Let your mouth speak archive

An order from the Archdiocese of Edmonton that would prevent the local Catholic School District from accepting money from gambling has been postponed indefinitely.

Archbishop Richard Smith had set a deadline of Oct. 1 to ban any gambling dollars from being used by Catholic institutions. However, after a meeting with Debbie Engel, chairwoman of the Catholic School District, the deadline was thrown out. The status quo will remain until replacement funding can be found, a process that could take years.

"We're not looking to lose this money, we're looking for a way to sustain it," Engel said after the Tuesday afternoon meeting.

"We started talking about ways that we could make sure that we have these funds in the school, a phase-out period. It's going to take some time for us to work out how we are going to replace this."

There is no timeline or new deadline, but Engel said it could take years.

Smith did not speak to reporters after the meeting.

Money is given to parents' councils whose members volunteer to work at casinos, and the funds are then passed on to schools. Across the system, those funds are used for hot lunch programs, equipment and field trips.

The district's 87 schools receive roughly $6 million every 18 months from gambling sources. The board's annual budget is $340 million.

In an article written for the Edmonton Journal on Sept. 25, Smith stated that his policy applied to casinos, video-lottery terminals and high-stakes bingos.

"We recognize there are a range of practices that fall under the title 'gambling,' from harmless raffle tickets for a quilt to dangerous activities that feed addictive personalities and cause great harm, such as casinos."

He also wrote: "Personal participation in a game of chance is, per se, morally neutral, but it does become morally problematic if it leads, for example, to addiction or deprives others of their due, such as family support."

Engel said the school board plans to reframe the decision as a social justice issue about unfair provincial practices, instead of a religious debate.

She wondered how much gambling revenue is funnelled into the public school system through similar parent groups.

"The other way it is a social justice issue is, not every school has volunteers willing to work a casino. Adding to that, not every school district is in the proximity to work a casino. We're looking at this issue as fair and equitable funding. We don't think any parents should work casinos to fund public education."

Engel said the school board wants the portion of casino revenue that goes to non-profits to go to general revenues, then be distributed equally.

That may get around Smith's policy that no gambling revenues be directly given to Catholic institutions, which includes a ban on grants from the Alberta Lottery Fund, which collects gaming revenue from across the province and distributes a portion to non-profit groups.

That option was not discussed with Smith during the meeting, Engel said.

Recently, Smith questioned why any school board would need to fundraise to pay for educational necessities.

Though Engel said the archbishop acts as a guide to the school board on "anything of a Catholic manner," it is unclear whether his word would supersede a board decision. For right now, the board and archbishop are working together, Engel said.

The continued acceptance of gambling revenues, after Smith has already deemed them "gravely immoral," does not put the school board in a contradictory position, Engel said.

The archbishops of Calgary and St. Paul have issued similar edicts in recent years. In Calgary, the Catholic district agreed in 2007 to abandon gambling revenue but did not implement the policy until this year, giving schools an adjustment period.

To help compensate for the lost funding, the district has set up the Calgary Catholic Education Foundation, which can distribute funds for things that fall outside core school budgets.

Albertans, among the biggest gamblers in Canada, spent an average $951 per person in 2009. The province has forecast it will take in $1.3 billion from gaming and lottery revenue this current budget year.

:dirol

I can't imagine the catholic church giving up bingo!

My mom used to drag me to those Thursday night bingo's all the time. Would be a shame if they have to give those up.

Vegas superstar, Barry Manilow, has found a way to give back to the city that has embraced his singing act for years; he is supporting Vegas school music programs by donating thousands of musical instruments to students of Las Vegas Schools. His project is called the Manilow Music Project which has been focusing on providing kids with musical instruments since 2008, and this year he unloaded 5 trailer trucks full of instruments worth over $500,000 to middle schools and high schools in the Clark County School District.

"The Las Vegas Community has been so kind to me; it is a pleasure to be bringing instruments to these kids. With public school music programs so severely depleted, it's more important than ever to do what we can to keep the music alive," said Manilow. This program is important to Manilow who feels his high school music program contributed to his success.

According to Robyn Leach from the Las Vegas Sun, Manilow who presented the instruments to students, told them that they were probably wondering why he was there and went on to say how he was the Justin Beiber of the 70’s – for those that didn’t know who the guy was.

