharpton doesn't understand the definition of a "social woe" if he excludes homosexuals trying to legitimize what is clearly a SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE and UNHEALTHY behavior and lifestyle that has been proven to significantly shorten the lifespans of those who engage in it. HIV is not an imaginary disease and has been proven to disproportinally (sic) affect the homosexual community! Indeed, there is nothing "gay" about homosexual pathology! This man lost his credibility with the piblic  (sic) a long time ago and can never seem to set aside his own personal interests and self aggrandizement for what is best for the greater good. Every statement this man makes regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage should have a disclaimer about his homosexual sibling! Indeed, these days we ought to be very careful whom we take advice from in an age where it is clear that satan is alive and well in the church itself and in many who call themselves "Reverend".  Posted by: DK | January 13, 2009 at 02:26 PM . . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Sharpton chides black churches over homophobia, gay marriage   Southern Voice, By Dyana Bagby, January 27, 2006
. . .Sharpton said his participation in the summit, as well as his desire to urge the black church to address homophobia, came from having a lesbian sister as well as his friendship with Bayard Rustin, a gay man who worked with Martin Luther King Jr. Rustin organized the 1963 March on Washington that culminated with King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Sharpton also criticized some black churches that he said were manipulated by traditionally white religious conservative organizations to support efforts in 2004 to ban same-sex marriage in exchange for faith-based grants under President George W. Bush’s administration. Sharpton criticized those moves as creating a wedge issue to boost votes for Bush’s re-election. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Gay Rights: A Summary of the Debate  FaithFacts.com
There are several basic aspects to the cultural debate surrounding homosexual behavior. Here is a brief summary from a Christian perspective. Fairness:. . . While it is very important to strive for fairness for everyone, it is equally important to consider an important concept: While all people are created equal, not all ideas or behaviors are equal. There is, in fact, a hierarchy of ideas. This is intuitively obvious, as well as biblically obvious. And it is the place at which we must begin. It is the key statement that must be made in this debate. In the area of human sexuality, for example, adultery is not morally equivalent to fidelity. Prostitution is not morally equivalent to sex with love. Fornication is not morally equivalent to the virtue of chastity. . . .The Bible. . . The Theology. . . Sanctity of Marriage. . . Born That Way. . . Ravages of the Lifestyle. . . A Loving Lifestyle?. . .  A Way Out?. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Responding to Pro-Gay Theology  NARTH.com, By Joe Dallas
This three-part series will address the pro-gay theology by dividing its arguments--or tenets--into three categories: social justice arguments, general religious arguments, and scriptural arguments. A brief description of these arguments will be provided, followed by a response/rebuttal to each. . . . When God is reputed to sanction what He has already clearly forbidden, then a religious travesty is being played out, and boldly. Confronting it is necessary because it (the pro-gay theology) asks us to confirm professing Christians in their sin, when we are Biblically commanded to do just the opposite. . .

Editor's Note:  The author of this article, Joe Dallas, is a former gay rights activist and staff member of the largely gay Metropolitan Community Church. He is the Founder of Genesis Counseling and has worked with hundreds of men and women struggling with homosexuality and related problems. He has authored several books on homosexuality, among them: * A Strong Delusion: Confronting the "Gay Christian" Movement   * Desires in Conflict   * Unforgiven Sins   * The Game Plan: The Men's 30-Day Strategy for Attaining Sexual Integrity   * When Homosexuality Hits Home: What to Do When a Loved One Says They're Gay 

RELATED BLOG:  Historical Christianity Can Not be Reconciled with Gay Christian(*a) Theology  Scripture Refiner's Fire- Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth in Love, January 26, 2008
(*a) The terms "Gay Christian" and "Gay Christianity" are used in this report to describe same-sex practicing unrepentant gays that call themselves Christians and refuse to acknowledge that gay sex is sin. . . . We believe God can forgive any sin including gay-sex, and we believe gays should be accepted in the church body like any other sinners. However, we do not accept their brazen attempt to legitimize immoral conduct that the Bible never commanded us to accept. It is not required for a sinner to repent first before they attend church, and they are welcome to attend, but it is required that they must abstain from injuring the church body by trying to legitimize immorality. In our opinion the gay Christian Movement is a Trojan horse to launch the gay-political agenda into the church. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Dale Martin's "arsenokoites and malakos" tried and found wanting 
In the multifaceted debate regarding homosexuality and the church, an issue that has surfaced is the proper interpretation of 1 Cor 6:9-10, where Paul writes that neither "homosexuals nor sodomites" (NKJV) shall inherit the kingdom of God. At first glance, the meaning of "homosexuals and sodomites" seems rather clear. But "Not so!" say those who advocate the normalization of homosexuality. Thus, this passage has become a hot issue with scholars aligning themselves along two basic lines of thought. Some say that the original words in Greek have been translated in an unnecessarily harsh way that condemns all homosexual behavior when in fact, they contend, Paul was merely condemning homosexual rape and other forms of sexual exploitation. Others reject this revisionist interpretation and hold that the traditional translation of the text (for example, as rendered above in the NKJV) is fair and accurate. This would be a traditionalist approach. So, who's right?. . .

• Barr's call for repeal of DOMA 'irrelevant,' 'unclear'  OneNewsNow, By Charlie Butts, January 12, 2009
  The dust has yet to settle over former congressman and presidential candidate Bob Barr's remarks about the Defense of Marriage Act. Barr, who wrote the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, now wants it repealed. He explained his reasons in an editorial written for the Los Angeles Times, arguing the federal government needs to get out of the "marriage business." He continued: "In law and policy, such decisions [defining marriage] should be left to the people themselves." Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel has studied the matter and disagrees with Barr. "Bob Barr has further solidified his irrelevancy within the realm of public policy," he contends.  "The arguments that he makes throughout the piece calling for the repeal of DOMA are tenuous, are unclear. It's not even really clear what points he's trying to make." The Obama administration intends to repeal the measure, but Barber insists the bill is important. "DOMA is the last line of defense here," he points out. "It's the only thing keeping counterfeit gay marriage from spreading state-to-state." Barber believes the U.S. needs DOMA to be an amendment to the federal constitution. He wonders if Barr wrote the editorial hoping for a job with the incoming Obama administration.
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  No defending the Defense of Marriage Act: The author of the federal Defense of Marriage Act now thinks it's time for his law to get the boot -- but for political reasons, not in support of gays  Los Angeles Times, By Bob Barr, January 5, 2009
  In 1996, as a freshman member of the House of Representatives, I wrote the Defense of Marriage Act, better known by its shorthand acronym, DOMA, than its legal title. The law has been a flash-point for those arguing for or against same-sex marriage ever since President Clinton signed it into law. Even President-elect Barack Obama has grappled with its language, meaning and impact. I can sympathize with the incoming commander in chief. And, after long and careful consideration, I have come to agree with him that the law should be repealed. . .

RELATED INFORMATION:  Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)  Wikipedia.com

RELATED ARTICLE:  Measuring the Impact: DOMA Protests in the News   Queerty-NY, January 12, 2009
While the country readies itself for a new President, gay rights activists are spending less time fussing over what sort of network coverage Obama will get and more time taking to the streets, as they did over the weekend, to call on the president-elect to fulfill his campaign promise to repeal the Defense of Marriage act. But are the Join the Impact protests actually making an impact, or are they just making people feel good about themselves? At least by one measure, you can call the continued, albeit smaller, protests an unqualified success: press coverage. From big cities to small, the MSM has picked up on the story. And even if only a few hundred people showed up at most events, the coverage of the event is another opportunity for LGBT activists to make their case to the general public. . . . . Here's a round-up of mainstream coverage of the weekend's events:. . .

 

• Ted Haggard Opens Up About His Past in New Documentary
  New Life Church Pastor, Now a Pariah, Goes Public in Film About Sex-Drug Scandal   ABC News, By Susan Donaldson James, January 8, 2009
  Ted Haggard, the former evangelical megachurch leader who fell from grace in a 2006 sex and drugs scandal, is making efforts to redeem himself in an HBO documentary in which he reveals new details about sexual abuse he claims he suffered as a child. Haggard, the former president of the National Evangelical Association, who two years ago admitted to a relationship with a male prostitute, will meet with television critics in Los Angeles Friday to promote "The Trials of Ted Haggard." The film was directed by documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, the daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and will air Jan. 29. Before the scandal broke, Haggard was a powerhouse and star in the evangelical world, rising quickly from the humble founding of Colorado's New Life Church in his basement in the 1980s. By 2006, the church was 12,000 members strong and Haggard, as president of the evangelical association, was exchanging weekly phone calls with President Bush. In the new film, Haggard says he is angry with the New Life Church, but also begs forgiveness and blames his struggle with sexuality with being molested by his father as a 7-year-old. "I had same-sex play in the second grade and then that all blew up when I was 50," Haggard says in a pre-released clip from the film. "I didn't know if I was heterosexual, homosexual, gay or straight. What are you?" Though he had once damned homosexuality in the pulpit, Haggard tells Pelosi, "I have struggled and continue to struggle from time to time with same-sex attraction.". . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Disgraced pastor faces more gay sex accusations  OneNewsNow, By Eric Gorski - AP Writer, January 25, 2009
   - Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the homosexual scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard - a revelation that comes as Haggard tries to repair his public image. Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard as senior pastor of the 10,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs, told The Associated Press that the man came forward to church officials in late 2006 shortly after a Denver male prostitute claimed to have had a three-year cash-for-sex relationship with Haggard. Boyd said an "overwhelming pool of evidence" pointed to an "inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship" that "went on for a long period of time ... it wasn't a one-time act." Boyd said the man was in his early 20s at the time. He said he was certain the man was of legal age when it began. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Ted Haggard Returns: The Lost Shepherd   Newsweek.com, By Tony Dokoupil, January 19, 2009 issue
  One thing that hasn't changed is his conservative philosophy. Haggard still opposes gay marriage, telling Pelosi that "God's best plan for human beings is for man and woman to unite together," and he believes that homosexuality is a learned behavior "like alcoholism." Gays (and many straights) will undoubtedly scoff, but Haggard comes across more like a man striving to be honest to himself, the world and his God. "I am what I am," he says in the movie. "I was born an evangelical."
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Can people change from gay to straight?  CNN.com- AC 360, February 6, 2007
  The news today about Ted Haggard got us thinking: Is it really possible to change from gay to straight? Many people scoff at the idea, but before you dismiss it, here is what one person who says she went through just such a transformation told us earlier today:. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  10 Ways to Lift Yourself Up When a Spiritual Leader Lets You Down   Beliefnet.com- NY, By Valerie Reiss, November 9, 2006
  The recent Ted Haggard scandal is hardly unusual. But that doesn't make it any less painful for those directly involved. Members of churches, synagogues, mosques, ashrams, and communes the world over have had their spiritual world shattered—or at least scattered—when they learned that their leader violated their trust. To see how these people can cope, Beliefnet talked to Dan Hotchkiss, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute, a multi-faith nonprofit that serves congregations in many ways, including crisis and conflict management. We've distilled his wisdom into 10 tips for congregants of all faiths recovering from such a betrayal: 1) Distinguish the Messenger from the Message. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Signs of a Restorable Spirit: What are the tangible evidences of repentance?  Christianity Today, Posted by Marshall Shelley, November 8, 2006
  In the wake of serious moral failure, church leaders are quickly asked about “restoration.” What does a person have to do to be deemed worthy of reinstatement as a church leader? In many ways, the question is premature, like asking a toddler to decide on a college major. Too much has to happen, too many decisions along the way have to be made, a new direction of life has to be established before it’s even appropriate to weigh the possibilities of restoration. And yet, the process is important. A direction does need to be pointed toward. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  The Health Risks of Gay Sex  Catholic Education Resource Center, By John R. Diggs, Jr., M.D.
  As a physician, it is my duty to assess behaviors for their impact on health and wellbeing. When something is beneficial, such as exercise, good nutrition, or adequate sleep, it is my duty to recommend it. Likewise, when something is harmful, such as smoking, overeating, alcohol or drug abuse, and homosexual sex, it is my duty to discourage it.
  Executive Summary:  Sexual relationships between members of the same sex expose gays, lesbians and bisexuals to extreme risks of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), physical injuries, mental disorders and even a shortened life span. There are five major distinctions between gay and heterosexual relationships, with specific medical consequences. They are:
  *  Levels of Promiscuity
  *  Physical Health
  *  Mental Health
  *  Life Span
  *  Monogamy
  
