SoftTech And Others Invest $1.5M In Beauty Ecommerce Site Coterie

Beauty ecommerce site Coterie is today announcing a seed raise of $1.5 million from SoftTech VC, Javelin Venture Partners and Michael Jung. Coterie allows women to sign up for exclusive limited deals on beauty brands like Kevyn Aucoin and Butter London. "All of our offers are exclusive collections, meaning you can't get them anywhere else," co-founder Catherine Magee tells me. "All the new and best products, not excess or discontinued inventory." The company will eventually let customers subscribe to their favorite Coterie-featured beauty products via its "My Vanity" feature. "My Vanity," which will roll out in three weeks, allows customers?to follow brands and subscribe to beauty products they need replenished.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/aZtjTbv5xaI/

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Dennis Crowley: Foursquare's a discovery and recommendation engine first, social service second

Plenty of Foursquare fans use the app primarily as a means to share their own location and see the locations of others around them, but Foursquare isn't only about socially-acceptable stalking. At the GigaOm Mobilize conference today, company co-founder Dennis Crowley informed those of us in the room that thinking of Foursquare as merely a check-in app is misguided. According to him, the plan for Foursquare has always been for it to be a customized discovery and recommendation engine first, and a social tool second. You see, all your check-ins provide Foursquare with valuable information about you and your friend's habits. Those check-ins, as far as Foursquare's concerned, are merely an efficient means to get the data needed to build the individualized, location-aware search and recommendation engine that powers the explore tab in the app. Crowley said that he's been hearing plenty of positive feedback from users about the accuracy and usefulness of Foursquare-powered search, and some folks have even begun using it instead of Google. Foursquare isn't on Mountain View's level just yet, but it seems that Crowley and his cohort have the reigning king of search squarely in their sights.

Filed under: Software, Mobile

Dennis Crowley: Foursquare's a discovery and recommendation engine first, social service second originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chick-fil-A agrees to stop funding anti-gay groups, lawmaker says

(Chick-fil-A)

Chick-fil-A, the fast-food chain that sparked a firestorm earlier this year after its president made public comments against same-sex marriage, has agreed to stop funding antigay groups, a Chicago alderman says.

Joe Moreno, the alderman whose opposition of a proposed Chick-fil-A on Chicago's north side helped fuel the controversy, told the Chicago Tribune the company has pledged to include a statement of respect for all sexual orientations in a memo to staffers, and has promised that the WinShape Foundations, its not-for-profit arm, would no longer contribute money to groups that oppose gay marriage. Moreno said he will recommend that Chick-fil-A's construction plans be approved.

The memo, "Chick-fil-A: Who We Are," will be distributed to all corporate employees and restaurant operators, encouraging them to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect?regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," Moreno said.

In a letter to the alderman, the company wrote that WinShape is "taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas."

Since 2003, the nonprofit has donated millions of dollars to groups that promote "traditional marriage," including Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage. According to the Civil Rights Agenda, a Chicago-based LGBT advocacy group that worked closely with Moreno, Chick-fil-A executives "clarified that they will no longer give to anti-gay organizations."

A Chick-fil-A spokeswoman declined to comment, forwarding a statement the company made in July.

"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect ?regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," the statement reads. "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."

Earlier this year, Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer, said in a radio interview that "we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'

"I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."

In an interview with the Baptist Press, Cathy doubled down on his stance against same-sex unions.

"Guilty as charged," he said. "We are very much supportive of the family?the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

The comments sparked protests and counter-protests at Chick-fil-A stores.

The company, founded by Dan's father, Truett Cathy, in 1946, has a history of "unapologetic social conservatism," as the Daily Caller put it. All 1,608 of its stores are closed on Sundays, a day of rest for most Christians.

The WinShape Foundation gave $3.2 million to groups that advocate against same-sex marriage between 2008 and 2010, according to ABC News.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/chick-fil-funding-anti-gay-groups-175154249.html

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FDA urged to set standards for arsenic in rice

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Consumer groups are pressuring the Food and Drug Administration to set federal guidance on allowable levels of arsenic in rice, prompting the agency to study the issue and consider possible new standards.

So far, FDA officials say they have found no evidence that suggests rice is unsafe to eat. The agency is in the middle of conducting a study of 1,200 samples of grocery store rice products ? short and long-grain rice, cereals, drinks and even rice cakes ? to measure arsenic levels.

Arsenic is thought to be found in rice in higher levels than most other foods because it is grown in water on the ground, optimal conditions for the contaminant to be absorbed in the rice. There are no federal standards for how much arsenic is allowed in food.

Arsenic is naturally present in water, air, food and soil in two forms, organic and inorganic. According to the FDA, organic arsenic passes through the body quickly and is essentially harmless. Inorganic arsenic -? the type found in some pesticides and insecticides ? can be toxic and may pose a cancer risk if consumed at high levels or over a long period.

How much organic and inorganic arsenic rice eaters are consuming, and whether those levels are dangerous, still remains to be seen.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says consumers shouldn't stop eating rice, though she does encourage a diverse diet just in case.

"Our advice right now is that consumers should continue to eat a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of grains ? not only for good nutrition but also to minimize any potential consequences from consuming any one particular food," she said.

The agency on Wednesday released 200 of the expected 1,200 samples after Consumers Union, publisher of the magazine Consumer Reports, released its own study and called for federal standards for arsenic in rice. The FDA will not complete its study until the end of the year, Hamburg said, and cannot draw any conclusions from the results until then.

Both studies show relatively similar levels of arsenic in rice. The FDA's analysis showed average levels of 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per serving, while Consumer Reports found levels up to 8.7 micrograms. The FDA released 200 samples, while Consumer Reports tested 223.

