Hypocrisy Over Freedom of Speech?

I am not saying I agree with Dan Cathy's stance or words over same sex marriage (July 16th in the Biblical Reporter), but I do feel he has as much right as the next person to express it.

What I do not care for is a politician who is crying, " we love diversity so much that we are going to do our best to exclude you"

It seems like she let her personal feeling take over instead of her professional demeanor. It is not like Chik-Fil-A has stated they are going to deny service to homosexuals.

Christine Quinn's comments

Via the Huffungton Post

Chick-fil-A has been the subject of controversy because of statements made by its president, Dan Cathy, preceived as being anti-gay. The company has spent millions through its charitable arm to conservative Christian groups that argue against LGBT rights.



A prominent New York official is joining New York University students in calling for Chick-fil-A to be removed from the school's Manhattan campus, the fast food restaurant's only location in the city.


New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an out lesbian, wrote a letter to NYU President John Sexton on July 28, calling for the university to take action against Chick-fil-A after recent controversial comments against LGBT rights were made by company president Dan Cathy.


"Let me be clear ‐‐ I do not want establishments in my city that hold such discriminatory views," Quinn wrote. "We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength and we will fight anything and anyone that runs counter to that."


Quinn also launched an online petition demanding Cathy apologize for his remarks. This joins another one started by Hillary Dworkoski, a student at NYU, which has received more than 15,000 signatures urging NYU to remove Chick-fil-A from its campus.


Chick-fil-A has spent millions through its charitable arm WinShape to support anti-gay organizations. But Cathy added fuel to the fire in July when he said in an interview "I think 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.' And I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about."


"The recent remarks by Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy about gay marriage are way out of step with the views of the NYU community on this matter, and with our practices," John Beckman, NYU spokesman, said in a statement. "The University, as Speaker Quinn notes, is well known for its strong and long-standing support for the LGBT community, and NYU voluntarily provided partner benefits long before it was legally required."


Quinn did note NYU is considered a great campus for LGBT-friendliness. The Princeton Review typically ranks the university near the top of its ranking for best colleges for LGBT students.


Beckamn said the NYU administration is asking the University Senate, which is comprised of faculty, student, dean, and administrator representatives, to take up the matter when they return in the fall.


An NYU statement noted this past spring the Student Senator's Council ultimately did not seek such a resolution from the full University Senate, explaining in a statement "to ban any entity from campus for ideological reasons is, in most every case, to limit freedom of expression."


NYU said they contacted Chick-fil-A when Cathy's comments ignited a controversy this month, they reached out to the company about them. Chick-fil-A said the quotes were in some way incorrect, NYU asked them to clarify, but they have not heard back from the company.


Recently, mayors in major cities like Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. have spoken out against Chick-fil-A, attempting to keep the company from locating in their municipalities. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, typically an advocate for LGBT rights, said it isn't the government's business to thwart a franchise from locating in their jurisdiction because of political or social views. However, the Atlantic Wire notes Quinn's request is a little more plausible:


Law professors have pointed out that denying them the right to build within their city violates their First Amendment right, but Quinn's request is different. NYU is a private university with a huge population of gay students. It might be easier (and legal) for them to get out of their contract, or simply not renew it once their current deal is up, than a government body not allowing them to build.


Quinn also asked Sexton to be sure if Chick-fil-A closes that NYU find a place for the employees of the fast food chicken joint.


"The employees of the Chick-fil‐A should not suffer because of the shortsightedness and homophobia of the President of the corporation that employs them," Quinn said.


The backlash against Chick-fil-A's college locations isn't isolated to New York, where same-sex marriages are legal. In states considered to be more conservative like Texas and Kentucky, students are also protesting against the fast food chain.

New cult classic?

My sister is recommending this movie, I am skeptical, seeing as some of her previous recommendations included Evil Alien Conquerors and Black Sheep, and she decided our new Christmas tradition is Santa's Slay. However, I am a glutton for punishment, love Cthulhu mythos items and the article intrigues me....

I pulled the trigger- don't tell my wife

oooh, blast from the past

Grey Knights- continued

I started with a white primer

Next, I applied a light wash of Space Wolf Gray, followed by a wash of boltgun metal. At this point, I began to wish I had not fully assembled the models. I was also impressed that I did not have to use any liquid green stuff. They did an amazing job of making sure, other bits might hide any gaps I thought would appear.

After plenty of help from my daughter and some more dabs here and there....

I am not pleased with my results on the melee weapons, but overall I like the end result.

Next I will work on some Bloodletters to face off against them

Painting Dolls, err Miniatures

So lately I have been reading the Horus Heresy novels, set in GW's Warhammer 40k universe. To me it's pulp fiction I can read to relax and rest my wearied brain (I highly reccomend the Ciaphas Cain novels as well as the Gotrek and Felix novels).

It is given me the itch to do some painting of miniatures (which my wife likes to refer to as dolls) and make a diorama for a friend of mine's store. My daughter and I picked up some Grey Knights and Chaos Marines back in December and they have set idle in my closet since. At one point around New Year's I opened the Grey Knights box and realized, "oh crap that's a lot of bits, this will be a lot tougher than the minis I am used to."

I have not painted any 40k minis in close to 20 years, and boy have their models come a long way since then. What used to be 4-5 pieces, now seems like a dozen, with lots of options. I have painted Blood Bowl and Battletech minis in the past few years. I do not consider myself an expert or worthy of any Golden Daemon Awards, but it is something I enjoy. And I have a lot of minis accumulated in my closet and garage.

Last night, I finally decided I was up to the task. The house is relatively clean, other projects are done or on hold and it was time for some relief. As soon as I cracked the box and pulled out the paints, my 2 year old decided she wanted to help. With her "help" I was able to get only two minis together, but at least I am started.

Hopefully, next week I can put some pictures together.

online games

I haven't posted any freebies in a while, amazing how a toddler eats into your free time. I wouldn't trade her for the world though.

Here is one that takes very little time, and always gets a chuckle from my wife

Mini Troopers


And the other one that haunts me day and night is Kaboom's Thirst of Night.
This is one of those resource collection and army building games, that you have to be in for the long haul. Just saying, you have been warned.....

You play a city of vampires in a post apocalyptic world. You harvest wild humans as well as steal resources from other players through attacking.