The Snuson Confessional Sacristy & Bulletin

[wa3zrm]

Dutch Prostitutes hit by economic crisis
National Turk ^ |Amsterdam’s famous red-light district under threat, economic crisis on the one hand and lawmakers are proposing changes to the sex-for-hire industry following a recognition in the freewheeling Netherlands

The economic crisis is forcing prostitutes to lower their prices and to accept dubious sexual practices, according to sector organisation Geisha.
‘The trend is apparent in the main cities, with some prostitutes unable to pay the rent on their rooms’, Ilonka Stakelborough from Geisha told Algemeen Dagblad.
Until recently, the minimum price was €50, but this has now dropped as low as €20 in cities such as Amsterdam and The Hague.
Geisha is to set up a project for sex workers so they can form a co-operative. Geisha will rent a room which prostitutes only pay rent for when they are actually working.
Amsterdam Red-Light District:Holland Debates Sex Trade

This city’s famed red-light district looks much as it has for years, with bikini-clad women behind plate-glass windows fluffing their hair or beckoning to passersby, colorful beds visible in the background as an unspoken invitation.
But things could soon change for the sex-for-hire industry following a recognition in the freewheeling Netherlands that its decision in 2000 to legalize brothels has failed to stem human trafficking.
“For something as simple as the lust for sex, we are tolerating modern-day slavery,” said Myrthe Hilkens, a Labor Party legislator who supports a series of moves to tighten the rules on prostitution. “I think that cannot be.”
The proposals are far-reaching. Most contested is a bill to require all prostitutes be registered with the government—a measure that has already been approved by the lower house but is struggling in the Senate.
Also in the works: raising the minimum age to 21 from 18, and a requirement that escort services be licensed, just as brothels currently are.
A vote is expected before the summer recess on July 9.
Meanwhile, the city government in Amsterdam on Wednesday is expected to approve tougher rules, including ordering brothels to close in the early-morning hours and requiring that prostitutes speak Dutch, English, German or Spanish, to make it harder to exploit them.
These ideas reflect a consensus that regulating prostitution hasn’t deterred human trafficking, which has increased since the opening of the former Soviet bloc in the 1980s.
“A huge concern is that a lot of criminal organizations send their prostitutes to the Netherlands,” said Ard van der Steur, a legislator from the center-right Liberal Party, which rules in a coalition with the left-leaning Labor Party. “Leaving everything the way it is fuels a grave concern that we are not doing what we should to prevent human trafficking.”
A similar debate is under way in Germany, which followed the Netherlands in liberalizing prostitution in 2002.
But critics say such restrictions will hurt sex workers, not those who exploit them. “You do not have to fight sex work, you have to fight trafficking,” said Ilonka Stakelborough, a former prostitute who now runs a Dutch advocacy group called Geisha.
Under the proposed registry, Holland’s roughly 20,000 prostitutes would have to meet with government officials and show they are not being coerced in order to get a registration card.
Critics call that a violation of the privacy of prostitutes, who may want to hide their current profession from future employers. A prostitute working involuntarily, often facing threats to her family, they add, can hardly be expected to tell a government official the truth.
“You put a coerced woman in front of a civil servant, and she will say whatever she has to say,” said Flavia Dzodan, an Amsterdam-based journalist who blogs on women’s issues.
The Senate will soon vote on whether to remove the registry from the bill. Underlying the debate is the broader question of whether prostitution can truly be “cleaned up.” The city’s red-light district, which expanded in the 17th century when Amsterdam was a leading port city, remains one of Europe’s big tourist attractions., with a Sex Museum, an elaborate condom shop and the smell of marijuana wafting from the many “coffee shops” authorized to sell it.
The city for several years has been trying to reshape the neighborhood, buying up brothels it considers dangerous, like those in dimly-lighted corners, and turning them into cafes or shops.
City officials say they have managed to cut the number of prostitutes’ windows in the red-light district from 500 to 409 in about five years, and want to ultimately bring it down to 300.
“We try not to address these problems from the moral point of view,” Eberhard van der Laan, Amsterdam’s mayor, said. “We say there is abuse and we want to fight it.”
The prostitution issue erupted in February, when Ms. Hilkens and another lawmaker, Gert-Jan Segers, made a highly publicized visit to Sweden, which outlaws buying sexual services but not selling them. Ms. Hilkens and Mr. Segers discussed this different approach from Holland’s in Dutch television studios.
No one expects the Netherlands to criminalize sex-for-hire soon, though Mr. Segers, of the Christian Union Party, believes it should. “It’s immoral when a man with power and money is buying the body of a woman,” he said. Dutch officials note prostitution is widely practiced even in countries that ban it. (In the U.S., prostitution is illegal except in parts of Nevada.)
“It’s unlikely to disappear anywhere on earth,” said Willem Witteveen, a Labor Party legislator. “You should bring it into the open and see if you can prevent excesses.”