  

• Brown's switch on Prop. 8 reflects times  San Francisco Chronicle, By Carla Marinucci,  January 9, 2009
  California Attorney General Jerry Brown has become a hero to gay rights advocates - and a potential leader in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial field - with his recent controversial decision to mount a legal challenge to overturn Proposition 8, the initiative approved by voters that banned-same sex marriage in California. But few remember that 32 years ago, when Brown was governor of California, he played a crucial role on the same issue - he signed the landmark bill that changed the state's definition of marriage from a contract between two persons to one specifically between a man and a woman. At the time, proponents of the bill praised it as one that would "outlaw marriages between homosexuals.". . . . . Brown said Thursday that his decision to sign the bill, without comment, was largely technical - and "totally appropriate" for the time. He said he was simply clarifying "legislative intent" of the era, in which marriage was assumed to be between man and woman. California code, he said, had been rewritten to be gender-neutral in the Reagan era, though "no one (of the same sex) had ever gotten married." Still, "Same-sex marriage was not the law of California prior to my signing the bill." Sheila Kuehl, the former California senator who became the first openly gay state legislator, said Brown's actions do reflect the enormous change that has occurred on an issue now at the epicenter of a national controversy. In 1977, "I don't know that many people in (Sacramento) gave much thought to gay marriage - and that includes the governor," she said. "It is always reprehensible when any elected person, casually or otherwise, takes away rights ... but frankly, I don't think (in those days) it was seen as anything other than, 'Well, that's the way things are.' " Veteran journalist Marty Nolan, who covered Brown for the Boston Globe in the 1970s and 1980s, said the defense represents Brown's longtime political mantra. "He's got a six-word answer - 'that was then, this is now,' " Nolan laughed. "It's an all-purpose shield.". .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Moral Absolutes: Judeo-Christian Values  Townhall.com, By Dennis Prager, May 3, 2005

RELATED ARTICLE:  Civil union or marriage? Is it the same as separate but equal?   Examiner.com, By Laura Harrison McBride- DC Ethical Issues Examiner, January 8, 2009 
The terminology, because English is a very precise language, is essential. If most people hear the term marriage, they think of a man and a woman. If they hear the term civil union, they think of two women or two men. Likewise, if they hear the phrase ménage a trois, they think of two members of one gender, and one of the other, engaged in some sort of consenting adult relationship. What would you have us say in that case?  If the parties were committed to it, would you call it a marriage?  Ludicrous. . . . Perhaps I should attempt to argue that civil divorce and widowhood are exactly the same and shouldn’t be described by different words or be treated differently by the church. They both result in the loss of a life partner, but the experience is different.  Just so, marriage and civil union both result in the acquisition of a life partner…but the experience is different. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  On the subject of marriage vs. civil union    Examiner.com, By Laura Harrison McBride- DC Ethical Issues Examiner, January 8, 2009
I am a biological female. Do I believe I should have the same rights as biological men? Absolutely. It is simply ethical that all of God's creatures, whether man, woman, or hermaphrodite, have equal rights before God (one assumes He/She grants those anyway) and the law. Do I wish to be called a man? Not for a single solitary second. I am proud to be a woman. I enjoy my womanhood.  And I am every bit the equal of a man, but different. I am a woman, and wish to be called by the appropriate and meaningful description. I do not wish to be called a man, although some of society regards and treats men as better than women. I thereby rest my case about the use of the terms marriage and civil union. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Taking the Plunge in a Pool with No Water   CWFA.org, By Matt Barber, June 4, 2008
As one of those pop-cultural non-conformist types, please indulge me while I go ahead and toss that stifling, mind-numbing muzzle called political correctness. I’m going to dispense with the subtleties and point out what most are thinking but won’t say for fear of the inevitable “progressive” backlash (shhhh… they’re everywhere):  So-called “same-sex marriage” is a counterfeit.  It’s a fraud and not even a good one at that.  If marriage is a Rembrandt, then the ridiculous and oxymoronic notion of “gay marriage” is a Rembrandt knock-off from the pages of Mad Magazine. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Moral Absolutes: Judeo-Christian Values  Townhall.com, By Dennis Prager, May 3, 2005
Nothing more separates Judeo-Christian values from secular values than the question of whether morality -- what is good or evil -- is absolute or relative. In other words, is there an objective right or wrong, or is right or wrong a matter of personal opinion?  In the Judeo-Christian value system, God is the source of moral values and therefore what is moral and immoral transcends personal or societal opinion. Without God, each society or individual makes up its or his/her moral standards. But once individuals or societies become the source of right and wrong, right and wrong, good and evil, are merely adjectives describing one's preferences. This is known as moral relativism, and it is the dominant attitude toward morality in modern secular society. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  SAME SEX MARRIAGE:  Til Death Do Us Part?   Family Research Institute, By Dr. Paul Cameron
Society has a vested interest in prohibiting behavior that endangers the health or safety of the community. Because of this, homosexual liaisons have historically been forbidden by law. Homosexuals contend that their relationships are the equivalent of marriage between a man and woman. They demand that society dignify and approve of their partnerships by giving them legal status as 'marriages.' They further argue that homosexuals should be allowed to become foster parents or adopt children. The best scientific evidence suggests that putting society's stamp of approval on homosexual partnerships would harm society in general and homosexuals in particular, the very individuals some contend would be helped. A large body of scientific evidence suggests that homosexual marriage is a defective counterfeit of traditional marriage and that it poses a clear and present danger to the health of the community. . .

• John 3:16 -- Latest Bible Verse to Be Featured On Tim Tebow's Eye Black   NCAA Fanhouse, By Tom Herrera, January 9, 2009
  It's no secret that Tim Tebow is passionate about expressing his Christian faith. In fact, he's so passionate that he's used eye-black markings this season as a way to share the scripture with others. During the BCS championship game, it was time for John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16. You may have seen Tebow previously feature a reference to Philippians 4:13 during games, which reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Tebow's religious expression has been a big part of the wholesome image we see described in every single feature written about him. But not everyone has been a fan of his use of eye-black patches to get the message across. . . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  College Football Star Sports 'John 3:16' in Championship Game   Christian Post, By Kenneth Chan , January 9, 2009
  Tebow is also one of the most prominent fruits of the homeschooling movement, which has grown 77 percent over the past eight years, according to recently released estimates from National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Tebow began his football career after legislation was passed in Florida in 1996 that allowed homeschooled students to compete in local high school sporting events. He and his siblings were all homeschooled by their mother, who worked to instill the family’s deep Christian beliefs along the way. According to reports, Tebow figures to soon decide whether he'll return to Florida for his senior season or enter the NFL draft.
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Tebow's show of faith bothers some  Kentucky.com, By David Whitely- Orlando Sentinel, January 8, 2009
  If Tebow really wanted to make things uncomfortable, he'd bring up how doctors advised his mother to get an abortion in 1987. She'd contracted dysentery in the Philippines, and the drugs she needed could have harmed the fetus. She refused, and there was Tebow answering questions Monday. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  When Science Points To God  Townhall.com, By Dinesh D'Souza, November 24, 2008
“Be good for goodness sake” is true as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go very far. The question remains: what is the source of these standards of goodness that seem to be shared by religious and non-religious people alike?


RELATED ARTICLE: The ‘Evidence for Belief’: An Interview with Francis Collins  The Pew Research Center, April 17, 2008
Is there an inherent conflict between science and religious belief? For Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical Christian, scientific knowledge complements rather than contradicts belief in God.


RELATED RESOURCE:  The Case for the Real Jesus  LeeStrobel.com- Investigating Faith

RELATED ARTICLE:  Bet on the Homeschoolers  Townhall.com, By William Rusher, April 15, 2008
The California Court of Appeals judge who ruled recently that parents "do not have a constitutional right to home-school their children" probably thought the point was obvious. He lives in California, where liberalism is still a flourishing belief system, and where parents are widely regarded as simply the mechanism whereby new generations of youngsters are created and turned over to the state for polishing. But he is a loser nonetheless, as he will discover when his ruling is overturned on appeal or, failing that, struck down by the legislature or, if necessary, by an amendment to the state constitution. The parents of California are not about to surrender the right to decide what fundamentals their children shall be taught.

RELATED ARTICLE:  Don’t Send Your Kids to Publik Skule (If You Love Them)  Townhall.com, By Doug Giles, April 12, 2008
I’m not a prophet or a betting man, but (as stated) I’m a guessing it’s going to get worse. I’m talkin’ way bad (pardon my English; I went to Publik Skule). Mark my words. And I don’t care how much Obama talks about hope, or how many inspirational songs American Idol contestants cover, the dysfunctional die has been officially cast for increased chaos in the inner city classroom. Thank you, liberals. .  .

• Movie Review: 'Bride Wars': What A Girl Wants
  Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in search of a better movie  MTV Movie Movies, By Kurt Loder, January 9, 2009
  Girls are so dumb. They say they want to grow up and become, you know, lawyers and stuff; but all they really want to do is grow up and grab some poor guy and make him buy them a cauliflower-size diamond ring and then throw themselves a monstro wedding and invite all 400 of their pathetically unmarried girlfriends to duke it out over the bridal bouquet. You know it's true. Or you do now that "Bride Wars" is here to break the news. "It all began at the Plaza Hotel 20 years ago," says an opening voice-over — although it's soon clear that the movie's view of women and their wants dates back much farther, possibly to the Late Pleistocene. The script may have started out as an attempted satire of the American wedding industry (two of its three writers are female), but the picture it has produced is a prolonged honk of derision aimed at the women who get caught up in our national matrimonial mania. Admittedly, anyone who longs to drop $10,000 on a simple Vera Wang wedding gown needs some sort of slap on the head. But this movie has a curdled nastiness (especially in its depiction of secondary characters) that's unlikely to play well even on the chick-flick circuit. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  'Bride Wars': No marriage, no romance, just the wedding biz   Examiner.com, By Ann Keeler-Evans, January 9, 2009
  Wedding Priestess doesn't get it. Why is this funny? And why aren't the weddings about the marriages? Why can't women's friendships be meaningful? Why would anyone's friends and families go to either of their weddings? And, perhaps of not as great importance, but of equal interest… how does the school teacher pay for a wedding at the premier NYC hotel? I know, Bride Wars is just a silly movie. But there are a bunch of really dangerous and btw, out-of-date, stereotypes. . .
  
  
  RELATED INFO & TRAILERS:  Bride Wars 2009  IMBd.com
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Anne Hathaway Against Rick Warren, But Won't Turn Back On Him at Inauguration  FOX News, By Roger Friedman, Friday, January 09, 2009
  Last night; if you missed the Critics' Choice Awards on VH1 live from the Santa Monica Civic Center, then you didn’t see one of the best produced awards shows in some time. . . . . Hathaway is also proving to be incredibly articulate, and, as the year passed, politicized in a way that puts her in the legacy of Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon. She speaks her mind about issues she feels passionately about. One of them is Barack Obama—whom she backed—and his choice of Rick Warren as the Obama Inauguration’s clergy of choice. “I am against it,” Hathaway told me at the after party last night amid champagne toasts to her, to Streep, and to her “Rachel” co-star Rosemarie Dewitt. “My older brother is gay, and so its a family issue for me. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  No need to have and to hold the most lavish wedding and reception ever seen  i c Wales,  By Carolyn Hitt, Western Mail, March 24, 2008
   According to figures released last week, the cost of getting hitched has soared to £18,500 [U$37,000] – a rise of more than five times the rate of inflation. The huge expense of the Big Day is forcing thousands of couples to postpone their wedding or even abandon it. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding  AlterNet, By Emily Wilson, June 15, 2007
  Pre-World War II, many couples got married in clothes they already owned. Today, they spend thousands. In her new book, One Perfect Day, Rebecca Mead shows how the wedding industry became so powerful and who it has exploited in the process.
  
