“Moral Disapproval” Doesn’t Fly When It Comes To Our Rights
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 5th, 2010
During the elections I was pushing hard for Prop 2 to pass, all because of my deep passion for animals and their rights. And as much as I was against Prop 8, I didn’t focus any of my time pushing for a “no”, even though I was an avid supporter at heart of same-sex marriages, and spoke my mind when the subject was broached.
It was assumed that Prop 8 would never pass, not in California – not possible – we are such a liberal state…and the optimist in me believed it to be so. And you know what they say about assuming. I, as well as many others, were shocked at the passage of Prop 8.
But what I love…what I truly love about people is their commitment to matters of the heart. No one gave up….the passion for preventing the passage of this profound prop never perished in the hearts and minds of those affected, and those in support.
In fact, people persevered. Thanks to two lawyers, David Boies and Ted Olson, who pointed out and proved that Prop 8 is “unconstitutional”. Thats right. “Moral disapproval” doesn’t fly when it comes to our rights. Our rights: They aren’t up for vote. That’s the point, our rights are our rights – Period. The people’s perseverance and repudiation (Thanks Rachel for this perfect word) is about to pay off – Okay…maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, maybe I am an optimist, but I have HOPE.
Equality wins in Vaughn Walker’s Prop. 8 ruling
The judge pointed to the considerable evidence that the campaign relied heavily on “negative stereotypes” about gays and lesbians – and to parents’ fears that their children would be more likely to become homosexual if such marriages were allowed.
In recent history, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled time and again, that laws rooted in traditions of bigotry – from segregated schools to prohibitions on interracial marriage – are in basic conflict with the U.S. Constitution.
Also, as Walker noted in his ruling, a state’s obligation is to treat its citizens equally, not to mandate its “own moral code.” He cited the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court 6-3 ruling in Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down that state’s sodomy law.
Eighteen thousand same-sex couples were married in California during the brief period it was legal, with no discernable damage to the state or the institution of marriage. Five other states and the District of Columbia now issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Societal attitudes are changing, but gays and lesbians should not have to ask to be patient to be treated equally under the law.
Judge Walker has forcefully, and convincingly, laid out the case to end this entrenched and unwarranted state discrimination against gay and lesbian couples.
It ain’t over till it’s over. There will be appeals, and no doubt this will make it to the Supreme Court. But hey, Boies and Olsen have that figured out too:
The Prop 8 case’s winning attorneys — David Boies and Ted Olson — are famous for being at opposite ends of the Bush v. Gore 2000 Supreme Court decision. Boies for Gore, Olson for Bush.
After Wednesday’s ruling, they were asked how they thought they could win at the Supreme Court, should the case get that far. Quipped Boies:
“He’s going to get the five justices who voted for him in Bush v. Gore and I’m going to get the four justices who voted for me,” Boies quipped.
Don’t ya just love it?
Celebrate this moment. But like I said, it ain’t over till it’s over. So please take a moment and support defying Prop 8, ensuring same-sex couples passage to full equality. It is the least we can do for those that want to be able to marry the ones that they love; a privilege that we as heterosexuals never need to ever think about.
We can love freely. How beautiful is that? Be in support of everyone the ability to love freely. With all that is bad in our world, with all that is wrong….why deny love? I can’t think of even one tiny reason. I HOPE you can’t either.
Here’s an e-mail I received from Human Rights Campaign:
After the first-ever federal trial on whether it’s legal to ban same-sex couples from marrying, the district court ruled that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution.
This court’s ruling will undoubtedly be appealed, so our struggle is far from over. But it was a tremendous step forward for equality and a critical win.
The two courageous couples who acted as plaintiffs in this suit opened up their lives to months of public scrutiny and helped bring about this victory, fighting alongside the legal team of Ted Olson, David Boies and the American Foundation for Equal Rights. They deserve our gratitude. Will you take a moment to thank them?
Send a quick note of thanks and support – and tell your friends to do the same.
Here is another way to get involved. Today, people in cities across the country will be gathering for peaceful “Day of Decision” rallies to take advantage of this moment and show the broad support for marriage equality among both LGBT and straight Americans. Find out if there’s a rally near you.
This case was a landmark. Over the course of the months-long trial, the plaintiffs introduced substantial testimony and evidence to finally show that Prop. 8 had discriminatory motivations – and that same-sex couples are entitled to equal rights. Because this is a district court decision and will most likely be appealed, it may not have an immediate effect on marriage bans in California or any other states. Nonetheless, it’s a significant moment. It’s a vindication of the grassroots work we’ve done across the country to give every loving couple the same rights – and a shot of momentum to continue that work.
The trial also showed that the other side remains as ferocious as ever. Not content with simply defending Prop. 8, they tried to persuade the judge to stop California state agencies from recognizing the marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples who tied the knot in the months before Prop. 8 passed.
So without question, the forces of bigotry will appeal this ruling. After the Court of Appeals, this case could very well end up before the highest court in the land – just another reason we must fight to get fair-minded judges like Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court.