[wa3zrm]

Why Did They Crucify Jesus?

He died because he acted like the incarnate Son of God; spoke like the incarnate Son of God
What infuriated the establishment most were the claims to Lordship, the posture of authority, the exalted titles, the exercise of Messiahship, the presumed right to forgive, the way in which Jesus put himself in the center of Israel’s story, the delusions of grandeur, the acceptance of worship, and the audacity of man being God. Jesus did not die because the Jerusalem nasties couldn’t stand a souped up incarnation of Sesame Street.

(Excerpt) Read more at theaquilareport.com ...

[wa3zrm]

Facebook Group Claims “Virgin Mary Should Have Aborted”
Life News ^ |

A group of concerned Christians are calling on Facebook to remove a page that promotes the notion that the Virgin Mary of the Bible should have received an abortion. Titled “Virgin Mary Should’ve Aborted,” the administrator of the page claims to “explain what really happened in the biblical times, since the bible is full of lies.”
With just over 3,000 ‘Likes,’ Celene Schartner of Australia says the page not only demeans what Christians believe, but it is slanderous and hateful. It diminishes the right to life of every unborn infant in its mother’s womb by its very title and statement.
“Many Christians worldwide are so distressed at the attempts to diminish Christian values and the slanderous attacks on the Bible,” said Schartner. “If people don’t believe that’s their choice, but they need to learn respect for the choices of others.”
Mrs. Schartner encourages others to join the protest by signing a petition that encourages the popular social media site to ban the page. As of the time of this release, more than 15,000 concerned Christians have signed the petition.
“I would never demean another Christian’s faith, or presume I have the right to do so, regardless of what they believe.”
As U.S. Spokesman for “Catholics & Protestants Against Facebook Religious discrimination”, Cary Bogue denounced the page as “beyond offensive”.
“No Christian, anywhere can consider this just ‘free speech.’ This has deliberately been set-up to offend and attack.”
Bogue maintains the page clearly is in violation of Facebook’s own policy, which states, “While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their religion.”
Bogue believes Facebook has created an automated response to complaints about the page claiming it does not consider it an attack on a religion.
“That is just absurd. All we are asking is Facebook adhere to it’s own guidelines,” said Bogue.
The group has created its own Facebook page requesting ”Virgin Mary Should’ve Aborted,” be removed.

[Zimobog]

Seems like a bit of an over-reaction... I mean, how bad WAS his singing?

[wa3zrm]

Musicians in Thailand kill U.S. tourist after he joined them onstage to sing

A U.S. business owner was killed in Thailand after going onstage to sing with a band.
What was supposed to be a fun vacation in Bangkok turned into a nightmare for one family.
Bobby Ray Carter, 51, of Texas, his wife Kelly, and their 18-month-old daughter Sadie, traveled to Thailand to celebrate Mr. Carter’s birthday. The Carters were meeting up with several other couples including Carter's adult son. The group went out to the Longhorn Saloon bar at the Ao Nang beach in Krabi province in Thailand.

(Excerpt) Read more at yourjewishnews.com ...

[wa3zrm]

Archaeologists in Turkey claim they found piece of Jesus’ cross

Archaeologists digging around an ancient church in Turkey say they’ve made a startling discovery and unearthed a piece of the cross that used to crucify Jesus.
The diggers found a stone chest this week and inside were several relics believed to be tied to the crucifixion. Among them was a piece of the actual cross upon which Jesus was nailed, one historian with Turkey’s Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts said in the Hurriyet Daily News.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...

[Zimobog]

Don't know if I can post here, but I feel I must say to that last post.... WTF.

[wa3zrm]

Oregon man in Possession of 13 Million Gallons of Illicit Rainwater Sentenced to Jail

OREGON — An Oregon resident with 3 massive man-made ponds on his property is sentenced to 30 days in jail after being found guilty (again) of collecting rainwater without a permit.

(Excerpt) Read more at nextnewsnetwork.com ...