It is almost impossible to say how dangerous these levels are without a benchmark from the federal government. Consumer Reports uses New Jersey's drinking water standard ? a maximum of 5 micrograms in a liter of water ? as comparison because it is one of the strictest in the country. But it is unclear how accurate it is to compare arsenic levels in water and arsenic levels in rice ? most people consume more water than rice, so drinking water standards may need to be tougher.

It is because of this uncertainty that groups like Consumers Union have urged the FDA to set a standard.

Urvashi Rangan of Consumers Union says the group is not trying to alarm rice eaters and parents feeding their children rice, but to educate them so they can diversify their diets. Consumers should be more protected since arsenic is a known carcinogen, she said.

"It doesn't make sense not to have standards for rice," she said.

The Consumers Union study found higher levels of arsenic in brown rice than white rice, a result of how the two different types are processed. It also found higher levels in rice produced in Southern U.S. states than in rice from California or Asia.

Hamburg cautioned that neither the FDA nor Consumers Union had tested enough samples to be certain of any trend.

"These are very few samples and there is great variability in the levels," she said.

The consumer group's push on arsenic in rice comes a year after it pressured the FDA to define standards for arsenic in apple juice. Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, said Tuesday that the agency had completed that assessment and would be making recommendations soon. The levels found in apple juice are low, he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fda-urged-set-standards-arsenic-rice-100545079--finance.html

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Verizon CFO buries his head in the sand, claims unlimited data is 'going by the wayside'

"La la la la. I can't hear you." Verizon's CFO, Fran Shammo, might've just as well made those comments with his hands firmly cupped over his ears, as the firm's chief number cruncher told attendees at today's Goldman Sachs investor conference, "Unlimited is just a word, it doesn't really mean anything." While Sprint and T-Mobile would certainly take issue with that statement, Shammo then dug the hole deeper by saying, "That whole unlimited thing, I think, is going by the wayside." These comments were made in the context of Shammo playing up the carrier's shared data plans, wherein he explained his belief that consumers "think they consume a lot more data than they really do." Shammo also revealed that Verizon has converted more subscribers and devices over to the new scheme than it'd initially anticipated.

Naturally, change within any industry takes time, but now that Sprint is in a position to offer unlimited data at a meaningful speed and T-Mobile has climbed aboard the bandwagon, Verizon may have to change its tune if a significant number of consumers decide that unlimited isn't dead after all. You can view the entire transcript at the source link below, but consider this: would you take unlimited plans into consideration when shopping between carriers, or is Mr. Shammo right that consumers really don't use that much data? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Verizon CFO buries his head in the sand, claims unlimited data is 'going by the wayside' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/sU_-phDG8Kc/

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Medication effective in treating social withdrawal in Fragile X and potentially autism patients

ScienceDaily (Sep. 19, 2012) ? An investigational compound that targets the core symptoms of fragile X syndrome is effective for addressing the social withdrawal and challenging behaviors characteristic of the condition, making it the first such discovery for fragile X syndrome and, potentially, the first for autism spectrum disorder, a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center and the University of California, Davis MIND Institute has found.

The finding is the result of a clinical trial in adult and pediatric subjects with fragile X syndrome. It suggests, however, that the compound may have treatment implications for at least a portion of the growing population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as for those with other conditions defined by social deficits. The study is published online September 19 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"There are no FDA-approved treatments for fragile X syndrome, and the available options help secondary symptoms but do not effectively address the core impairments in fragile X syndrome," said Dr. Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, the lead author of the article. "This is the first large-scale study that is based on the molecular understanding of fragile X syndrome and, importantly, suggests that the core symptoms may be amenable to pharmacologic treatment." Berry-Kravis is professor of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences, and Biochemistry at Rush.

The "first-in-patient" drug trial was led by Berry-Kravis and Dr. Randi Hagerman of the UC Davis MIND Institute. It examined the effects of the compound STX 209, also known by the name Arbaclofen. The study was conducted collaboratively with Seaside Theraputics, a Cambridge, Mass., pharmaceutical company, that is focused on translating bench research on fragile X and autism into therapeutic interventions. Seaside Therapeutics produces the compound.

"This study shows that STX 209 is an important part of the treatment for fragile X syndrome, because it improved symptoms in those with significant social deficits or autism as well as fragile X syndrome," said Hagerman, who is the medical director of the MIND Institute. "Additional studies also are suggesting that STX 209 can be helpful for autism without fragile X syndrome. Until now, there have been no targeted treatments available for autism. This appears to be the first."

Fragile X syndrome is the most common known cause of inherited intellectual impairment, formerly referred to as mental retardation, and the leading known single-gene cause of autism. Social impairment is one of the core deficits in both fragile X and autism. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 6,000 to 8,000 females have the disorder. An estimated 1 in 88 children born today will be diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC.

"This study will help to signal the beginning of a new era of targeted treatments for genetic disorders that have historically been regarded as beyond the reach of pharmacotherapy," Berry-Kravis said. "It will be a model for treatment of autism, intellectual disability and developmental brain disorders based on understanding of dysfunction in brain pathways, as opposed to empiric treatment of symptoms. We hope mechanistically-based treatments like STX209 ultimately will be shown to improve cognitive functioning in longer-term trials."

Studies in mice genetically engineered to exhibit features of fragile X, including social impairment, have suggested that the behavioral abnormalities in fragile X result from deficiencies in the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). Decreased GABA has been observed in a mouse model of fragile X in many areas of the brain including the hippocampus, and has been hypothesized to be a basis of the social anxiety and avoidance characteristic of fragile X sufferers, the study says.

