Mormons

I am doing my best to learn more about Mormons because I want to understand Gov. ROMNEY better. What I am finding is that the church seems to operate on the basis of "need to know" for the rest of us. There is a good deal of textbook information about the religion on web, but try to learn what we all generally can learn from the websites of local churches and you run into password protected spaces, sometimes clearly market - members only! Two things still bother me. One is the wearing of white-only in the temple; it has to be more complicated than trying to make everyone look the same. At least it seems that way to me. And the barring of the rest of us from the temple because, as one Mormon told me, is the "house of the Lord", really bothers me. I am uncomfortable with beliefs that say because of what we believe, we get to enter the Lord's house, but the rest of you must wait outside.

Saving Private Romney - NYTimes.com

This is a goo discussion of the issues as Roger COHEN sees them. I think the debate needs to be more fundamental than debt.It is about what truly are America's (and Americans') obligations to our fellow citizens and residents.These are unusual "obligations" because here we get to pick which ones we assume. And so we will in November. As COHEN suggests, let's make this a debate about ideas and principles and policies and not a choice between two - or four - men. The debate itself can shape what the ultimate victor does either startind in early November or in late January.

The Romney Package - NYTimes.com

I hope events in coming weeks do not take our eyes off the heart of these pieces in today's The New York Times. This editorial is excellent. For me, the subjects addressed in this story are especially key; I find myself opposed to almost every position taken by Paul RYAN here.

Olympics

Why not divide up the Olympics among multiple venues? The millions viewing on television would not know the difference, and crowds in multiple cities could enjoy one or more hosted event.

WAN-IFRA - 64th World Newspaper Congress - 19th World Editors Forum

I certainly hope this turns out to be a success, but somehow in looking again at the program, it is hard to find the excitement that the newspaper needs. And, sadly, it is also hard to find the important people of the world about whom newspaper executives should know so much more - from competitors and collaborators to heads of state and multinational corporations. It looks like just another regional newspaper meeting to me.

Volunteer Trips - Is Your Family Ready? - NYTimes.com

Lots of questions about these sorts of trips.

Guns, Butter and Then Some - NYTimes.com

Bravo!

Polls Find Opposition to Stricter Gun Laws - NYTimes.com

What I find so difficult about this is that any gun is capable of being misued. Sure, most illegal conduct is carried out by people we migth consider to be criminals. But the potential for a seemingly rational person to misues a gun, either intentionally or unintentionally, is huge. Is the pleasure and rare utility of a gun worth sacrificing all of the people who die, are maimed or injured from such weapons? For me, it most decisively is not.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns - About the Coalition

Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence

Dream, Baby, Dream! - NYTimes.com

So well said!

Medical charges

Why don't we all walk out of doctor offices with a copy of a statement that tells us what was done to us, for how much and who is going to pay for it? Why shouldn't we all be much better informed about how this works?

Harry Reid Has Long History of Romney Bashing - NYTimes.com

I think we should ask Harry REID to help us explain what goes on when Mormons dress in white inside their private temples. And while he is working on this, he could also tell us the basis he has for the charges against ROMNEY over what taxes he may or may not have paid!

Occupation, Not Culture, Is Holding Palestinians Back - NYTimes.com

There are so many things that are not a part of the Presidential debate. This is an extremely important example as are guns.

Newspaper Takes A Stand On Anonymous Commenters : NPR

I sure agree with those who say that you ought to have enough confidence in what you are saying to put your name to it. Period. The only footnote I might drop is that occasionally, there is an argument for anonymity, but that should be solvable through human intervention by the people running the site where the anonymous posting might go.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was going to ask this temple in Raleigh (I was surprised to see how few temples there are in the LDS network) if it was true that non-members could not visit. The FAQ pretty much say this, and the answers to these questions are really scary, at least to me. Changing into "white" inside? There is no contact button that I could find, nor any e-mail address.
We need to think long and hard whether we are ready for a person of this faith to be President of the United States. He is welcome to practice his religion but when we know so little about this part of his life, how can we be comfortable. I cannot.

ROMNEY in France

I would like to understand a lot better what Mitt ROMNEY said and did while a missionary in France. Surely, some of the people whom he approached in his missionary role must remember him? Or those who worked with him? I am not sure we have seen all that we ought to know about him during this period of his life. I'd really like to know how he tried to make the "sale" to French people to join him as Mormons.

