Hip Hip Hurray!

Pois é meus amiguinhos: esta menina vem visitar-nos a 8 e 9 de novembro no Centro Cultural Vila Flor em Guimaraes e no Centro Olga Cadaval em Sintra, respectivamente. O preço dos bilhetes ainda nao é conhecido :)

http://www.joanaspolicewoman.com/
http://www.myspace.com/joanaspolicewoman

A new rock band called “Muk” is capturing the hearts of Cambodians everywhere, and experiencing unexpected fame. What makes this unique, is that each member of the musical group are four average, white Mormon boys from Utah and New Jersey. It is the story "behind the band", however, which is most unexpected, rewarding and inspiring.

Between 2003-2004 the lives of nineteen-year-old Trevor Wright, A. Todd Smith, Jordan Augustine and Joseph Peterson would be changed forever when each received a letter from headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints signed by then-president Gordon B. Hinckley extending a call to voluntary service at their own expense for two years in the growing Cambodia, Phnom Penh Latter-day Saint Mission, organized in 1994. None of them knew each other yet, nor what their futures held.

Each man accepted this call to serve with excitement and a bit of trepidation. They would be leaving their family, friends and schooling behind and traveling to the other side of the globe to help a developing nation of over 14 million people. Their destination would be a country which has suffered great hardship, brutal conflict, and devastating poverty.

For many, Cambodia still invokes images of the Khmer Rouge holocaust which happened between 1975-79, vividly depicted in the movie The Killing Fields. At least 1.7 million Cambodians lost their lives directly or indirectly at the hands of this genocidal regime. Many were taken out of their villages and murdered in fields or forests, sometimes after being made to dig their own graves. Even today, human remains are being unearthed in the fields of Cambodia.

Perhaps they were a bit overwhelmed with the task, but eager to befriend, serve, and help. Motivated by their deep religious belief and Christian values, the missionaries would perform humanitarian serviceand share their message of hope and peace. After two years of service, each of these young men were fluent in the Khmer language, and made a tremendous difference in the lives of the Cambodian people. They also found that Cambodia had made an equally tremendous difference in their own lives.

"After living in Cambodia from 2004-2006 we came to learn about, understand, and love the people there”

For most young Latter-day Saints, after completing a term of missionary service they return to their homes and respective countries and resume ‘life as usual’. Pursuit of education, employment, marriage and family life are par for the course. Their mission experiences become treasured yet distant memories. And although some may return to visit their areas of service, for most that chapter of their life story remains closed.

However, for Smith, Wright, Augustine and Peterson, this would only be the beginning of their Cambodian experience and service. It would not be long before their paths would lead them back together. All men returned to the USA and began their formal college education. Smith, Wright and Augustine each excel in the art of photography and film, and within two years were accepted to Brigham Young University’s Media Arts program. Peterson was already at BYU pursuing a degree in Anthropology.

Reunited, these young men enjoyed their camaraderie, shared interests and second language. They talked often about returning to their mission field, and in 2007 they went as humanitarian volunteers with the CCF (Cambodian Children’s Fund).

It was during this experience that they met the vibrant children who had been rescued from terrible poverty, and they witnessed first hand the waste pickers who lived in the largest garbage dump outside Phnom Penh.

With no other skills to help them make a living in the city, hundreds of families live in and around a dump outside of Cambodia's capital city, called “Steung Mian Chey” (which ironically means “River of Victory”).

In summer of 2007 the team also met former head of Sony International, Scott Neeson.

A truly remarkable man, Mr. Neeson forsook his extremely wealthy and comfortable Western lifestyle after touring Southern Asia, and used his own resources to establish the CCF to begin making a difference one child at a time. It did not take long before Todd, Trevor, and Jordan were inspired to team together and form the Steung Mian Chey Documentary project.

“We spent our days teaching the children at the organization and surveying and documenting the families at the dump. Despite our initial preconceptions, the people were not as harsh as their surroundings, but rather warm, funny, and inviting. Their resilience changed our entire outlook on life and as a result, we wanted to share them with the world”.


