A town in Illinois is considering establishing a "disturbance and disorderly conduct" violation. The drama started when a woman rolled her eyes and sighed during a committee meeting last month.
Disorderly?
She was expelled from the meeting and now the City Attorney has been ordered by the finance and council affairs committee to come up with a legal definition of “disorderly conduct.”
For the record, a legal definition of “disorderly conduct” already exists – in the state of Illinois. Their official definition:
"an act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another, or to provoke a breach of the peace."
The woman who was removed from the meeting welcomes having an official definition on the record – for the city officials:
“I’d like for them (city officials) to have a better understanding of the open meetings act and its meaning and to understand what disorderly conduct is... and to better understand what the public is entitled to.”
The first amendment to the US constitution prohibits any law that infringes upon a person’s right to free speech, peaceful assembly, petition the government, etc. It’s pretty much what makes it okay for Americans to disapprove of our government.
Things must be going pretty smoothly in Elmhurst if they’re taking the time to make an issue out of this… right?
What do you think? Is this an acceptable use of city officials’ time? Do you think this is a legitimate effort to ensure orderly gatherings or an infringement on residents' First Amendment rights?
The biggest overhaul to the US economy since Roosevelt’s Depression-era New Deal has been signed into law but what does that mean for you?
Image via NY Daily News
Below is a list compiled by The White House, of 10 things you might not know about the reform, and how it will affect you. As tempting as it is to scream “propaganda!” and assume it will reek with condescension, it actually does help clarify a few things. Let’s face it, no matter how smart you are, the economy is more complicated than any jigsaw puzzle or Rubix cube and most of us aren't going to read the full 2,300 pages.
1. Stronger protections for consumers against unfair credit card practices like rate hikes for existing credit card balances. 2. Mortgage brokers will be prohibited from making higher commissions by selling mortgages they know consumers can’t afford. 3. Free annual credit scores so people can stay on top of their finances. [Clarification: free credit scores are available if you receive worse terms on a loan because of something on your credit report, or if you are rejected.] 4. No more taxpayer-funded bailouts. If a company can’t make it, it will have to liquidate. 5. Greater input by company shareholders over how much a CEO gets paid. And companies’ compensation boards are now required to be truly independent. 6. Brokers who offer investment advice will have to act in the best interests of their customers, not their own financial interests. 7. Financial firms won't be allowed to grow so large that if one fails, it will affect the entire financial system. 8. There will be one agency whose sole job is to make sure that consumers get the protections they deserve and to set clear rules to hold banks, mortgage companies, payday lenders, and credit card lenders accountable. 9. Businesses can't be charged extra fees for debit card “swipe fees” that exceed the cost of processing transactions. 10. You can learn plenty more here at WhiteHouse,gov or at financialstability.gov
Here’s what President Obama had to say this morning:
"Because of this law, the American people will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street's mistakes. There will be no more taxpayer-funded bailouts. Period."
So basically...
All of us will finally see a decrease in those pesky “POS” (point of sale) fees that stores can charge when you use your debit card (they only charge you because banks charge them).
If you’re denied a credit card, job or housing because of your credit score, you’re entitled to see your score for free, even if you’ve already used your once-a-year freebie.
Getting a home loan will be harder but you're less likely to be talked into buying one that you can't afford and might loose.
and...
Credit card companies can no longer suddenly start charging you outrageous rates that make it practically impossible to get ahead on your bills. Let's hope this one's true!
The bottom line is that a healthy economy means more jobs and a better situation for everyone. Fingers crossed that things start looking up soon.
After being banned from her prom in April, Constance McMillen has received $35,000 in damages from her former rural Mississippi school district.
Constance (middle left) with her family
When McMillen, hoping that the ban on attending the prom with someone of the same sex had changed, asked if it would be okay to bring her girlfriend, she was told that they would be escorted out and that only male students would be permitted to wear tuxedos.
When the ACLU stepped in and a federal judge told the district that banning her from bringing her girlfriend to prom would violate her First Amendment rights, the district “canceled” the prom. They then threw a fake prom, attended only by seven students, including several with special needs. In the meantime, the rest of the class had their actual prom 30 miles away.
Following the first ruling, she endured harassment not only from students, but from parents and administrators too. She’d considered not putting up a fight but knew that she had a chance to make sure that future students wouldn’t ever be in her situation.
"I’ve never been a bad student and I don’t feel like I deserve to be put through this. I knew it was a good cause, but sometimes it really got to me. I knew it would change things for others in the future and I kept going and I kept pushing."
Her ACLU lawyer couldn’t agree more:
“It set a precedent and helped broadcast an important statement, which was made stronger by virtue of where it came from. We're in a conservative area of the country, where people tend to think ‘we can do what we like.’ This case sends a strong message that that's not going to fly anymore."
Constance has since and received a $30,000 scholarship and will be attending college in Tennessee, where she’ll study psychology.
To earn donations that help fund free crisis and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth, support The Trevor Project on SocialVibe.