  

• At last I've thrown him out!
  The cheated wife who asked our readers for advice reveals the final bitter twist to her story  The Daily Mail- UK, By Clare Campbell, January 9, 2009
  Should I stay or should I go? That was the agonising question 37-year-old Stephanie asked Daily Mail readers five months ago after she discovered her husband of ten years, a hedge fund manager, was having an affair. Days later Ian, 40, described his regret when he told his side of the story. But that wasn't the end of it. Here, Stephanie, who lives in South-West London with her sons, aged seven and four, tells Clare Campbell about the final bitter twist to a story that will be all too familiar to thousands of wives. . . . . My husband, Ian, finally walked out two days after Christmas, abandoning me and our two young sons. After ten years of marriage, I think it was probably the bleakest and most lonely day of my life. As the door slammed shut after him, I watched from a window as he walked to his car. It took every ounce of my emotional strength not to run after him, hug him and tell him that I would forgive him anything, rather than watch him walk out of my life. But I just couldn't do it. Not after all the promises he'd made to me, as well as to both our families, that he would never see his lover again, never speak to her or contact her in any way at all. We'd been trying to repair the damage he'd done to our relationship ever since last March, when I first discovered his affair. Or at least, I thought we were. . . . .Then on Christmas Eve, just as I was wrapping the boys' presents in the spare bedroom upstairs, I happened to look out of the window down into the street below. Our road looked lovely, the trees in our neighbours' gardens uniformly decorated with silver lights, and all looking warm and welcoming. I remember thinking that in a few minutes I'd be finished with the Christmas preparations and I could then go downstairs and join Ian for a glass of champagne, the way we'd always done every year since we met. And then I saw my husband, standing furtively outside our house a few yards from the road, talking earnestly into his Blackberry. It sounds crazy, I know, but I just knew in that moment that he was talking to Kate, his, or so I thought, 'ex'-mistress. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE & COMMENTS:  How can I convince my heartbroken wife I still love her and will never cheat on her again?  The Daily Mail- UK, By Clare Campbell, September 25, 2008
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE & COMMENTS:  Should I stay or should I go? One woman's dilemma after discovering her husband's affair  The Daily Mail- UK, By Clare Campbell, August 20, 2008

RELATED VIDEO:  John Stossel, ABC's 20/20 host, interviews Dr. Scott about Infidelity: Is Monogamy Just a Myth?


RELATED SITE:  DrScott.com —An Internet Community for the support of husbands, wives and families

RELATED ARTICLE:  The end of the affair: Modern technology means it's never been easier to expose a partner's lies   The Daily Mail- UK, By Nick Harding, August 27, 2008
Today, to function as an effective member of 21st century society, we have to engage with a bewildering array of electronic gadgets, few of which we fully understand. We stomp digital footprints all over the place, and the unforeseen result of engaging in the information age is that it is becoming harder to have secrets  -  and, as a result, harder to cheat on each other. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Psychiatrist is spilling the secrets of a happy marriage  The Patriot-Ledger, By Deborah Allard-GateHouse News Service, August 13, 2008
— Ladies, what if you told your best friend you actually enjoyed cooking your husband’s favorite meal for him or taking him his morning coffee in bed? Would she think you were acting like a 1950s housewife? That your husband’s a grown man and should do for himself? That you don’t need to do those things because you already have a full-time job and kids to take care of? What if you told this same friend your husband brings you your morning coffee in bed and makes you dinner? 


RELATED ARTICLE:  Why adultery can help save a marriage: Therapist is under fire for saying that cheating on your spouse can be more of a blessing than a sin  The Guardian-UK, By Amelia Hill, June 8, 2008
 A controversial self-help book for married philanderers claims most adulterers are good, kind people. It says affairs can help a marriage and that those who stray should never admit it because the truth can cause even more damage. 'Cheating on your spouse isn't a moral act, but most men and woman who have affairs are good people who made a mistake,' said Mira Kirshenbaum, author of When Good People Have Affairs, published this week. . .

• Lawsuit seeks safeguards from 'gay' harassment
  9/11 cited, marriage supporters told: 'You haven't seen anything yet'  WorldNet Daily, January 9, 2009
  A California organization that promoted a successful ballot measure last fall to protect traditional marriage now is challenging the constitutionality of a state campaign finance law used to harass and threaten supporters of the initiative. The Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of ProtectMarriage.com to protect financial contributors to the Proposition 8 campaign from retaliation. Personal information about individuals who gave a little as $100 in support of Proposition 8 has been made public under the campaign law, resulting in threats and intimidation from advocates for homosexual marriage, the lawsuit said. . . . ."Putting the names and employers of the people who supported Proposition 8 on the Internet for anyone to see has caused serious problems," said James Bopp Jr., the lead attorney for Prop. 8 supporters. "No one should worry about getting a death threat because of the way he or she votes. "This lawsuit will protect the right of all people to help support causes they agree with, without having to worry about harassment or threats," he said. . . . ."Some people who supported Proposition 8 had their homes and churches vandalized, were forced to resign their jobs, and were even threatened with violence and death. To stop this harassment and these threats, this lawsuit asks the court to stop the release of the names and personal information of people who gave money to support Proposition 8," the ADF said. "Our laws should ensure free participation in the democratic process, and not result in compromising the free speech and association rights of guaranteed to all Americans," said ADF Legal Counsel Tim Chandler, a local counsel in the case. "Citizens shouldn't have to choose between being involved in the democratic process and subjecting themselves to acts of vengeance," he said. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED SITE: Election Track: Proposition 8 Search
  What you will find:  All contributions of over $1,000 and all contributions of over $100 given before October 17 are included (e.g. Search "Brad Pitt"). All contributions will be available after January 30.

RELATED TOOLS:  The gay-marriage battle: Follow the money  Los Angeles Times
 

PROPOSITION 8: Tracking the money  Los Angeles Times
Find out who has given money to support or defeat the passage of Proposition 8. . . Search by city, state or zip code.

RELATED ARTICLE:  Proposition 8 Proponents Challenge Campaign Finance Reporting Rules That Have Resulted in Rampant Harassment of Prop 8 Supporters  Protect Marriage.com- Yes on 8, Contact Ron Prentice, January 8, 2009 
Acting on behalf of hundreds of supporters of Proposition 8 who have experienced various acts of harassment including death threats at the hands of opponents, the ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8 committee today filed a challenge in US federal court to the constitutionality of California’s campaign finance laws that compel disclosure of personal information of Prop 8 donors. . . . The suit notes that groups such as Californians Against Hate exist for the primary purpose of identifying and taking action against supporters of Proposition 8. The suit cited numerous examples of threatening and harassing emails, phone calls and postcards suffered by supporters of Proposition 8. . . . . The suit alleges that California’s Political Reform Act is unconstitutional on numerous grounds:
*  The right of contributors to exercise their First Amendment rights free from threats, harassment and reprisals outweighs the state’s interest in compelled disclosure. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Calif. gay marriage foes want donors anonymous  San Francisco Chronicle- AP, By Steve Lawrence, January 8, 2009
California's current campaign finance laws date to the Political Reform Act of 1974, a voter-approved initiative that established disclosure requirements for candidates and campaign committees. The secretary of state's office and another defendant, the state's Fair Political Practices Commission, had no immediate comment on the suit. But Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, the gay-rights group that led the campaign against Proposition 8, called it hypocritical for supporters of the measure to try to overturn voter-approved campaign finance laws. . . . . Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, a group that supports public access to government records and meetings, said the lawsuit is likely to be unsuccessful. But he also said the plaintiffs' arguments are not trivial. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  What Happens If You're on Gay Rights' 'Enemies List'  Time magazine, By Alison Stateman, November 15, 2008
Even before the passage of Prop. 8, the group Californians Against Hate compiled and published a "dishonor roll" of individuals (and their company affiliations) who gave $5,000 or more in support of the measure. Phone numbers and websites were added, along with commentary about some of the larger donors, all public information obtained through the California secretary of state's office. "My goal was to make it socially unacceptable to give huge amounts of money to take away the rights of one particular group, a minority group," says Fred Karger, a retired political consultant and founder of Californians Against Hate.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Gay Activists Target Businesses: Companies Tied To Initiative Backers Are Pulled Into Fray  Wall Street Journal, By Tamara Audi, August 27, 2008
When William Bolthouse, a California philanthropist, donated $100,000 in March to support a proposition to ban gay marriage in California, calls and emails poured in -- not to Mr. Bolthouse, but to the corporate offices of a company that bears his name -- even though he sold it three years earlier. . . Bolthouse Farms is the latest target in what has become an increasingly bitter political fight in California. As gay-rights activists attempt to defeat the upcoming ballot initiative, called Proposition 8, they are going after not just individuals, but also companies to which they are connected, however tenuously. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: The road to gay marriage   Jewish World Review, By Marianne M. Jennings, August 8, 2003
Infiltration of policy-maker ranks. . . . Infiltration of corporations. . . . Alignment with minority groups. . . . The gay gene myth. . . . Use of AIDS. . . . Demonizing opponents. . . . Economic pressure. . . . Suppressing free speech. . . . Infiltration of schools. . . . The anti-anti-gay movement. . . . Incremental legal inroads. . . . Silence. . . .This piece will bring condemnation, hate mail, and the usual threats to my employer. But years from now, as we assess the degradation same-sex marriage will bring to society, I shall be able to say, "I tried."


RELATED ARTICLE:  Political bullying works  Jewish World Review, April 5, 2001
The etymological evolution of the word sodomy to homosexuality to the simple term "gay'' has brought with it the very intolerance and bigotry that gay people deride when it's directed at them. Gay rights groups seek to intimidate anyone who voices opposition to their beliefs and agenda.

• Scarlett Center Stage
  The bombshell actress models her namesake color in the newly renovated Lincoln Center and talks to Bazaar about her new husband, her new president, and confronting old stereotypes  Harper's Bazaar, By Sarah Cristobal, February 2009 Issue
  Though they tried their darnedest, the tabloids could not crack the case of the Reynolds-Johansson nuptials. To this day, the details remain scant, save for where it took place (a secluded Canadian resort). Even where she got her dress was under wraps. "You have to protect some things, even if it's a silly detail like who designed your dress," she demurs. "It was private, which is what I really wanted. I've never been the girl who thought of the big dress, the big ceremony. I'm more low-key than that. Most people want photographers at their wedding, and for us it was how do we leave them out?" The transition to married life has been an easy one for Scarlett, although she's not yet ready to advise others. "I feel like everything is really normal, it's calm and natural, like the way it should be," she says. "I have no perspective on it because it's been such a short time. I would never try to profess some knowledge that I discovered. I'm happy and it feels very regular, which is good."  Her engagement to [Ryan] Reynolds was equally personal and heartfelt: "I wasn't surprised that it was happening, but anyone being presented with a beautiful diamond ring, as a girl, you just squeal with delight. You say you can't believe it, but of course you really can. I think all proposals are romantic. It was very down-to-earth and genuine. There was no crazy skywriting or anything like that, just nice words, and it was very sweet.". . . .This month, it is Scarlett's silver-screen persona on display — the sultry star who makes men literally weak in the knees — in the big-screen adaptation of He's Just Not That Into You. She plays a free-spirited yoga teacher named Anna who also fancies herself a singer and falls disastrously for a married man (played by Bradley Cooper). The cast also includes Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Drew Barrymore. "I feel like all the characters are real," Scarlett says. "They're real women, not just frouffy scenarios, and with real relationship woes. We've all been there.". . . One wonders if she of the heart-shaped face and knockout physique has ever had the he's-just-not-that-into-you experience. "Oh, yeah! I've had that a couple of times, where he wasn't into me or wasn't available emotionally. It's kind of a hard thing to admit when you really like somebody and you can see the potential of the relationship but they can't." She has never, however, resorted to drunk dialing. . .