[wa3zrm]

US Brewer Offers $1 Million Bigfoot Reward (Beer Co. Bounty for Capture/Proof of Live Sasquatch)
The Drinks Business ^ |

US brewer offers $1m Bigfoot reward
US brewer Olympia Beer is offering US $1 million for “the safe return of “Bigfoot”. The year-long contest has started in “an effort to highlight the proud histories of both Bigfoot and Olympia Beer in the [US] Northwest”.
The grand prize of $1m, will be paid to any person who finds “irrefutable evidence” of Bigfoot’s existence in compliance with the contest’s official rules.
The brewer has joined forces with Bigfoot experts at The Falcon Project for the contest, which promises to be one of the most comprehensive searches for the mysterious beast.
Evan and Daren Metropoulos, owners of Pabst Brewing Company and Olympia Beer, said: “We have been operating in the Northwest since 1896, so we know firsthand how important Bigfoot is to the people here.
“In addition to our desire to spur scientific discovery in partnership with The Falcon Project, we’re also simply encouraging people to get outside and have some fun.”
On its website the brewer emphasises that the contest is focused on the safe capture of Bigfoot, it states: “When we say safe capture that means Bigfoot has to be alive and breathing folks, with no wounds. That’s right you can’t use any act of violence, no guns/knives/boxing gloves/nets/etc, only sugar or sweets to lure him in.”
The contest rules state that Bigfoot “refers to a previously undiscovered species of upright, bipedal hominid, native to North America existing contemporaneously with the Contest Period or the twenty-five (25) year period immediately prior to the Contest Period.”
In terms of evidence the judging panel said: “Evidence may include, but is not limited to DNA Evidence. DNA Evidence may include hair, blood, tissue or saliva that proves the DNA sequence of the donor shows that said donor resides in the primate evolutionary family tree, among other apes or hominids, but does not have the same genetic markers and DNA sequence as any known species.
“Evidence may also include ‘Visual Proof’ of a live physical body. Any photo or video taken with photographic or video equipment is not sufficient to qualify as evidence in and of itself for consideration in the contest, but may be considered as supporting evidence.”
The contest is running for one year, finishing at the end of March 2014 and the website states that the $1m reward will be payable at $25,000 per year for 40 years.

[wa3zrm]

Bearded Woman Says Facial Hair Makes Her Feel Sexy


Bearded woman says facial hair makes her feel sexy
German-born Mariam says she feels more confident now that she's stopped trying to hide her facial hair. After failed electrolysis attempts and years of tweezing, the 49-year-old mom embraced the growing goatee and joined the circus.
A German woman who struggled with facial hair for nearly two decades said she finally feels sexy, now that she’s ditched the clippers and let her beard grow.
“I feel more confident and I know myself better now than when I was younger,” the 49-year-old mom, identified only as Mariam, told the British talk show, “This Morning.”
Mariam explained to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield she began growing facial hair 28 years ago, after the birth of her son.
Extra hormones produced during pregnancy can trigger hair growth.
She tried electrolysis three times, but the hair always grew back.
After years of using tweezers to disguise the growing goatee, Mariam gave up in August 2008.
“It was more curiosity, like what will happen with me if I let it grow,” she said. “Like how it will make me feel.”
Now Mariam only trims her beard for maintenance. She’s the “Bearded Lady” in a traveling circus and writes about her experiences on a blog.
Despite some nasty comments and criticism — even Mariam’s own mother questioned her decision to keep the beard— she discovered a newfound confidence.
After being single for a decade, she’s also looking for love.
“I think I’m more ready to have a relationship,” Mariam said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...

Scientist Claims to Invent 'Time Machine' To See Into The Future With 98% Accuracy
The Mirror (U.K.) ^