Arbaclofen is an agonist for gamma-amino butyric acid type B, or GABA-B, receptors. An agonist is a chemical that effectively combines with a receptor on a synapse to effect a physiologic reaction typical of a naturally occurring substance. Anxiety-driven repetitive behavior and social avoidance have been reduced in fragile X-engineered mice treated with arbaclofen. The current, first-of-its-kind study investigated whether Arbaclofen would produce similar results in human subjects.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial initially recruited 63 subjects at 12 sites across the United States for the research, conducted between December 2008 and March 2010. The participants ranged in age from 6 to 39 years. Of the initial participants, 56 completed the clinical trial. There were no withdrawals related to drug tolerability. The majority of the subjects were treated with what was assessed as the optimum tolerated dosage of the study drug, 10 milligrams twice a day in younger patients and three times a day in adults. Compliance was monitored by patient guardians, who filled out a dosing form on a daily basis.

The study subjects returned for evaluations at two- and four-week intervals after beginning the six-week-long treatment. The drug then was tapered down over a one- to two-week period. After a week, the subjects entered a second treatment period.

The effects of the medication were scored on variables of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, a behavior-rating scale for the assessment of drug-treatment effects. The checklist includes variables for irritability, lethargy/withdrawal, stereotypic (repetitive) behavior and hyperactivity, among other factors.

The study found improvement for the full study population on the social-avoidance subscale, an analysis validated by secondary ratings from parent observation of improvement in subjects' three most problematic behaviors. It found that the medication was the same as placebo, however, on the subscale for irritability.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rush University Medical Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. E. M. Berry-Kravis, D. Hessl, B. Rathmell, P. Zarevics, M. Cherubini, K. Walton-Bowen, Y. Mu, D. V. Nguyen, J. Gonzalez-Heydrich, P. P. Wang, R. L. Carpenter, M. F. Bear, R. J. Hagerman. Effects of STX209 (Arbaclofen) on Neurobehavioral Function in Children and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome: A Randomized, Controlled, Phase 2 Trial. Science Translational Medicine, 2012; 4 (152): 152ra127 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004214

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/6d7qyoaox4U/120919142140.htm

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hurricane windows Austin,replacement - Do I Need Hurricane ...

The answer to this question is a simple one: If you live anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico region, you should install hurricane windows in your home or business. This is especially true for the Houston area, as its proximity to the coast makes it an easy target for strong summer storms and the occasional hurricane. Just because you've never experienced a hurricane in your area, doesn't mean you are safe from disaster. It's usually the homes that are the least prepared that assume the most damages when a hurricane comes rolling into the area. Use this guide to hurricane windows and decide for yourself whether or not you need to install these fantastic windows to keep your home safe from storms.

Protection

Gulf Coast Windows prides itself on their durable glass hurricane windows. By pressing together a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer between the two window panes under extreme pressure, superior strength is achieved. These powerful panes known as KeepSafe Maximum glass are so strong, they have passed wind tests of over 135 Mph! Flying debris is no problem when it comes to hurricane proof glass. Even when the window has been shattered and broken, it still won't come loose from its frame so you don't have to worry about flying debris.

Don't bother with plywood panels, hurricane shutters or sketchy clips to cover up your windows during the hurricane season, hurricane windows are built to last through the strongest of storms and beyond. Call Gulf Coast Windows right now and learn about all of our hurricane windows today, so you can protect your home from future storm damages.

Security

Besides the powerful forces of Mother Nature that can do more than just ruin your day, there are the much more powerful forces of man. Burglaries are one of the biggest factors when it comes to home security because window panes are so easy to break and enter undetected. Because our hurricane windows are so strong, you can bet that they have the strength and durability to repeal criminals. Even when the glass panes have been smashed with a hammer, they still won't budge, keeping criminals at bay. Keep your family safe and your possessions yours by installing hurricane windows in your home or business.

Energy Efficiency

Durable and strong are just the start of owning hurricane windows. Because of their thickness, resistance to stress and layers of high tech polymers, hurricane windows from Gulf Coast Windows are very energy efficient. By preventing the harsh UV rays that strike your windows from entering the structure, they not only ensure that your energy costs remain lower, they also prevent damages from sunlight that can often fade furniture, carpets and paint. Keep your home cool in the summer, warm in the winter and your energy costs lower by installing hurricane windows.

Sound Control

When you live near a busy road, school or airport, you know it! Keep noise pollution outdoors and out of your home for good by installing hurricane windows from Gulf Coast Windows. Call us today for an estimate on the only windows you'll ever need and keep your sanctuary silent.

William Stanton is a freelance writer from Texas. He writes mainly for hurricane windows Austin which is a local window supplier providing custom builds and installations to all their customers for over 20 years.

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Retail Recon | Burberry's Bet on Retail ... - The Business of Fashion

Burberry Regent Street Flagship | Source: Burberry

LONDON, United Kingdom ??Much has already been written about the opening of Burberry?s new flagship on London?s Regent Street ? the sophisticated digital technology, the impressive multimedia event space, and all that Burberry product, housed in 27,000 square feet of selling space, about the same size as the landmark Apple Store just up the street. The flagship is said to be a ?test hub and template? for future Burberry stores around the world, including a 14,920 square foot flagship set to open in Chicago in November.

But what is the shopping experience like? And what does Burberry?s new high-tech store herald for the future of physical retailing in a world that is increasingly digital?

When BoF visited the store, two days before the brand?s Spring/Summer 2013 show, the cavernous space was buzzing with people, in stark contrast to most luxury stores, which are often quiet and still. Everywhere we looked, people were trying on clothes, exploring the architecture or simply relaxing on sofas. While Burberry declined to provide footfall numbers, the store?s accessible location and inviting atmosphere have clearly managed to draw in the crowds.

Indeed, by opening on Regent Street ? a busy shopping area with heavy tourist flows, better known for mass consumer retailers like Nike and Gap ? Burberry seems to have made a conscious decision to make its new flagship much more accessible than the typical luxury emporium. The entrance is free of the imposing black-suited security guards with earpieces that man the doorways at luxury retailers on nearby Bond Street and the message is simple: ?It?s a place that you can come just to hang out,? Burberry?s chief creative officer, Christopher Bailey, told BoF, backstage after the brand?s Spring/Summer 2013 runway show.

