Storm Aborts Pope’s Antigay Speech
A strong thunderstorm in Madrid brought a premature end to Pope Benedict XVI’s Saturday night speech asserting the primacy of heterosexual marriage. Pope Benedict XVI had to cut short a speech asserting the primacy of heterosexual marriage as a severe thunderstorm hit Madrid Saturday night, Agence France-Presse reports. Strong winds and sheets of rain hit the air base where he was speaking, blowing off his skullcap, shaking the stage, and knocking over at least one tent.
Following Obama’s ‘Low Priority’ Immigration Directive, Judge Halts Deportation Hearing For Binational Lesbian Couple
Last week, the Obama administrationannounced that it would review all 300,000 active deportation cases to ensure that they are consistent with the nation’s enforcement priorities. The case-by-case review will allow the government to focus its resources and efforts on high priority targets — individuals who pose a threat to public safety and national security or repeat immigration law violators — while exempting low priority groups, including binational same-sex couples, from deportation, the administration maintained. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano explained that the new approach would also allow immigration judges “to more swiftly adjudicate high priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons.” “This process will also allow additional federal enforcement resources to be focused on border security and the removal of public safety threats,” she said.
REPORT: UGANDA’S PARLIAMENT MAY ADVANCE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL
Jim Burroway is reporting that Uganda’s Parliament may soon take-up the Anti-Homosexuality bill, despite some reports that the cabinet has thrown it out. Previous reports had indicated that the measure — which would impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for some homosexual acts — would be considered in late August.
Top Eight Pro-LGBT Arguments In The Obama Administration’s Anti-DOMA Brief
Joe Sudbay reports that the Justice Department has filed a brief in support of Edie Windsor’s challenge to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Windsor was forced to pay exorbitant federal inheritance taxes after her wife passed away because the government could not legally recognize their 44-year relationship (the couple married in Canada in May of 2007 and their union was recognized in New York). Since President Obama announced that he would no longer be upholding the constitutionality of the Act, House Speaker John Beohner (R-OH) has hired former solicitor general Paul Clement to defend the measure from legal challenges.
World’s 12 worst tourist traps
We’ve all experienced tourst traps. Those heavily advertised attractions that turn out to be bland misrepresentations of the places we’re supposed to be seeing. Expensive time
eaters that leave us with lighter wallets and a taste of burnt coffee in our mouths. So which are the world’s worst tourist traps? For starters, in no particular order, try the devil’s dozen below. Then add your “favorite” tourist traps in the comments section.
Can the Christian crusade against pornography bear fruit?
Atlanta (CNN) – He is a good Christian, Michael is telling his two therapists. He goes to church most Sundays. He’s a devoted husband and father of two daughters. “But when I would leave on business trips,” he says, “I knew I was going to get to be someone else.” “Prostitutes, porn – I took anything I wanted.” Sitting on a comfortable, worn couch, Michael glances out the window and sees a reflection of himself set against the parking lot of this suburban Atlanta office building. He fidgets, runs his fingers over his closely cropped blond hair and straightens his green tennis polo. He clears his throat. Above his head hangs a poster covered in words describing feelings – angry, anxious, sad. On it is a big yellow cross.
Accidental Bear 