Sunday, March 23, 2008

Copies of The Profit, a 2001 film blocked from distribution in the United States due to a court injunction won by the Church of Scientology, appeared on the Internet Friday on peer-to-peer file-sharing websites and on the video sharing site YouTube.

Directed by former film executive Peter N. Alexander, the movie has been characterized by critics as a parody of Scientology and of its founder L. Ron Hubbard. Alexander was a Scientologist for twenty years, and left the organization in 1997. The film was funded by Bob Minton, a former critic of Scientology who later signed an agreement with the Church of Scientology and has attempted to stop distribution of the film. Alexander has stated that the movie is based on his research into cults, and when asked by the St. Petersburg Times about parallels to Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard said: “I’ll let you draw that conclusion … I say it’s entirely fictional.”

The film was released in August 2001, and was shown at a movie theatre in Clearwater, Florida and at a premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France. A Scientology spokesman gave a statement at the time saying “the movie is fiction and has nothing to do with Scientology”. The Church of Scientology later took legal action in an attempt to stop further distribution of the film. The Church of Scientology claimed that the film was intended to influence the jury pool in the wrongful death case of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, who died under Scientology care in Clearwater, Florida.

In April 2002, a Pinellas County, Florida judge issued a court order enjoining The Profit from worldwide distribution for an indefinite period. According to the original court injunction received by Wikinews, the movie was originally banned because the court found that it could be seen as a parody of Scientology. In his April 20, 2002 ruling on the injunction, Judge Robert E. Beach of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County, Florida wrote: “…an average person viewing the film entitled The Profit could perceive that it is a parody of the Church of Scientology”.

“To the extent that any person considered as a potential juror in evaluating any issues involving the Church of Scientology, the process of voir dire provides a fair and complete remedy to eliminate any potential juror that may possibly have been influenced to be less than fair and impartial,” added Beach.

Luke Lirot, the attorney for the film’s production company, announced on the film’s website on April 7, 2007 that “We have absolutely no exposure for any repercussions from the court order,” but that the film was still blocked from distribution due to an ongoing legal battle. Lirot wrote: “all that’s stopping the release of the movie is the legal battle with the partner who was compromised by Scientology (Robert Minton) and is currently using his power as partner to stop the release of the film.”

In an October 2007 article, The Times described the film as “banned in the US because of a lawsuit taken out against it by The Church of Scientology,” and Russ Kick’s The Disinformation Book of Lists included the film in his “List of 16 Movies Banned in the U.S.”. An 8-minute teaser segment from The Profit appeared on the film’s website and on the video sharing site YouTube in February 2008, and an attorney representing Bob Minton sent a letter to Luke Lirot requesting that the film clip be taken down. In a response letter, Lirot wrote that “Rather than damage any asset of the LLC, the short clip merely keeps the film in the public eye, and in a positive way.”

On Friday, copies of the film began to circulate on peer-to-peer file-sharing websites and on YouTube. A link related to the film’s appearance on the Internet on the community-based link aggregator website Digg.com had 3,638 “Diggs” – and hit the front page of the site’s Entertainment section on Saturday.

I had nothing to do with this release at all. But I’m happy it’s out there.

On Saturday, Scientology critic and Emmy award-winning journalist Mark Bunker put a streaming version of the film on his website, www.xenutv.com, and encouraged others to watch and discuss the film on a real-time chat channel. In a video posting to YouTube Saturday, Bunker said “I did not do it. I had nothing to do with it … I had nothing to do with this release at all. But I’m happy it’s out there … people are finally having a chance to see it. A lot of people have been curious over the years and there’s been a lot of interest in seeing the film, so finally you can.”

We have all wanted to see this movie that scientology kept hidden away from us. We have all wondered just how damning could this story be that we were banned from watching it.

On the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology, a poster by the username “Alexia Death” commented on the film’s appearance on the Internet in the context of censorship: “It is out! And so it is a WIN if many people review it even if they say it SUCKS! … Being bad is no cause to allow censorship … And being censored is no cause to assume its good”. A post to the blog Blogsreel commented: “We have all wanted to see this movie that scientology kept hidden away from us. We have all wondered just how damning could this story be that we were banned from watching it.”