We know we will prevail in the end. Because we are on the right side of history and the law. Because public opinion is increasingly in our favor. Because even conservatives like Ted Olson – who argued for the George W. Bush side in Bush v. Gore – share a passion for this cause.
But it will take more sacrifice and more grueling hard work. It will take more people like you standing up for what you believe – and more heroes like the plaintiffs in this case refusing to accept second-class status.
Please send a quick note thanking these couples. Then spread the word.
Thanks for your continued support on this defining issue.
Readers: Please support the power of love and happiness and extend it to all. And of course blog me and spread the love…or whatever else you want to share.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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August 5th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Hi Mischa, at my BFF’s b’day celebration last night there was a gay couple there, they’d been together happily for 21 years, one partner said, it is a shame…my company offers health insurance to a woman who works with me who has been married to a man for one year and yet I cannot offer the same to my partner of 21 years bc we are both women. That’s just wrong and I don’t care whether your religion (or your personal homophobic sensibilites) believe otherwise, love is love and if you saw these two together you’d want what the connect they’ve got also, trust me, it’s fun, they laugh a lot and it’s still hot and passionate (yes, I asked, of course…love without sex just doesn’t cut it for me)…wow…I wanted to pay for their health insurance just bc they are a stellar example of love, and I wanted some of that, though – we all know I like my relationship with the male appendage too much to swing that way ; )
I’m back to jamming on my new office, you know, I’ve always liked variety (spice of life, nyah, nyah, nyah…!) but I decided that having 4 desks all over the house to work at depending on my mood just is not working – so no mo’ desk in the boudoir ; ) (just like a tv, it’s a passion killer) and I’ve redecorated (started) my garage office which is where I’m most efficient, no distractions, and it’s got those killer big mirrors I took the ‘legs’ pic down here, love it…! I’m going to bring in some color and voila’ – clearing clutter is cleansing to the mind as well, and I’m clearing mine to get ready for some large life changes – bring.it.on. I dig change. If you do also, a must read is: ‘The Four Hour Work Week’ I may possibily be in love with the author, his attitude is hot and very reflective of mine and his pic is cute as well : )
Caio, Luv, Zen Lill
August 5th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Michelle
Jorge and I are still regular readers of your blog. We are hooked. Jorge says it’s a disease. But happily one doesn’t need a cure for.
Zen Lill
I can understand your position. I personally have not always been so good that the man couldn’t just walk away. But so far with Jorge he has had the kind of experiences that you have.
I love Jorge and he is a fantastic fuck. But I am not one to allow the little head to over rule my big one.
I love jorge for his gentleness with the feelings of others and his kindness to defenseless animals.
I say this because most of my girlfriends think that it is all about his big penis and the way he wields it. Sure I think it gives him a certain air of confidence when he enters a room.
But then as Michelle said about her hug. He is very easy on the eyes. But he is also very intelligent. He has launched a very successful business that last year brought in a little over 800 thousand dollars US.
He has hired an additional 14 people so I expect that that figure will be even better this year. He has been very busy logging a lot of travel time and late night business sessions.
Our love life has suffered. We no longer have time for the dalliances we used to. He seems content, but I miss them.
I guess our story is the same as the old children stories where the girl finds her prince and rides off into the sunset with him. The End.
But after the story book life begins. He wants children, I don’t. I feel I have a complete life without them. If he could have them, I could tolerate it, maybe.
But sure, I am not bringing into this world something I don’t want even for the man I would give my life for.
Please forgive me for ranting. But it feels so good to get this out of me. Thanks Zen Lill for giving me a reason to write in.
And to the other Jorge. Great name, hope you can match the talent in bed. I will be in San Francisco on the 7 – 12. I will be staying at your hotel. Meet me in the Starlight room at 9PM.
Have your dancing shoes on. I do a mean salsa. And I do not subscribe to the HIQI philosophy of Zen Lill.
So if you can move well on the dance floor and you look like you might have the package to satisfy this hot mama. Then come with rubbers because this girl’s chief philosophy is “NO GLOVE – NO LOVE.”
Carla
August 5th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
JORGE:
Oh yes, that will be Saturday. I don’t have any hot pink pants. But I will be wearing a red dress with a body fitting top that opens from the waist down with a bottom that swirls to show that this girl isn’t wearing any panties.
I like to think of it as my HOT RED NET. If I snare you, you’ll know why I call it that. I have had several made to my specifications. I have retired a few because the guy who fucked me in it deserved the respect.
You’re on.
Carla
August 5th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Many Foreclosed Homes Are Not Bargains For Buyers
Matt Krantz
Some foreclosed properties sell for just 50% of the previous sale price — but you may be responsible for unpaid property taxes, mortgage payments and other liens on the property.
Some foreclosed properties are occupied by delinquent home owners who refuse to move — and some have been severely damaged by deadbeats who trash a house before leaving. You usually cannot inspect a house before buying it at auction, so it can be impossible to know the problems in advance.