In Belarus, Teddy Bears Defy Leader, Lukashenko - NYTimes.com

I wonder what they could drop out of the Kiev sky over the World Newspaper Congress? Missing participants?

Kazaky, a Boy Band, Is Everywhere - NYTimes.com

I wonder if they will be performing at the World Newspaper Congress in Kiev?

World Newspaper Congress, Kiev

WAN-IFRA says it expects - one month from now:

"More than 1,000 newspaper publishers, chief editors and other senior newspaper executives from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the 64th World Newspaper Congress and 19th World Editors Forum, the global summit meetings of the world’s press, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)."


The event website shows a total of about 400 participants, many of whom are speakers. Perhaps vast numbers of Ukrainian students (who, perhaps, are senior executives of their Twitter feeds) will be bused to the event to take it to 1,000? Or other notable Ukrainians?

Aleksei Navalny Charged With Embezzlement - NYTimes.com

Another wonderful subject for the Kiev World Newspaper Congress!

Musicians on Trial Over Crude Anti-Putin Song in Moscow Cathedral - NYTimes.com

This would be a great topic to discuss at the World Newspaper Congress in Kiev, given relationships with Russia.

Sears

I tried to order some shirts from Sears yesterday, went through the whole process of searching, selecting and then providing all the necessary billing information. My purchase was acknowledged; everything seemed in order. Then I got an e-mail saying it was canceled because the items were not in stock. Ok, they can run out of things, but the time to discover this is BEFORE they take all my credit card information and make me go through the process of providing billing information, etc. So I decided to look at the terms of use link  (they actually call it both Terms of Use and Terms of Service) at the bottom of the page on their site - sears.com. If you read this carefully, Sears is trying to assert that whatever you do on their site with respect to a purchase or anything can, at most, result in a Sears liability of 100 USD! Would anyone agree to walk into a Sears store, buy something, have it go bad immediately, or something in the store cause other harm to the customer and expect that the Sears liability would be only $100, would they? Of course not! This is both preposterous and also any customer of Sears who thinks about using their website should know:
"IN NO EVENT SHALL SEARS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR THE SHAREHOLDERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING, BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL OR REVENUE, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF DATA) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF, ACCESS TO, RELIANCE ON, UNAVAILABILITY OF, INABILITY TO USE, OR IMPROPER USE OF THE SEARS SITE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY USER CONTENT, REVIEWS, ADVICE, SERVICES, PRODUCTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION AND MATERIALS CONTAINED IN OR DESCRIBED ON THE SEARS SITE, OR THE DISCLOSURE OR MISUSE OF ANY USER'S PERSONAL INFORMATION, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE. IN ANY EVENT, SEARS' RESPECTIVE TOTAL MAXIMUM LIABILITY IN RESPECT OF THE SEARS SITE OR ANY PART THEREOF, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USER CONTENT, REVIEWS, ADVICE, SERVICES, PRODUCTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION AND MATERIALS CONTAINED IN OR DESCRIBED ON THE SEARS SITE, IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER, SHALL BE LIMITED TO ONE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($100.00). THIS LIMITATION SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY PROVIDED HEREIN."

Frustrating gas

I bought gas today in Carrboro. First problem was huge puddle of water into which roof was leaking in only open space. Waited. Pulled in another and car was blocking. As I sat, driver through some pink stuff out the window that hung on the hose. I got out and told ring-festooned young driver to go clean it up. That I would call the police. Then she told me her brother worked at the station and shouted some obscenities. That was CITGO. I drove off, with apparent brother making gestures of some sort. Drove to Exxon. Blocked on all lanes. Truck ahead of me not pumping gas but putting in small bottles of something followed by gas. When he finished, I pulled ahead to first spot only to be greeted by van backing up into same space. I gave in and backed up hoping to avoid the next to come in line. Gas options presented with most expensive gas on left instead of right and so that's what I would up buying, to my chagrin. When I tried to pull out, USPS truck pulled in and stopped in front of pump in only opening, not taking any gas - just delivering some mail. Finally, the van in front of me pulled out and I finished a frustrating and more expensive than necessary few minutes of gas.

Ukraine - Protester Accosts Patriarch Kirill I - NYTimes.com

I wonder if she or another similar protester will find an opportunity during the World Newspaper Congress in September? What word or words might they sport in the same location?