And like the bustling Abercrombie & Fitch flagship on New York?s Fifth Avenue or the Louis Vuitton?maison?on the Champs-?lys?es in Paris, Burberry?s new megastore is sure to become a must-see destination for many of the millions of tourists who visit London each year.

Showcasing the brand?s entire offering under one roof, the new flagship offers a wide range of price points and is organised much like a multi-brand department store. On the ground floor, a large main hall features an array of accessibly-priced items from the Burberry Brit line. The ground floor will also soon house a dedicated area for cosmetics and makeup line Burberry Beauty, while the brand?s significantly pricier fashion collection, Burberry Prorsum, is sold in a more intimate and plush setting on the store?s top floor.

In all, the store houses 13 different product lines, so finding things easily is critical. Interestingly, the taxonomy of the store directory ? which appears on screens throughout the flagship ? corresponds exactly with the homepage of the company?s website.

In fact, many of the store?s innovations are concerned with the integration of the digital and physical worlds and Burberry has done much to synchronise its physical retail presence with monthly product drops and corresponding digital communications activities. ?Online moves very fast and we wanted to make sure that in retail, every month, we were going at a similar pace,? said Bailey. ?Every month, when we change the landing page on the website. We also change the windows; we change all the touchpoints throughout the store to make sure that it?s all consistent.?

Furthering the focus on online-offline integration, e-commerce purchases can easily be collected or returned at Burberry?s Regent Street store. The brand has also armed its sales associates with iPads, loaded with sophisticated ?clienteling? apps, in order to give customers a more tailored in-store experience, linked to online profiles.

But so far, the integration of original digital content is the most compelling element of the new retail strategy. ?Burberry Regent Street brings our digital world to life in a physical space for the first time, where customers can experience every facet of the brand through immersive multimedia content exactly as they do online,? said chief executive Angela Ahrendts in a statement.

RFID?tags embedded in clothes and accessories trigger nearby mirrors, which transform into screens and display relevant video content. A handbag with a golden fox?s head triggered an engaging video on the craftsmanship behind the bag, while a dress retrieved a runway video that did not appear to be immediately relevant to the product in hand. It seems that building a large enough digital content library and the associated logic to deliver genuine relevance remains a work-in-progress.

But with a strong foundation now in place ? the brand has installed miles of digital wiring, as well as nearly 500 audio speakers and 100 digital displays ? the stage is set for Burberry to iterate: testing, learning and innovating over time, just as it does with its website.

When BoF visited, street style imagery and music videos from the brand?s marketing campaigns played on the store?s audiovisual system, attracting attention from consumers. But most impressive of all was a dramatic ?digital rain shower? (weather is a major theme for the brand, best known for its raincoats) that swept across the flagship, appearing on all of the store?s screens, from those in fitting rooms on the top floor to the soaring 22 foot screen in the main hall. It seemed that every shopper in the store stopped to experience the moment.

?We?ve tried to choreograph it so that you have content specific to certain areas, but then all of a sudden the whole store turns into one rain cloud and makes you stop and smile,? said Bailey. ?It?s not just about shopping. The important thing for me is that when you go in, you feel entertained.?

Retail entertainment is at the very heart of Burberry?s new flagship. More than just a store for buying products, the flagship features museum-like brand exhibits and a veritable event space with a hydraulic stage and a full calendar of cultural programming, including monthly music gigs, soon to be announced.

Outside fashion, cutting-edge companies like Disney and Apple have also turned their stores into places where people go to spend leisure time, not just to shop. But make no mistake, these experiences can ultimately generate significant commercial value.

?Time is the currency of all experiences,? wrote business guru Joseph Pine on the Harvard Business Review website. ?And a very simple rule applies: the more time your customers spend with you, the more money they will spend now and in the future.?

What?s more, as transactions move online, consumers will no longer need to visit physical stores simply in order to buy things. In a recent blog post, technology investor Chris Dixon wrote: ?What most people agree on is that e-commerce as a whole will continue to grow rapidly and eat into offline commerce. In the steady state, offline commerce will serve only two purposes: immediacy (stuff you need right away) and experiences (showroom, fun venues). All other commerce will happen online.?

This means physical stores, no longer a necessary stop on a Saturday afternoon, must learn to compete for precious leisure time with experiences like concerts, sporting events and museums.

Of course, it?s always nice to bring home a few souvenirs.

Vikram Alexei Kansara is Managing Editor of The Business of Fashion

Source: http://www.businessoffashion.com/2012/09/retail-recon-burberrys-bet-on-retail-entertainment.html

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi begins landmark US visit

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Chicago teachers extend strike as mayor seeks injunction

The Chicago Teachers Union decided to extend its first strike in 25 years into a second week after union leadership decided it needed more time to pore over a tentative deal the city offered late last week.

Jackson Potter, a union organizer, told Yahoo News that the union's delegates asked on Sunday for more time to review the contract. The delegates also had not seen the entire written contract, only portions of it. The city offered the union membership a 16 percent raise over four years, but new teacher evaluations and the process for how laid-off teachers are rehired still trouble the union.

"They also were very concerned with job security and the massive school closings that are proposed for December," Potter added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he will take the union to court to try to stop the strike, which has kept 350,000 kids out of class for six days now. "This was a strike of choice and is now a delay of choice that is wrong for our children," Emanuel said in a statement.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/chicago-union-extends-strike-rahm-emanuel-seeks-injunction-123730904.html

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Pet Birds | How Lesser Zebra Finch Guy Birds Get Fortunate With ...