Alternative: Buy a home sold directly by the lender that foreclosed on it. You will not get as good a price, but you can inspect the house before buying and be sure there are no claims against it.
Bottom Line/Retirement interviewed Matt Krantz, a reporter on stocks and investing for USA Today, writing in Men’s Health, 93 E. Minor St., Emmaus, Pennsylvania 18098.
August 5th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I don’t remember seeing this on the blog. I am posting it because I did some research after our family doctor prescribed a statin for my 14 year old.
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The worst kind of ‘candy’
Kids grow up so fast.
And these days, children are being given their first adult meds before they’ve even had their first kiss.
The European Union just signed off on a crazy plan to give Pfizer’s statin, Lipitor, to kids as young as 10 years old. And it will come in its most frightening form yet: A chewable tablet, like the Pez candy from hell.
It’s a big win for Pfizer–and not just because of the millions of kids who will become lifelong customers.
The new approval in Europe also means the company will have a chance to extend the med’s patent protection–which runs out next year–by up to six months there.
And while six months may not sound like a long time, it’s a lot of money–Lipitor generates roughly $1 billion a month.
Wouldn’t you like to earn cash that fast?
But what’s even crazier about this one is that the Europeans are merely following the example we set nearly a decade ago here in the United States–because the FDA approved Lipitor for our kids back in 2002.
And since then, statin use among American children has been quietly on the rise.
Last year, U.S. pediatricians wrote nearly 3 million prescriptions for cholesterol meds for kids… and 2.3 million of them were for statins, according to new numbers in Consumer Reports.
That figure doesn’t include kids who may gotten their meds from family docs or specialists–so the real number could be much, much higher.
And whether kids get the candy-coated statin in Europe or the usual form here in the United States, they’re getting a lot more than their parents ever bargained for–because despite what Big Pharma claims in its marketing material, statins are anything but “safe and well-tolerated.”
It seems that every few weeks, a new study reveals side effects that are both worse and more common than anyone has admitted–and I’ve told you about some of them.
Statins have been linked to debilitating and even permanent muscle pain and damage, liver dysfunction, kidney failure and cataracts. (Click here to read more…)
As bad as those side effects are in adults, no one knows how much worse they could be in kids–because no one knows what will happen to someone who spends a lifetime on these meds, starting before even puberty.
And remember, once you’re on statins, you’re supposed to stay on them forever. That’s bad enough when you start in your 40s or 50s.
But when you start at 10 years old, that means you could be on these drugs for 60, 70, 80 years or more–if you live that long.
The sad part of this is that everyone–kids and adults alike–is capable of controlling his or her own cholesterol levels, without meds, through simple, common- sense lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
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It is a shame that doctors are being duped by the Pharmaceutical Industry into over prescribing statins.
Liz
August 5th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Michelle, thank you for your article.
The statements by the federal judge is so obviously true. It is the white man who uses “core values” as a scape goat to deny anyone the rights that he enjoys everyday.
My homophobic father has been donating millions of our future inheritance to any organization that appeals to him for help to stop “his abomination.”
He is a fool like many others who buy the holy-than-thou shit these scam artists send to fools to fleece them from their money.
How the f**k does allowing someone to marry effect who anyone else marries? These same white boys did the same to prevent interracial marriage. All the while they were raping women and men of different races.
I am convinced that the white man has no core, or any other moral value. The only thing he values is his wallet unless he feels the tick of time and he is afraid of meeting his maker.
Then he will listen to any amount of bullshit that some organization sends him to save his bigoted, racist, heartless sole.
I don’t have to hope, I know it there is a God in Heaven, my father will burn in hell for eternity.
He has never missed an opportunity to do bad to any otw he has come across.
Courtney
August 5th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Did anyone see the CNN story about the catholic in PA that put up a target of a black man with a Presidential seal for its children to shoot at in their carnival they held at school?
If the President were white, the Secret Service would have been all over it. And the priest would have been fired. But this was just another hate ballon floated by the white man to see what he could get away with.
I for one am tired of their shit.
We need to lock and load.
Ricardo
August 5th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
It is about time that someone stated the obvious.
—————————————
“something that was articulated well by the Federal Court today:
Plaintiffs presented evidence at trial sufficient to rebut any claim that marriage for same-sex couples amounts to a sweeping social change.
Instead, the evidence shows beyond debate that allowing same-sex couples to marry has at least a neutral, if not a positive, effect on the institution of marriage and that same-sex couples’ marriages would benefit the state.
Moreover, the evidence shows that the rights of those opposed to homosexuality or same-sex couples will remain unaffected if the state ceases to enforce Proposition 8 (pp. 125-126).
—————————-
We should not tolerate any pretense that logical people would arrive at any different opinion. To do so encourages the bigots that they can make any stupid conjecture to support an argument to deprive others of their constitutional rights.
Ulma
August 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
As I posted on Facebook yesterday to all, that I am an Ordained Minister, and for those who are celebrating this step towards their nuptial date (after it wins in the seemingly fast tracked isle to the Supreme Court) or any others who are planning their celebrations and are in need of service, let me know.