Forever 21, the clothing store known for bringing über-cheap, up-to-the-second, high-fashion to young girls, has launched a maternity line aimed at teens.
The Forever 21 homepage
Forever 21's new maternity line
While they’ve been careful not to say that teens are the target, the first 3 stores will open in the 3 states that just happen to have the highest teen pregnancy rates: California, Arizona, and Texas.
Salon’s Sara Libby writes that while “over-reactive parents and pundits constantly point a finger of blame at any slice of pop culture that deals with teen pregnancy,” they may have a case this time.
"The brand makes a concerted effort to court customers who can't yet drive themselves to the mall.”
Forever 21 is growing quickly and recently launched a plus-size line for young women. A maternity line seems like a natural extension, but is making an effort to reach areas with high rates of teen pregnancy unethical or just smart business?
Just a few more hours until the 2010 do Something Awards on VH1, where pop culture meets activism. Matt Damon v. Leonardo DiCaprio, American Idol v. Glee, and Christina Aguilera v. Lady Gaga? Count us in!
Here are Do Something’s top five reasons to watch. They had us at “piece of A-list.”
1. Jane Lynch. Yes, this hot piece of A-list serves it up hot and sassy all night long!
2. Kellan Lutz + Annalynne McCord + Matt Bomer + Surprise Foxy-Queen-of-the-Foxies = smokin' HOT
3. Snoop Dogg and some dogs w/ a Dawg
4. "I wanna be a Billionaire....so f'in bad....." (y'know its stuck in your head now)
5. Do it for the kids! 5 to be exact, and one will win $100K to keep changing the world!!
The Do Something Awards honor those that give back, whether they’re movie stars or high school kids. At the end of the night, one young world-changing social activist will receive $100K to continue their work.
The newest category, Do Something on Twitter, pins Ashton Kutcher and Hugh Jackman against the satirical “BPGlobalPR.” No matter who wins in any category, it’s going to be a good show. Comedy + music + a reminder that there are lots of good people in the world = something we’re sure to watch.
GlobalGiving and Neutrogena have teamed up with Vanessa Hudgens, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts and Gabrielle Union in the “Wave for Change” campaign to raise $200,000 for charity this summer.
Image via People
For every Wave Sonic Power-Cleaner or Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit product sold from now until August 23rd, $1 will be donated to GlobalGiving, and organization that connects donors with smaller charities and projects that need support. GlobalGiving will then distribute the funds to environmental, educational and disaster relief charities, but how much each charity gets depends on your vote.
To join the Neutrogena spokesgirls in the Wave for Change campaign and help decide which charities receive the bulk of the cash, visit www.facebook.com/Neutrogena, click the boxes tab and take the quiz. They'll decide which .org you'd most likely choose, based how you rank the importance of things like literacy, recycling, or donating blood.
All funds in the environmental category will go to SV charity, The Whaleman Foundation but, regardless of how funds are distributed, all of the causes are great!
You can earn free donations for The Whaleman Foundation to help stop the slaughter of whales and dolphins by supporting them on Socialvibe!
Suppose you live in a world where you can download information directly to your brain and know you’re receiving a call because there’s tingling sensation in your finger. Freelance scientist Todd Huffman says the technology is not far off. In fact, he’s already put an implant in his own ring finger that allows him to feel the current running through every electrical appliance he uses.
While the goal of most scientists working with bionics is to help people living with illness or injury, the technology they develop does have “performance enhancing applications.” The bionics that allow people with epilepsy to experience fewer seizures and those with spinal chord injuries to control previously paralyzed limbs can be used to make you stronger, faster, and smarter.
According to Dr. Brian Litt, professor of bioengineering and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, explains:
"It's a pretty small step to go from that to something that could be potentially used to enhance you in intelligence."
Philip Kennedy, the scientist that developed a brain implant to translate human thoughts into text, believes that there will be performance enhancing variations of his implant within 10 years. He says that the “direct-to-brain information downloads” in The Matrix are not that unrealistic and that the trick is to find a way to not overwhelm the brain in the process.
What do you think about medical technologies that can be used to engineer superhumans? Is it something that’s bound to happen? Allowing already brilliant people to use these technologies could give them the edge they need to come up with cures for cancer, better farming methods, or more efficient energy sources. That said, there’s plenty of room for abuse too. Should we embrace it or is it unethical? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For three straight months, between 1.5 and 2.5 million gallons of oil has been pouring into the Gulf of Mexico each day, polluting the ocean, killing animals and destroying livelihoods.
This afternoon, a temporary cap halted the spill fir the first time since BP’s rig exploded three months ago. It’s only a test, but a major milestone.
While many are hoping that this could be the beginning of the end of this vile situation, President Obama sounded less than convinced:
"We're still in the testing phase. I'll have more to say about it tomorrow."
Thad Allen, the federal government's disaster response manager, added that the more permanent solution is to finish the two relief wells that BP says should be complete sometime next month.
Does this make you feel like we’re closer to a solution?