RELATED SITE & MOVIE TRAILER:  He's Just Not That Into You- Official Movie Site

RELATED BOOK EXCERPT:   'He's Just Not That Into You'  By Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (Courtesy USA Today)

Chapter One: He's just not that into you if he's not asking you out
Because if he likes you, trust me, he will ask you out

Many women have said to me, "Greg, men run the world." Wow. That makes us sound pretty capable. So tell me, why would you think we could be incapable of something as simple as picking up the phone and asking you out? You seem to think at times that we're "too shy" or we "just got out of something." Let me remind you: Men find it very satisfying to get what they want. (Particularly after a difficult day of running the world.) If we want you, we will find you. If you don't think you gave him enough time to notice you, take the time it took you to notice him and divide it by half. Now you begin the life-changing experience of reading our book. We have put the stories we have heard and questions we've been asked in a simple question-and-answer format. If you're lucky, you'll read the following questions and know what they are: Excuses that women have made for their unsatisfying situations. If you're not so lucky, we've also included handy titles to clue you in. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  He's Just Not That Into You! Harsh words from the best-selling dating book may set single women free  WebMD Feature, By Denise Mann, Originally published November 1, 2004. Medically updated July 2006
After a magical first date, Susan was so sure that she would hear from Stephen again that she even boasted to friends that she'd met "the one." Two agonizing weeks later, she was shocked that she never did. "Maybe he got back together with his ex," one friend piped in. "Maybe he was too intimidated by you," another said. "Maybe you should call him," offered another. "Maybe he's gay," suggested yet another. Or maybe ... he's just not that into you. Sure, these words sound harsh, but according to a best-selling new dating book, these six words can save women like Susan from a lifetime of heartache and stress. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  It could be as easy as popping a pill: Scientists race to unlock 'love drug'  The Daily Mail - UK , January 8, 2009
It looks like bad news for those romantic souls forever musing on the nature of love. A behavioural scientist reckons it is only a matter of time before biologists reduce the mysteries of being smitten to nothing more than a chain of biochemical events. In doing so, they will not only put paid to many a poetic rambling but could also pave  the way to creating the ultimate love potion. Writing in the journal Nature, Professor Larry Young, of Emory University in Atlanta in the U.S., suggests that if the secrets of love are unlocked, the path is then clear for finding ways of enhancing it. A frontrunner in the race to find a ‘love pill’ is oxytocin. . .

• Bishop T.D. Jakes focuses on love and marriage in 'Not Easily Broken'  Mercury News, By Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times, January 7, 2009
  'Not Easily Broken," the latest faith-based feature film from Bishop T.D. Jakes, touches upon themes of marriage, relationships, family and romance. But don't you dare tell the renown pastor that it's a "chick flick." Jakes points out that he wrote the novel that served as source material, and that the film was directed and adapted by men (Bill Duke and Brian Bird). One of its main stars (Morris Chestnut) is also a guy. Moreover, the story of a young couple struggling to maintain their connection to one another and God, is the rare personal drama — with a largely African-American cast — told from a male perspective. "I think women viewers are going to be fascinated to hear a man talk about love and relationships," Jakes says in the deep voice that is resoundingly familiar to the more than 30,000 members of his nondenominational church in Dallas and millions of followers around the globe. "It's an opportunity for women to become almost a voyeur and to watch the intricate details of the masculine heart." Jakes is among the producers of "Not Easily Broken" and also makes a brief cameo in the movie. It's his second feature film, following 2004's "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," and it's the latest offshoot of what has become a vast multimedia empire. . . . . "Not Easily Broken," which opens Friday, is the saga of Dave (Chestnut) and Clarice Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) who face a breaking point in their marriage after she is seriously injured in a car crash. The accident brings to the surface divisive problems that have been festering for years — problems caused by a lack of communication, eroding respect for one another and conflicting life priorities. It's familiar turf for Jakes, who has counseled a number of at-risk couples over the years. "Many women do not understand the depth to which men feel pain when the relationship does not work," Jakes says. "Women tend to think men are emotionless. But there is a great deal of anxiety in men when things do not go right with their women."  As an intimate, small-budget movie, "Not Easily Broken" arrives on the scene free of blockbuster aspirations. But the fact that it has found its way into cineplexes has Jakes encouraged that Hollywood is finally starting to embrace films with spiritual themes. On the other hand, he insists "Broken" isn't the typical "church-type" movie. . .

RELATED SITE & TRAILER:  Not Easily Broken - Official Site

RELATED REVIEW: 'Not Easily Broken' is warmed over Tyler Perry   Mercury News, By Roger Moore, January 7, 2008
'Not Easily Broken" is a marriage-in-crisis melodrama baked from the Tyler Perry recipe. Take a good-looking, mostly African-American cast, put them in an affluent setting, paint the characters in broad "symbolic" strokes, place the marriage in jeopardy, add a little "Take it to the Lord in prayer" sermonizing and you've got a movie. Brian Bird's script, taken from T.D. Jakes' novel, has something to say about marriage, manhood and even race. But did somebody actually pay Bird for typing the phrase "On up in here" in every page of the script, or "I got this," or the hoariest African-American screen cliché of all, the best friend who starts every sentence with "Giiiiiiiiiirl"?. . . . . It's not a terrible movie, just a pandering one, a film that you're sure you've seen before. Many times. Maybe we all should take some comfort from the fact that Hollywood studios are no longer copying generic rapper thrillers set "in the 'hood." But where's the ambition in warming over a Madea sermon without Madea?

RELATED INTERVIEW:  T.D. Jakes: man of faith and film  San Francisco Chronicle, By Delfin Vigil, January 6, 2009
Bishop T.D. Jakes has a strong presence that is both physical and spiritual. You don't have to be one of the estimated 30,000 members of his Potter House church in Dallas to pick up on that. And if you watch the movie "Not Easily Broken," which was based on his novel of the same name, you will most likely walk out with the feeling of being entertained by a movie, not a sermon. This was no accident, according to Jakes, 51, who considers himself to be more than just a preacher. He recently came through Oakland to talk about his latest project. . .

Q: What makes "Not Easily Broken" more than just another romantic comedy?

A: This is a love story told from a male perspective. That's what makes it genuine. It seems to me like most love stories are written by women to women. This is written about a man. We're listening to him think. We're listening to his fears and tears. We see his weaknesses and his vulnerabilities. The novel was written by a man. I think it brings a refreshing perspective to an overused subject - the whole romance thing. There are all kind of movies about that. What makes this one unique is it's coming from a male perspective. . .

• Parenting Issues: The Popularity of Teen Pregnancy   Townhall.com, By Janice Shaw Crouse, January 7, 2009
  When the data showed a decline in teen pregnancies, teen abortions, and teen sexual activity, the mainstream media barely noticed. Almost nobody heralded that landmark accomplishment which coincided with more widespread abstinence programs in schools and community programs. However, now that the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a slight increase in teen births, it is making headlines. Let’s get one thing straight at the outset: the increase in teen births was primarily in the 18- to 19- year-old group — in other words, primarily college students who have entered an alcohol-and-hook-up saturated environment where only the strong can stand up against the peer pressure, rampant promiscuity, co-ed dorms, and anything-goes culture. It brings me no satisfaction to make that point; these 18- to 19-year-old young women are still teens, and their well-being is just as threatened by pregnancy and STDs from promiscuous, too-early sexual activity as it is with the younger teens. Nonetheless, the images most formed in people’s minds when they think of teen pregnancy are of 14- to 16-year-old high school girls. The media is trumpeting the notion that out-of-wedlock births are all the rage these days. The stories and images targeted to impressionable teens that are being broadcast through various mass media are shaped in ways that glorify the idea and simplify the issues surrounding the pregnancy of a young teenaged girl. A new family-time show on ABC promises to depict “a new kind of family.” The soap opera-type show called “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” averages an astounding 3.5 million viewers. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE: TV Review:  'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' premiere recap: Here comes the bride  EW.com, January 6, 2009
  Last night was the season 2 premiere of my favorite show I inexplicably watch every week even though I'm not sure if I like or not -- The Secret Life of the American Teenager, where every character acts like a 15-year-old, regardless of age (I'm looking at you, parental figures), and every minute plot point is explained in full detail by the characters while it's happening. Let's not waste any time chuckling at the fact that the show's appropriately sponsored by Clean & Clear and get down to business -- the two major revelations from last night's episode. First, Amy's mom dropped the bomb that she won't take care of her grandchild 24/7 when it arrives in three months, and Amy didn't take it too well. Taking care of the child you bear? A concept only shocking to a 15-year-old. . .
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Teen Births Are On the Rise, But Why?  Women's Issues- About.com, By Linda Lowen, January 7, 2009
  It's a 'chicken or egg' question many have pondered for months. We've seen an increasing number of media depictions of pregnant teens as part of mainstream pop culture entertainment. And we're hearing more and more about rising teen pregnancy rates. So is media simply reflecting a widespread phenomenon already occurring in society, or is it fanning a dangerous fire and influencing teens to become pregnant? The release of a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier today shows us that we can't blame the media for putting the cart in front of the horse. Data from 2006 (gleaned from birth certificates filed that year) indicate that teen births were on the rise well before the film Juno hit theatres in December 2007 or Jamie Lynn Spears showed the slightest indication of a baby bump. So, was there something in the water in 2005 that reversed a 15-year trend of falling teenage birth rates in 2006? Always the scapegoat, media isn't necessarily responsible for this one. Yet shows like ABC Family's The Secret Life of an American Teenager are depicting even younger and younger teen mothers (such as the show's pregnant 15-year-old heroine who just married her boyfriend - NOT the baby daddy - two nights ago). So what gives? What's a parent to do? . . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Teen Pregnancy in Pop Culture: Media Images of Teen Pregnancy in Pop Culture
  Television and Film Depictions of Pregnant Teens Range From Realistic To Idyllic   Women's Issues- About.com, By Linda Lowen
  What's life like as a teenage baby mama? If you've formed an impression solely from media and pop culture depictions, teen pregnancy on TV and in film is a lot more glamorous than the real thing. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Teen Pregnancy and TV   Townhall.com, By Brent Bozell III, November 5, 2008
  The Washington Post announced an important new study from the respected Rand Corporation on its front page on Nov. 3. Teenagers who watch a lot of television featuring sex talk and sex scenes are much more likely than their peers to get pregnant or get a partner pregnant, according to the first study to directly link television programming to teen pregnancy.  The study was published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It tracked more than 700 12-to-17-year-olds for three years, and found that those who viewed the most sexual content on TV were about twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy as those who saw the least. About 25 percent of those who watched the most were involved in a pregnancy, compared with about 12 percent of those who watched the least. The researchers took into account other factors such as having only one parent, wanting to have a baby and engaging in other risky behaviors. . . . .The Rand recommendation to broadcasters is something -- but falls short. What they should have pushed, but couldn't find the nerve to push, is the simple idea that broadcasters should stop promoting adult messages about sex to impressionable children. . .
  