During the 2007-08 school year the team not only had to work hard on their demanding schoolwork, but also were diligently seeking monetary backing in order to return to Cambodia for the summer of 2008 to complete the filming for the documentary. Despite many setbacks, they finally succeeded in securing enough funds to return in June of this year. Preparations began in earnest, and Director/Producer Trevor Wright carefully mapped out each moment of their filming schedule in advance, to ensure success. However, there is an old truism which says "The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Go Oft Astray..." The adventure was just getting started for this ambitious troupe!...

READ NEXT: Part 2: The Band Muk; Talented American Mormons Helping Cambodia

I cant not even believe how many local MMA events have been going on.   I can barely keep up.  Apparently another CCF event slipped through the cracks again. Here is a list of the CCF fights for the rest of the year.

The "3 interventions in Cardiogenic Pulmonary oedema trial (3CPO)" trail was a multicentre, open, prospective randomised trial. 1069 patients were randomised over 4 years in 23 different centres in the UK. 3 treatment arms, all targeted to achieve sats >92%. 1: Oxygen, 2: CPAP 5-15cmH20 and 3: BiPAP 8-20/4-10.

Previous trials have suggested a reduction in intubation rates and a mortality benefit for CPAP or NIV, but some concerns over an increased MI rate with NIV.

Primary end point were 7 day mortality, secondary end points included intubation rates, 30 day mortality, dyspnoea and various physiological end points. The trial was 80% powered to detect a 6% mortality difference with 1200 patients (so almost there).

Methodology encouragingly reflected usual UK practise in that NIV/CPAP therapy was considered only for severe pulmonary oedema requiring evidence of type II respiratory failure. The managed to recruit approx 60% of eligible patients, which may reflect some fairly lax consent policies.

Results - no significant difference in primary end points (mortality), minor significant difference in relief of respiratory distress and physiological end points.

Some comments on the trial

1. The intervention had to be implemented for a minimum of only 2 hours, which may be too short for a mortality benefit to be manifest, and presumably assumes that ventilatory therapy works only by buying time for pharmacological therapy to bite. Perhaps effects mediated by changing respiratory and myocardial workloads rather than just gas exchange would take longer?
2. Patients were mostly elderly (79+-9) and female (55%), and only 20% of patients had evidence of MI, the majority having myocardial ischemia. Whilst probably representing our population, I think care should be used when applying the results to younger, male patients with definite MI.
3. There was substantial cross over between arms, with approx 15% of patients changing groups. The statistics were analysed correctly on an intention to treat basis, but this may be enough to mask a true positive effect?
4. Only 8 patients were intubated during the trial. No treatment can reduce an intubation rate that is essentially zero in this patient population! The authors point out their mortality rate was high at 9.8% vs. 6.5% in European databases, and 4% in the ADHERE database. The authors attribute this to an older, female study population but we must consider the possibility that survival may be greater where invasive ventilation is employed more readily (as in previous positive trials where intubation rates were higher). I am not suggesting that we fill our ICUs with 80yr olds with critically poor ventricles, but there may be a place for short periods of ventilation in selected patients with potential for myocardial recovery. And it may be that NIPPV exerts the majority of its survival benefit in the patient sub-groups not admitted to UK ICUs.
5. The authors suggest that NIV/CPAP still has a place as an adjuvant to pharmacology and to relive respiratory distress. I think the above comments raise enough doubt in my mind for NIPPV to keep its place in the armoury for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema for the time being, but I'll admit that my own anecdotal experience of NIV in this setting might be swaying my opinion! Open to the floor.......

Setelah les cours a CCF fini, saya berencana ke Glodok untuk cek-cek blockbuster terbaru. He he he.. Karena males berkendaraan pribadi maka saya naik busway saja. Dari Salemba ke Senen. Di Senen nunggunya lama banget untuk tujuan Harmonie. Antrinya udah kayak kadal. Sampe di Harmonie dengan pede lari-lari pindah bus yang ternyata jurusannya ke Kalideres.... Gw pikir ke KOTA. Tapi akhirnya saya jadi tau dimana letak ROXY itu. Ha ha ha, ternyata Jakarta cuma segede udel.