In Mexico, a Restrictive Approach to Gun Laws - NYTimes.com

Neighbors can be very smart people.

The Recycling Reflex - NYTimes.com

Pay by weight of garbage

Piece on Telematin reporting on Besancon, I think, where people must pay for garbage collection based on its weight. What a great idea! 7/3/12

Page not found « Ecofrugal Project : Dépenser moins | Vivre mieux | Agir maintenant

Ukraine Bill Proposes Prison for Positive Gay Depictions - NYTimes.com

What a great topic for a session at this year's World Newspaper Congress in Kiev!

John Coltrane Home - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

News Media Response to 'Dark Knight' Theater Shootings Is All Too Familiar - NYTimes.com

Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery - New, Used, Out of Print, and Antiquarian Books since 1940 - Galway, Ireland - Free Shipping Worldwide

Cavan Joke Book, des machale, mercier press - Mercier Press

Congress Rethinks Height Limits on Washington Buildings - NYTimes.com

I sure hope they do not change it!

Austerity Cuts: How You Can Help

Pardon for American Convicted of Insulting Thai King - NYTimes.com

The next World Newspaper Congress (WAN-IFRA) will be in Bangkok next June. I wonder how tough they will be in objecting to such a law while they are there. If they care about freedom of expression, they will protest, but I suspect the bean counters will win out and they will say nothing to offend the king or the govermnet, hoping most likely to get them ot kick in some money to pay for the event. What a terrible position for the newspaper business to take!

Groupon Inc. News - Company Information - The New York Times

The chart of Groupon stock value since it went public is certainly headed in the direction of my opinion of the company.

So Much Data From Smart Meters, but Who Can Analyze It? - NYTimes.com

When the Crowd Isn’t Wise - NYTimes.com

For Some Businesses, Daily Deals Have A Dark Side : NPR

What's happening to iGoogle? - Web Search Help

Ukraine Parliament Adopts Russian-Language Bill - NYTimes.com

So I wonder if this means that the World Newspaper Congress in Kiev in September will be in Russian as well? Perhaps WAN-IFRA was even out ahead of the Ukrainian governemnt on this one. What an uncomfortable place to be!

Malaise au grand quotidien anglophone de Hongkong#xtor=RSS-3208#xtor=RSS-3208#xtor=RSS-3208

Ukraine Unable to Kick Its Tattered Reputation - NYTimes.com

The message surrounding the World Newspaper Congress in Kiev in September seems horribly blurred. It all seems to involve trying to seem "tough" for one constituency while not ticking off the "hosts". Some balances ought never to be struck.

Nora Ephron Never Forgot the Food - NYTimes.com

The Times Is Introducing a Chinese-Language News Site - NYTimes.com

Mitt Romney Billed $10,000 By Newport Beach, Calif. To Cover Cost Of Officer Overtime

What a complex question. If you create the expense by what you say and do, then perhaps the bill is in order. If you have a reasonable expectation that this will happen, or should have had such an expectation. On the other hand, if a town, anticipating trouble spends a bunch of money for something that turns out not to have been needed or that a reasonable person could have concluded likely would not be needd, then I think the local government pays the bill.

Farewell to Chocolate City - NYTimes.com

I miss living in Washington, DC a lot.

A Plan to Stop Unwanted Phone Calls - NYTimes.com

I kind of like this idea.

Deceptive Advertising —

Health Care Law Loses Ad War - NYTimes.com

I am not sure we have yet come to understand why basically a good idea seems to have hit shallow water, rocks, been beached, dragged back to the water, and left with a smoldering engine to move somewhere. There is something far more wrong thanI think we have realized.

Wasting Warren Buffett - NYTimes.com

FRIEDMAN hit a home run with this one.

U.S. Will Give Immunity to Some Young Illegal Migrants - NYTimes.com

No matter how hard I try, I cannot accept the idea that we should reward people who break the law.

Global Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted | Pew Global Attitudes Project

Global Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted | Pew Global Attitudes Project

Stuart Emmrich - The Unencumbered Life - NYTimes.com

Well said!

New Orleans Struggles With Latest Storm, Newspaper Layoffs - NYTimes.com

I surely hope this "works" but it is so sad to realize that this could largely have been averted.