  

• Health Issues:  Patrick Swayze on Cancer: 'I'm Going Through Hell'
  Exclusive Interview: Actor Talks to Barbara Walters About His Battle With Cancer and His New Role  ABC News, By Katie N. Thomson and Rob Wallace, January 6, 2009
  Patrick Swayze has been "going through hell" in his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer, but that hasn't stopped the actor from taking on a leading role in a new television series. "I've never been one to run from a challenge," Swayze told Barbara Walters in his first interview since his cancer diagnosis last January. Still, when asked if he was scared, Swayze told Walters, "I don't know. I will be so either truthful or stupid as to say no. But then I immediately, when I say that, I have to say yes, I am." "You can bet that I'm going through hell," Swayze said. "And I've only seen the beginning of it." Walters first interviewed Swayze in 1988, at the height of the actor's "Dirty Dancing" fame. When they met again last month at his ranch in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, Swayze talked openly about his cancer, his treatment, his thoughts and fears, and his prognosis. "There's a lot of fear here," Swayze said. "There's a lot of stuff going on. Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking] why me. Yeah, I'm all this stuff.". . . . . For Swayze, surgery to remove the cancer was not an option because it had spread to his liver. He embarked on an aggressive course of traditional chemotherapy along with the experimental drug Vatalanib. . . . In five months, Swayze missed 1½ days of work. Through it all, Niemi was by his side, during the private hours of excruciating pain and on the set, always supporting his decision to continue the work he loves. She even directed him in an episode. She said it was Swayze's decision to commit to the series, but "the moment he showed up in Chicago there was this enormous burst of energy that was stunning. And that kind of said, you know, maybe we are in the right place." The couple met 36 years ago, when 16-year-old Niemi walked into his mother's dance studio in Houston and 20-year-old Swayze was smitten for life. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Patrick Swayze Released From Hospital  People magazine, By Julie Jordan and Brian Orloff, January 16, 2009 (Update)


RELATED VIDEO:  Swayze Speaks Out About His Cancer ABC.com, January 6, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  Coping when a partner has a terminal illness: Confronting a fatal illness in a partner can put intolerable strain on a couple. But society expects saint-like behaviour  Times Online- UK, August 28, 2008

RELATED ARTICLE:  Steve Jobs' weight loss may be linked to his earlier cancer, medical experts say  Mercury News, By Hadley Leggett and Lisa M. Krieger, January 5, 2008
Medical experts said Monday that Steve Jobs' health problems may be linked to his prior surgery for pancreatic cancer, and are probably treatable, just as Jobs said. Dogged by rumors of ill health, Jobs released an open letter on Monday saying he has a "nutritional problem" and hopes to regain his weight by spring. He did not mention his previous bout with cancer. Without more specific information about Jobs' medical history, medical experts — none of them involved in his care — said they can only speculate about what might be causing his gaunt appearance. But they said pancreatic surgery patients sometimes do suffer such weight loss and have been been successfully treated with oral supplements. Jobs underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2004 and has grown thin in recent months, fueling concern about the future of the strong-willed leader and his ability to continue successfully leading the company. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Once-fatal cancers now treated as a chronic disease  International Herald Tribune, By Jane E. Brody, June 17, 2008
Fisch calls the new therapy for advanced cancer "the hitchhiker model." Time is bought by going from point A, the first-line therapy, to point B, the second-line therapy, to point C, the third line of therapy, and so on. The approach can continue indefinitely, as long as new therapies become available and patients remain well enough to withstand the rigors of treatment. But Fisch noted that adding meaningful years to the lives of patients with advanced cancer depends in part on avoiding the attitude, prevalent among some physicians, that cancer is hopeless after it has metastasized. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Fear is a waste of time  Townhall.com- Free Republic.com, By Tony Snow, September 16, 2005
There's nothing quite like a pep talk from a cancer survivor, especially one who by normal calculations ought to have died long ago. Here is the most important thing she said: "When I was sick, my husband and I would sit in a group with other women who had the same thing. We sat in a circle, the same people each week.  "Some looked strong and vigorous; others were pale and weak. But none of that mattered. We discovered that we could figure out who was going to live and who would die just by looking into their eyes. . . . . Still, the last few months -- my time of surgery and chemo -- have been the happiest and most thrilling of my life. They have confirmed lessons that seem at once too good to be true, and too important and vital not to be.  Here is a short inventory:  Faith matters. Prayers heal. Love overcomes.  People want to do good for others; they just need excuses.  Fear is a waste of time. The worst that can happen is that we'll die -- which happens to everybody, anyway. Until the Grim Reaper comes knocking, we're alive. . .

RELATED ARTICLE: A diagnosis of cancer is trying for any marriage   Boston Globe, By Judy Foreman, August 22, 2005
Obviously, when cancer strikes, there's no easy role in any marriage, whether you're the patient or the spouse. What makes some marriages fall apart under the strain of cancer and others get stronger? That's a tough one, but researchers are finding some clues. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Pancreatic Cancer  Mayo Clinic
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates. . .

RELATED RESOURCE:  Chemoembolization  Radiology Info.org
*  What is Chemoembolization?
Chemoembolization is a combination of local delivery of chemotherapy and a procedure called embolization to treat cancer, most often of the liver. In chemoembolization, anti-cancer drugs are injected directly into a cancerous tumor. In addition, synthetic material called an embolic agent is placed inside the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor, in effect trapping the chemotherapy in the tumor.
*  What are some common uses of the procedure?
*  How should I prepare?
*  What does the equipment look like?
*  How does the procedure work?
*  How is the procedure performed
*  What will I experience during and after procedure?
*  Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
*  What are the benefits vs. risks?
*  What are the limitations of Chemoembolization?. . .


RELATED RESOURCE:  Liver Cancer and Radiofrequency Ablation  AnnieAppleSeed Project
The hottest new weapon in the surgeon's arsenal against liver cancer uses heat instead of cold, a shift that could put the freeze on what until now has been the standard therapy for inoperable tumors. What's more, it's easy, cheap and considerably less risky to perform than surgery or using cold to zap malignancies. Now University of Florida researchers have found that the technique, known as radiofrequency ablation, does not initiate a cascade of harmful hormones that often causes patients who undergo the alternative -- cryotherapy -- to go into shock. . .


RELATED RESOURCE:  FAQ Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors  Radiology Info.org
*  What is Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors?
Radiofrequency ablation, sometimes referred to as RFA, is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer. It is an image-guided technique that heats and destroys cancer cells.  In radiofrequency ablation, imaging techniques such as ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are used to help guide a needle electrode into a cancerous tumor. High-frequency electrical currents are then passed through the electrode, creating heat that destroys the abnormal cells.
*  What are some common uses of the procedure?
*  How should I prepare?
*  What does the equipment look like?
*  How does the procedure work?
*  How is the procedure performed?
*  What will I experience during and after the procedure?
*  Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
*  What are the benefits vs. risks?
*  What are the limitations of Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors. . . 

• Charles Barkley: An American Idiot   AOL Sports Commentary, By Jay Mariotti, January 6, 2008
  He stood in the corner of a Scottsdale bar, our Round Mound of Clown, grinning as a procession of female admirers angled to meet him. When each of these strangers moved forward, Charles Barkley leaned over and responded with either a swarming hug or a full-blown makeout kiss. Particularly odd about his impromptu game of Spin The Bottle was the timing: It was dead-smack in the middle of the NBA Finals, his only legitimate chance at a championship as a basketball legend. So when Barkley and the Phoenix Suns withered in Game 6, missed critical shots in the final minutes and lost to Michael Jordan's Bulls, I was left to ponder the effects of the Chuckster's public partying those two weeks. What if he had been getting his rest instead of his jollies? Might he have nailed the game-winning shot, a hero's role left for journeyman shooter John Paxson? Might the Suns have gone on to win the title at home in Game 7? Would Charles not go to his grave with a Grand Canyon-sized crater on his Hall of Fame/Dream Team resume? I'd like to say Barkley simply was an immature guy who eventually grew up. But 15 1/2 years later, only a few blocks from the same tavern location, he was busted last week on drunk driving charges after a night of partying at the Dirty Pretty Rock Bar, where his companions included Jaleel White, better known as Steve Urkel of TV geek infamy. When questioned why he ran a stop sign in his black Infinity SUV, Barkley said he was in a rush to have oral sex with his female passenger, according to the police report. He also told a civilian employee that he would "tattoo my name on your ass'' if it helped him avoid a DUI arrest, the report said. Almost 46, Barkley is less mature now than when White was still Urkel. He is stuck in permanent adolescence and has become a perpetual circus onto himself, which wouldn't be a societal concern if: 1. He wasn't one of America's more influential voices. . . . . . I'm disgusted that he never learns. In a country undergoing historic change, Barkley is a tragicomic waste of potential leadership. One day, he comes off like a great unifier of humankind, ready to attack racism and bond the masses with his perspective and humor. Then, without warning, he morphs into a national buffoon, dropping gratuitous obscenities on TNT's "Inside The NBA'' and firing provocative opinions with no regard for his glaring hypocrisy and contradictions. . .

RELATED VIDEO:  Barkley busted
January 01, 2009
The Arizona police talk about Charles Barkley and how they treated him as a former NBA star.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Charles Barkley's Oral Statements: Ex-NBA superstar told Arizona cops he was racing to get a "blow job"  The Smoking Gun, December 31, 2008

RELATED ARTICLE: Maureen Blumhardt Is Charles Barkley (sic) Wife  Right Celebrity, By Jen, January 2, 2009
Maureen Blumhardt, the wife of Charles Barkley. She is in the news today because of her husband’s recent DUI arrest in which he allegedly admitted he he was “looking for oral sex.”. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Barkley speaks out on religion, gay marriage: Ex-NBA star elaborates political views while considering gubernatorial run  MSNBC.com-AP  August 30, 2006
- Charles Barkley was his usual outspoken self during a recent television interview in which he said, among other things, that he advocates gay marriage, believes Republicans have screwed up the country and is “struggling with my idea of what religion is.”. . . .  Barkley was a Republican until recently, saying he switched parties when the Republicans “lost their minds.” He said he is troubled by some of the actions of people in the United States in the name of religion. “Religious people in general are so discriminatory against other people, and that really disturbs me,” he said. “My idea of religion is we all love and respect. We all sin, but we still have common decency and respect for other people. So right now I’m struggling with my idea of what religion is.” He also said he supports gay marriage. “I think if they want to get married, God bless them,” Barkley said. “Gay marriage is probably 1 percent of the population, so it’s not like it’s going to be an epidemic. Hey, trust me, I’m never going to kiss you and say, ‘Chris, you’re sexy.”’. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Questions to Ask Before Having An Affair   AOL Body, By Vicki Salemi,
Thinking of having an affair? An affair has emotional and financial consequences that will impact both you and your loved ones. Here, 15 questions to ask yourself before you stray. . . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Cheating Myths and Facts   AOL Body, By Vicki Salemi,
Not everyone cheats, but a lot of us do. According to a 2006 report on sexual behavior by the National Opinion Research Center, nearly a quarter of married men and 13% of married women have had an affair. But there's more to infidelity than you think. The truth may surprise you. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Investigating Suspected Adultery: Julia Hartley Moore reveals the secrets of how to uncover infidelity  AOL.com — AOL Coaches 
Julia Hartley Moore, author of 'Infidelity Sleuth: A Female Private Eye Tells Women How to Uncover the Truth,' recently spoke with AOL Book Maven Bethanne Patrick. Here are excerpts from the interview: . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Doctor's Advice on Overcoming Infidelity: Dr. Keith Ablow Says That an Affair Could Actually Strengthen a Marriage    ABC News— Good Morning America, March 19, 2008
Psychologist and author Dr. Keith Ablow believes infidelity does not have to be the end to a marriage. Although infidelity is painful, Ablow said that the couple can use the opportunity to recreate their marriage.


RELATED RESOURCE:  HOPE & HEALING: Helping Couples Recover from Adultery

• Prop 8 Official Proponents Respond to New Legal Issue Raised by California Attorney General
  Proponents say, "The Attorney General is inviting this Court to declare a constitutional revolution."   ProtectMarriage.com, Contact: Andy Pugno, January 05, 2009
  As directed by the California Supreme Court, the official proponents of Proposition 8 and their campaign committee, ProtectMarriage.com -- Yes on 8, today filed legal arguments responding to a new and unprecedented legal theory proposed by the California Attorney General to invalidate the voter-passed measure. Proposition 8 added a new section to the "Declaration of Rights" of the California Constitution, to read: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Today's filing represents the latest development in three lawsuits originally filed by opponents of Proposition 8 claiming that it could not be enacted as an initiative amendment, but rather only by a constitutional "revision," which requires either a two- thirds vote of the Legislature or a statewide Constitutional Convention. Responding to the legal challenges in mid- December, the Attorney General agreed with the official proponents that Proposition 8 was properly enacted by voter initiative, and therefore did not require a vote of the Legislature. The Attorney General also rejected claims by Prop 8 opponents that the measure violated the separation of powers between the branches of government. But in the concluding 15 pages of his December brief, the Attorney General proposed a new, unprecedented legal theory that Proposition 8 -- despite being a properly enacted constitutional amendment -- is itself unconstitutional because it violates "inalienable or natural rights." That led the California Supreme Court to ask Proposition 8's official proponents, who had already intervened in the cases to defend the people's vote, to file a brief responding to the Attorney General's new "inalienable rights" theory. Here are some excerpts from today's court filing:. . .