Either way, students were happy to receive the instruments that wouldn’t otherwise be available. Kudos to Mr. Copacabana for giving back to the city that shaped him. Manilow will be headlining his own show in Vegas for the next two years at the Paris Hotel.

It's no secret that women love surprises – like chocolate, flowers, candy and picnics on the beach. Grammy winning folk/funk singer Ben Harper was kind enough to surprise his wife actress Laura Dern with divorce papers. On Friday Harper the papers citing irreconcilable differences and is asking the judge to deny Dern spousal support.

TMZ is reporting that Harper claims he and Dern separated back in January but that people connected with the couple say they have been living and traveling together throughout the year.

Harper, 40, who married Dern, 43, in 2005, is asking for joint legal and physical of their two kids – Ellery, 9, and Jaya, 5.

Dern had previously been linked with Nicolas Cage, Jeff Goldblum, and Billy Bob Thornton, who also blindsided Dern by abruptly marrying Angelina Jolie. She married Harper in 2005 after dating him for five years.

The Bodog Sportsbook has the hottest celebrity and reality TV odds. Get your Dancing with the Stars betting and Battle of the Blades odds while they're hot.

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Netherlands new right-wing government has recently voiced it support of regulating online gambling. With over half a million people in the country who take part in activities at online casinos, the new politicians in power believe that they are currently missing out on a profitable opportunity to earn tax dollars.

Earlier this year, The European Court of Justice decided that the country’s current ban of online gambling was lawful. However, rather than upholding the decision that was made by the former politicians, the new government has decided that issuing a few online gambling licenses would benefit the country as a whole and its residents.

Recently, a report was compiled that outlines the pros and cons of legalizing and regulating online gambling. Although the details have yet to be released, it seems as though the positive aspects outweigh the negative, as Dutch courts believe that online poker should be available to the country’s citizens.

Even land-based casinos are on board. Netherlands' biggest casino, The Holland Casino, has voiced it’s support, stating that it would eliminate illegal operators and make the industry at large much safer and reputable.

So far, the government has yet to take an legislative action, but the great deal of support it has received is likely to see a push towards online gambling regulation early next year.

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MSNBC reported how several chapels around Vegas commented that 10-10-10 was probably the most popular wedding day since 7-7-07 which to some was the ultimate lucky day. Vegas may be a wedding hot spot but the influx of blushing brides was a worldwide event with many major cities experiencing the same phenomenon.

In Las Vegas it was a busy time for Elvis and the Grim Reaper who where fully booked with several ceremonies throughout the day. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel they had over 160 weddings to perform on Sunday which not only included Elvis themed weddings but also Austin Powers and James Bond.

One bride and groom called it "fun" that"we'll have something unusual in common with a big chunk of people. We'll have a much greater probability of running into couples with the same anniversary."

Chapels in Vegas are expecting their next big rush on 11-11-11 and of course Valentine’s Day, the most popular day for weddings. Congratulations to all of the newly married couples who have absolutely no excuse to forget their anniversaries

The majority of the time political rallies can be a big yawn but this year Democratic rally attendees were in for a big naked surprise. President Obama was in Philadelphia on Sunday to headline the rally where he received an impromptu visit by a streaker who showed his goodies to the crowds in response to a $1 million dare from a British millionaire.

The stunt was carried out by Juan James Rodriguez who responded to a dare from British millionaire, Alki David, who wanted someone to run naked in front of the President while writing the name of one of his websites across his chest and then proceeding to scream the name of the site at least 6 times.

According to the Daily Mail, Alki David will only pay the $1million if he receives proof of the deed and since the story has been all over the media, then I’m guessing that’s more than enough proof. “When I see the video and it’s confirmed …. It won’t be a check, it will be cash, he said.

Rodriguez was arrested immediately after the act but was not deemed a threat since he was obviously not armed. Well, Congratulations to Rodriguez, the brave soul who managed to express his freedom to bare all.

:dirol

Any way to make a buck, I guess.
I hope he uses it for poker and not to feed his kid...haha

A good pay day for the government, too.
Even, if its cash, he has to pay taxes.
No doubt, the IRS won't forget this one.
They did not forget about Richard Hatch (the first Survivor winner)

Bang! Bang! Dance cowboy! dance! :helpme

Nice Barry.