Ditengah jalan antara Harmonie dan Citraland, saya berpikir. If I bought DVDs from Glodok, I only got 90 minutes pleasure and excitement. So probably I am gonna bought around 2-3 DVDs that will cost me approx. Rp.18.000, what IF I bought la dictionaire de Francais? Bukankah lebih bermanfaat. Jadi rencana ke Glodok dibatalkan dan saya kembali ke Salemba. Ha ha ha.. capek di jalan doang..

Saya turun di Salemba et kembali ke CCF pour ambil kendaraan lalu menuju la libraries de Gramedia. Disana saya nyari-nyari la dictionaires de Francais yang mirip punya C'est Arif. Harganya 70.000. Mais, tidak ada. Akhirnya saya beli yang di referensikan oleh madamoiselle Eka saja, it cost me 45000. DAN gile gw nemu buku The History of Java karya Raffles yang versi Indonesianya! Jadi di translate gitu deh.. Jadi tebel sekali. Harganya 180.000. Bukunya berisi catatan sejarah Pulau Jawa ketika Inggris sempat mengambil alih Jawa di pertengahan 1800-an. Katanya sih, sejarah Indonesia akan berbeda kalau Inggris terus berada di Indonesia. LOH KOK DIJAJAH BANGGA??? ANEH! he he he... Tapi, Next month lah ya.. Di Gramedia saya nemu juga sebuah buku motivasi yang intinya STOP WHINING! Bukunya berisi tulisan yang agak rude dan tidak mehe-mehe tentang kenyataan hidup. Salah satu babnya berkata kalau banyak ngeluh ya hidup lo selesai! Persoalan gak bakalan selesai, hanya makin lama saja. Ah, anyway, I didn't bought it, because i read it throughly down there. And it is not really collectible items anyway..

Sometimes, we just don't realize how wonderful days goes by ..

Hopes and Cures spokes to John Risner, President of The Children's Tumor Foundation about the group’s work, in particular about funding for research.  CTF is a non-profit 501(c) (3) medical foundation, dedicated to improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by the neurofibromatosis (NF).

ABOUT NF

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is the term for three distinct genetic disorders, NF1, NF2 and Schwannomatosis.   The most common form, NF1 (1-3,000 births), has a wide range of severity, ranging from café au lait spots to learning disabilities, bone abnormalities, and brain and spinal tumors.  NF2 (1-25,000 births) is characterized by multiple brain and spinal tumors, commonly causing deafness, severe balance problems, decreased mobility and vision loss.  Schwannomatosis (1-40,000 births) causes nerve tumors associated with chronic pain.   NF affects both sexes and all races and ethnic groups equally.  NF is more prevalent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined. 

Ed. Note: The University of Utah describes possible symptoms of NF1

The Children’s Tumor Foundation focuses on four areas:

1) Research.  We fund, lobby for, and promote collaboration to increase research.  We are the largest non-government funder for this type of research.  We provide very early funding, what we call phase 0.5, and develop grant mechanisms to fill gaps in the research landscape where small amounts can have a large impact.  Projects we support in early stages often count on SBIR funding for phase 1 and 2 research.  

2) Public education.  We do a lot of advocacy work as well as family-oriented events to raise awareness of this illness.  Our website is a place that brings together patients, family members and scientists in a meaningful way. 

3) Clinical centers.   In an effort to increase the clinical centers for NF patients, CTF has followed the model developed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  We have developed a grant program to fund clinic coordinators in hospitals so that they can provide increased patient support, counseling and better track patient data.  Data is a key asset for clinical trials, and this step is important to enhance the appeal of NF to pharmaceutical companies to encourage more trials.  In addition, it provides the hospitals with assistance in supporting their physicians and coordinating the multidisciplinary needs of the NF community. 

4) Patient support.  The website itself is a great tool to help patients and parents of patients connect with each other, through chat rooms and discussion boards.  While the work done is focused nationally, it is not uncommon for international patients to also use the discussion board.  Also our Chapters and Affiliates nationwide provide a wealth of patient support group meetings and local services.

