Clipmarks | Family Clips

Demographic Winter - the decline of the human family

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:18:47 GMT

Clip Source: blessedamongmen.blogspot.com

"...reawaken society to the importance of the stable, intact family and engender a discussion and greater focus in the media, in academia, in the halls of policy makers, in religious circles, in the committees of civil society, and in households around the world....

In this way, we hope to avert the storm that is now most surely coming on."

If you haven't seen it already (this came out in February), watch the trailer.

Tags: demographics, population

McDonald’s Caves In To Anti-Gay Group Demands

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:50:47 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Sadly, Mickey D has decided to permit a homophobic hate group dictate their corporate policies. Giving into these boycotts does nothing but encourage groups, such as this one, to continue to strong-arm major businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. I am hoping my GLBT friends will refuse to do any business with McDonalds.

Clip Source: www.365gay.com

The American Family Association is calling off a boycott of McDonald’s after the fast-food giant agreed to end its support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, a company employee appointed to the chamber’s board of directors has resigned.

McDonald’s incurred the wrath of the AFA after it made a $20,000 donation to the chamber, and Richard Ellis, who until last month was vice president of communications for the chain, was named to the chamber’s
board of directors.

The company at first resisted AFA’s demands that it sever ties with the chamber.

But now in an e-mailed memo to franchise holders, the company said it has dropped ties with the chamber.

"It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association."

"We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations,"

Sarah Palin Republican vice-presidential candidate

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:18:18 GMT

clipped by: benaloy
clipper's remarks: So, Sarah is found to violate the ethics law.
Her lawyer says: "There has to be some personal gain."
In the next breath, he says: "...failed to identify any financial gain."
Isn't vengence 'personal gain'?
Don't try to hoodwink us Sarah Palin.
Birds of a feather ... you and McCain with his ANGER sysdrome.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," investigator Steve Branchflower concluded in the panel's 263-page report.

"In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain," said Thomas Van Flein.

"Mr Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain."

The Republican vice-presidential candidate was accused of sacking a senior state official, Walter Monegan, in connection with a family feud.

Mrs Palin denies any wrongdoing

The report concluded a family grudge was not the sole reason for the dismissal, but was a likely contributing factor.

The panel found Mrs Palin in violation of a state ethics law prohibiting public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.

Boing Boing: How I learned to love my persimmon tree

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:55:02 GMT

clipped by: Lexica
clipper's remarks: Lots of good discussion in the comments - how to choose a persimmon, how to ripen them, things to do with them, why you do not want to eat underripe persimmons, and much more.

Persimmons are a family favorite, and I guess we must just have dumb luck with ripening them - the problems people describe here with being unable to ripen them are all new to me. (For the record, the family persimmon-ripening method: Place persimmon stem-side down on the kitchen counter, not in direct sun. Leave it there. Pick up once or twice a day to check whether it's getting soft yet. *shrug* It's always worked for us - we've never needed any of the tricks people mention in this post's comments.)

Clip Source: www.boingboing.net

When we moved into our house four or five years ago, I tasted one of the persimmons growing on the tree in our yard. It was a nice orange color, so I assumed it was ripe and ready to eat. I peeled off the skin and took a bite. It was awful, like sticking a spoonful of alum in my mouth. I threw the accursed fruit in the trash.

The next year I read that persimmons tasted better if you soaked them in brine first. I tried it. It was like eating a salty styptic pencil.

The year after that, someone told me to wait until the fruits were mushy. I waited. The few that made it to the mushy stage without being violated by squirrels were delicious, and had a custard-like texture.

This year, I read an article in the Oct/Nov 2008 issue of Mother Earth News, written by Winifred Bird, titled "Finding the Good Life in Japan." Bird is living the self-sufficient good life in rural Japan with her husband. In the article she explains how to dry persimmons the Japanese way.