I knew that $0.60 45rpm record I bought in the 70's
would serve you well.

I don't listen to it but I still have it.
Just waiting for the day when the record makes me rich.
😄

Police have arrested 39 people for money laundering, operating illegal gambling establishments and illegal bookmaking during a crackdown on vice establishments yesterday and today.

Police have frozen about $10 million in suspected triad-related income, and seized $350,000 in cash and computers. They also arrested 28 men and 11 women, aged 25 to 77.

Police said the raids had effectively shut down the two triad factions active in the New Territories. They were believed to have involved in human smuggling, illegal bookmaking, selling contraband cigarettes, and loan sharking, and laundering crime proceeds through different bank accounts and shell companies.


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Just because the parents get to run off to Vegas for the weekend doesn’t mean that their beloved Fido can’t have a little fun too. Vegas hotels including the Caesars Palace, Imperial Palace and the Rio have launched the Pet Stay Las Vegas program which gives pet owners peace of mind with their special guide which outlines outdoor areas, dog walking routes and special pet room service menus (yeah, that’s right).

So while the parents are out enjoying all of the Sin City delights, your pooch will be lounging on his personalized doggie mat while enjoying room service. Although, lack of pet accommodation hasn’t really been an issue for quite some time in Vegas, more and more hotels are opening up to the idea of such a thing. I mean, where is Paris Hilton expected to keep her tiny pooch, while she’s out getting arrested?

According to USA Today, Las Vegas has over 42 pet-friendly hotels and two very famous dog parks including the Red Rock Canyon and the Desert Breeze which are big pet attractions in the city. So the big question is how much does all of this doggie pampering set you back? Many hotels charge a minimum of $15 to have your pet stay with you while others such as the Pet Stay Las Vegas program charge up to $25 per night for a pet 50 pounds and under. Larger pets will obviously cost more.

So get your pooch or cat suited up and packed in the car because now the whole family can have a Vegas vacation.

You can now put the David Arquette cheating rumors to rest because he and his wife Cougar Town star, Courtney Cox have decided to go on a trial separation after 11 years of marriage. There has been no indication that there was any trouble in the marriage and they have been seen out in public lately acting quite friendly with each other. After 11 years, it seems that the two have simply grown apart.

According to US Magazine, the two agreed to trial separation some time ago and “The reason for the separation is to better understand ourselves and the qualities we need in a partner and for our marriage,” the couple said. Some time ago, David had been suspected of cheating after he had been seen with another woman but according to Perez Hilton, that is just part of the couple’s agreement – to see other people. They also mentioned how the two could very possibly get back together at some point so not to count on a divorce anytime soon.

There were also reports that the couple had been finding it hard to make things work and that regardless of them sharing a set together, they still love each other deeply and will remain friends. The couple met back in 1996 on the set of the movie Scream and married three years later. They share a daughter, Coco who is now six-years-old.

To 77 years still doing it? .. not had a heart attack when he was arrested ?😁))

Online gambling has grown substantially over the years, rapidly becoming one of the largest businesses in the United States and across the world.

The American Gaming Association reports that there was $5.4 billion in revenue for offshore companies from just U.S. citizens gambling online and $25.8 billion worldwide in 2009.

As of now, the legality of sports betting online in the U.S. is questionable.

There have been numerous laws attempting to legalize and repeal gambling over the past few years, and ultimately, it is a gray area that has been won by overseas organizations.

Title VIII of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement (UIGEA) Act of 2006 prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution to Internet gambling sites, specifically excluding fantasy sports, online lotteries and horse/harness racing.

The addicting nature of gambling in itself and the alluring ability to do it from your own home, is the source of the appeal for online gambling, but many agree that the casino atmosphere contributes to the overall enjoyment of gambling.

Watching a roulette ball bounce around the wheel is far more entertaining in real life as opposed to via the Internet.

Playing blackjack and poker is a different story.

The efficiency and quickness of the game is really highlighted online.

Another advantage to online sites is that most have a “mute” or “ignore comments” button, which allows players to concentrate better.

Internet gambling is also appealing to people who are underage.

Security measures to prevent underage gambling are rare at best.