RELATED SITE: Yes on 8 — Protect Marriage.com   (Final Approval 52.3%)

RELATED ARTICLE:  Prop. 8 proponents call Jerry Brown 'profoundly wrong'   San Francisco Chronicle, By John Wildermuth, January 5, 2009
-- State Attorney General Jerry Brown was "profoundly wrong" and "invented an entirely new theory" when he urged the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8's same-sex marriage ban because voters can't be allowed to overturn fundamental liberties, attorneys for the measure said Monday. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Jerry Brown asks California Supreme Court to void gay-marriage ban  Los Angeles Times, By Jessica Garrison and Maura Dolan, December 20, 2008
-- California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked the state Supreme Court on Friday to invalidate the voter-approved ban on gay marriage, declaring that "the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification.". . . . Protect Marriage had earlier received permission from the court to intervene in the case on the side of Proposition 8. At the time, the group had argued that Brown could not be trusted to defend the measure. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Sorry, Gay Marriage Is Not A Civil Right.  AmericanElephant.com, December 29, 2008
I just endured a few minutes on FoxNews of some tool trying to equate his fight for Gay Marriage with the Civil Rights movement. Let me make this clear… Gay Marriage is not a civil right. Black Americans fought for the same rights and laws reserved for white people.  They fought for a system that was color blind and equal.  They wanted to sit at the same seat at the lunch counter, the same seat on the bus and drink from the same water fountain.  They fought to be treated the same.  Not different but equal, the same.  Go to the same schools, have the same protections, enjoy the same privileges and opportunities. That is a movement for civil rights.  But what are Gay Marriage proponents fighting for?  An additional or special right. Homosexuals already enjoy the same rights as the rest of Americans, the law is blind to sexual orientation.  You can drink from the same water fountain, sit on the same seats on the bus, go to the same schools, and marry the same people everyone else can marry… a consenting adult of the opposite sex. Gay Marriage proponents are not whining, complaining and fighting for the same rights as everyone else… they are trying to obtain a special or new right that no one else has.  If you believe Gay Marriage should be permissible, then debate that.  But stop calling it a “civil right”.  It is not, and you are doing a disservice to everyone who actually fought for civil rights when you make that claim. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Same-Sex marriage: Hijacking the Civil Rights Legacy: The indiscriminate promotion of various social groups' desires and preferences as "rights" has drained the moral authority from the civil rights industry  The Weekly Standard- By Eugene F. Rivers & Kenneth D. Johnson, June 1, 2006
People are equal in worth and dignity, but sexual choices and lifestyles are not. That is why the law's refusal to license polygamous, polyamorous, and homosexual unions is entirely right and proper. In recognizing, favoring, and promoting traditional, monogamous marriage, the law does not violate the "rights" of people whose "lifestyle preferences" are denied the stamp of legal approval. Rather, it furthers and fosters the common good of civil society, and makes proper provision for the physical and moral protection and nurturing of children. Well-intentioned liberals shudder upon hearing the word "discrimination." Its simple enunciation instills guilt and dulls their critical faculties. But once malcontented members of any group--however privileged--can simply invoke the term and launch their own personalized civil rights industry, the word has been emptied of its normative and historical content. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Same-Sex 'Marriage' Is Not a Civil Right  Family Research Council, By Peter Sprigg, January 27, 2005
Mr. Sprigg delivered the following remarks at a "Defend Maryland Marriage" rally at the State House in Annapolis, Maryland, on January 27, 2005:
"Good afternoon. My name is Peter Sprigg and I serve as the senior director of policy studies at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. I am also a proud resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, I am the author of Outrage: How Gay Activists and Liberal Judges Are Trashing Democracy to Redefine Marriage, a book published last year. Today I'd like to share with you just a few points that I made in my book. The first point is that same-sex marriage is not a civil rights issue. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Selling Homosexuality to America    Regent University Law Review, By Paul E. Rondeau
This article explores how gay rights activists use rhetoric, psychology, social psychology, and the media--all the elements of modern marketing--to position homosexuality in order to frame what is discussed in the public arena and how it is discussed. . . . The economics and education of homosexuals makes them prime players in a capitalistic society. Money means power, and education means the knowledge to use that power to gain more. Homosexuals have demonstrated they have access to the leadership in media, government, education, business and other centers of influence as well as access to capital. These are hardly traits of an oppressed minority. . .

• 2009: 'Gay' rights over all  World Net Daily, By Roger Hedgecock, January 5, 2009
  If Barack Obama successfully translates his campaign rhetoric into law, 2009 will be the year homosexuality becomes a civil right. During the campaign, Obama said the issue of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights "is about who we are as Americans". At Change.gov, under the heading "civil rights," Obama promises legal protection for "gender identity" and "gender expression"; expansion of "hate crime" statutes and homosexual adoption rights, repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" rule for military service. Labeling homosexual behavior a civil right apparently trumps majority rule at the ballot box too. For example, in the November election, voters in California adopted Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment which defines "marriage" as the traditional union of one man and one woman. However, after the voters had spoken, homosexual activists started a statewide witch hunt, targeting the Mormon church, getting prominent supporters of traditional marriage fired and boycotting businesses whose owners had contributed to the "YES on 8" campaign. A skillful media campaign painted the voting majority bigots and the homosexual campaign to suppress democracy a defense of basic civil rights. Decades of trying to link the black civil rights movement to homosexual "rights" floundered, however, when analysis of the vote revealed that substantial voting majorities in the black and Hispanic communities voted yes on Prop 8. . . . . Labeling homosexuality a "civil right" also seems to trump everyone else's civil rights. Just as illegal aliens seem to have more "rights" than citizens do, homosexuals claim their "civil rights" prevail over everyone else's civil rights. Take the case of four San Diego firefighters ordered by the lesbian fire chief to participate in a "gay" pride parade in uniform driving a city fire truck. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Traditional family defenders now in 'gay' agenda bull's-eye: Licensing proposal could require lawyers to endorse homosexuality   WorldNetDaily, By Bob Unruh, January 1, 2009
One of the top lawyers in the nation in the battle to protect traditional marriage, historically Christian lifestyle choices, parental rights and the key freedoms provided by the U.S. Constitution is warning that there eventually could be no lawyers left to take up those disputes. That's because of a recommendation before the State Bar of Arizona – the organization that licenses attorneys – to require all new lawyers to swear they won't let their personal religious perspective on homosexuality affect their representation of any client. Mathew Staver, chief of Liberty Counsel, warns that the proposal is just the "tip of the iceberg.". . . .The concept would demand that Christian lawyers affirm they would pursue child custody cases for lesbians and "marriage" rights for homosexuals just as they would pursue any other issue for clients, regardless of their religious perspective. Not agreeing to the demand would end a Christian lawyer's career before it even starts, since attorneys cannot practice law without bar association permission. Already, several dozen attorneys have sent a letter objecting to the plan, and concern has been raised by the online Catholic.org report. "Are these lawyers going to be excluded from their profession because of their religious beliefs? Or will they have to give up their beliefs in order to continue practicing?" the report asked. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  NJ rules against church group in gay rights case  OneNewsNow, By Geoff Mulvihil, December 30, 2008
A church group that owns beachfront property discriminated against a lesbian couple by not allowing them to rent the locale for their civil union ceremony, a New Jersey department ruled Monday in a case that has become a flash point in the nation's gay rights battle. The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights said its investigation found that the refusal of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to rent the oceanfront spot to the couple for their same-sex union in March 2007 violated the public accommodation provisions of the state's Law Against Discrimination. While the ruling is decisively in favor of the couple, Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster, it does not end the case. An administrative law judge still must decide on a remedy for the parties. . . . Brian Raum, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based group that represents the Methodist organization, Camp Meeting Association, said his clients would keep pushing back against being forced to allow civil unions on the property. "Our position is the same," he said. "A Christian organization has a constitutional right to use their facilities in a way that is consistent with their beliefs." Meanwhile, the parties in the dispute are awaiting a ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether the issue should be decided in the division on civil rights or in federal courts. A lower federal court has ruled that the state could consider the case. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  California's Epic Battle for Marriage and Religious LIberty  Townhall.com, By Maggie Gallagher, May 21, 2008
There are religious liberty defenses under the U.S. Constitution for youth ministers, but not for Christian schools, physicians, social workers, teachers, attorneys, psychiatrists, counselors or tax-exempt charities. The First Amendment will not protect us if our own governments (through the courts) decide that, for example, my Catholic faith is in itself a form of bigotry. If gay rights advocates don't really mean this to happen, why don't they stop asking courts to rule in this way?. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Gay "Marriage"  Townhall.com, By Thomas Sowell, August 15, 2006
Now that a number of state courts have refused to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions, cries of "discrimination" are being heard. The "equal protection of the laws" provided by the Constitution of the United States applies to people, not actions. Laws exist precisely in order to discriminate between different kinds of actions. . . . Analogies with bans against interracial marriage are bogus. Race is not part of the definition of marriage. A ban on interracial marriage is a ban on the same actions otherwise permitted because of the race of the particular people involved. It is a discrimination against people, not actions. . .

• Gays vandalize San Francisco church
  San Franciso Mayor Newsom and the Board of Supervisors have shown nothing but contempt for the First Amendment rights of Catholics  SperoForum, By William Donohue, January 5, 2009
  Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, in the heart of San Francisco’s gay Castro community, was vandalized over the weekend by opponents of Proposition 8, the California resolution passed by voters in November that rejected gay marriage. Swastikas were painted on the church and the names Ratzinger (referring to Pope Benedict XVI) and Niederauer (the San Francisco Archbishop) were scrawled besides the Nazi symbol. In the wake of Proposition 8, innocent persons have been assaulted, churches have been vandalized, a white substance resembling anthrax was sent to the Knights of Columbus and to Mormon temples, supporters of traditional marriage have been branded Nazis, African-Americans have been called the ‘N-word,’ houses and cars have been trashed, etc. Unfortunately, most of those in the gay community have been silent about these acts. Part of the blame for the latest attack goes to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Both Newsom and the Board have shown nothing but contempt for the First Amendment rights of Catholics. When crucifixes are sold as sex toys and Catholic sensibilities are assaulted by naked men in the street at the annual Folsom Street Fair, they say nothing. When gay men dressed as nuns show up at Mass—at the same church—they say nothing. But the Board was quite vocal about condemning the Catholic Church in 2006, something which led to a lawsuit triggered by the Catholic League and the Thomas More Law Center. For those who love to write about ‘root causes,’ let them ponder the guilt of these public officials. Moreover, leaders in the gay community show no leadership when it comes to denouncing incivility committed in the name of gay rights. This has got to end.
  
