Nicki Minaj - freedom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXHVZnGl55A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Democracy Doesn't Belong In America

The Gospel of Jesus' Wife: Textuality, Sexuality, and the Latest Controversy in Religion

Wednesday, December 5 at 7:00pm
Vereschagin Alumni House 1022 Dave Brubeck Way, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95204, USA

Dan Brown’s 2008 novel “The Da Vinci Code” had a controversial premise – that Christian savior Jesus married and had children. The fictional book sold more than 80 million copies and was turned into a hit movie. It also was widely condemned by many religious institutions.

Two months ago the issue of Jesus’ marital status was raised again. A researcher from Harvard announced she had identified and translated a piece of papyrus with Coptic writing that suggests Jesus had a wife.

When that announcement was made at a scholarly conference in Rome, University of the Pacific early Christianity Professor Caroline Schroeder just happened to be there. And she also happens to read Coptic.

Schroeder will be joined by professor George Randels and Anthony Le Donne as well as Pacific chaplain Joel Lohr to discuss the Harvard announcement, the controversy surrounding the writing on the papyrus, and the opinions about speculation of a Mrs. Jesus. The discussion, titled “The Gospel of Jesus' Wife: Textuality, Sexuality, and the Latest Controversy in Religion,” will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Vereschagin Alumni House on Pacific’s Stockton campus. The event is free and open to the public.

“The announcement made international news, but also was quickly denounced by many scholars, some who claim the papyrus was a forgery, or at least not a fourth century document,” Schroeder said. “Meanwhile, other scholars have argued that the text, even if authentic, tells us nothing about Jesus himself and only about the beliefs of Christians living in the second through fourth centuries. So this should be a lively discussion.”

Schroeder and Randels are professors in Pacific’s Department of Religious and Classical Studies, where Le Donne is also a visiting scholar and professor this semester. Schroeder and Le Donne have penned articles and books on early Christianity while Randels has written on theological ethics. University Multifaith Chaplain Joel Lohr, who has written books and articles on the Bible and theology, will act as moderator for the panel.

The controversy about Jesus’ Wife started in September. Harvard professor Karen King revealed simultaneously at a scholarly conference in Rome and in interviews with the New York Times and other news outlets that she identified a new papyrus fragment containing the earliest known statement saying that Jesus was married. Since this discovery was announced, some scholars and religious leaders have denounced the so-called "Gospel of Jesus' Wife" as a likely modern forgery, with some claiming there are hints the handwriting reflected modern techniques not available when the words were penned.

Schroeder said that some of the topics the panel will attempt to approach include:

• What is the Gospel of Jesus' Wife?
• What does a fourth-century reference to Jesus and his wife mean about early Christianity?
• Is this papyrus a forgery, and if so, why would someone forge an ancient manuscript?
• Could Jesus have been married?
• Why does a text suggesting that Jesus might have had a wife cause so much controversy?
• What does it mean to sexualize Jesus?

The event is sponsored by Pacific’s Department of Religious and Classical Studies, the Pacific Alumni Association, the Humanities Center, Women's Resource Center at Pacific, Religious and Spiritual Life at Pacific, and Phi Beta Kappa.

The Most Defeating Story in History, Good or Bad? Know what You're Reading

THOUGHTS FROM THE WIZARD

Depending on one's own moralilty, can he truly know if what he is doing, is right. Which of the two would you think has the least amount of guilt after being good or bad? One who knows he is doing right by himself shall reach the unattainable. ozGP

What we rarely notice is the foundation of our Freedom

What we rarely notice is the foundation of our Freedom

I am a 27 year old conservative that knows AMERICA is on the hook, and we the people are solely responsible for everything our Government does. An example would be them spending Trillions that does not exist! All the while, luring us in, then demand that we need to pay more!!!

All of the Politicians use these three keys to keeping us uninformed:

- never mention the revenue
- leave a majority of statements open-ended
- Say Something Stupid, while smiling!

Why is it that they haven't tried to help give us taxpayer's a break? If we want to take our Country back, we must first, END THE FED!!

Nearly half of this country is on Government Aid, sucking down our resources without ever paying a dime! They get free health care, ours goes up!!! They want an equal opportunity because they didn't attend or graduate from a University.

We should let them live life broke, and give them free food, thats it. No public Housing, No Cell phones, Internet, tuition, and all the other handouts the government will hand to them!

We need to put a stop to this monetary madness going on in Washington D.C !



That's what a conservative does, cuts unnecessary spending! I had to turn off my cell, my Directv, give up two cars, still paying on both, had to buy another one to go to work, gas went up to $5.69/gal. I have since lost everything but my home, and my family, everything else is unnecessary.

Mitt Romney: $2 Billion on Campaign
Barack Obama: $4 Billion on Campaign

FREEDOM: Priceless,

Some things money can't buy, but for everything else there's the FEDERAL RESERVE

The total cost of the election is close to $6 Billion, how much of that is for schools?....0
Or, feeding the poor?....0
So tell me that you really believe that the government has your best interest at heart? Even though they have never met you? We are the government, so why do we not have access to the same money they get to spend? Or do we??