Some places require a scan of an I.D. and a credit card, while online someone could get by with a friend or parent’s credit card.

Centsports.com is a legal sports betting site where one can actually make money without putting any money forth.

This is just one of the many emerging sites which allow free online betting.

The website is driven by ads, but it allows you to start with ten cents and work your way up.

Once you get to $20, they allow you to cash out. As of Oct. 5, user Jason Motta had made $849.08 and only connected on 50.35 percent of his bets.

Most Internet gambling websites allow users to either play for free or put in real credits.

A few are of the most popular sites are pokerstars.com, fulltiltpoker.com, absolutepoker.com and ub.com.

The availability and simplicity of online gambling is irrefutable.

Although Atlantic City and Las Vegas don’t look like they’ll be shutting down in the near future, new age industry of online gambling is definitely making its marK

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Minka Kelly has been named Esquire's Sexiest Woman.


The daughter of a stripper, Minka Kelly didn't grow up with money to burn. But now she's Derek Jeter's girlfriend and Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive in their November issue. The 30-year-old former Friday Light Nights actress and scrub nurse tells the magazine that with her recent birthday, she has really come into her own, calling her twenties "a pain in the ass." She said, "It just feels nice to be at peace with yourself. I think my thirtieth birthday gave me permission to have all that."

"My mom lived a fast life," Kelly told Esquire. "It was all about what we could do to have fun with nothing. She — for most of my life, she was a dancer. An exotic dancer. She was a stripper. Um, so she would come home at like three, four o'clock in the morning, and sometimes she would have a really great night, and so she would wake me up in the middle of the night and we'd go to Ralphs and go grocery shopping. And that was so much fun. We'd have the whole grocery store to ourselves, and we would have a blast and buy a hundred dollars in groceries. And it was just the best day ever."

With her difficult upbringing, Minka Kelly certainly remembers to remain humble, regardless of the fact that she's dating (and some say, will marry) one of the highest paid major league baseball stars – and always thanks everyone around her.

"My boyfriend noticed that about me, too," she said. "He's the same way, and he said it was a good way to judge someone's character [is if they say 'thank you']. It's actually unfortunate, in a way, that you would notice that. It blows my mind that anyone could be unkind to anyone. The guy clearing our plates is a person. I don't care if you're sweeping the floor. I don't care if you're cleaning my toilet. Not that I have someone to clean my toilet — I clean my own toilet."

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Any online gamblers who wanted to get a feel for where Delaware Senate candidates stood on the issue came away disappointed from the Christine O'Donnell debate with Chris Coons. The two candidates squared off on several issues, none of which involved online gambling.

This November, voters will go to the polls in the US for mid-term elections, and online gamblers will make up a large percentage of those voters. After years of struggling through having to use offshore Internet gaming sites, these voters are looking for someone to come along that will champion their cause of creating a regulated Internet gambling system in the US.

For the past several years, Representative Barney Frank has been the voice of the online gamblers in Congress. Rep. Frank opposed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act when it was created back in 2006, and for several years Frank has tried to have the law overturned.

Unfortunately for Frank and other Democratic leaders, they have not moved quick enough for online poker players. The players are getting restless after another year of no movement towards online gambling regulations, and it is the current lawmakers up for re-election that may pay the price for that frustration.

"We need someone who is going to take this bull by the horns and make a difference for us," said Mario Ballea. "For years we have watched nothing get done, and personally, I've had enough. I want a lawmaker in Washington that will fight harder than the current lawmakers are fighting to regulate online poker."

Ballea is not alone, millions of online poker players are becoming increasingly impatient with the governments attempt to block them from depositing money in their favorite sites. Whether that anger shows up in this election will not be known until the polls close.

One thing is certain. The online gamblers are looking for a new leader, so they sift through the candidates. On Wednesday, it was O'Donnell and Coons in Delaware, on another day it will be different politicians in other states. Regardless of the debate, online gamblers are looking for more than they received Wednesday night, and that was neither candidate addressing their biggest issue.

Why does it seem that after a day of almost "perfect" play is the next day a total disaster.

According to ESPN, Lavin was attempting to carry out a complicated stunt called the "Nac Nac" where while airborne he failed to have the ability to put his feet back on the pedals which led to him being thrown off his bike and being knocked unconscious. As a result of the fall, Lavin also broke some ribs and shattered his right wrist. He is currently in critical condition at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas for nearly fatal injuries including brain swelling.