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Above the Hate  Townhall.com, By Maggie Gallagher, November 25, 2008
  Judging from their unwillingless to speak out, leaders of the gay marriage movement (including powerful politicians like Mayor Newsom) apparently believe that the new politics of payback works for them. Something new and very ugly has entered American politics. Right now, the politics of hate may be centered on marriage, but if these tactics are permitted to work uncriticized, I promise you one thing: They won't end there.
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  ‘Bash Back!’ Bigots Storm Michigan Church: Activists disrupt worship service, shout ‘Jesus was gay!’ Is this a ‘hate crime’?  Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), Posted By Peter LaBarbera, November 12, 2008
  Below is a statement posted by an anarchist “queer” group called “Bash Back!,” which stormed the Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan Sunday. You can read more about their carefully planned assault in WorldNetDaily, which reported: “Worshippers at a Bible-teaching church in Lansing, Mich., were stunned Sunday when members of a pro-homosexual, pro-anarchy organization named Bash Back interrupted their service to fling propaganda and condoms around the sanctuary, drape a profane banner from the balcony and feature two lesbians making out at the pulpit.” Note below the diversionary tactics that enabled the hate group to disrupt Mount Hope’s worship service. We want to know if the Michigan Attorney General is going to investigate and prosecute the twerps that organized this hateful attack — or is the whole “hate crimes” concept a one-way street that serves only politically correct causes like homosexuality? Imagine if a conservative or Christian group stormed a Sunday service of the Metropolitian Community Church, which caters to homosexuals — would there be media outrage and a sense of urgency to prosecute the perpetrators? You bet there would. Veteran observers of the homosexual activist movement will know that this “Bash Back!” assault is only the latest of many “gay” direct action attacks over the years designed to intimidate conservatives and Christians into silence. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Sodom & Gomorrah Would Blush: Homosexual Sadists Mock Jesus with Last Supper Take-Off in Poster for ‘Folsom Street Fair’   Americans For Truth,  September 27, 2007
  Bread and Wine Replaced with “Sex Toys”; California Taxpayers Forced to Subsidize Debauched Folsom Street Fair. . . . . Promotional poster for sadistic “Folsom Street Fair” in San Francisco this weekend mocks Christianity and Da Vinci’s painting of Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples. Those are “sex toys” on the table including a red fist used to mimic the bizarre and grotesque sadistic act of “fisting.” A man in the black doggie mask represents another twisted fetish seen at this annual street festival glorifying “consensual” sexual violence and degradation. Miller Brewing Company’s ‘Miller Lite’ Beer logo can be seen on the lower left of the poster as the largest “non-gay” corporate sponsor of the Folsom Street Fair (call Miller Brewing Co. at 1-800-MILLER-6). The black-and-blue flag is the “leather pride” flag for sadomasochists — their version of the “gay” rainbow flag. . .
  
  
  

• Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff Are Engaged!  People magazine, By Monica Rizzo, January 04, 2009
  Dancing stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff have gotten engaged, PEOPLE has confirmed. Chmerkovskiy popped the question to his girlfriend of less than six months in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, according to a source. The couple rang in 2009 at the Wynn Hotel in Sin City. "They are really cute together," adds the source. The couple, who have been dating since the summer, are currently performing on the Dancing with the Stars winter tour, which wraps up in mid-February. Reps for the couple declined to comment. The eighth season of DWTS kicks off March 9 on ABC. . .
  
  
  

  RELATED ARTICLE:  Brooke Burke Marvels at Karina & Maksim's 'Steamy' Engagement  People magazine, By Mark Gray, January 10, 2009
  Brooke Burke was among those not surprised by the engagement of Dancing With the Stars' Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. "You could see the chemistry," Burke, 37, Dancing's Season 7 champ, told PEOPLE in Las Vegas Friday night. "I'm really happy for them and I hope it works out.". . . ."They say you're supposed to marry from the block," Burke said at LAX Nightclub at the party for PC.com. "Culturally they have a lot of similarities and a really passionate, steamy love affair going on." "When those two danced together it was like fire," she said, "It was amazing.". . .
  
  
  RELATED SITE:  Dancing with the Stars  ABC.com 

RELATED VIDEO:  Maksim and Karina Dish on Engagement, Proposal & The Ring!  The Insider.com

RELATED ARTICLE:  Maksim Chmerkovskiy Gushes About New Fiancée  People magazine, By Monica Rizzo, January 07, 2009
"I'm in love and so is she," Chmerkovskiy gushes in PEOPLE's exclusive interview. "Everything is beautiful." Equally praising of her husband-to-be, Smirnoff says, "He is such a softie. The way he proposed was so romantic." As they rang in 2009, Chmerkovskiy presented Smirnoff with a three-karat Harry Winston platinum and diamond engagement ring tucked inside of a Louis Vuitton bag. The pros confess that while they've known each other for years as competitive ballroom dancers, it was only four months ago that they decided to explore a romantic relationship. . .

• 'For John Travolta, protecting Jett was everything. He had to be in control. That's why he flew his own plane' says biographer  The Daily Mail- UK, By Douglas Thompson, January 3, 2009
  In the 30 years that I’ve known John Travolta, there was one subject that was always taboo and that was his son, Jett. So when I heard the news that Jett had died while on holiday in the Bahamas, I couldn’t even begin to imagine the hurt and the pain John must be feeling. Because, despite the fact that he is one of the world’s most successful film stars, John was also a father, and a man who would do anything to protect his family. It was an instinct which became even more important to the actor after Jett was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, an illness that would burden him with a troubling predisposition to seizures and which ultimately led to his death. For John, the loss will be devastating. I first met the actor – or Johnny as he is known to family and friends – in 1978 on the set of Grease. Even though he was feted the world over, he was the most down-to-earth person on set. At the time, I was an author and journalist living in Hollywood and would go on to interview John more than 15 times over the course of the next three decades. While I wouldn’t call us best friends – John has always been a private, enigmatic character – we always got on well; as far as I’m aware he never made any attempt to stop my biography, Fever: The Biography Of John Travolta. It was during our conversations for the book that I realised just how much fatherhood meant to John. He himself had come from a very close family. The youngest of six children, he was raised in New York by his Italian father Sam, a tyre salesman, and his Irish-English mother Helen, a high school drama teacher whom he adored. John met the actress Kelly Preston on the set of The Experts in 1989 and they married two years later. Jett was born the following year, on April 13, 1992. He was delivered in a birthing method advocated by the Scientologist founder, Ron Hubbard, decreeing virtual silence because, as John explained, ‘verbal statements are recorded in the mind of the baby...later that could cause fears, neuroses or even psychosomatic illnesses’. . . . . Now, I understand, they will set up a charitable organisation in Jett’s memory which will continue their crusade and is typical of John’s need to act in a crisis. In private, he and Kelly were always very practical and positive about Jett’s health. They put him on a detoxification programme and encouraged his love of the outdoors, of sports, swimming, cycling and hiking. In public, John clearly adored his son and spoke of him in glowing terms but he was always wary of delving too deeply into the details of his illness. It was simply too painful a subject. Even when people saw Jett and it was obvious something was wrong, John refused to talk about it. In fact, the only time John made any public comment was when it was suggested that his son was autistic, an allegation he strongly denied and which hurt him deeply. . .

RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  An emotional goodbye for Jett Travolta: Famous names among mourners as well-wishers gather at gate  Ocala.com, By Violanti, January 9, 2009  (Update)


RELATED VIDEO:  The Scoop on church and Travoltas  MSNBC.com, January 6, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  John Travolta 'frantically tried to revive teenage son after hearing nanny's screams'  The Daily Mail- UK, January 4, 2009


RELATED ARTICLE:  Kawasaki Disease Wikipedia.com

RELATED ARTICLE:  Scientologists clear up Travolta misconceptions   MSNBC.com, By By Courtney Hazlett, January 6, 2009
Bahamian officials determined it was a seizure that caused Jett Travolta’s sudden death, but there have been a number of outspoken critics of Scientology claiming that the church’s practices might have played a part in how the Travolta family cared for their son. In response to the claim that the family might not have sought appropriate, conventional medical treatment for Jett’s seizures, Tommy Davis from Scientology International says that simply isn’t allowed under Scientology practices. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Jett Travolta's Death Caused by 'Seizure Disorder'  People magazine, January 05, 2009
A source close the family of John Travolta and Kelly Preston tells PEOPLE that the autopsy on their 16-year-old son Jett revealed his death was caused by a "seizure disorder." On Monday, doctors in the Bahamas conducted an autopsy on Jett, though no official results have been disclosed. Because there was no foul play, the body was released immediately to the Travolta family. Jett was pronounced dead by an emergency room doctor at 12:14 pm on Jan. 2.


RELATED ARTICLE:  Travolta Pressed On Teen Son  New York Post- Page Six, June 1, 2007
John Travolta, 53, and his wife, Kelly Preston, 44, just announced they want to try for their third child - even while they fall under increasing pressure to publicly acknowledge the disability of their son, Jett. Travolta has either pretended there is nothing wrong with Jett, 15, or claimed his condition is Kawasaki syndrome, a disease characterized by high fever, skin rash and swelling of the lymph nodes. But parents of autistic children say that Travolta should join Sylvester Stallone, Doug Flutie, Jenny McCarthy and Toni Braxton, who all have autistic kids, in raising awareness and research funds to cure the disease. One magazine editor who has interviewed Travolta more than once says that the star's son is disabled - and yet he continues to behave as if nothing is wrong. "Travolta sits there in interviews talking about how Jett loves to read or play sports, but it is clear that the boy can barely do either," the editor said. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  TRAVOLTA FAMILY TRAVESTY: Wild Hogs Star Gives own Autistic Son the Silent Treatment   Hollywood Interrupted, By Mark Ebner, May 10, 2007
Hollywood's latest global warming expert John Travolta recently sent a chill through the Florida neighborhood where he parks his beloved private jets. Tim and Patricia Kenny, proud parents of a 4 year-old autistic girl, believe that it might be time for Child Protective Services to look into John Travolta and wife Kelly's negligence in acknowledging their son Jett's reported autism. . . . . "Scientology is keeping him from acknowledging his son's autism. They see it as a weakness. That's what the space aliens are telling him I guess.". . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Travolta son's diagnosis: Science vs. Scientology?   Free Republic- NY Daily News, By Rush and Malloy, April 12, 2006

• Coroner: Dr. Dre's Son Died From Overdose of Heroin and Morphine  People magazine, By Ken Lee, January 02, 2009
  Dr. Dre's son, Andre Young Jr., died from an overdose of heroin and morphine, the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner confirmed to PEOPLE on Friday. . . .Young, 20, was found unresponsive by his mother, Jenita Porter, 40, in their Woodland Hills, Calif., home on the morning of Aug. 23. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Greg Laurie's Tragic Loss: Where, O Death, is your sting?  The Real Proposal magazine, July 28, 2008
  Inconceivable as it might be to even contemplate, how exactly does one survive the death of one's child? Indeed, how does one survive when life dictates the loss of several children to unrelated causes?. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  The Journey Through Sorrow: When a Child Dies-- Surviving the death of dreams.  BeliefNet, By Carol Staudacher
  How do you survive the death of your child? As a parent, you're supposed to be the provider, the nurturer, the protector, the mentor, the guide. You invest love and hope and certain beliefs in your son or daughter. But most of all, you do not outlive your child. When tragedy strikes and you do bury a child, you're faced with reconstructing a life that has been suddenly robbed of its parental responsibilities and joys. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Surviving Loss: Living After the Death of a Child   Adrr.com, By Stephen R. Marsh
  Stephen R. Marsh and Winifred L. Marsh (Steve & Win Marsh to their friends) were married on January 26, 1985 in the Oakland Temple. They are the parents of five girls, Jessica, Heather, Courtney, Robin, and Rachel, 3 of whom have died in early childhood. . . . . .The  death of a child is a terrible loss that destroys  many families. Often  the fate of a family or some  of  its members  hangs  by  a thread.  By loving and understanding, by the  pure knowledge of God, without hypocrisy and without guile, families can be supported in their pain and aided on the path to healing. It is my hope that this essay will help those who have  lost children  and those who are close to them. . .
  
  
  RELATED ARTICLE:  Surviving the Death of a Child  Menninger Clinic, By Donna Lamb, LSCSW
  Numerous secondary losses accompany the death of a child, including loss of the family as it existed prior to the death. Surviving children lose the emotional, and perhaps physical, availability of their parents, grandparents “lose” their children to parental grief and spouses lose the support of each other–each whose emotional plate is so full that they cannot be there for the other. The impact of a child’s death on a marital relationship cannot be underestimated. Neither parent will be the same person as they were before the death. . .
  
