Indiana, Arkansas, and other 'religious freedom' laws: Trouble for the GOP (+video)

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The governors of Indiana and Arkansas Republicans Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson likely are spending Easter weekend wondering what they might have done to avert the adverse political wave that rolled them over this past week.

It was worse for Indianas Gov. Pence, who had to backtrack on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act hed just signed, calling on state legislators to clarify the law so that it no longer so obviously allowed for discrimination of gays and lesbians.

Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson, learning from Pences experience, quickly said hed veto that states RFRA bill unless lawmakers wrote in that same clarification. That his own son had signed a petition against the bill no doubt got his attention.

"The issue has become divisive because our nation remains split on how to balance the diversity of our culture with the traditions and firmly held religious convictions," Hutchison said at a press conference. "It has divided families, and there is clearly a generational gap on this issue. My son Seth signed the petition asking me, Dad, the governor, to veto this bill."

That generational gap was a clear point former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made Friday in a Washington Post op-ed column excoriating his own Republican Party on the issue.

"As an American, Im incredibly concerned aboutwhat happened in Indiana this weekand thethreat of similar lawsbeing passed in other states, Mr. Schwarzenegger wrote. As a Republican, Im furious.

I know plenty of Republicans who are sensible and driven to solve problems for America. They believe in Reagans vision of a big tent where everyone is welcome. This message isnt for them, he wrote. It is for Republicans who choose the politics of division over policies that improve the lives of all of us. It is for Republicans who have decided to neglect the next generation of voters. It is for Republicans who are fighting for laws that fly in the face of equality and freedom.

"There are so many real problems that need solving. But distracting, divisive laws like the one Indiana initially passed arent just bad for the country, theyre also bad for our party, Schwarzenegger continued.In California, the GOP has seen the danger of focusing on the wrong issues. In 2007, Republicans made up nearly 35 percent of our registered voters. By 2009, ourshare droppedto 31 percent, andtoday, it is a measly 28 percent. That sharp drop started just after the divisive battle over Proposition 8 [which banned same-sex marriage]. Maybe thats a coincidence, but there is no question that our party is losing touch with our voters, especially with the younger ones who are growing the registration rolls.

(In 2013, the United States Supreme Court effectively killed Prop. 8.)

The struggle to balance religious freedoms with civil and personal rights continues in other states, where local and national businesses have become major players.

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Indiana, Arkansas, and other 'religious freedom' laws: Trouble for the GOP (+video)

Watch Dogs: Bad Blood – "Negative Eugenics" achievement/trophy guide – Video

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Watch Dogs: Bad Blood - "Negative Eugenics" achievement/trophy guide
in this very long delayed video i show you how to get this slightly difficult 40G achievement in the Watch Dogs DLC Bad Blood. if this video helped you hit like, if you want to see more from...

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Kromproom – Artificial Intelligence – Radio Edit (Official Audio) – Video

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Kromproom - Artificial Intelligence - Radio Edit (Official Audio)
Photos by Rafa Gbowski i Marek Holewiski. Edited by Krompiu. Music written, produced and mastered by Piotr Krompiewski. Music administered by GEMA. Rebeat Artist Camp, http://artistcamp.re...

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redOrbit exclusive: The future of Artificial Intelligence – Part One: Armageddon?

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April 5, 2015

Credit: Thinkstock

John Hopton for redOrbit.com @Johnfinitum

Science fiction has a habit of portraying the future of Artificial Intelligence as one in which machines break their programming and cause all kinds of trouble. From 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 to new movies such as Transcendence and Chappie, the future of AI looks fraught with danger.

But this concept is not only the reserve of fiction. Professor Stephen Hawking says that AI could spell the end of the human race, and that humans who are limited by slow biological advancement could not compete. Elon Musk thinks that AI could be humanitys greatest threat more dangerous than nuclear weapons.

RedOrbit spoke to AI expert Charlie Ortiz, Senior Principal Manager of the Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning Group within Nuances Natural Language and AI Laboratory. He revealed why he opposes the view of Hawking and Musk, and what, in his view, the real future of AI will look like.

Hollywood is exaggerating the potential negative aspects because that makes good movies, Ortiz told us. They envision a future in which machines match our intelligence and then exceed it, and taking lessons from human history, they assume that the more powerful will persecute the weaker and that were all doomed.

However, he says: Thats one possibility, but there are many others. You cant discount the future in which these systems become our helpers, assistants, and teachers.

Asked about Hawking and Musk, Ortiz said: I disagree with both of them. Any technology can be harmful if its not controlled and if its used by the wrong people. Thats one extreme future, but its not the only future. He wonders why we should we take such a negative view about this technology when we dont with other technologies.