Lavin is famously known in the extreme sports world as being a top biker and has won awards for his participation in the X Games throughout the late 90’s and remained an active participant of the Dew Tour. Apart from his career as a BMX pro, he is also known for being a hosting several MTV shows including the Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

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A MELBOURNE man fatally stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife during an argument in January last year about him going to the casino to gamble, a court has heard.

But Peter Lubik, who has pleaded not guilty in Victoria’s Supreme Court to murdering his wife Barbara Lubik in the dining room of their home in Noble Park North, claims her death was a tragic accident.

The jury heard today that Lubik and his wife, who married shortly after meeting in 2006, became involved in an argument on the night she died after he told her he was going to the casino to gamble. Along with his drinking, Lubik’s gambling had caused constant problems in their marriage, the court heard.

Advertisement: Story continues below Prosecutor Daryl Brown said as a result of this confrontation, Mrs Lubik received a five centimetre stab wound to her throat which severed her carotid artery.

The prosecutor alleged that Lubik had phoned triple-0 at 9.42pm and told the operator that his wife tried to choke him and he hit her.

‘‘He stated that she was conscious and breathing and that the incident happened about 20 minutes ago. He made no mention of the fact that there was a knife involved or that his wife had a knife wound.’’

After Lubik hung up, the operator phoned him back and he then stated he had used his fists. He said his wife was no longer conscious and breathing, Mr Brown said. He told the operator there was also a lot of blood on the floor.

Despite giving the operator the impression that he was complying with instructions to administer CPR by rolling his wife on to her back, Mrs Lubik was still face-down when police and paramedics arrived.

The jury was told there had been a history of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence in the Lubiks’ marriage and at times, Mrs Lubik had fled the house to stay with friends or at a hotel to get away from her husband.

But she had also told friends that he was a loving and generous husband when he did not drink alcohol, which the friends also observed themselves.

She told them his ‘‘outbursts of violence, abuse and aggression’’ were largely due to alcohol. During such episodes he had thrown her clothes on to the patio at times in the past and cut her clothes and also damaged sentimental belongings, the jury heard.

A month after they married the accused had also physically assaulted her, the court heard.

Mr Brown said a security guard at the Dandenong Hospital - where Lubik spent several days after his wife’s death for treatment of diabetes - would testify that Lubik told him his wife confronted him with a knife on the night she died. He is alleged to have told the guard, who was a friend he had lost contact with, that he tried to take the knife off her and he received minor cuts to his fingers while doing so.

‘‘The accused told him that he then struggled with his wife and she slipped and lost balance,’’ Mr Brown said. ‘‘As his wife was falling that is when it happened, her throat got slit.’’

Defence lawyer Benjamin Lindner told the jury Mrs Lubik’s death was an accident.

‘‘Peter Lubik did not murder his wife Barbara Lubik,’’ he said in his opening address.

‘‘What we have here is a tragic accident set against the background of a relationship that had its problems... The death of Barbara Lubik was a terrible, terrible tragedy,’’ Mr Lindner said.

‘‘One thing is crystal clear, this is not a case of some frenzied wild assault on another person, because you will hear that there was only one fatal injury, a single knife wound which had a tragically fatal consequence.’’

He told the jury they would hear the triple-0 call Lubik made during which he could be heard weeping.

‘‘You will hear his wailing, you will hear his cries for help and you will hear his screaming,’’ he said. ‘‘You will hear it all for yourself.’’

He urged them to listen and decide if it shows "someone who has had an intention to injure his wife, far less as the prosecution wants to you think, to cause her really serious injury or to kill her?’’

Mr Lindner reminded the jury to focus on what happened the night of Mrs Lubik’s death rather than the problems in their marriage before then.

‘‘Your verdict should not be based on suspicion,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s not to be based on guesswork. It’s not to be based on speculation and it’s not to be based on intuition. It’s a rational, intellectual task. If the prosecution has not proven that the incident on 25th January 2009 was not an accident, and that he did not intend the outcome before he made that triple-0 call, then you would have to find Mr Lubik not guilty.’’

The trial, before Justice Ross Robson continues.