  
  

• Woman on a Mission to Marry in 52 Weeks
  Neenah Pickett Launches Web Site to Help Her Find a Husband in a Year  ABC News- Good Morning America, By Jonann Brady, January 2, 2009
  Lots of people made New Year's resolutions this week, but Neenah Pickett is really a woman on a mission -- a mission to find a husband in 2009. Pickett, a 42-year-old media consultant from New Jersey, launched a Web site Thursday called www.52weeks2findhim.com to help her meet her future mate by next New Year's Eve. It's online dating to the extreme, but Pickett thinks it's so simple, it just might work. A man can just go on her site and fill out a profile. "I think what happens a lot is men will go to the dating Web sites and they just sort of have to plow through hundreds of different profiles," Pickett said today on "Good Morning America." "The goal was try to make it easier for men and say, 'Here's this Web site where you can easily go and learn about me and watch the videos.' It's not just my picture and you meet me and I look different from my picture. I have videos up there. I have friends talking about me." Pickett said like many women who work in New York City, she was extremely focused on her career in her 20s and 30s and didn't spend time looking for Mr. Right. Now after one failed engagement and around 100 fruitless Internet dates, she's decided to get more proactive. Pickett acknowledged that her efforts might be perceived as desperate. . .

RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  Woman Hopes Site Will Bring Her a Husband  NBC New York, January 1, 2009

RELATED PRESS RELEASE:  At age 42, Media consultant Neenah Pickett resolves to find a husband in 2009 by launching an interactive online community of suitors and supporters.  PerfectPitchPR.com, December 16, 2008
For most singles, the New Year brings new promises and pledges related to dating, romance, and, in some cases, marriage. Whether it’s conquering fear of rejection, being more open-minded or making an effort to be more social, in 2009, thousands of men and women will shed last year’s excuses and make whole-hearted attempts to find their soulmates. Neenah Pickett, a 42-year-old media consultant, is taking her New Years resolution to find love to the World Wide Web with an innovative and unique strategy that she has devised with the help of friends and family. On January 1, Pickett will launch 52Weeks2FindHim.com, a unique social experiment incorporating social networking and viral marketing that just may end with her at the altar. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Single Gal Seeks Date in Super Bowl Ad: Amy Borkowsky Hopes to Find a Mate by Promoting Herself During the Big Game  ABC News, By Emily Friedman, October 24, 2008
Amy Borkowsky needs a date -- and badly. So badly, in fact, that the native New Yorker is trying to raise $3 million through donations on her Web site, superbowlsinglegirl.com, to fund a 30-second commercial that she hopes will air during the Super Bowl Feb. 1.


RELATED ARTICLE:   The Disastrous Effects of Match.com and What Women Can Do About It  Washington Post, January 28, 2007
(NOTE: This essay was written by a woman interviewed by The Washington Post whose mother helps her find dates on Match.com)
Jennifer Aniston. Christie Brinkley. Sheryl Crow. Teri Hatcher. Either dumped or cheated on in a most humiliating and public way. Every woman in the dating world has thought, "If it can happen to her, it can happen to me." While he's snoring away, we think quietly at night about what we can do to make sure it doesn't happen to us. We respond by trying to make our stomachs flatter, our boobs bigger, our faces prettier, and our clothes tighter and more revealing. We do everything possible to please our man. You prefer French cooking? Mais oui, mon cher! You want my hair long? No problem, I'll get a hair extension. Spending part of your vacation with buddies? Go have a good time. You don't want to be with my family on Christmas? I'll see you on New Year's Eve. Is that OK or would you prefer some other time? Do you like my mani-pedi'd, spray on tanned, liposuctioned, Pilates body? Can't commit? Oh, that's right. You're just not that into me. Or her. Or her. Or her. What the hell has happened? Three words. Match dot com. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  A Revolution Without a Man to Love  Townhall.com, By Suzanne Fields, December 8, 2005
Women have come a long way from merely challenging "The Feminine Mystique," which Betty Friedan identified as a little voice within that cried: "I want something more than my husband and my children and my home." More is a relative term, of course, and sometimes more is less, and a house is not a home. The cruelest irony of the revolution that changed the relationships of the sexes is the shortage of eligible men. It's not that there are fewer men statistically, but there are fewer desirable men statistically. A headline in The Washington Post complains: "Disappearing Act: Where Have the Men Gone? No Place Good.". . . 


RELATED ARTICLE:  The Marrying Kind: Which Men Marry and Why The National Marriage Project- The State of Our Unions 2004,  By Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe
Today’s best-selling novels, movies, television shows and self-help books are obsessed with the thirty-something single man and his romantic pursuits. But today’s bachelor hero is different from romantic heroes of the past. The old heroes were the courting and marrying kind. The new heroes are the fleeing and non-marrying kind. Instead of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, we now have Mr. Big and the Big Lebowsky. Even in ABC’s hit reality show The Bachelor, where the mission is marriage, four out of the five bachelors have broken up with the woman they picked as their future bride. . . . . In the past, for most young heterosexual adults, the marriage market and the partner market were virtually identical. Today, that is no longer the case. The marriage market is only part of a larger and more diverse partner market. Not every young male who is actively seeking a partner is searching for a wife. Some are looking for a sex partner. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Ten Important Research Findings on Marriage and Choosing A Marriage Partner: Helpful Facts for Young Adults  The National Marriage Project- Rutgers University, By David Popenoe and Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, November 2004
 

• A Hollywood Elusive   Vanity Fair, By Leslie Bennetts February 2009 Issue
  With all Cate Blanchett has on her plate—three young boys, a three-stage theater, and a global acting career—she might be forgiven the occasional emotional outburst or diva-like moment. Instead, the author encounters a Hollywood anomaly: a star who doesn’t do drama offscreen, whose only hint of domestic conflict is her husband’s threat to divorce her if she gets cosmetic surgery, and whose latest role, as Brad Pitt’s soulmate in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, has her focused on aging and death. . . . .the portrait of Blanchett that emerges from several hours of conversation seems to be sketched in invisible ink; it starts to fade as soon as she’s gone, and it quickly disappears from view. As compelling as she is on-screen, in real life she can be restrained and self-effacing to the point of blandness. It turns out that her most memorable qualities define themselves by their absence, because so much of what you might expect isn’t there. No diva-esque drama; none of the narcissistic self-centeredness that so many actors exude like a noxious perfume. No attitude; no histrionics. No vapid Im-a-star-so-I-don’t-have-to-know-what’s-going-on-in-the-world empty-headedness; she’s eager to discuss her commitment to greening the Sydney Theatre Company, where she and her husband are the artistic directors. But there are no flagrant insecurities or neuroses on display, no gut-wrenching excavations of past trauma, heartbreak, or injustice. No bizarre lapses, no emotional outbursts, no embarrassing missteps. . . . . . Blanchett has been married for 11 years to Andrew Upton, an Australian playwright, screenwriter, and director, but their relationship provides quite a contrast with the international dramas generated by Pitt and Angelina Jolie. With the Uptons, there are no scandals, no muss and fuss. So far, there have been no harrowing replays of A Star Is Born. Whatever dark dramas might lurk behind closed doors, they haven’t been splashed all over the tabloids. . . . She describes her commitment to Upton as a similarly irresistible force. . .

RELATED ARTICLE:  Cate Blanchett's Real-Life Love Story  People magazine, December 29, 2008

• Palin Says Daughter, Fiance Not Dropouts  AOL News- AP, January 1, 2009
  -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says her future son-in-law is not a high school dropout as the press is reporting. The former Republican vice presidential candidate also issued a statement about the birth of her first grandchild. Palin told The Associated Press on Wednesday that 18-year-old Levi Johnston is enrolled in high school through a correspondence program. Palin said some media outlets also are erroneously reporting that her 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, is a high school dropout. The governor said her daughter is enrolled in regular high school and has taken correspondence courses. . . .  . Bristol Palin and Johnston are the parents of Sarah Palin's first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, who was born Saturday.  Palin's office initially would not comment on the birth of the couple's baby, but on Wednesday the governor broke the silence. "We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby," Palin said in a statement. "The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child.". . . In the same statement, Bristol Palin said she "obviously discourages" teen pregnancy and understands previous plans have been forever changed. "Teenagers need to prevent pregnancy to begin with — this isn't ideal," the teenager said. "But I'm fortunate to have a supportive family which is dealing with this together. Tripp is so perfectly precious; we love him with all our hearts. I can't imagine life without him now." Johnston has said he and Bristol plan to marry.

RELATED VIDEO:  Scoop: Baby pic payday for Bristol?  MSNBC.com, December 30, 2008
Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston could fetch as much as $300,000 for photos of their new son, Tripp.


RELATED VIDEO:  Palin's Daughter Gives Birth to Son Named Tripp  YouTube.com- AP, December 29, 2008

RELATED ARTICLE:  Levi Johnston quits oil field job: PUBLIC SCRUTINY: Rules say he needs diploma for apprenticeship.  Anchorage Daily News, By Wesley Loy, January 5, 2009
Levi Johnston, the boyfriend of Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol, has quit his North Slope oil field job over questions about his eligibility to work in an electrical apprenticeship program, Johnston's father said Monday. . . . . Johnston said his son always struggled with school and never got his diploma. When Levi realized last year that he and the governor's daughter Bristol were going to be parents -- Bristol gave birth to a baby boy on Dec. 27 -- Keith Johnston said he counseled his son to start work on a GED and to apply for jobs. Levi is mechanically inclined and since age 8 has tagged along with his dad on house-building and wiring jobs, Keith Johnston said. . .


RELATED ARTICLE & VIDEO:  Bristol Palin could earn $300,000 for baby pics  MSNBC.com- The Scoop, By Courtney Hazlett, December 30, 2008
When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin confirmed that her teenage daughter, Bristol, and boyfriend Levi Johnston were expecting a baby, the celebrity weeklies knew that the first photos of the Palin-Johnston baby would incite a bidding war. Baby Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born Dec. 28, proved those editors right. According to one source, bidding for the baby photos began at $100,000. People won out in the end, but In Touch was the only other weekly to make serious bids, according to several sources involved in the process. The price didn't soar immediately, according to the sources, because Sarah Palin stories just didn’t sell all that well for the weeklies on newsstands. “Sarah was on the cover of People, Us Weekly, and OK! the same week, and really only People saw a bump in sales," says a source. The drug-related arrest of Johnston's mother, however, caused the price tag for the photos to go up. . .


RELATED ARTICLE:  Jamie Lynn Spears makes motherhood look glamorous... but what are the real costs?  WalletPop, By Barbara Bartlein, August 11, 2008
Jamie Lynn Spears (sister of Britney) is on the cover of the latest edition of OK! Magazine holding her newborn daughter, Maddie. Looking beautiful and rested, she is quoted as saying "Being a mom is the best feeling in the world." A teenage icon, Jamie Lynn is the star of Nickelodeon's "Zoe 101," and idolized by millions of young girls. Pregnant at 16 and a mother by age 17, Jamie Lynn is described in the article as living in "domestic bliss." Great message for the kids. Maybe it works this way for wealthy celebrities, but for most teens the happily ever after ending doesn't happen. . . 

RELATED ARTICLE:  The Ignorant Fool's Errand: How We're Encouraging the High School Dropouts  Townhall.com, By Suzanne Fields, April 10, 2008
It's a lot later than we think. We're raising an illiterate and uneducated generation, and there's more to come. On April 1, America's Promise Alliance released a detailed study revealing that fewer than half of the teenagers in 17 of the largest U.S. cities drop out of high school before they graduate -- more than 1.2 million of them. The cost of this is enormous: billions of dollars in lost productivity for expensive social services and (because ignorance begets crime) to build more prisons. This report sounded like an April Fool's joke on the growing number of fools, meaning all of us. The high school dropout resembles the fool depicted on Tarot cards -- standing at the edge of a precipice, with no idea how far he'll fall, when fall he will. It's no coincidence that the number symbol for the fool is a zero. A hundred times zero is still zero. . .

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