Could AI machines be like our grown-up children?

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redOrbit exclusive: The future of Artificial Intelligence - Part One: Armageddon?

InTech Aerospace: Aircraft Interiors Experts Growing Steadily

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Houston, Texas (PRWEB) April 04, 2015

InTech Aerospace, a steadily growing aviation technical services firm specialized in commercial and military airplane interiors and components, has become a classic entrepreneurial success story in Houston, Texas. As experts in aircraft interiors, the company has more than doubled in size in just the past three years. InTech Aerospace is riding the growth wave of long-term market expansion on commercial airlines fleets.

InTech Aerospace finds itself in a period of unprecedented growth in the commercial airliner fleets. The airlines fleets of large and regional planes are expected to double in their numbers in the next 20 years (forecasts by Boeing and Airbus), and interiors tend to wear out with heavy use, requiring periodic overhaul and upgrade. Published reports recently cited over $4.5 Trillion in new orders for commercial airplanes through the year 2033, and all of those planes (which will fly for 30 years or more) represent an Installed Base of many millions of man-hours of required repairs and refurbishments. That aftermarket phenomenon of recurring repairs is where InTech Aerospace predicts its most aggressive growth in the next 5 to 10 years.

Performing overhaul and retrofit chores on aircraft interiors and related components, InTech Aerospace today has a client list that includes regional airlines, mainline carriers, large OEMs, aircraft leasing companies, and major MRO facilities. Known as the interior experts, Intech Aerospace has teams of highly experienced craftspeople and technicians in these areas:

Todd Wilkinson, President of InTech Aerospace, said: InTech Aerospace delivers excellent quality, on-time delivery, and an absolute cost advantage for our airlines and MRO clients. We are highly specialized on all interior components, front to back. Our remote Interior Remove and Install Teams are saving MRO and airline maintenance locations valuable time and labor with InTech Aerospace completing the installation. This allows their technicians to focus on other tasks in the complex, time-critical aircraft maintenance process.

InTech Aerospace intends to invest for growth in each of its lines of business, and expand geographically, to keep pace with rising industry trends.

For more information: http://www.intechaero.com. InTech Aerospace LLC, 4750 World Houston Parkway, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77032 PH (281) 810-4400.

Forward Looking Statements: Except for factual historical information, all forward looking statements by InTech Aerospace LLC are estimates by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations.

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InTech Aerospace: Aircraft Interiors Experts Growing Steadily

Louise Palanker: Why Are Boys Ignorant About Feminism, the Need to Text, Sister Fights

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Question fromChloe S.

Dear Weezy. So I just need to rant to somebody but all my friends live their lives for boys and would change who they are in a second just to get a boys attention! >_< I posted a photo on Instagram about feminism and it got half as many likes as one of my group pics or pictures of my pets or even a freaking SELFIE!!!! The thing is all the people who liked it were girls!!! And I know a lot of boys in my grade follow me and def. saw that pic. But chose not to like it because of the topic!!!

Why are so many boys so effing ignorant!!!??? Sometimes boys (even 50-something male teachers!) make sexiest comments in class and it annoys the heck out of me!!!!! Ugh. Doesnt it just bother you that people dont see how much of a problem inequality is between genders is??!?

Weezy

I greatly admire your idealism and I thinkyou are a person who will go far and achieve muchwith her life. Yes, it bothers me, but I have gained a certain amount of either understanding or complacency regarding this issue. You can decide which after hearing me out.

I accept and understand that the genders are different. I dont believe that complete equality is attainable, necessary or realistic.

Is there equality between dogs and cats? Cats get to roam around outside without a leash. They go up on the furniture. They can stay home alone much longer. Its not that you value Fluffy more than you do Fido, (Does anyone ever actually name a dog Fido?) its just that cats and dogs are different.

OK, so now you may be glaring at your screen and bellowing, Are women supposed to be the cats or the dogs here, Weezy!? These are two different species! For the love of Mother Nature, Google it!

Women are neither the cats nor the dogs. Itsjust that I do so love analogies and I am attempting to convey that women have always been and will always be different from men.

Women, after all, carry the baby. Additionally, hormonal factors cause men and boys to think, feel and act differently than girls and women. They are biologically programmed one way, and we another.

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Louise Palanker: Why Are Boys Ignorant About Feminism, the Need to Text, Sister Fights

DireTube News – This infographic shows the scope of Internet censorship around the globe – Video

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DireTube News - This infographic shows the scope of Internet censorship around the globe
DireTube News - This infographic shows the scope of Internet censorship around the globe DireTube is the Largest online Media in Ethiopia Since 2008.