Scientist claims to invent 'time machine' to see into the future with 98 per cent accuracy
• He says his device can detail any individual’s life between five and eight years in advance after taking readings from the user's touch
An Iranian scientist claims he has invented a time machine that allows you to predict the future with 98 per cent accuracy.
Ali Razeghi says his device can produce a print-out detailing any individual’s life between five and eight years in advance after taking readings from the user's touch.
He claims the Iranian government, whose nuclear programme has caused concern around the world, can use his invention to predict military conflicts and forecast the fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies and oil.
He says the device is the size of a laptop and uses a complex set of algorithms which took him ten years to develop, but has not revealed any concrete details about his invention.
Unlike the time-travelling DeLorean in hit film Back To The Future, Mr Razeghi said his device ‘will not take you into the future, it will bring the future to you.’
He said: “My invention easily fits into the size of a personal computer case and can predict details of the next five to eight years of the life of its users.
“Naturally a government that can see five years into the future would be able to prepare itself for challenges that might destabilise it.
“As such, we expect to market this invention among states as well as individuals once we reach a mass production stage.”
Iran has been ridiculed in recent months after attempting to showcase its technological advances only to face accusations they were faked.
In February, it proudly unveiled a stealth fighter jet at a ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but experts quickly expressed serious doubts about whether it could even fly.
A picture of the domestically produced Qaher-313 apparently soaring over Iranian mountains did little to curb scepticism amid claims the plane never actually left the ground, but was simply doctored using Photoshop.
Critics also believe Iran’s claims that it launched a monkey into space could have been faked.
Scientists in Tehran hailed the mission to send a simian 75 miles above Earth and back in a Kavoshgar rocket as a success.
But question marks were raised after the monkey presented to the nation as the heroic astronaut looked remarkably different than the one which made lift off.

[wa3zrm]

Hearse driver dies while taking body to funeral

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Beverly Hills police say a hearse driver who was found dead with a body in the vehicle died while taking the casket to a funeral.
Lt. Lincoln Hoshino says authorities were alerted that a body was slumped over in the driver's seat of a hearse parked near the Beverly Hills Hotel at about 3 p.m. Monday.

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...

[wa3zrm]

[wa3zrm]

Florida atheists ‘unbless’ highway with ‘unholy water’
FoxNews ^ |
LAKELAND, Fla. – A group of atheists in Florida spent part of their weekend washing away a blessing placed upon a local highway by a religious group.

Armed with brooms, mops and "unholy water," the atheists gathered Saturday to symbolically clean up holy oil that Polk Under Prayer put down on Highway 98 near the Pasco-Polk county line last year, Bay News 9 reported.

"We come in peace," Humanists of Florida director Mark Palmer announced before he and members of other atheist organizations launched their cleanup.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...

[wa3zrm]

Osama Widows Brawl in Pakistani Prison
Zeenews.com ^ | Thursday, March 15, 2012


Two of Osama's widows were involved in a vicious catfight in a Pakistani prison over the youngest wife's suspicion that the eldest had betrayed the slain al-Qaeda leader, a media report said on Thursday.
The brawl took place as Khairiah Saber, Osama Bin Laden's eldest wife branded her younger rival Amal Ahmed al-Sadah, a slut, sparking off a vicious catfight in the prison.
The brawling pair, kept in custody since the world's most wanted terrorist was killed last May, had to be pulled apart by shocked guards.
Guards were under "strict instructions" never to leave oldest wife Khairiah, 61, alone with youngest Amal, 29, in case one of them kills the other, the Sun reported.
A commander from Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) told the daily how the amazing bust-up was sparked by Amal's suspicions that Khairiah had betrayed five-times married Bin Laden, by leaking his location in Pakistan to US Special Forces.
"Amal described Khairiah as 'the real killer of Bin Laden'. Khairiah accused Amal of sticking to Osama like a prostitute who wanted sex 24 hours a day," the ISI commander who helped interrogate the pair said.
The two are being held in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, along with a third wife and eight of Bin Laden's 20 kids. Khairiah was said to be jealous his youngest bride got to sleep with him all the time.
Amal, who wed al-Qaeda chief Bin Laden at 18, was hurt attempting to shield him from US Navy Seals in Abbottabad, according to the same source.
She claimed when Pakistani intelligence grilled her that he knew Khairiah had turned traitor.
Amal says in transcripts of interviews leaked yesterday, "Osama loved me the most. We used to talk about romance, other things apart from al-Qaeda things. In the last days, he felt he was being tracked down by the US forces and their allies.
He said his death was to be orchestrated by his wife (Khairiah) or family. He was ready to face it."
An earlier US media report had cited a retired Pakistani brigadier Shaukat Qadir, who carried out his own investigations, in stating that there was "poisonous mistrust" between Osama's three wives, with one of them being accused of betraying him to US intelligence.
Besides the intense jealousies among his wives, Qadir claimed that bin Laden had been sidelined by his outfit. "al-Qaeda decided to retire him in 2003 as he was mentally senile having picked up some degenerative disease from 2001," he had said.

[sgreger1]

Also, i'm just posting this here because I don't know where else to put it. I figured Chad opened a sushi restaurant or something