Tags: fruit, persimmons, produce, boingboing, cooking, baking, tips

Parental Alienation Syndrome, the Other Side of the Story

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:39:37 GMT

clipped by: Delilah1234
clipper's remarks: The so-called Parental Alienation Syndrome, touted by many in the Rhode Island Family Court, has been discredited by the American Psychological Association and, recently, by both the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Children’s Legal Rights Journal.

Clip Source: activelyaware.blogspot.com

I'm embarassed to admit that I finally got around to really researching PAS, Parental Alienation Syndrome. Upon reading about this "syndrome" initially, I was horrified to think of the "alienated" parents who are supposedly forced to endure these horrific ex-spouses...who for no reason seem hell bent on keeping their kids from them. I jumped on the PAS bandwagon and set forth to "righting" this incredibly distructive wrong.

But, honestly...please don't just take my word for it, decide for yourselves, check out some of these links, be aware of the facts and make the best decision. Awareness is key towards making our world a better place.

"The PAS label "has lived a lot longer than the data that supports it". "I expect people to come up with crackpot theories. But then I expect scientists to do their jobs." Alan Scheflin, professor at Santa Clara University Law School

Tags: pas, parental abduction, parental alienation, missing children

Best Dishnet Virginia Specials

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:42:34 GMT

clipped by: dishtvva
clipper's remarks: Best Dishnet Virginia Specials.

Click here for a Special Dish TV VA Promotion.

Clip Source: dishtvva.ning.com

Best Dishnet Virginia Specials

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Tags: virginia, va, dish, network, tv, satellite, dishnetwork, dishnet

Fake realtor rents out home he does not own

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:27:32 GMT

clipped by: pcmkrfn

Clip Source: www.azcentral.com

NEW YORK - A Long Island, N.Y., family thought they got a good deal when they found a rental house for $1,000 a month - until the owner showed up and asked what they were doing there.

Nassau County police arrested Gregory Garvin on Wednesday for posing as a real estate agent and renting out the house in the hamlet of Roosevelt. Garvin was charged with grand larceny and fraud.

Police say Garvin also collected a $1,000 security deposit from the couple. The family was living in the house about two weeks when the real owner showed up.

Treasurer reaching out to owners of Iowa unclaimed money

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:53:48 GMT

clipped by: jedichique
clipper's remarks: IA State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald holding annual Iowa "Treasure Hunt". An outreach program looking to reunite residents with Iowa unclaimed money from lost assets.

Clip Source: iowa-unclaimed-money.blogspot.com

The State Treasurer is holding “Great Iowa Treasure Hunt” again and residents should check newspapers for published lists of names of people owed Iowa unclaimed money. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, in an effort to reach out to IA unclaimed property owners and increase public awareness about the growing pile of citizens’ lost money in his department holds the unclaimed property outreach program each year.

Buckeye State residents that are missing family heirlooms better get a move-on if they hope to see their family jewels again. They can still claim the proceeds as Iowa unclaimed money if they get auctioned-off, but it's farewell to the items themselves. Read more on how to do a proper unclaimed money search.

Tags: iowa unclaimed money, iowa unclaimed property, iowa unclaimed funds, unclaimed money in iowa

persion cats

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:04:35 GMT

clipped by: bamabird
clipper's remarks: family and friends!

Clip Source: home.earthlink.net

Dish TV Washington Special Offers

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:21:44 GMT

clipped by: dishtvwa1
clipper's remarks: Dish TV Washington Special Offers.

Click here for a Special Dish TV WA Promotion.

Clip Source: dishtvwa1.ning.com

Dish TV Washington Special Offers

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Tags: washington, wa, dish, network, tv, satellite, dishnetwork, dishnet

Who You Callin’ a Maverick?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:26:28 GMT

clipped by: sparrow
clipper's remarks: Great little morsel on the origin of the word! Never knew how it came about, and so glad to have come across this!!

I find it so very .... poetically, beautifully ironic (?) - poetically beautiful and ironic (?)
!!!! ...that it tickles me so!