In a post on Sunday to the message board attached to the official website for the film, attorney Luke Lirot asked that individuals stop distributing copies of The Profit over the Internet. Lirot wrote: “It has been brought to my attention that several unauthorized transmissions and downloads of this protected work have taken place over the last 72 hours. Such actions are copyright violations and are unlawful. I request that any further distribution and/or dissemination of this important work cease immediately and any copies of the work that have been downloaded please be deleted.” In his statement, Lirot recognized the rights of individuals under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, but also said that unauthorized distribution of the film “will only serve to harm the goal of vast distribution”.

Blog postings have attributed the film’s appearance on the Internet as part of the anti-Scientology movement Project Chanology organized by the Internet-based group Anonymous, but this has not been confirmed. Wikinews previously reported on international protests against Scientology which took place as part of Project Chanology on February 10 and March 15. A third international protest by Anonymous is scheduled for April 12. Titled “Operation Reconnect”, the third international protest will focus on highlighting Scientology’s practice of disconnection.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Banned_film_%27The_Profit%27_appears_on_Web&oldid=4579693”

Submitted by: Maria Johns

If you have just purchased a brand new flat screen TV, you must perform some basic steps to get the most out of it. Have you ever noticed the TV in the showroom? Apparently, yes. You have seen it with almost perfect display. Right? But, it is surprising that how things get changed when you bring the same TV to home. This is because vendors adjust the brightness and contrast settings of the TV as per the showroom ambience. These settings cannot suit your room. Therefore, you need to do TV Calibration. For setting the TV, you have to make some adjustments in brightness, contrast, sharpness, color saturation and tint.

To improve your TV appearance, you can take different measures. Technology is not simple these days and to make it work easily you have to customize it accordingly. There are various types of televisions available in the market with different features. By taking little guidance, you can adjust the audio video settings so as to enhance your TV watching experience. Calibration is not only important for improving your viewing experience but it is also necessary for your TV. By decreasing brightness and contrast settings, you can reduce the amount of energy it consumes. Energy conservation will not only reduce your electricity bills but also helps environment. These savings can help you in maintaining a monthly budget of your expenses. With increasing size of the television, energy consumption by it also increases. Therefore, it is essential to take a step towards conserving energy. Also, by calibrating your TV accurately you can enhance the life of your TV screen. Consider the task of calibration necessary as it is beneficial for your eyes as well as TV.

Here is the guide that can help you in calibrating your TV. Pause your TV at a particular scene that has both dark and bright areas. This will be used as the test scene. Now, start performing the TV calibration steps.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgLYcHTXREg[/youtube]

1. Turn the brightness setting off or fully down. All the areas appear black. Then start increasing the brightness till you can see the details of shadowy areas and black areas will remain black.

2. After this, focus on the white area containing detail and turn the contrast down. Then slowly turn the contrast up till you can see the white area with clear details. Check that blacks are blacks and white should appear white. If something is not perfect, repeat steps 1 and 2.

3. Then turn off the sharpness and detail. Increase it till the picture gets sharper as much as you want.

4. Turn your color setting off or down. Then start increasing it till you get the realistic skin tone.

5. It is suggested to leave the Tint setting as it is.

After TV calibration, your eyes take time to get accustomed to the new picture. But, soon you will enjoy. If you are not able to calibrate your TV then you can call calibration experts. They have required knowledge and tools to perform the calibration task successfully.

About the Author: EasyTechy is a Tech Support company provides TV Calibration, TV Calibration Support, LED TV Calibration Services in UK, US, Australia and Canada. For More Please Visit :

easytechy.co.uk/tv-calibration

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Habertürk media sparks outrage over woman’s murder photo in Turkey

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A photo of a naked and bloodstained murdered woman was shown on the front page of Turkey’s Habertürk Daily print edition last Friday, causing a social and media uproar.

The article was titled “The last point of violence against women”, and whilst there are daily reports of abuse and ‘honour-killings’, Habertürk has been the first to show a photo so graphic and uncensored. The photograph clearly shows the woman’s identity and the kitchen knife used to kill her that was still planted in her back.