How Racist Are We? Ask Google - NYTimes.com

In Economic Deluge, a World That’s Unable to Bail Together - NYTimes.com

I wish I didn't feel the same way.

New ‘Digital Divide’ Seen in Wasting Time Online - NYTimes.com

This is a big problem for everyone as best I can tell.

Merkel's Stubborn March of Folly - NYTimes.com

Well said.

Armageddon

Stories today point toward a difficult next few financial weeks, winding up on about 17 June. Russia and the UK are in recession, China and India are having big problems related to growth and output, the Euro Zone risks catastrophic failure, I am not sure about Brazil, but only Africa seems to have some good news. And, then, on that weekend in mid-June, both Egyptians and Greeks will go to the polls to make decisive choices on national leadership.
My prediction, such as it is, is that 18 June will prove to be a momentous day in the history of the world's economy and more.

The Euro Crisis This Time - NYTimes.com

I continue to find little guidance from any leader here or there about what individuals should have as their goals in these challenging times. Spend? Save? Where? How? There has to be a better answer than "talk with your financial advisor"!

Pizza Delicious Bought An Ad On Facebook. How'd They Do? : Planet Money : NPR

It is so easy to assume too much about trendy developments. GM's decision, noted in this piece, plus this confirms a lot of suspicions about the effectiveness of a lot of the advertising we find in the digital and non-digital world. I wonder if the medium is the message we are getting or if the nature of the message and how advertiser relates to customer is not really so much more important. New techology is allowing us to fine tune that relationship and it seems to me that this is where everyone's attention ought to be focused and let the Facebooks and Groupons, etc. fall where they may in support of that.

Persian Carpets, Durham - 15-501

I got some advice from them about care for a rug which proved to be wrong. Ok, we all make mistakes, and they will fix it. What is disappointing is that when I returned to get this done, I heard not a word of apology, and no acknowledgement that they had made a mistake in not advising me fully. It costs them the good will they otherwise would have generated by fixing the problem AND apologizing first!

Dear Photograph: New-Age Nostalgia : The Picture Show : NPR

I look forward to learning more about this site.

HP "print"

On HP.com, there are tow big problems. One is that there is no "print" button of any kind that I could find. The second problems is that when one goes to print what appears to be a short page, out comes 19 unformatted pages, largely illegible. What is the subject matter of those pages? Printers. Hmmmmm.

On the same general subject, I wonder if HP or someone else produces estimated operating costs in terms of ink for each printer - i.e., over 3 years, what is the expected cost/page of printing expected to be and, most important, how do all of the printers compare?

Solar Installers Offer Homeowners Deals, Gaining Converts - NYTimes.com

Why haven't solar panels been transformed into a new roof so that no one notices? Why do they remain so needlessly ugly?

Superbugs: India and the Rise of Drug-Resistant Germs | PRI's The World

This is surely one of the more alarming stories I have heard recently.

La cybercriminalité coûte plus cher que les trafics de cocaïne, héroïne et marijuana#xtor=RSS-3208#xtor=RSS-3208#xtor=RSS-3208

Newspapers need to give this issue a lot more attention.

Philips

I must say that in several purchases of Philips products, the ability to use their website to learn more or obtain product advice has been less than minimal. Very frustrating and very unexpected. They clearly have a chronic problem.

TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales - TODAY show video, news, recipes, health, pets

Very smart to give a timeline of the day's show in order to return to something via the web.

At Angie’s List, the Reviews Are Real (So Is Angie) - NYTimes.com

Why would I trust a review from someone whose real name is not attached to what they say?

Facebook Urges Members to Add Organ Donor Status - NYTimes.com

I think there are huge opportunities to add all sorts of features to existing websites that help a lot of people, including the owners the websites. In fact, I don't think we have begun to explore what all those opporutnities might be.

James Murdoch Testifies Before Judicial Panel - NYTimes.com

Allowing newspapers to conduct themselves in unprofessional ways is dangerous for everyone; it's not a matter of nailing the MURDOCHs as much as it is making sure that no one else is allowing their organizations to be run so badly (in every sense).

Talking With Your Fingers - NYTimes.com

So much yet remains to be known about how technology is affecting the way we communicate with one another.

Editor & Publisher ®

How ironic to have Google buying up a plant that used to make the raw material of newspapers!