August 5th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Carla
This is a great coincidence! I was supposed to be in Atlanta with the Giants on Saturday. My agent called to say that I will not be going because he got an offer for my services from three different teams and that they were negotiating with the Giants for the right to talk with me.
I will see you at 9 with dancing shoes and very good eyes., and I will bring my Glove. I must modestly admit that I have had no complaints about my fielding either .
Jorge
Did you say you were married? And your husband reads this blog? Is there something I am missing?
If not, you had better be a fantastic knockout and a even better dancer for me to risk a million dollar plus contract on taking an career ending injury from a jealous paramour.
I seldom shy from an adventure, but I draw the line at something that would prevent me from realizing my life’s dream of playing in the Majors.
Jorge
August 5th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
No, Ricardo, you need to cool it. Life will take care of those bigots. God is real!.
August 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Ordained Minister, Huh?
August 5th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
A friend of mine shot and killed 8 people at Hartford Distributor’s Inc. in Manchester, Ct yesterday. He complained to me and others about being constantly harassed by his fellow whites at the beer distributorship that he worked at.
He said that they placed nooses, pictures of apes and all kinds of racial epithets for him to see. When he complained to management he was told that he should be glad that he was hired. He was taking the place of a white man who couldn’t be hired because they had to hire at least one nigger at the place.
His girlfriend, Kristi, told the media about the racial harassment that Omar had to put up with, but the media has largely ignored that to paint him as a disgruntled thief. The power of the white press moves on.
For me, I glad he did it. My only regret is that he didn’t kill more. Maybe some white racists will think twice the next time they plan on racially harassing an OTW. God knows they have little else to deter them.
The media, the law, and their fellow whites could careless. But as Ricard said, lock and load on the bastards.
August 5th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Backyard Plants Can Be Poisonous
Amy Stewart
More than 68,000 Americans a year are poisoned by plants. Reactions can range from a skin rash or upset stomach to severe gastrointestinal symptoms or even death.
Small children and pets are at highest risk. Common plants that can be harmful: Oleander, datura, castor bean.
Ask a garden center or landscaper for more information. Or check the Poisonous Plants Home Page of the University of Pennsylvania at http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poison/index.html for pictures of these plants… and others.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Amy Stewart, avid gardener and winner of the California Horticultural Society’s Writers Award and author of Flower Confidential (Algonquin).
August 5th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Will someone please tell me how my marrying someone of the same sex interferes with someone else marrying someone from the opposite sex?
Especially all of you who constantly argue that judges should apply the law not legislate from the bench. What constitutional right does same sex marriage violate?
I’m listening.
Kerry
August 5th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
The Press is all the place interviewing people trying to disclaim Omar’s 911 claim that the Budweiser distributorship is a place where racial harassment occurs. If they had been as diligent about bringing light to the bigots who work here, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Even those being forced to lie to keep their jobs are secretly glad it happened. Maybe the shit will stop.
Selma
August 5th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Get More Rewards When Staying at Hotels
Robert Mandelbaum
PKF Hospitality Research
Bookings are down because of the recession, so some chains are boosting perks by offering free Internet access, free local and/or long-distance calls, free spa access or restaurant meals or making it easier to earn additional stays.
Deals were recently available at chains such as Best Western and Marriott, through Hotels.com and from American Express.
What to do: Promotions come and go quickly and vary widely. Before traveling, check out what is available through the hotels and from your credit card issuers.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Robert Mandelbaum, director of research information services, PKF Hospitality Research, Atlanta.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Hafa adai
This is very important. There is a group of scam artists preying on our island. They are conning people out of money. Here’s the FBI’S WARNING!
____________________________________
Charlene Thornton, apecial sgent-in-charge of the Honolulu office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, warned the public about fraudulent telephone solicitations targeting residents of Guam that offer $10,000 cash grants in exchange for $100 advance fees.
“The fraudulent phone offers attempt to lure potential victims into sending Western Union wire transfers in exchange for much larger cash grants or prizes – a practice that that does not exist in reality,” according to the FBI statement.
No financial loss has been reported to date among Guam residents, but the FBI office in Guam has received multiple complaints concerning this scam warranting this public advisory, according to the FBI.
“Advance fee schemes are a basic form of telemarketing fraud. The best defense is to tell the caller you aren’t interested and that you want to be removed from their list.
These scammers can be quite persuasive, so don’t be afraid to just hang up on them,” Thornton said. “Please be cautious of any unsolicited phone call offering a deal too good to be true.”
August 5th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Here is another case of the white boy going ballistic over the acts of a few by blaming the whole group or race while expecting that same group or race and others to understand when an evil white boy does something that actually reflects the opinions of this mostly hypocritical race.
The white boy has gone insane with anger over the idea that a group wants to build a Mosque near it in lower Manhattan.
John
August 5th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Great Alert Peter, Caught it while I’m taking my lunch break.