Drug Discovery Initiative

Currently there is no effective drug treatment for NF.  Because of this, we provide seed grants to encourage early-stage research for preclinical testing.  We launched this program in response to declining federal funding of research over the past few years.   The program has a simple 2-page application and a quick (3 month) turnaround.  These grants aren’t large (11-55k), but they can help get research for a treatment off the ground. 

As a requirement of funding, researchers post their models on our website.  It’s like Craigslist for research.  By posting the research to a public area, researchers are able to find each other easily and work can be a collaborative effort.  It’s a way to open up the drug pipeline.  This model is also similar to what other foundations have adopted, but on a smaller scale and at an earlier stage in the research.  One of the projects we funded last year at Ohio State was to test their small molecule compound, OSU03012 in NF mouse models.  Earlier this year, Arno Therapeutics, a biotech startup, licensed the compound from Ohio State.   This is the first one licensed, but we hope to see more. Because this program focuses on early stage research, we have not funded Phase I or II trials; we fund before SBIR can.   However, a lot of the work that we fund does end up being accomplished at the biotech level.  

The Children’s Tumor Foundation is very supportive of the House-passed SBIR bill.  We believe that the previous changes – to disallow VC-backed firms from competing for this Federal funding cut out the heart of the program.  Restoring funding for VC-backed firms makes sense, and will encourage continued investment in drug discovery and development.

The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation was founded in 1978 by Allan E. Rubenstein, M.D., Lynne Courtemanche Shapirio R.N., and Joel Hirschtritt, Esq.  In January 2005, the Foundation changed its name to the Children's Tumor Foundation. The Foundation has a membership of over 50,000 constituents in all 50 of the United States, Washington, D.C., and 55 other countries.

Pastor Vince Burke spoke and he talked about killing our own giants. He started with the story of how a mere David overcame the monster Goliath with just a slingshot and a smooth pebble -- and of course his faith in God. I learned that David picked five pebbles for this battle -- but I am not sure if he was able to use all five or if he hit the spot with his first. Then Pastor Vince enumerated the following "stones" that we can use to kill our own "giants" -- yes I was really attentive:

1. For the giant "GUILT", have a stone that says "You are clean."
2. For the giant "COMPROMISE", have a stone that says "Seek Him first."
3. For the giant "CONFUSION", have a stone that says "Good and hard." The Christian life is both unbelievably good and it sure is unbelievably hard.
4. For the giant "FAILURE", have a stone that says "Don't look back." You can't unscramble the eggs -- so have breakfast!
5. For the giant "DISCOURAGEMENT", have a stone that says "Don't give up."

Before the fourth stone, the pastor introduced this lady and she sang (I am not sure if I got the title right) "He Will Carry Me" on the piano. She was great.

The service ended with the remembrance of the last supper then with the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. I am familiar with the song because I have downloaded their album that has this song before.

Technorati Tags: david, goliath, five stones, confusion, compromise, discouragement, failure, guilt, giants

É o Cadastro de Emitentes de Cheques sem Fundos e tem a função apenas gerencial, ficando a critério de cada banco a abertura, a manutenção ou o encerramento de contas de depósito à vista cujo titular nele figure, ressalvando o direito de o Banco Central determinar o encerramento de conta, se comprovado que o seu titular venha adotando práticas irregulares no uso do cheque. Na hipótese de contas de depósitos tituladas por repartições federais, estaduais e municipais, somente devem ser incluídos no Cadastro de Emitentes de Cheques sem Fundos os nomes dos respectivos responsáveis pela emissão dos cheques sem fundos (procuradores, diretores, coletores, prefeitos)

Como é feita a inclusão no CCF ?

Geram a inclusão do correntista no CCF:

• O mesmo cheque devolvido duas vezes sem previsão de fundos
• Conta encerrada
• Prática espúria. Atos ilegais, como adulterações, falsificações e outros atos, com evidência de ilegalidade.