Marie-Jeanne Holveck and Katharina Riebel of Leiden University, the Netherlands, separated zebra finch chicks into either small teams of two to a few chicks or larger teams of 5 to 6 chicks. The idea is that birds that mature in huge broods have fewer wherewithal dedicated to them and will be of a poorer quality,i.e., weaker, weedier and of inferior quality singers.

Once the chicks had grown up, both low and high-quality females were located in a cage where they could choose to pay attention to either a coffee or high-quality male song by pecking one of 2 red buttons. Of the twenty four birds observed, every low-quality female chose the low-quality male song, and therefore the high-quality females opted for males with high-quality songs.

Holveck and Riebel afterward tested how birds of the same and different quality mated. When in a very cage along, birds of the same quality were a lot of faster to mate than unequal birds.
Nice mate

While a low-quality feminine did mate with a high-quality partner, her eggs were larger. The authors reckon this is often as a result of the feminine knows she is doing better than she deserves, and can invest more nutrients into the eggs she lays.

Zebra finches mate seasonally, thus might they not have time to wait around for Mr Perfect. Mating out of their league could result in divorce if the male leaves for a higher-quality female.

The authors say their finding echoes a popular perception that humans select associates who they assume are as attractive as themselves, or have the same market value. If perceived market worth can affect mate choice in such numerous species, it may be a broad-spectrum occurrence, says Holveck.

The outcome are putting, says Tim Fawcett of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. I guess this behaviour can conjointly be found in different animals.

Pet birds can be a lot of complicated than you?re thinking that they might be. You would possibly believe that pet birds are simple to handle, simple to train, and simple to own. However, the reality is that they are truly quite troublesome because they get a very long time to induce to understand and to coach, and if you are going to have a bird and do it accurately, you have got to make sure that you know all regarding the bird in advance, which you?re willing to take the time that is necessary to try and do all of the items that you have to do in order to be a proper bird owner.

One amongst the things that you?ve got to be sure you do as a smart bird owner is to find your bird the correct kind of vet that will facilitate your in your bird ownership. There are plenty of things that you?ll be able to do as you hunt for vets to form certain that the one you choose is going to be best for you and for your bird.

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Source: http://petsgo.org/pet-birds-how-lesser-zebra-finch-guy-birds-get-fortunate-with-the-girls/

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Alabama voters to decide on Medicaid, prison support (reuters)

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Discover About Alternative Medicine | My Blog

Posted by KeithaJudi816 on Sep 16, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off

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I became interested in alternative medicine when I had to investigation and write about the most recent trends in it for an article in my magazine. I had really honestly in no way given considerably thought to the doctor?s orders for specific drugs and techniques of remedy until I began researching for this piece. I soon realized how cautious we ought to be about anything that we place into our bodies. After all, we only get a single body to live in and take care of, so it is solely our responsibility to be knowledgable about ourselves and to make the very best attainable options for our personal well being.

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Source: http://funclub24.com/2012/09/16/discover-about-alternative-medicine/

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Will Chicago teachers approve proposed contract?

Kids may be back in school on Monday if the Chicago Teachers Union is able to reach an agreement about salary increases, teacher evaluations and rehiring policy for laid off teachers. NBC's Rehema Ellis reports.

By Phil Rogers, Alexandra Clark and Mary Ann Ahern, NBCChicago.com

Updated at 5:45 p.m. ET: CHICAGO -- As Chicago teachers union delegates met Sunday to go over the details of the proposed contract hammered out late Saturday night, some worried the union would not approve the deal.

A faction of the union sees it as a "back room deal" that does not have unified support. While Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and her team are ready to present the details this afternoon, already there is a vocal faction promising to vote no.???

A source close to the union says late into Saturday night, Lewis' caucus shouted obscenities at her and the other leaders - "You sold out" and "Rahm's getting everything they wanted, what the hell did we get?"???

Lewis, who is exhausted from a tense week, indicated that she's done negotiating and asked "Will my own caucus defy me?"

At the heart of those who oppose this new deal - they feel the negotiating team did not fight for paraprofessionals and special education teachers and students.

Read full coverage at NBCChicago.com

Compounding the delegates anger is today at sundown is the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and many of the Jewish delegates feel pressured to vote? even though? they shouted at Lewis there is "no way to vote on something we haven't seen."?

On the other hand, union members could vote to accept the new contract, ending the city?s week-long teacher strike -- the first one in 25 years -- opening school doors for 350,000 students as early as Monday. But delegates could ask for 24 hours to talk to individual members in their schools before making a decision on what to do next.

---

?We are a democratic body and therefore we want to ensure all of our members have had the chance to weigh-in on what we were able to win,? said CTU President Karen Lewis. ?We believe this is a good contract, however, no contract will solve all of the inequities in our District."

Delegates are not the ones who will sign off on the new contract, union leadership explained. That responsibility remains with the union rank and file.

Negotiators started the day with a vow to remain at the table all day, to hammer out final details in an agreement which could open classroom doors again on Monday.

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"Hopefully we can do it," said CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said on Saturday before heading into talks to end the week-long teacher strike. "But like I said, the devil's in the details in the contracts, and we want it in writing."

The talks, which began at 9 a.m. Saturday, took most of the day and were still going on 12 hours later. Both sides are working out the details to a "tentative" contract that could suspend the strike and put students back in class.

Once the language of the contract is decided, it will go to the union's House of Delegates for approval. Both sides have expressed a desire to have the contract ready for approval by Sunday.

Even though an agreement is still being negotiated, Sharkey thinks the strike itself was a victory for his members.

"Educators in the city of Chicago feel like they've had their voices heard for the first time in a very long time," he said. "Frankly we're tired of the political establishment taking credit for every gain the schools make, when we're the ones who do all the work."

