Author: Jason

Scientology to the rescue!

Insane:

The families of those killed in the Virginia Tech massacre may not be able to grieve in peace at the funerals of those they lost. An anti-gay religious group known for protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq is planning on appearing at services for those killed on Monday as well.

The Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), which is not affiliated with any national Baptist organization, announced plans to protest at victims’ funerals only hours after 32 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. They also may protest at other events on the Virginia Tech campus.

The organization, founded and led by Fred Phelps, believes the United States has condemned itself to destruction by accepting homosexuality and other “sins of the flesh.” Phelps’ daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the Virginia Tech teachers and students who died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.

As horrible as these people are, I don’t see what signing an electronic petition is going to do to stop them.

David Morse just came into my place of business looking for books on George Washington, who he’ll be playing in the currently filming John Adams mini-series. Unfortunately we had nothing so I was of absolutely no help.

I’m in. So are Vivian, Scott and Jaime as well as a bloggers around the world.

Via Boing Boing, replace “bombings” with “shootings” and you get the gist of it:

Many people will use this terrible tragedy as an excuse to put through a political agenda other than my own. This tawdry abuse of human suffering for political gain sickens me to the core of my being. Those people who have different political views from me ought to be ashamed of themselves for thinking of cheap partisan point-scoring at a time like this. In any case, what this tragedy really shows us is that, so far from putting into practice political views other than my own, it is precisely my political agenda which ought to be advanced.

Not only are my political views vindicated by this terrible tragedy, but also the status of my profession. Furthermore, it is only in the context of a national and international tragedy like this that we are reminded of the very special status of my hobby, and its particular claim to legislative protection. My religious and spiritual views also have much to teach us about the appropriate reaction to these truly terrible events.

People are going to take this tragedy and relate to it in terms they understand, whether those are personal or political or other. Everyone is going to have their own take and approach and either push it on others or take offense to how others approach it. But ultimately 99% of these people are simply trying to cope with something that is just too much to comprehend, especially with the even so close at hand. Just keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.

For the 2007-2008 year instate VCU students can expect to pay around 5% more compared to the previous year:

Tuition and fees for full-time, undergraduate Virginia students was set at $6,196, an increase of $377. Out-of-state students will pay $18,740, an increase of $1,124.

Which isn’t too bad compared to UVA’s 8.3% increase or Tech’s 10% jump. Still ends up being cheaper to school, live and dine at Tech, but for those who do their living and eating elsewhere, VCU’s tuition is the best rate.

I’m coming to it late, just now emerging from my cave of an apartment and catching the news. But my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Blacksburg and at Virginia Tech.

There’s been a thread going around MySpace and other assorted sites that Richmond City Council is considering legislation “banning” tattoo shops. On April 10th Councilwoman Kathy Graziano proposed the following:

Res No. 2007-R60: (Patron: Ms. Graziano)- To request a study of whether the City’s (sic) zoning ordinance should be amended to establish provisions prohibiting the location of tattoo parlors in residential districts and requiring conditional use permit in business districts: and to direct the planning commision to hold a public hearing on such proposed amendment.

But what does it mean? Word’s been spreading like wildfire that this is going to ban tattoo shops in Richmond and that this city will lose all it’s wonderful parlors and businesses and the end of the world is near.

But someone seems to have gone out of their way to go straight to the source, contacting Ms. Graziano’s office for clarification:

Email from Kathy Graziano’s office:

The resolution is the typical city way of doing business…Council is requesting that the Planning Commission study… The Dilligaf thing came up and caused Kathy to look more closely at the whole issue. We discovered that there is no prohibition on the establishment of a tattoo/piercing business as a home-based occupation in a residential district. Hence the proposed prohibition in a residential district. The SUP for commercial is an opportunity for communities to comment on a permit for a business. Otherwise, it is a “by right.”

…

I asked for more clarification.

Kathy’s office replied,
“First, it does not affect any current business. Second, it prohibits the opening of any tattoo business in a residential district. Third, it would require a special use permit for a NEW tattoo business in a commercial district. Finally, it would not ban anything. David”

So existing businesses, you’re fine. New businesses, you’d have to figure something out. I’m assuming these are the same types of restrictions that, say, a restaurant would face trying to open in a residential. A special use permit may be a bit much, so that’s certainly something to take issue with. But overall, tattoos aren’t going anywhere, Richmond.

But it’s nice to see people participating in the legislative process.