(thats just the best way I could put that at this moment, as terrible a description as it may be)

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

There’s that word again: maverick. In Thursday’s vice-presidential debate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the Republican candidate, used it to describe herself and her running mate, Senator John McCain, no fewer than six times, at one point calling him “the consummate maverick.”

Samuel Augustus Maverick

But to those who know the history of the word, applying it to Mr. McCain is a bit of a stretch — and to one Texas family in particular it is even a bit offensive.

“I’m just enraged that McCain calls himself a maverick,” said Terrellita Maverick, 82, a San Antonio native who proudly carries the name of a family that has been known for its progressive politics since the 1600s, when an early ancestor in Boston got into trouble with the law over his agitation for the rights of indentured servants.

In the 1800s, Samuel Augustus Maverick went to Texas and became known for not branding his cattle

unbranded cattle

were called “Maverick’s.” The name came to mean anyone who didn’t bear another’s brand

Tags: maverick, mccain, palin, augustus

How to recession-proof your family

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:56:39 GMT

clipped by: rmowery
clipper's remarks: EXACTLY!

'Why does Suze Orman say people first, then money, then things?'" she says. "It means if we cared about people more than we cared about money, we would not be having what happened today, because the people who run the corporations, if they had cared about all of you, they wouldn't have created loans that you couldn't afford."

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

How to recession-proof your family

(OPRAH.com) -- The American economy has hit a new low. Home values are plummeting, bills are rising and job layoffs have every worker concerned.

Factor in the sudden bankruptcy of 158-year-old investment bank Lehman Brothers, an $85 billion federal bailout of insurance giant American International Group Inc., Bank of America's quick purchase of Merrill Lynch and rumors of future sales and the rejection of a $700 billion government bailout, it's no wonder Americans are worried about their money.

Are you sick to your stomach and scared out of your mind?

"We have built an entire economy on lies and deceit," she says. "It's like building a home or an entire building on a sinkhole. You have a foundation, supposedly. But a little crack, if something goes wrong -- a little earthquake, a tremor -- and it starts to open, everything starts to fall down and ... that is exactly what has happened in the United States of America."

Tags: recession proof, family, loans, homes, suze orman, bankruptcy, credit lines

George Washington's Boyhood Home Found

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:25:52 GMT

clipped by: piomio

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

They didn't find the shriveled stump of a cherry tree, much less a rusty old hatchet, but archaeologists have finally discovered and excavated the remains of 's boyhood home

historical archeologist , of the oversees USF's field school at Ferry Farm, the Washington family homestead near Fredericksburg, Va.—said at a press conference this morning announcing the discovery.

It took seven years and at least two dead ends to find the home on Ferry Farm where Augustine Washington, George's father, moved his family in 1738, when George was 6, and where they remained until 1772.

by comparing the remains to written records of Washington's childhood home and by dating the thousands of artifacts they unearthed, that they had found the long-sought home.

"There is little actual documentary evidence of Washington's formative years. What we see at this site is the best available window into the setting that nurtured the father of our country."

Obama won't take care of his own family, let alone yours.

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:19:10 GMT

clipped by: chestnut501

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

It's good to be the King - hypothetically

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:14:17 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

A genealogy Web site says it has found the king of America — or rather, the descendant of George Washington's family who would have most likely held the title had the nation's first president been its first monarch instead.

Long live Paul Emerson Washington, 82, of San Antonio, a retired regional manager for a building supply company.

Paul Washington is the one among 8,000 possible Washington descendants that the chief family historian at Ancestry.com believes would currently hold the crown — had there been one.

he says George Washington made the right decision, allowing himself to be elected president but not seeking a crown.

"He fought for eight years to do away with the monarchy, and I think he made the right decision," Bill Washington said. "The idea of one individual having supreme power over all others is an antiquated idea — to say the least."

Easy for him to say. As the second of Paul Washington's three sons, he's not next in the line of hypothetical succession.

Tags: king, united states, family, genealogy, history