Earlier in the day, Mayor Rahm Emanuel had no words about the possibility of an agreement and refused all questions pertaining to the strike as he worked the crowd at the Mexican Independence Parade.

Around the same time in Union Park, an estimated 2,500 teachers and supporters gathered for a "Solidarity Rally."

Watch the Top Videos on NBCNews.com

Lewis was one of the 20 speakers who took to the stage during the rally and applauded the teachers for standing their ground while reminding them the work was not over.

"We are still on strike," Lewis told the crowd decked out in red. "We have a framework; we do not have an agreement."

On Friday, leaders on both sides of Chicago's teacher strike said they have a "framework" in place to end the stalemate that's embroiled the city and kept students out of classes for a full week.

Chicago's first teacher strike in 25 years could end Sunday if the union's House of Delegates approves that action. The delegates are not the ones who will sign off on the new contract, however, union leadership explained. That responsibility remains with the union rank and file.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/16/13893467-chicago-teachers-strike-3pm-vote-on-deal?lite

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Brought to You by...Big Oil?: Washington Post hides industry sponsorship of energy debate

Is it accurate?

Can you confirm that it is true?

Have you yourself verified some of the facts and observations in this story? If so, did you find that information to be correct? If not, are you confident that the information has been verified? To answer this question, you may want to do some of your own research, and look at how other publications covered this story. If you do not know anything about this topic and do not have time to research it, please do not answer this question.

Source: http://newstrust.net/stories/8914583/toolbar?ref=rss

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Romney: "We are at the mercy of world events." (Reuters)

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Global health group seeks to "save brains" as well as lives

LONDON (Reuters) - As many as 200 million children across the world fail to reach their full potential because their early brain development is held back by poverty, disease and malnutrition, global health experts said on Thursday.

Announcing backing for several projects aimed at "saving brains" as well as lives in poorer countries, they said global health and development efforts should focus not only on keeping children alive, but on improving their first 1,000 days.

The projects include plans to encourage so-called "kangaroo mother care", where low-weight newborns are held skin to skin rather than put into incubators, and ways of combating maternal depression to boost interaction between mothers and babies.

"There's a huge waste of brain power. It's like taking 200 million brains around the world and throwing them into 200 million waste bins," said Peter Singer, chief executive of Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), a non-profit group that funds health and development innovation in developing countries.

"Wasting brain power is a great way to make sure poor countries remain poor - that's why reversing it is so important."

Singer's group, funded by the Canadian government, is putting 11.8 million Canadian dollars ($12 million) into 11 projects in developing countries from Thailand to Pakistan to Bangladesh to Colombia aimed at helping children flourish and pull themselves and their countries out of poverty.

"Imagine harnessing all that potential," Singer said in a telephone interview. "It's critical because brain development equals child development equals development of countries."

In Bangladesh, expectant mothers and babies who were given vitamin A supplements to reduce infant deaths will be tracked to see the impact on cognitive development in older children. Experts think vitamin A may be key to brain and central nervous system development and function.

A separate project in Colombia will assess whether skin-to-skin "kangaroo mother care", which provides nutrition, warmth and bonding for newborns, may be better than incubator care for babies' brain development.

With malaria infecting up to 300 million children in high-risk countries each year, another project will look at whether using a suppository form of the anti-malarial drug artesunate during the sometimes hours-long trip to get a child to hospital may minimize any brain injury caused when the disease attacks the brain and central nervous system.

"These ideas are proven in the short term, but now...it is important to understand how these innovations can impact children as they become adults, to see the real potential for improving lives," said Karlee Silver, GCC's expert on women's and children's health.

($1 = 0.9726 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Paul Casciato)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/global-health-group-seeks-save-brains-well-lives-080214860.html

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Interview with Wayne Thomas Batson | Marcher Lord Press

(*Originally posted November 2007)

What a joy to have Christian author Wayne Thomas Batson as our interview guest at WhereTheMapEnds.com.

Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of five SpecFic/ Adventure books including the bestselling trilogy, The?Door Within, and new pirate novels Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire.

He is a lifetime lover of all things fantastic, creepy, and/or peculiar. He says he writes SpecFic because he believes that deep down, we all dream of other worlds and long to do something that matters.

Wayne is an active blogger and online advocate of Christian fantasy fiction. He was part of the Fantasy Four book tour in the summer of 2007, and as a result he was given opportunity to be interviewed on radio (see photo) and on TV as a spokesman for Christian fantasy.

WhereTheMapEnds: Catch us up with what?s going on in your life.

Wayne Thomas Batson: As of October 20th [2007], I wrapped up the principal manuscript of Isle of Fire, the sequel to Isle of Swords. This was a serious deadline. I had a little more than three months to complete the work. God came through with the ideas, and I am stoked with the composition of the story. Should be a fun adventure with depth.

WhereTheMapEnds: As the boy in Princess Bride so aptly says, ?Murdered by pirates is good.? So what is your favorite speculative novel of all time (Christian or secular) and why is that your favorite?

Wayne Thomas Batson: No Contest: The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was my gateway series to the genre of fantasy, and I reread it every chance I get.

To me, Tolkien redefined the author?s level of commitment to a story. He spent decades of his life developing the world map, the cultures, the unique languages, and histories of all his creations. I don?t think we see that as much today because publishers are nervous about missing ?marketing windows.?

What I mean by that is that publishers rush their authors to be productive, assigning short deadline periods and quick turnarounds. Publishers also want series books to be out rapid fire, so that multiple books are out at the same time. They don?t want to let authors take 1.5-2 years per book anymore.

That?s something I really struggle with. I mean, how do you rush creativity? Still, Tolkien?s work stands alone as a lovingly and meticulously crafted SpecFic tale. Always will be my favorite.

WhereTheMapEnds:?What made you want to write Christian speculative fiction?