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Sandy refugees say life in tent city feels like pr...

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Sandy refugees say life in tent city feels like pr...: Reuters/Reuters - Ashley Sabol, 21, of Seaside Heights, New Jersey looks over her accommodations at Tent City in Monmouth Park in Oceanport...

Valley News: A Map that shows America's hardest hit regions

Valley News: A Map that shows America's hardest hit regions

Stockton citizens, city leaders unite in search for solutions

Submitted by Paul Janes, News 10 Web Producer

STOCKTON, CA - Many Stockton residents have questions they want answered and are seeking solutions to the challenges facing their city.

On Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. ABC News10 will host "Stockton in Crisis, Searching for Solutions," a free town hall forum held at University of Pacific's Long Theatre.

The event will present a five-party panel featuring, Mayor Ann Johnston, District Attorney James Willett, Deputy Chief of Police Rick Salsedo, Eberhardt School of Business Professor and Director of University of the Pacific's Business Forecasting Center, Jeff Michaels, as well as Pastor Glenn R. Shields, a community representative and religious advocate. These individuals will comment on the issues facing the City of Stockton, and provide feedback to questions posed by the audience.

"We want to use News10's strong voice to reach beyond coverage of crime and bankruptcy. Our journalists who live and work in Stockton are advocates for strengthening the community. This event will allow us to discuss problems, but more importantly it will bring the community together to find solutions," said News10 News Director, Jerome Parra

"Higher education institutions have a responsibility to their students and community to provide forums of discussion," said Ted Leland, University of the Pacific Vice President of External Relations. "This type of event allows the University to join the dialogue and establish a neutral setting for a constructive conversation about the city's weaknesses."

News10 will be integrating audience and online questions throughout the town hall, allowing community members an opportunity to have their comments and concerns addressed directly by participants.

News10's very own Cristina Mendonsa, Dale Schornack and Stockton Reporter, Tim Daly will moderate the discussion. A live stream of the event will be available on News10.net. Reporter, Leigh Paynter will moderate the online conversation fielding questions and comments from News10 viewers.

Tickets are available via the Eventbrite order form on the Stockton in Crisis web page or you can RSVP by phone at
916-441-2345.

*Must be at least 16 years old to attend

A City going Through the Turbulence First

We Don't Appreciate The Negative Remarks Alvin

Lots of talk, few specifics on pension reform

By Matt Augustine

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While members of city council will likely have their share of problems with the mayor's proposed budget as they begin to work their way through the more than 400 pages of numbers, the one thing most seem to agree on is that the city needs to reform its pension system or face the possibility of bankruptcy.

"We're not going to be like Stockton, California...we're going to do this right," says Mayor Alvin Brown.
However, exactly what that reform will entail is another issue entirely. Specific details of a pension reform plan, even tentative or speculative ones, have been non-existent.

"I would say this: If we don't reform the pension system, in a few years, we could be looking like some of the other cities," says councilman Steven Joost, referring to cities like Stockton and San Bernardino, California, which have filed for bankruptcy due largely to bloated pension funds.

The city of Jacksonville will pay out $150 million in pensions this year -- a $46.5 million dollar increase from last year and about 15 percent of the total general fund budget which adds up to about $945 million.

Joost says the first thing city council has to do is pass the budget. Once that's done, he says, they can start working on pension reform seriously. However, council president Bill Bishop says it's going to be a long road.
"I really don't know how that's going to go. The pension issue is highly complex. There are a lot of moving parts, there are a lot of people involved," he says.

Mayor Brown vowed during his budget speech that Jacksonville would not end up like Stockton or San Bernardino, and says the wheels are already in motion for a pension reform plan.

"We're going to present a pension plan by the end of the year that's going to be fair and sustainable," said Mayor Brown. "It's not sustainable, we've got to do pension reform and we have to protect the taxpayers and the city employees, and the only way to do that is to make sure we do pension reform, and we're working on that. I don't want to get into specifics but we're literally working on that. We'll present a plan by no later than the end of the year."

Brown says the goal is to have it done before next year's budget.

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Ron Paul to Hold Major Rally in Tampa Ahead of RNC...

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Ron Paul to Hold Major Rally in Tampa Ahead of RNC...: August 26, 2012 Ron Paul to Hold Major Rally in Tampa Ahead of RNC LAKE JACKSON, Texas – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Pau...

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Video Clip of Britney Spears Saying she's "off to ...

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: Video Clip of Britney Spears Saying she's "off to ...: Britney Spears announces she's off to see the wizard... I've been waiting to meet her for 10+ years! Can't wait!

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: The Future of Stockton is with EVI

Oh Zee's Words of Wisdom: The Future of Stockton is with EVI

After the realization that oil wouldn't last for ever, why didn't they seek electric cars? It seems to me that the government wanted to hold off on electric vehicles as long as possible. Now with the National Average price per gallon of gas being $4.49, the United States has finally found a manufacturer to provide an alternative.