I would have used that image even if it was my own mother

Habertürk has been highly criticized by social media users, readers, celebrities, woman organizations, professional press organisations and even its own staff members, with some claiming violation of journalism ethics rules. Habertürk’s own staff columnist Balcicek Ilter said, “the photo of the violated woman on my newspaper’s front page is violence itself.” Habertürk reported her husband, 45, murdered the woman, 38, in Manisa. A mother of two children, they separated after he was abusive towards her, the paper said.

At a time where campaigns are targeting the issue of violence against Turkish women, Habertürk‘s editor-in-chief, Fatih Altayl?, believes this photo counters reduced sensitivity to violence amongst the public. “I would have used that image even if it was my own mother,” he said. Habertürk firmly believes they made the correct choice in publishing the photograph even when asked by woman’s advocacy groups to apologise. “We demand the resignation of the writer of this news and the person who approved it. We call for journalism in print and on TV that stands for the right perspective,” said Canan Güllü from the Turkish Federation of Women Associations (TKDF).

the photo of the violated woman on my newspaper’s front page is violence itself

The Press Council convened Sunday to find a solution to this matter and its Secretary General, Dr. Hasan Sinar states that Habertürk has “ignored the Press Council and the Professional Press Principles” since mid 2009.

While this article has caught a lot of negative attention, there are supporters of Habertürk’s choice in using the photo. Serpil Sancar, head of Ankara University’s Women’s Issues Center agrees stating, “This photograph illustrates the violence women have to face. I don’t think showing the truth is bad. Seeing blood sets the conscience in motion.”

Since talking with Brussels over European Union membership in 2005, Turkey pledged to strengthen human rights and the protection of women. Earlier this year Human Rights Watch reported “Turkey’s flawed family violence protection system leaves women and girls across the country unprotected against domestic abuse.” The rate of female murders has increased 1,400% since 2004.

The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Thomas Hammarberg, is scheduled to be in Turkey currently. A report by Hammarberg earlier this year noted improvements in press freedom, but nonetheless claimed “There is a need for immediate measures to defend these rights [freedom of expression and the media] and support an environment of tolerance to accommodate opposing views.”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Habertürk_media_sparks_outrage_over_woman’s_murder_photo_in_Turkey&oldid=4254337”

Wikinews interviews Joe Schriner, Independent U.S. presidential candidate

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Wikinews interviews Joe Schriner, Independent U.S. presidential candidate
Author: Admin Posted under: Uncategorized

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Journalist, counselor, painter, and US 2012 Presidential candidate Joe Schriner of Cleveland, Ohio took some time to discuss his campaign with Wikinews in an interview.

Schriner previously ran for president in 2000, 2004, and 2008, but failed to gain much traction in the races. He announced his candidacy for the 2012 race immediately following the 2008 election. Schriner refers to himself as the “Average Joe” candidate, and advocates a pro-life and pro-environmentalist platform. He has been the subject of numerous newspaper articles, and has published public policy papers exploring solutions to American issues.

Wikinews reporter William Saturn? talks with Schriner and discusses his campaign.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews_interviews_Joe_Schriner,_Independent_U.S._presidential_candidate&oldid=4497624”
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Gastric Bypass Surgery Benefits And Costs

Author: Admin Posted under: Weight Loss Surgery

Submitted by: Michael Rad

With an estimated 10 million Americans living with severe obesity problems, gastric bypass surgery is one of the frequently considered weight loss solutions. Find out how to prepare for bariatric surgery and how to effectively loose weight as a result of this popular procedure.

Many cases of obese and morbidly obese people go far beyond the issues of having to deal with a few extra pounds they can be serious matters, as excessive weight can develop into a fatal problem. More and more importance is placed on gastric bypass surgery as one of the best methods of eliminating excessive fat (find out more here: www.gastric-bypass-expert.com . However, the risks involved and the cost of gastric bypass surgery are often some issues patients need to consider. Bariatric surgery (another name used for gastric bypass) is a solution to eliminating fat here are some more facts about it.

Getting ready for Bariatric surgery

Before the surgical procedure is performed, you will undergo some laboratory tests with your surgeon s supervision. Different pre-operative gastric bypass surgery analysis have to be performed so as to ensure maximum chances of success for the procedure. Some other special measures might have to be taken prior to gastric bypass surgery, such as stopping to smoke and consume alcohol, sometimes even a few weeks before the surgical procedure. As with any surgery, blood clotting medication is to be avoided. You might also be asked to donate your own blood, weeks before the gastric bypass surgery, as it might be needed after the surgery for blood transfusion. You also have to get ready for it from a financial point of view: determine the cost of gastric bypass surgery with your surgeon and make sure to set your finances in order before the surgery takes place.