Here’s another one concerning Overseas Roaming Charges that could cost thousands of dollars to the cell phone user.
++++++++++++++++++++
‘Bill shock’ may hit cellphone users traveling overseas
Many cellphone users have no clue that roaming charges have kicked in. (Eric Risberg, Associated Press / June 22, 2010)
• DAVID LAZARUS
• ByDavid Lazarus
August 6, 2010
• Navy ROTC Midshipman John Preis went on a nifty training mission last month, traveling from Okinawa to Guam via nuclear-powered submarine.
After he returned to Los Angeles, he got a welcome-home gift from Verizon Wireless: a bill for nearly $1,300.
Sky-high cellphone bills are all too common at this time of year, as people head overseas on trips and overlook roaming charges that can run in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
A recent survey by the Federal Communications Commission found that 30 million Americans — 1 in 6 cellphone users — have encountered hefty bills involving roaming or data downloads.
Regulators are toying with various remedies, but it’s unclear at this point what exactly they have in mind.
Preis, 21, blames himself. He said Verizon sent him a text message in Guam warning that he would incur roaming charges when he sent an e-mail to his superior officer back in the States. He then forgot to turn off the phone’s roaming function.
“It was a stupid mistake,” Preis told me. “But it would have been nice if Verizon had let me know that roaming was still on.”
In fact, the company says it normally does just that, but was prevented in this case by a technical glitch.
A more troubling aspect is that Verizon doesn’t alert family-plan account holders — i.e. Mom or Dad — that roaming has been switched on. Aren’t they the ones who really need to know?
Preis is gearing up for his senior year at MIT. He’s been in Navy ROTC since his freshman year and will enter the military as an ensign upon graduation.
It was easy to forget that his cellphone’s roaming function was on, Preis said, because he stayed at the Hyatt Hotel on Guam and believed the facility’s Wi-Fi service was covering any Internet access.
It wasn’t. Verizon’s roaming meter was going ka-ching at regular intervals as e-mail kept downloading into Preis’ phone.
He has one of four lines on a family account. Needless to say, Preis’ mom, Debbie Vodhanel, was astonished to open her monthly bill the other day and see a total amount due of $1,450.54, the bulk of which was the $1,287.44 roaming charge.
“Our hearts stopped,” she said. “We just couldn’t believe it.”
A Verizon service representative initially said there was nothing he could do, Vodhanel said, but ultimately relented a bit and agreed to cut $300 from the bill. But that still left almost $1,000 in charges.
Vodhanel was also surprised that, as the main account holder, she didn’t find out about the roaming until the bill arrived.
“Shouldn’t I have gotten at least one text as well?” she asked. “I would have immediately told my son to turn off his phone.”
Heidi Flato, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, said the company doesn’t send initial roaming alerts to account holders, but both Vodhanel and Preis should have received follow-up text messages when $100 and then $250 in roaming charges were accrued.
She said a “technical problem affecting the alert system in certain countries” prevented the follow-up messages being sent in this case, but the problem has since been fixed.
In May, the FCC invited public comment on what it called “bill shock” among wireless customers.
In many cases, the bill shock involved teens who had gone way over data-plan limits sending text messages to friends. But there were also numerous cases of people who, like Preis, simply had no clue that roaming charges had kicked in while they were overseas.
The FCC noted that European phone companies are required to let wireless customers know when they’re running up huge roaming charges or nearing the limit for a particular data plan.
“We’re issuing a public notice to see if there’s any reason that American carriers can’t use similar automatic alerts to inform consumers when they are at risk of running up a high bill,” said Joel Gurin, head of the agency’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
I can’t think of one, considering that most wireless networks are largely automated and boast state-of-the-art technology.
As a starting point, all wireless carriers should notify people — cellphone users and bill payers — when roaming has kicked in, and then follow up with additional alerts informing you when you’ve hit at least $100, $250 and $500 in charges.
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Most phone companies say customers can easily check for themselves online or via their handsets, but that’s not good enough. Carriers should take the initiative in protecting customers from unwanted fees.
AT&T and Verizon allow parents to limit in advance how much data a family-plan cellphone can access. But this service costs about $5 a month. It shouldn’t cost anything.
The FCC now must decide whether it will proceed with new regulations covering bill shock, or whether it will negotiate voluntary rules with phone companies.
A decision could be made within the next few months.
Meanwhile, I’m pleased to report that Verizon got in touch with Vodhanel and Preis after I contacted the company about their situation. The remainder of that big, fat roaming bill has been waived.
“They said it was because we’re such valued customers,” Vodhanel said.
As for Preis, he said he’s learned a valuable lesson from all this.
“Next time,” he said, “I’m not going to bring my phone to a foreign country.”
David Lazarus’ column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
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In the end the bill was waived because of the potential negative publicity that David Lazarus could generate for Verizon.
Without his influence the company offered a mere $300 dollars off the $1,400 bill. Kaching! Even though they admitted they didn’t notify the user because of a “glitch.”