É facultada, ao banco, a manutenção da conta corrente do incluído no CCF, mas o talonário de cheques deverá ser confiscado. A inclusão da pessoa jurídica no CCF não gera a impossibilidade de diretores de empresa terem conta corrente em nome próprio. Nem a inclusão dos nomes dos diretores, como pessoas físicas, impede que a pessoa jurídica continue a ter sua conta e movimentá-la.

Como é feita a exclusão do CCF ?

Excluem o corretista do CCF:

• Automaticamente, decorridos 5 (cinco) anos da última ocorrência da inclusão.
• Por determinação do Banco Central.
• A pedido do correntista. O pedido do correntista deverá ser por escrito e ter anexado(s), o(s) cheque(s) que motivou(aram) a(s) ocorrência(s) de inclusão.

Em caso de não mais existência dos cheques, o correntista deve apresentar, ao banco que o incluiu, uma declaração do respectivo favorecido do cheque, onde este confirma que o cheque foi-lhe pago. Deve, também, apresentar uma Certidão Negativa do Cartório de Protesto de Títulos e Documentos.

Como é feita a inclusão no CCF para Conta-Conjunta ?

A inclusão de correntistas de contas conjuntas deve ficar restrita ao nome e ao número de inscrição no Cadastro da Pessoa Física (CPF) do titular emitente do cheque. Na hipótese de contas tituladas por pessoas jurídicas, de direito público ou privado, deve ser incluído no CCF o nome e o número de inscrição do CNPJ do titular da conta contra a qual se verificou a emissão do cheque sem fundo.

I found this little gem over at the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF):

Federal Limits On Pants Sizes?

Over the years, a cabal of American diet dictators has proposed a litany of crazy proposals to tax, legislate, and litigate away our extra pounds. Now foreign food cops have topped them all by implementing an entirely new weight regulation: government-imposed limits on waist size. Two months ago, Japan passed a law requiring companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of residents between the ages of 40 and 74. If the midriffs of those 56 million citizens don’t fall below the state-established limit (33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women), they’ll be labeled “at risk” and subject to a host of mandatory interventions.

U.S. News & World Report notes that the new laws have “given the government and employers, long dominant forces in Japanese workers’ lives, places at the dinner table in ordinary Japanese homes." And Japan's government is not the only one trying to wedge itself in between people and their food. Late last year, the British Parliament proposed constructing “fit towns” to fight obesity by regularly hosting weigh-ins to track children’s weight, and shipping overweight kids off to government-sponsored fat camps.

Copyright © 1997-2008 Center for Consumer Freedom.

Read the FULL STORY here.

More disgusting about this particular piece of "it's really none of their damned business" bullying is this from the USA News & World Report article:

Japan Cracks Down on Waistlines

A rise in diabetes and other ailments is blamed on a growing appetite for sweets

By Rena Singer

Posted June 4, 2008

TOKYO—Sunstar Inc., makers of GUM and Butler brand oral hygiene products, will be sending select employees to a most unusual three-day company retreat this year. The goal isn't high productivity, product development, or team building but instead slim waistlines. Sunstar's fat farm is part of a broad range of programs instituted by companies and the government here as Japan begins its battle with the bulge.

~snip~

One regulation, effective in April, requires all citizens over the age of 40 to have their waists measured every year. If a man's waist is more than 33.5 inches or a woman's more than 35.5 inches, they are considered at risk and referred for counseling and close monitoring. The government is also requiring companies to slim down their workers or face higher payments into the national insurance program.

~snip~

Companies across the country have responded with a variety of initiatives. Sunstar has its boot camp, which includes lectures on diet, exercise, and even Zen meditation. Family members of employees over 40 whose love handles won't budge will also be asked to attend the camp. The company also offers overweight workers free delivery of healthful, traditionally Japanese food like soybeans and brown rice.

Computer, mobile phone, and appliance maker NEC Corp. requires all of its employees in its Japanese offices to undergo yearly checks from the time they turn 30, a full decade earlier than the government regulations require. And all employees must attend lifestyle instruction courses. Any employee who shows "poor results" (think beer belly) will receive individual follow-up attention, says Susumu Makihara, general manager of human resources for the global giant's Japan operations.