Wayne Thomas Batson: Actually, I don?t write Christian speculative fiction. I write fiction that is informed by my identity as a Christian.

I know that sounds like semantics, but really, it?s not. If I?m a Christian and a mechanic and I fix your car?was it a Christian repair? If the manager at the local McDonald?s is a Christian and I make a purchase there, do I get a Christian Happy Meal? See my point?

I am a Christian and Jesus is everything to me. He is my worldview and my life. When I write, I pray that He comes shining through. But I am not writing just for Christians to read.

I want everyone to be able to read and enjoy my books on multiple levels: surface and deep. At the surface, come and enjoy a heart-pounding adventure in an enchanting realm. But go deeper than that. See the big questions. Be a thoughtful reader. My thought is, if I get people asking the questions for which Jesus is the only answer, then I?ve done well.

WhereTheMapEnds:? Sounds like a good plan. How was your first idea for a Christian speculative novel received (by anyone: spouse, friends, parents, agent, publisher, readers, reviewers, etc.)?

Wayne Thomas Batson: I wrote first for my students. I?m a middle school Reading/English teacher, and I had real trouble finding just the ?right? story to go with a certain lesson. So, I started writing them myself.

The Door Within books came about because my students challenged me to write an assignment I had given them. My story was 17 pages written in green ink on loose leaf paper. My students loved it. They asked me to make it a movie. That was the spark that led me to keep writing.

WhereTheMapEnds:?Leave it to kids to recognize talent. I know your young readers enjoy your books so much. It?s great to be able to take that quality that worked so well in the classroom and ?bottle? it in a book that anyone can read. Very cool. So how would you characterize the current state of Christian speculative fiction writing and/or publishing?

Wayne Thomas Batson: Tentatively Growing. In the last 10 years CBA publishers published more fantasy than the previous fifty years. [Editor's note: "CBA" stands for the Christian Booksellers' Association and is a shorthand way of referring to the Christian publishing and retailing industry.] In the last 5 years, we?ve seen more publishers than ever venturing into fantasy as well. I think we are living in the great experimental stage for the CBA. If Christians keep buying what Christian publishers offer, then Christian publishers will continue to publish more.

WhereTheMapEnds:?I sure hope you?re right. It?s a common misconception that there are simply no good speculative novels out there from the Christian worldview. I recently updated my Booklist and was surprised to find that I have over 400 titles listed there. Imagine a bookstore or library with all of those books available on the shelf. How cool would that be?

However, I?m also trying to expand the boundaries of what is available for fans of Christian speculative fiction through my own publishing company, Marcher Lord Press. If the Christian publishing industry expands more into speculative fiction, as you?re hoping, we?re good. But if not, Marcher Lord Press will be there to take up the slack.

So, Wayne, what have you seen that encourages you about Christian speculative writing and/or publishing?

Wayne Thomas Batson: Speaking personally about my publisher, Thomas Nelson: I am thrilled that they?ve been willing to invest so much capital in the production and marketing of my books. They took a big risk with a first-time author and made a huge statement by creating breathtaking covers and packaging. The books look good?and on the shelf, that matters.

WhereTheMapEnds:?It certainly does. Now what have you seen that discourages or frustrates you about Christian speculative fiction writing and/or publishing?

Wayne Thomas Batson: I am thoroughly frustrated by product placement in both CBA and ABA stores. [Editor's note: "ABA" stands for the American Booksellers' Association and is a shorthand way of referring to the secular publishing and book retailing industry.]

I know there are a lot of hands involved in determining where a book goes: marketers, distributors, branch managers?and even a local clerk can trump them all by putting a book wherever. LOL.

In CBA stores, fiction often gets lumped together with nursery rhymes and Beginner?s Bibles. Come on, dude?if you?re a teenager looking for a book, are you even going to consider something next to A Very Veggie Christmas?

In ABA stores, you often see great Christian SpecFic titles tossed into teeny tiny ?Religious Fiction? sections. Yes, the place where no one sees it. That?s another reason why I don?t like delineating my work as Christian fiction?if I do, it?s just that much easier to get thrown in with New Age fiction or Taoist fiction.

If I do have Christ?s message to share, the books need to be where people can see them. You don?t see Phillip Pullman?s books being pulled from mainstream fiction for a special ?Atheistic Fiction? section. Tolkien and Lewis can be found in both sections?religious and mainstream. Maybe dual designation is what we should be looking for. Hmmm?

WhereTheMapEnds:?I understand your point and have felt your pain. My own name for the religious fiction in secular bookstores is Death Row. However, I don?t see this changing in the foreseeable future. Sales reps from Christian publishing companies meet with the religion buyers at secular bookstores. What they buy for their shelves goes on their shelves.

There are other reasons, too, including the fact that most Christian publishers do not have enough titles at once that could be put on the regular Fantasy/SF shelf, for instance. Bookstore chains look to group books together to better feature them in their promotional pieces and catalogs. If a Christian publisher wants to be on that shelf but can?t produce 6 such titles to be grouped together for a catalog ad, it?s not going to happen.

As for atheistic fiction, I see your point there, too, but there is no full-fledged atheistic publishing industry as there is with a Christian publishing industry. When they get as big as the CBA maybe they will be segregated.

And I?m afraid the C.S. Lewis/J.R.R. Tolkien argument is moot. Thier books are now considered classics and therefore in the public domain in terms of where they can be shelved.

Still, I know it?s a terrible frustration when you?re writing for a crossover market, hoping to get non-Christians to read your work, and yet you are not allowed access to that target readership. Yeah, that?s no fun at all.

A benefit of marketing on the Internet is that it is, by definintion, cross-marketing, cross-platform, and crossover. All kinds of people can see and buy your book online.

Okay, off my soapbox! What do you think Christian speculative fiction writing and/or publishing will look like in three years? Five years? Ten years?