Not to mention the obvious fact that their policy is to not notify the bill payer of a family plan that a child has begun to run up a bill over the plan’s base. Kaching!
So. Republicans, remind us again why we should trust completion to force businesses to SELF-REGULATE to the good of both profits and the public safety and financial benefit.
So far counting the BP fiasco, the banks, credit card issuers, Health insurers, HMO’s and now cell phone companies, you are batting EXACTLY ZERO!!!!
But I’m still sitting here with an open mind.
Anna
August 5th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Would you believe it. That article took 20 minutes of my lunch time. It is 12:21. I got to eat lunch.
Hafa Adai
Anna
August 5th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Sadly
I have to agree with you John. American whites are consumed with race. When they come to Europe they are often heard remarking about how their otws are back home.
We politely tolerate it but truly it is sickening. If they love their fellow whites so much why don’t they leave America and return home to Europe where they are originally from.
We the mothers of America’s whites are not impressed by their insistence that they founded a nation that inherently belongs to the American Indian.
We should know we exported the original ship of deadbeats and criminals to America on a ship called the Mayflower.
Being the hypocrites they are they turned the passenger list to one of elites. As if any of England’s elite would have consented to be aboard a ship of indentured scum forced to leave England.
It interesting that the 102 lot have been white washed(pun intended) to be “English Separatist.” Certainly, if by that you mean separated from England because ran up debts they couldn’t pay.
Irma
August 5th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Hafa Adai Anna:
My husband is one of those republicans. He is always shouting at the TV when I am watching Rachel of MSNBC.
He thinks it makes him special to be Latino and republican. I think it makes him a fool. As if the Republican Party wants anything from a non-white but his money and vote.
I say nothing to him because his whole family are the same. They rant against the immigrants, blacks, and asians as if any in that group have the political power to do what the whites have done to us since the beginning of the establishment of Texas as an independent nation with our help.
Like their pilgrim forefathers did to the indians who helped make it through their winter, their prodigy acted true to form.
As soon as they didn’t need our help to survive, they quickly passed laws through out the new nation of Texas making it illegal for non whites to own land in the Lone Star of Texas.
Sam Huston was just another greedy, murdering white boy who stole large tracts of land from the legitimate Spanish and Mexican owners.
Our forefathers were robbed, jailed or murdered. It was not a crime to kill a Mexican. The holocaust had begone for our forefathers.
But the white man has left that story out of their history books. It is a white washed( I intend the pun too) version of favorite white sons giving their lives for Texas in the Alamo.
The truth is there were far more Mexicans who died in the Alamo than whites.
I often wish we could export the white bastards back to Europe, but why would Europe want this bunch back?
Flores
August 5th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Thanks Irma. Another true tale come to light. The original pilgrims, indeed! How cheeky to make your forefathers something they weren’t. Like celebrating “THANKSGIVING” as if it was that.
Of course the deadbeats proved to be true to form about repaying their debts. After the indians helped them make it thorough the winter. they promptly murdered them when they got back on their feet.
Then true to form made up some ThanksGiving bull shit. You got to give the white boy credit, he never quits singing his praises.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Irma, Let’s not leave out the “good Puritans” aboard. You know the ones who came voluntarily to escape religious persecution.
The same hypocrites who set up witch hunting and the most repressive cruel and onerous religious constraints known to have been practiced by any member of the human race. Some of their practices continues even today.
It was only recently that the cult called the Mormons stopped or claimed to have stopped polygamy. Or to be more accurate pedophilia through the organized mental and physical enslavement of women to convince them to submit the female children to their males perverse sexual wants.
It seems the tiny weenie white boy is always trying to keep his white woman from discovering that his little dong isn’t normal. So we get separation of the races.
And in the event she discovers the wonders of normal sex. We get discrimination and denigration of OTW males.
And since that might not work , we get genocide or the polite eugenics.
Robert
August 5th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
John
I with you. And evidently so is Russell Simmons.
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Russell Simmons: As a nation that was founded by men and women who were being persecuted for their particular faith, we should know that the best path to finding freedom is finding freedom for others.
We were formed as a pluralistic society and this means we welcome all religions. Islam did not attack the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, sick and twisted men did, who not only hijacked four airplanes but also hijacked a religion.
Let us not stereotype the over one billion Muslims around the world because of the evil acts of a few.
——————————
unfortunately, Russell is unaware that he is quoting the history book as written by the self promoting white man. Otherwise he would not have relied on a nation founded by men who were “religiously persecuted.”
He would have used the phrase criminally persecuted and rightfully so. Perhaps then he would have understood why their off spring behave as criminals.
Unlike those whites, my white fore parents come from a later stock. We see this for what it is blatant religious discrimination.
I speak for the white America that sees all Americans as equal sharers of this great land.
Barry
Barry
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August 5th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Ditto Barry from a black man who feels the same.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Michelle
Your blog is full of unamerican white haters. Our forefathers are the founders of this country. And we whites made it what it is today. The greatest and most feared country on Earth.