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu Are Old Friends - NYTimes.com

Given the extent of US deference to Israel today, even under President OBAMA, it is extremely troubling to imagine more of a locked-step march into the future between the US and Israel under ROMNEY.We need to free ourselves of the Israel first-and-only approach and learn, once again, the value of treating all countries equally. I can see no other way to align historical US ideals of non-discrimination with the way we treat other nations.

Angry Customers and Constructive Responses - Career Couch - NYTimes.com

Search the 1940 Census - 1940 Census

Murdoch’s Sky News Channel Admits to E-Mail Hacking - NYTimes.com

I want to think long and hard about this one, starting from the belief that news organizations are subject to the same laws as the rest of us. An "in the public interest" defense is worth considering, and may be the only option, but I am not at all sure that I believe that this defense should prevail.

Trayvon Martin Shooting Prompts a Review of Ideals - NYTimes.com

This is one of those cases, like so many others, when we are so much better served by reserving judgment until we have as many of the facts as can be discerned. Only then can we react however strongly we choose but based on facts and not emotional reactions.

Is this where newspapers are headed?

I saw a headline today to the effect that the US and Israel agree that Iran is not developing a nuclear bomb.When I clicked, below is what I found. Well, maybe I know a little more about the headline, but I am far more confused about whether is the way a newspaper page is going to look in the future and horrified over the notion of the increased blending of US and Israeili interests as shown by the wrap-around banner. Israel is just another country and we should value the people there in precisely the same manner we value people in every other country. I'd much prefer to see our flag morphed into a composite of all of the flags in the region of which Israel is a part.

Disconnect Clear in U.S. Bafflement Over 2 Afghan Responses - NYTimes.com

After 244 Years, Encyclopaedia Britannica Stops the Presses - NYTimes.com

Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs - NYTimes.com

The Power to Kill - NYTimes.com

I agree.

BA flight to Nice

I am going to try to post some notes about various flights I have taken, asking quesitons, making observations, etc.
For this flight on 9 March, I was confused once again about a critical safety quesiton. The pictograms in the seat pockets are confusing about life rafts. Do most passengers understand that there is a difference between landing on land and on water? Was it clear when that plane went down in the Hudson River in New York? It seems each plane has the potential to be different and I do not think this is communicated well enough by airlines in general and certainly was not by BA for this flight. Were we to use the exits over the wings or not in the event of "water landing" as they say?
Note sameness of shops at LHR and answer to question about changing to earlier Nice flight. Shops all owned by chains - WHSmith, Dixon's - why not more competition from smaller?
Boardinfg pass from AA at RDU gives no infomration about terminal at LHR.
(Offered second cup of coffee on preceding AA flight to LHR. Warm croissant. Top Chef on the screen.)

Many Consumers Find It Hard to Step Away From Daily Deal Sites - NYTimes.com

Obama: Israel should sign nuclear non-proliferation treaty - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

With all of the criticism of Iran, does non-signatory status for Israel mean that there are no IAEA inspections? Why is Israel better than Iran? I certainly don't see any reason to treat one country differently than the other. What's the rationale for doing so?

I.B.M. Takes ‘Smarter Cities’ Concept to Rio de Janeiro - NYTimes.com

How many newspapers approach their local coverage in the same way?

Sunday Dialogue - Uniting America Through National Service? - NYTimes.com

President Obama Speaks On Promoting American Manufacturing and Exports | The White House

What, exactly, does North Carolina now export to France, for example, and what could it export? Is there a matrix with details that shows exactly where in the world NC is sending products and services in the rest of the world?

Vivian Maier's Muse - NYTimes.com

I sure can identify with her interest in photographing newspapers!

The Chieftains’ Paddy Maloney Prepares Group’s Golden Jubilee - NYTimes.com

My Debt to Ireland - NYTimes.com

My Dinner With Clay Shirky, and What It Means to 'Friend' Someone - NYTimes.com

Amen!

Steal This Column - NYTimes.com

This is extremely well-stated, and I concur in all that KELLER has said.

Ramapo Rescue Dog Association honored for decades of service - NorthJersey.com

Always happy to see any "Terry Maguire" doing good things!

"It Is Safe to Resume Ignoring the Prophets of Doom ... Right?" - NYTimes.com

I find this piece to be extremely compelling. It should be a cause for concentration, not despair.