Mini gastric bypass

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swk5HWskfaQ[/youtube]

MGB, short for mini gastric bypass, is a minimally invasive method that partitions the stomach into an elongated, slender tube and a separate larger section. The smaller part of the stomach is attached about 6 feet down in the small intestine while the larger stomach area is not attached and is sealed off. The small section of the stomach doesn t allow the patient to eat the quantities of food they did before the mini gastric bypass operation. The second active part of the operation is that the bypassed portion of the small intestine decreases caloric absorption. Most mini gastric bypass patients experience an average weight loss of about 140 pounds with their initial weight being situated around 280 – 300 pounds.

No more fat!

Although results vary, most patients loose about 50% to 90% of the excess weight in a year, a year and a half after surgery. These amazing figures are even more impressive when we consider the fact that most of these patients were morbidly obese and life was a series of constant obstacles related to their excessive weight. However, results do not come on their own. A life style change is required after gastric bypass surgery and a strict diet will also become essential. Co-morbid problems are usually diminished or even gone forever and many patients didn t have to take sleep apnea or hypertension medication after the surgery. Even though many patients do not reach an ideal weight after gastric bypass surgery, they will tell you that this procedure did change their lives 180 degrees, as they are now free to enjoy most of the things their excessive weight made them skip prior to the procedure.

About the Author: More resources from this author are available below: —

gastric-bypass-expert.com

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Eurozone offers Greece 30 billion euro in loans

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Eurozone offers Greece 30 billion euro in loans
Author: Admin Posted under: Uncategorized

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Member states of the eurozone have offered to give Greece thirty billion euro in emergency loans for the debt-stricken country, should the latter want it.

The loans’ price will be determined using formulas by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and will be set at around five percent.

The Luxembourgish prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking on behalf of eurozone finance ministers, commented that “[t]he total amount put up by the eurozone member states for the first year will reach 30bn euros.” He added that “[t]his is certainly no subsidy” to Greece.

The prime minister also noted that financing would be “completed and co-financed” by the IMF. European Union monetary affairs chief Olli Rehn remarked that the IMF would make a “substantial contribution” to the loan package as well, perhaps around ten billion euros.

The Greek economy has spent more than it has earned for several years now, and currently faces a budget deficit equal to 12.9% of its economic output, or a total debt of 300 billion euros. The country intends to try and reduce the deficit to 8.7% this year.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Eurozone_offers_Greece_30_billion_euro_in_loans&oldid=3741881”
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Turkey outraged over U.S. Armenian genocide resolution

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Turkey outraged over U.S. Armenian genocide resolution
Author: Admin Posted under: Uncategorized

Friday, October 12, 2007

Turkish officials have expressed outrage over a United States congressional resolution labeling the Ottoman Empire‘s World War I era killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians as “genocide”. The Turkish government has warned that the resolution threatens its strategic partnership with the U.S.

The resolution, passed 27-21 by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, states that “[t]he Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed”. The resolution calls on the President ” to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.”

The World War I era killings, commonly referred to as the Armenian Genocide, have been recognized as genocide by 22 countries, including France, Russia, Venezuela, Argentina, and Canada. The killings have also been officially labeled as “genocide” by 40 of the 50 U.S. states. Turkey acknowledges that Armenians were killed, but calls it a massacre rather than an organized campaign of genocide.

On Thursday the Turkish government released a statement saying that “It is unacceptable that the Turkish nation should be accused of a crime that it never committed in its history.” “We still hope that the House of Representatives will have enough good sense not to take this resolution further,” the statement added. A statement on the Turkish Foreign Ministry web site said that the resolution “will not only endanger relations with a friendly and allied nation but will also jeopardize a strategic partnership that has been cultivated for generations.”

On Thursday, Turkey recalled its U.S. ambassador Nabi Sensoy, and warned of further repercussions. “Yesterday some in Congress wanted to play hardball,” said Turkish foreign policy adviser Egemen Bagis. “I can assure you Turkey knows how to play hardball.”