God Bless America
Ted
August 5th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Yeah, Ted and God bless you dumb ass too. My forefathers were Chinese and they had something to do with making this country what it is today and so have their children.
This country is as much mine as it is yours.
Ng
August 5th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I’m black and I’m gay. My question is why are black men so anti gay when so many of them are gay or are not adverse to a gay experience?
Henry
August 5th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Henry
I, speaking from experience, can answer that. A lot of black men are anti gay because we have been forced to take a dick up our asses and in every orifice we have while incarcerated.
The white boy has and continues to railroad us into their prisons at every opportunity. So more than a third of all black men under 30 are either serving time, have served time or are on trial to determine if they will serve time.
That is a lot of raped or about to be raped black men. That is also why the black race in America is the most plagued race when it comes to being infected with HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
There are no rubbers in prison and the infected delight in infecting others there.The men return home to their females and promptly infect them. It is the perfect solution for the eugenic practitioners.
I became HIV infected from a rape in prison. It took three years of therapy for me to separate my rapes from gays.
I now know that the men who raped me were not gay. They were sick opportunists gratifying their sexual needs however they could.
I now pray every day that God will forgive me the hurt I have caused gays by my blind hatred. I hope this will help some other brother to come to understand that his experience was not from gays but from heterosexual animals.
Vick
August 5th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Can’t we all just get along.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hafa Adai
Guam’s women have concerns too about the sudden influx of the military and their influence upon our way of life.
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Campaign Unites Women Concerned about Build-Up
Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 August 2010 14:49
Written by News Release
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 14:45
Guam – Guam News
Guam -This week, Fuetsan Famalao’an releases a public service campaign to unite local women concerned with the proposed military build-up.
Tiningo’ Famalao’an (women’s knowledge / things women know) encourages the implementation of strategies for sustainability in order to preserve Guam’s unique way of life.
Tiningo’ Famalao’an features local women from various professional and generational backgrounds who highlight ways in which their lives will be affected by the realignment of the proposed movement of US military troops to Guam.
The project aims to emphasize the importance of maintaining social and economic justice within the proposed plans to increase the US military presence on Guam.
Fuetsan Famalao’an invites all local residents and leaders to follow daily (with the exception of Saturday and Sunday) installments of Tiningo’ Famalao’an, which will air during PNC news beginning Thursday, August 5.
Fuetsan Famalao’an (strength of women) is comprised of women in Guam who have gathered since 2006 to articulate their concerns regarding the increased militarization of our island home.
Fuetsan Famalao’an believes residents must be made aware of ways in which federal plans affect our daily lives, particularly those of our local women and children. Fuetsan Famalao’an is dedicated to encouraging participation in all dialogues regarding our home’s future and believes that silence cannot be our legacy.
Contact: Lisa Cipollone, 688-3024
August 5th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
The Power of Respect
Deborah Norville
Inside Edition
One key way to encourage people to treat us well is to give them something that we all want — respect.
When people feel respected, their sense of self-worth rises, a sensation so pleasant that they become predisposed to like and trust the respect giver.
Often they will do everything in their power to aid whoever showed them respect in hopes that they will receive respect again.
Showing respect can make family members feel closer to us… employees and colleagues work harder for us… and increase the odds that customer service reps, retail employees and waiters will treat us favorably.
As a bonus, showing other people respect elevates our own outlook on life — it feels good to make others feel good.
Improving our mood doesn’t just brighten our day. It actually makes us smarter. Our brains release dopamine when we experience positive feelings.
Dopamine receptors are located in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that handles strategic thinking and problem solving. When you “feel good,” you have excited the decision-making part of your brain.
Perhaps the best part is that respect is free and limitless. We can spread it around liberally, and it doesn’t cost us a cent.
RESPECT FOR FAMILY
Don’t take family for granted…
Respect the mundane. Most of the things your spouse does for you are things that he/she has done many, many times before.
Or perhaps you have a grown child or sibling who routinely performs tasks for you. Such tasks might have come to seem routine and unexceptional over the years, but that doesn’t mean we’re free to ignore them.
The fact that someone does something for us day in and day out makes him more deserving of our respect, not less.
Best: Stop waiting for a reason to show your loved one respect, and start noticing and respecting the routine.
Imagine that someone other than your spouse cooked dinner for you or someone other than your son shoveled your driveway — wouldn’t you give that person your respect and gratitude?
Example: Each day, choose a chore that your partner or other family member has always done and thank him for doing it, rather than criticize the one time that it’s neglected.
Ask their opinion. Mention a news story, political debate or an issue that’s giving you trouble at work and ask, “What do you think?”
When we ask people for their input and listen to what they say, we send the message that we respect their intelligence and opinions.
Show respect according to your family member’s definition of the term, not your own. We tend to think of family as extensions of ourselves, so we show them respect by saying and doing things that would make us feel respected.
Unfortunately, each person’s preferred way of being respected is a little different. The things that would make us feel respected might not be valued by our loved ones.