Wayne Thomas Batson: I think that depends a lot on local bookstore owners. I?d like to see Christian bookstores become bookstores again. Devote more floorspace to books. Advertise your books. Price your books competitively. Have contests, signings, readings, youth parties?whatever, but let people know, ?Hey, we have good books here!?

WhereTheMapEnds:?And how about cutting down on the knicknacks and scented candles and everything else that tells men and teenagers to stay away? [innocent grin] So, Wayne, what advice would you give to someone who aspires to write and publish Christian speculative fiction?

Wayne Thomas Batson: First, you can do it. If I can, anyone can. God has gifted you uniquely with creativity and passion for stories. And people always have and always will love stories.

Second, write. Stop making excuses. Stop whining. Stop comparing. And write. If your craft isn?t there yet, take some classes. Read in the genre you love. And then tell the story you?ve been dying to tell. [Editor's note: And read and heed all the awesome advice at the Fiction Writing Tip of the Week column.]

[Editor's note: Stop making so many editor's notes, Jeff.]

[Okay, sorry.]

[Editor's note: We apologize again for all the editor's notes. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked have been sacked.]

Third, think carefully about your intent in writing ?Christian fiction.? Do you want to encourage the faithful? Do you want to convert the masses? What is the reason you want to do this? Whatever your answer, don?t let the story suffer. You cannot write a salvation tract, dress it up with elves, and call it a story. You?ve got to write a compelling story or the message will suffer.

WhereTheMapEnds: Good advice, Wayne. So now that Isle of Fire is done what writing project will be next for you?

Wayne Thomas Batson: Right, I just finished Isle of Fire, my pirate sequel. But after that, I?ve got an epic fantasy series that I hope to publish. I?ve been working on it for several years (in spurts) and it has been on my mind constantly. New characters, races, plot twists, etc.

But with this series I?m going to attempt to invoke a little Tolkien: I want to take my time with these books. I want to develop huge backstories, cultures, languages, histories. I want the coolest creatures, the most fully envisioned settings?and the most powerful messages. And that will take time.

WhereTheMapEnds: No kidding! Well, we?ll all be eager to read it when you finally round the corner on that project. So tell us what it was like to do the Fantasy Four tour and get to be on TV as the spokesman for Christian fantasy.

Wayne Thomas Batson: The Fantasy Fiction Tour was a life-changing event. I got to rub elbows with creative kindred. Christopher Hopper, Bryan Davis, Sharon Hinck and I are swordbrethren for life. I?m inspired by their faith and hope we can tour again someday. We met so many kind people on the Tour and are still learning today about the impact.

As far as being a spokesman for Christian Fantasy, whoa, I try not to think about that in that way. I still don?t know why God wanted to use me for those incredible opportunities. Front page article in the Washington Post, National TV with Fox and Friends and now Reuters?it?s all kind of surreal.

I hope I made God proud each time, and I hope God will open doors?doors for new writers in the genre, but also doors for people who harshly prejudge Christianity.

WhereTheMapEnds: I know He was proud, Wayne. We all were. Thank you for your time!

Another great interview! Thanks again to Wayne Thomas Batson for spending time with us. Be sure to visit him online.

?

Source: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/2012/09/interview-with-wayne-thomas-batson/

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Will the Supreme Court Finally Address Same-Sex Marriage ...

The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to tackle the controversial issue of same-sex marriage not just once, but twice, next term. One petition asks the Court to uphold Proposition 8, the California constitutional amendment defining marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. The other seeks to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which uses similar language to ban gay marriage.

While it is still unclear whether the justices will decide to hear either case next term, the issue of gay marriage appears destined for the Supreme Court in the very near future. Therefore, it is important to examine the brief, yet important precedent, established by the Court previously regarding the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

This week we will address the seminal case of Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996), which held that a state law that banned any protections against anti-gay discrimination had no rational basis.? Next week, we will discuss Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003), which made same-sex sexual activity legal in all states.

The Facts of the Case

The case involved an amendment to the Colorado State Constitution, which precluded all legislative, executive, or judicial action at any level of state or local government designed to protect the status of persons based on their ?homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships.? The amendment was proposed and ratified by voters in response to several local ordinances banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, education, public accommodations, health and welfare services, and other transactions and activities.

Aggrieved lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and municipalities challenged the constitutionality of the amendment on the grounds that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The state trial court entered a permanent injunction enjoining the amendment?s enforcement, and the Colorado?s Supreme Court affirmed.

The Supreme Court?s Ruling

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado?s amendment violated the Equal Protection Clause under the Fourteenth Amendment by depriving persons of equal protection under the law due to their sexual orientation.

?Even if, as the State contends, homosexuals can find protection in laws and policies of general application, Amendment 2 goes well beyond merely depriving them of special rights. It imposes a broad disability upon those persons alone, forbidding them, but no others, to seek specific legal protection from injuries caused by discrimination in a wide range of public and private transactions,? the opinion, written by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, stated.

The majority further concluded that the amendment could not be shown to ?advance a legitimate government interest.? As Justice Kennedy aptly noted, ?If the constitutional conception of ?equal protection of the laws? means anything, it must at the very least mean that a bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group cannot constitute a legitimate governmental interest.?

In a statement surely to be quoted by proponents of gay marriage, the Supreme Court further observed, ?The Amendment raises the inevitable inference that it is born of animosity toward the class that it affects.?

Romer will almost certainly play a role in same-sex marriage litigation. In fact, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals expressly relied on the case in ruling that California?s law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman is unconstitutional. The opinion stated, ?Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.?

Tagged as: Gay rights, Romer v. Evans, Same-sex marriage

Source: http://scarinciattorney.com/will-the-supreme-court-finally-address-same-sex-marriage/

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