~snip~

Other companies have made healthful eating less of a recommendation and more of a job requirement.

~snip~

It is now a civic duty to stay fit, says Naoko Takase, assistant manager of public relations for Sunstar.

Copyright © 2008 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. All rights reserved.

Read the FULL STORY here.

That last sentence about staying fit being a civic duty is downright scary and I suggest all these people go back and re-read their history, in particular the period of Hitler and Nazi Germany, where health and perfection were also considered to be a civic duty of German citizens for the "homeland".

Anybody thinking this is a good idea, needs to just move their lazy, brainwashed asses to some country where people are NOT allowed to think for themselves or live as they choose to. I for one want NO part of such a world.

I expect the same thing will be happening here. I just wonder what will happen to those of us to don't feel the our employers OR government have any right to dictate HOW we live and WHAT we eat. That must be what all those new detention camps that Halliburton/KBR have built are for. Complete with the rail cars to haul our rebellious, free-thinking asses to them.

After this I then found that Sandy over at my favorite Junkfood Science blog is following this closely also (I should have known). Here's her summaries about what is happening in Japan with the food "nazis" (my term not hers):

June 13, 2008

Metabo — your figure or your job

As first covered earlier this year, the government health ministry in Japan has mandated compulsory “flab checks” for all workers over age 40. Waistlines have to conform to regulation size or face stiff penalties; and older, heavier people are enduring certain social castigation. This Friday the 13^th, we begin coverage of the latest studies examining the medical evidence for trim waistlines.

What’s the evidence on metabo? We’ll look at that next. Don’t be surprised to find that the evidence reveals the opposite of what we’ve come to believe is true.

Read the FULL STORY here.

Followed up Sunday with:

June 15, 2008

Metabo — Is a small waistline a measure of health?

What’s in a name? It’s called “metabo” in Japan and “metabolic syndrome” here, but is it a real medical syndrome? Does having it mean you’re more likely to have a heart attack or die prematurely?

So, even among Americans with waist circumferences much larger than the Japanese regulations (35.5 inches and 33.5 inches for men and women, respectively), there was no association with higher risks. With no association at all, there’s no possible source for causation and certainly no support for mandating treatment or interventions. The evidence continues to point out to us that this isn’t about health.

© 2008 Sandy Szwarc

Read the FULL STORY here.

Of course, nowhere in all these health warnings do they mention that stress is the biggest contributor to heart disease and high blood pressure. Since everyone will be stressing about meeting the new "fit" requirements, don't expect to see any positive results coming from this. Not honest ones anyway, as I'm sure the government and press will announce next year what a huge success this was. Just don't ask them to explain any increase in stress related deaths......though I'm sure they'll have a good scapegoat waiting.........like smoking, alcohol or Krispy Kreme donuts; just to name a few.

Ah, Anyway, Bahasa Perancis itu sebenarnya, diluar bahwa pengucapannya aneh dan banyak kata-kata baru yang harus dipahami, mudah. Selain karena ada kedekatan dengan bahasa inggris, struktur katanya pun hampir seperti Bahasa Indonesia.

Saya tinggal di Indonesia bersama keluarga.
menjadi
J' habitez a Indonesia avec ma famille

Jadi translate kata per kata, nggak kayak bahasa Inggris. Dikelas kita ada satu orang Thailand yang entah apakah dia paham dengan bahasa Indonesia yang dijadikan bahasa pembantu di kelas itu. Satu kali si guru Sunarto or Suranto berkata dessinatrice yang diartikan langsung sebagai perancang baju. Dan si guru ini kayaknya nggak bisa atau males berbahasa inggris, maka kami harus menjelaskan ke si wanita Thailand ini.

Salah satu hal yang menyenangkan tentang CCF adalah kehadiran Mediatek yang berisi buku, CD, & DVD tentang Perancis yang berbahasa Perancis tentunya. Dengan bayaran yang cukup besar, tentunya kita harus memaksimalkan semua fasilitas yang ada alias gak mau rugi (hehehe). Sudah ada beberapa inceran saya nih, namun untuk DVD film semoga saja ada translate-an bahasa inggrisnya supaya bisa dicerna lebih mudah oleh kepala. Saya berpikir, kalau saya menyewa DVD-CD disini dalam jumlah X maka uang pendaftaran kursus akan balik modal, sehingga rasa membuang-buang uang menjadi sirna selain juga mendapatkan ilmu bahasa. Ha ha haa h ahah ha.. dasar culas..