Example: A wife met her husband at the door each evening with questions about his day.
Years earlier, this woman had felt respected when her mother asked her questions about her day after school, and she assumed that everyone felt the same.
Only later did this wife learn from her husband that his definition of respect in the evening was receiving 15 minutes of private time to unwind after work. Her attempt to show that she cared was interpreted as disrespect.
Don’t be insulted if your family members don’t respond to your attempts to show respect as positively as you had hoped. It’s your job to learn their definition of respect, not their job to feel respected because you have done things that you would appreciate.
Ask your loved one what you could say or do that would make him feel more respected… and whether there’s anything that you currently do that makes him feel disrespected.
RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE
Showing respect to people you work with makes good business sense whether you’re an employer or an employee.
Employers who don’t show respect risk losing their best workers. A recent survey found that workers who feel disrespected are three times more likely to quit.
Elite employees are most likely to leave because they are best equipped to find new jobs. People who feel respected are more likely to be loyal to their companies.
Example: Medical-equipment-parts supplier PartsSource has a policy that each manager must compliment someone every day to foster a culture of respect. The company has a 94% employee-retention rate.
Employees who don’t show respect to colleagues cede a golden opportunity to create professional alliances. It’s easier to build a successful career when those you work with are pulling for your success.
To show respect in the workplace…
Acknowledge the efforts of others with specificity and with an audience. Saying “nice job” or “keep up the good work” is not enough.
These clichés might be considered offhanded or insincere. Instead, praise one or two specific things that an individual has done well to show that you are paying attention.
Example: “I really appreciate that you check in every afternoon to make sure everything is under control before you leave for the day.”
For greatest effect, voice your respect while other coworkers are around to hear. The person receiving the praise will feel elevated not just in your eyes, but in the eyes of everyone present.
Give a voice to those who feel voiceless. Employees tend to feel disrespected when it seems that no one listens to their ideas or complaints.
If you’re the boss, solicit input and ideas from everyone in your organization. Ask follow-up questions to show that you’re listening.
If you’re not the boss and your coworkers feel that upper management doesn’t listen, try to build a reputation as the colleague who does listen.
Help your colleagues and employees picture a positive future career. Make comments that suggest a coworker or employee has a bright future with the company… or, better yet, that he is on track for a specific promotion (assuming this is true).
Example: “Keep this up, and you may be the next assistant manager.”
This tells the employee that his hard work has been noticed and reinforces the idea that tangible rewards are on the way.
RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO SERVE OTHERS
Retail employees, customer service phone reps and restaurant waitstaff have difficult jobs. They spend long days listening to the problems, demands and complaints of customers and generally receive very little respect or remuneration in return.
The fact that these professionals are so often disrespected is all the more reason to treat them with respect — it will make you stand out, greatly increasing the odds that these people will do their best to get you what you want.
Express a willingness to help this person with his/her problems before requesting assistance with your own.
One problem shared by virtually all customer service reps, retail employees, waiters and the like is coping with demanding, upset customers. Acknowledge this challenge, and promise to do your part to reduce it.
Example: “I can imagine all the complaints you must deal with, but I’m going to try to be the one customer who doesn’t make your job more annoying.”
Let customer service employees know that you greatly value their efforts. Do this at the outset of the conversation — don’t wait until this person has solved your problem.
Example: “I could use some assistance, and I want to thank you in advance for any help you can provide me.”
WHY I WROTE THE POWER OF RESPECT
My book was born out of frustration. I was tired of seeing a steady drumbeat of stories that seemed to have disrespect at their core.
Recent examples include Rep. Jim Wilson’s shouting during President Obama’s Joint Address to Congress and Kanye West’s storming the stage during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards. It seemed to me that we were on a slippery slope as a society.
But as a professional observer of human behavior, I know that people don’t change unless they see their own self-interest benefiting.
So I researched the link between considerate, respectful behavior and benefits that “boomerang” back to the giver. I was amazed by both the breadth and vibrancy of what I found.
interviewed Deborah Norville, anchor of Inside Edition, the nation’s longest-running syndicated newsmagazine, seen daily by five million viewers. A two-time Emmy Award winner, she is author of The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success (Thomas Nelson) and creator of the Deborah Norville Collection of fine yarns, available at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores and elsewhere. http://www.dnorville.com
August 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Jorge:
You needn’t worry about my Jorge. He is never threatened by my dalliances. Though I must admit I haven’t had one since he became such a mogul.
That means this is one horny girl. Be prepared (if you get lucky) to satisfy this demanding beauty.
Carla
August 5th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Either Al is gone with Howie or Al is living with a cyborg and he knows it. or He is living with a cyborg and he doesn’t.
The question is why hasn’t Al responded?
My guess is the cyborg has removed any knowledge he had of the blog.
Eunice
August 7th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Thank you for expressing what many women can not about our situation. We are prisoners of evil men. Allah has not abandoned us. If we pray God will hear our prayers and destroy this evil religion along with its devils who preach in Gods name.
Zarani