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said he was “disappointed” by the vote. While acknowledging that “[w]e understand the feelings that people have about the tragic suffering of the Armenian people,” Stanzel warned that “Turkey is playing a critical role in the war on terror and this action is problematic for everything we’re trying to do in the Middle East and would cause great harm to our efforts.” U.S. President George W. Bush had lobbied against the resolution, saying that it would damage relations between the U.S. and Turkey.

House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said the resolution will go forward for a vote in the House despite Turkish opposition. “As long as there is genocide, there is a need to speak out against it,” Pelosi said.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Turkey_outraged_over_U.S._Armenian_genocide_resolution&oldid=1730406”
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Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro injured in Preakness, does not finish race

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Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro injured in Preakness, does not finish race
Author: Admin Posted under: Uncategorized

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, sent as the post-time odds-on favorite in this year’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, breaks down in the opening stretch of the race, shattering any chance of a Triple Crown winner this year. Bernardini, the 12-1 4th choice out of 9, ends up winning this year’s Preakness, stopping the clock at 1:54.65. Following up 5 1/4 lengths behind was Sweetnorthernsaint, sent to the post at 8-1, and Hemingway’s Key at 29-1, six lengths further back.

According to Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Barbaro’s injury was “significant” and “would require major stabilizing surgery.” Barbaro’s injury effectively ended the horse’s racing career.

Bernardini, a colt by A.P. Indy out of Cara Rafaela, by Quiet American, was bred and is owned by the Darley Stable of Sheikh Mohammed, is trained by Tom Albertrani, and was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano. Today’s Preakness marks the first Preakness win for jockey Javier Castellano, who previously rode Ghostzapper to a win in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Preakness was only Bernardini’s 4th career start.

Bernardini paid $27.80 on a $2 win bet. The $2 Exacta of Bernardini and Sweetnorthernsaint (8-7) paid $171.60, the $1 Trifecta with Hemingway’s Key in third (8-7-3) paid $1,956.40, and the $1 Superfecta with 2nd-favorite Brother Derek (8-7-3-6) paid $11,151.20.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Kentucky_Derby_winner_Barbaro_injured_in_Preakness,_does_not_finish_race&oldid=1558656”
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Casino Online: The Gamblers Delight

Author: Admin Posted under: Betting

It is the online casino that enables the person to not only earn a huge sum of money quickly but at the same time it opens up a way to get a lot of thrill and excitement. It is the online casino that has always been the talk of the day. With the passage of time the number of people going for the casino online has always increased. It is the internet that has become probably one of the most important means for the people to communicate with each other. With the increasing number of people relying on internet it is now possible for the online casinos to actually get the desired returns within a short span of time. The online casino has always been a great source of attraction for the countless number of people in every part of the world. It is always in the best possible interest of the person to keep in mind the risk factor as well while going for the online casino. It is to be noted that the probability of winning is always equal to the probability of losing when it comes to the online casinos. It is the online casino that has always provided the people with thrill but at the same time addiction to any habit can lead to adverse effects for the people. It is the online casino that has become a great hit but at the same time the people also need to keep in mind the fact that the online casinos can also prove to be a source of great headache.With the passage of time the number of web sites providing the people with the desirable online casino games has increased. Moreover it is to be noted that it is the increasing number of people who are risk takers and have access to internet that are always looking forward to try their luck on to such games that are available online. It is the online gaming that has become great source of attraction for almost every person in every part of the world. The games that can make a person to earn a decent sum of money within a short span of time hence will prove to be a great success.

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Colleges offering admission to displaced New Orleans students/LA-ND

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Colleges offering admission to displaced New Orleans students/LA-ND
Author: Admin Posted under: Uncategorized
See the discussion page for instructions on adding schools to this list and for an alphabetically arranged listing of schools.

Due to the damage by Hurricane Katrina and subsequent flooding, a number of colleges and universities in the New Orleans metropolitan area will not be able to hold classes for the fall 2005 semester. It is estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 students have been displaced. [1]. In response, institutions across the United States and Canada are offering late registration for displaced students so that their academic progress is not unduly delayed. Some are offering free or reduced admission to displaced students. At some universities, especially state universities, this offer is limited to residents of the area.

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