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DireTube News - This infographic shows the scope of Internet censorship around the globe - Video

Tag Archives: censorship

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Business | tags: censorship, internet, venezuela February 24, 2014 by Nick Farrell.

The beleaguered Venezuela president, Nicolas Maduro, has shown he has absolutely nothing to hide as protestors take to the streets against his government. Hes turned off the internet and TV.

It would appear that Maduro is worried that protestors might be using the internet to organise their dissent, but shutting down the telly stations indicates that he is more worried about the world seeing what he is doing. Read the rest

US hacks, who have already sold their souls to corporations, are now self-censoring their copy to avoid upsetting the government.

Suzanne Nossel, executive director of the PEN American Centre, said that surveys from Pew Research indicate that the National Security Agency programsmes are actually supported by roughly half of Americans, even though many believe that their own personal e-mails and calls have been read. Read the rest

The crime and security minister, James Brokenshire has decided save the UK from sites which are not British by bringing in censorship.

He announced the end of the free internet in the UK by saying that he will order ISPs to block sites which he thinks are too dangerous to be seen by the great unwashed. Read the rest

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Tag Archives: censorship

Paul Marshall: The Aftermath of Charlie Hebdo, Blasphemy, Free Speech, and Freedom of Religion – Video

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Paul Marshall: The Aftermath of Charlie Hebdo, Blasphemy, Free Speech, and Freedom of Religion
In the heart of New York City, The King #39;s College is an accredited, Christian liberal arts college. Using a biblical worldview and great works in politics, philosophy, and economics, we are...

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The Skanner News – Commentary: Free Speech Hypocrisy

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Details Written by Lee A Daniels, NNPA Columnist Published: 03 April 2015

This winter the medias been ablaze with stories about racist, homophobic and sexist slurs being hurled this way and that by college students and other adults.

Revealingly, those that have captured the most attention all involve Black Americans as the targets of the racist speech or action: the members of the University of Oklahoma chapter of one prominent White fraternity singing a racist ditty that referenced lynching a Black man; the sexist slur hurled against adolescent baseball star MoNe Davis by a college baseball athlete, and the attempt by the Sons of Confederate Veterans of Texas to force that state to produce a license plate with their symbol, the Confederate battle flag, on it. This latest effort by Confederate sympathizers to obscure the racist rebellions ineradicable stain of treason in the defense of slavery, as one analyst wrote, has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on the case last week.

The controversies have provoked a growing volume of commentary and opinion columns. Most of those Ive seen have declared that, while offensive speech and ideas are despicable, they must be tolerated in the name of freedom of expression so that society can benefit in the short- and long-term from the free flow of ideas.

Im a free-speech advocate myself. But in recent years, whenever these free-speech controversies have burst into the open, Ive increasingly noticed some important things missing from the general run of commentary and opinion columns. For one thing, I dont see them grappling with the question of why those who spout the slurs do so.

For example, shouldnt we be examining why a group of White college students, most of whom come from middle-class and upper-middle-class families, would gleefully traffick in expressions of racism?

And why a White college baseball player would feel the need to use a slur of sexual degeneracy against MoNe Davis, the 14-year-old Black American girl whose athletic prowess and off-the-field poise has won her well-deserved national attention?

Why should any public entity sanction the lies Confederate sympathizers continue to spout? The Confederacys own documents among them, the Confederate Constitution of 1861, and the individual ordinances of secession of each of the Confederate states make clear its driving force was the maintenance and expansion of its slave empire. If states that have these revenue-generating vanity-plate programs must open them to Confederate sympathizers, must they also accept the requests of drivers who want plates bearing the flags of other systems of extraordinary evil such as the Nazi flag, or the flag of ISIS too?

Part of whats bothering me is that when these controversies explode, I dont see the fierce condemnation of the values of the wrongdoers and their parents, neighborhoods and entire racial group thats standard procedure whenever some Black youth has done something wrong. Instead, I see many free speech advocates rush right past any consideration of the pain the offensive words cause to loftily order the individual and the group targets of the hate speech to ignore it or be better than the bigots.

In doing so, they deliberately ignore the reality that the old saying sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you has always been only partially true. Black American history is replete with many tragic episodes of racist slurs used to provoke and sustain racist violence. And now, the virulent online expressions of hatred against women whom misogynists feel are too assertive underscore the fact that sometimes offensive speech isnt just expression. Sometimes its used as a weapon to intimidate its target into silence.

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The Skanner News - Commentary: Free Speech Hypocrisy