On May 27, Campaign for Children and Families (CCF) faxed letters and documentation to 38 of 58 county clerks, where the man-woman marriage ethic is its strongest in California. Already several clerks have responded, telling CCF they intend NOT to issue any same-sex “marriage” licenses.

CCF’s letter and legal documentation reached clerks on Wednesday, the same day that the Schwarzenegger administration sent clerks altered marriage license application forms, replacing the statutory “bride”/“groom” requirement with unlawful “Party A” and “Party B” designations.

“We're encouraging the clerks to abide by the express will of the written California Constitution and the man-woman marriage statutes, and to respect the democratic process which will be decided at the ballot box in November, by not issuing marriage licenses to anyone but a man and woman,” said CCF President Randy Thomasson. “The judges and the Governor are violating the Constitution and the statutes, but county clerks know they have a duty follow the statutes, which haven’t been changed yet. Clerks don’t have to issue homosexual ‘marriage’ licenses, and they shouldn’t.”

Gary Kreep, executive director of the San Diego-based United States Justice Foundation, is offering pro bono legal counsel to clerks who resist the Supreme Court’s unconstitutional ruling:

“We’re asking that you please decline to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples unless and until the Legislature changes the marriage statutes, the People change the Constitution, and/or all legal options have been exhausted,” Kreep wrote the clerks. “By doing so, you will follow California law, respect the democratic process, and avoid being drawn into what dissenting California Supreme Court Justice Marvin Baxter called the ‘majority’s foreclosure of this ordinary democratic process.’”

Source: Campaign for Children and Families, May 29, 2008.

Among the proposals were encouraging military personnel to wear their uniforms in public; including military awareness in the national curriculum; and ensuring homecoming parades for troops returning from combat.

I find those proposals outright alarming. I don't want the UK to become like the US, celebrating militarism and looking up to people who kill. I'm not denying that there are times and reasons for states having armed forces, but surely we should be combining respect and regret in how we treat them as a society?! Oughtn't the aspirations of a modern society to be to work towards not needing to fight any more, whilst respecting those who volunteer to do so at the times it is needed? How can actually celebrating martial behaviour move us forward as individuals or a society? Yet Quentin Davies' report continues by:

calling for "everything possible" to be done to encourage all schools to create their own combined cadet force (CCF) to give young people a taste of the military.

Only 60 exist at present in state schools - with another 200 at grammars and independent schools - and the Prime Minister has signalled that boosting that number is a priority for him.

My school had a CCF - I didn't understand it then and I don't now. Why teach young people to be martial? Or is it instilling unquestioning obedience? Why not just empower them instead? Davies doesn't believe they should be compulsory, yet cites them as a key measure to prevent anti-military discrimination. Maybe the true ulterior motive is here:

"Soldiers are genuinely concerned when they come back from Iraq to hear the population that sent them being occasionally dismissive or indifferent about their achievements.

"We are in danger of sapping our volunteer army's willingness to serve in such an atmosphere again," he said.

Why not just stop sending them out to engage in illegal invasions? Just a thought. This government will stop at nothing.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Georgia Tech Christian Campus Fellowship is a refuge that creates and nurtures a closer walk with the Lord for the Georgia Tech students and other local college students.

www.gtccf.org

But, as I was having both these sets of feelings come back from my time in the CCF to wash over me, I realised that I now added the generic parental concern of 'I hope he'll be ok'.  Nothing especially rational about that really, and there would be little worse than wrapping kids in cotton wool.  But, it's a natural human emotion.  And, I was a bit envious, if I'm honest.

It felt quite strange to simultaneously feel both excited and nervous on Alan's behalf and nervous on my own.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to when he gets back this weekend when we can hear all about it, and I can unwind the various emotions.