OneJax Institute presents the next program in the Civil Discourse Series.

Human Rights Ordinance: Does Jacksonville Need It?

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014
7 - 8:30 p.m.
University of North Florida
Lazzara Performance Hall
1 UNF Drive
Building 45

A panel discussion representing diverse perspectives on the Human Rights Ordinance.

Moderator:
John A. Delaney, President, University of North Florida

Panelists:
Steve Halverson, President and CEO, The Haskell Company
Carrington “Rusty” Mead, Esquire, Jacksonville Attorney
Maria Mark, Atlantic Beach City Commissioner
Bill Gulliford, Jacksonville City Council Member
Roger Gannam, Esquire, Liberty Counsel
Torin Dailey, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Oakland

This event is free and open to the entire community. Tickets are required for entry and may be obtained online at https://webapps.unf.edu/eticket/hro. Parking is free starting at 5:30 p.m. in Lot 1 and on 2nd - 4th floors of Garage 44.

For questions call (904) 620-1529.

Sponsors:
Sponsor - WJCT Sponsor - University of North Florida
Sponsor - The Florida Times-Union jacksonville.com

Same-sex marriage appeal won’t go directly to Florida Supreme Court

Associated Press

 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

 

MIAMI — A Florida appeals court has refused to allow Attorney General Pam Bondi take the state’s same-sex marriage ban directly to the Florida Supreme Court.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal on Friday indicated it will likely rule itself on previous decisions striking down the Miami-Dade and Monroe counties bans.

Several Florida judges ruled this summer that Florida’s ban is unconstitutional but stayed their rulings until other cases around the country were resolved, including those pending with the U.S. Supreme Court.

It recently declined to hear appeals from five states that sought to keep their marriage bans in place. The American Civil Liberties Unions, and attorneys for the couples in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties then sued to overturn the stay.

If they prevail, Bondi could then go to the Supreme Court.

 

Is this why Rick Scott is skipping a deposition on Friday

Miami Herald reporter Mary Ellen Klas is reporting that Florida Governor Rick Scott is not going to give a scheduled deposition Friday in a lawsuit he initiated.

From the Herald:

Gov. Rick Scott is planning to be a no-show Friday for a deposition in a lawsuit he filed in California to block the release of information about Google email accounts used by him and his executive staff. 

Attorney Steven R. Andrews was prepared to put the governor under oath in Tallahassee but Scott’s communications director, Frank Collins, said Thursday “there is not going to be a deposition tomorrow.” He could not immediately answer whether Scott's lawyers are asking the judge to have the event postponed or if they plan to ignore it entirely. 

However, if the governor is a no-show for a deposition in a case he initiated, it may not be without consequences. According to the rules of civil procedure, if Scott fails to submit to the deposition, the judge could dismiss his lawsuit, order the governor to appear at a later date, or sanction him for refusing to cooperate.

Read more from the Herald here.

Here is one reason Scott might be skipping the deposition - he has a major fundraiser tomorrow with big wigs from the sugar industry, FPL, and other major political donors.

From Tuesday's Crowley Political Report:

Some of Florida's most interesting political donors are hosting an event Friday to raise money for Governor Rick Scott's reelection campaign and the Florida Republican Party.

"You are cordially invited to an afternoon with Governor Rick Scott along with special guests Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Marco Rubio (and)  Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera."

The event is at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - a glorious place where Bush has his private office mere steps from the golf course.

The gathering begins at 11:30 with a "lunch reception" costing $250 per person or $500 per couple.

The big money event begins at 12:45. It is the "Event Chair Luncheon" for those who have either given or raised $25,000.

The event chairs include:

Pepe Fanjul, Sr., and Pepe Fanjul Jr, owners of Florida Crystals.

Tammy Meyerson, CEO and president of Preferred Medical Plan,

Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, Inc. the parent company of FPL.

Jeffrey Soffer, owner of Turnberry Associates.

George Zoley, founder of the private prison company GEO Group.

We suspect this gathering will be closed to the media.

Wouldn't it be fun if former Republican Charlie Crist dropped by to his old friends?

Utah Supreme Court lifts hold on adoptions by same-sex couples

Associated Press October 23, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Supreme Court is lifting its hold on adoptions by same-sex couples.

The Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, home of the Utah Supreme Court.

The high court halted all such adoptions in May as the state appealed a federal ruling striking down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage.

But earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed that decision to stand, effectively legalizing same-sex unions in Utah and 10 other states.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Thursday’s decision to lift the hold comes in the cases of four adoptions sought by wedded same-sex couples, and will presumably allow those adoptions and others to proceed.

Equality Utah Director Troy Williams tells the paper that same-sex families all over the state are celebrating.

The Effects of HIV on the Body

Once the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters your body, it launches a direct attack on your immune system. It gradually weakens your natural defenses against disease and infection and can affect every part of your body. Find out how.

Effects of HIV/AIDS on the Body

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seeks and destroys CD4+ cells, a type of T lymphocyte (T cell). T cells are critical to the immune system. They’re responsible for warding off diseases and most infections, including viral infections.

HIV targets the type of cells that would normally fight off an invader like HIV. As the virus replicates, it damages or destroys the infected CD4+ cell and produces more virus to infect more CD4+ cells. Without treatment, this cycle continues in most infected people until the immune system is badly compromised, leaving them open to many serious infections and illnesses. Many of the illnesses that people compromised immune systems get are rare in people with functioning immune systems.

How quickly the virus progresses varies from person to person. Factors like your age, overall health, and how quickly you’re diagnosed and treated can make a difference.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV. At this stage, the immune system is severely weakened, and the risk of contracting opportunistic infections is much greater. Not everyone with HIV will go on to develop AIDS.

Importantly, many of the effects described here are related to the failure of the immune system in progressing HIV and AIDS. Many of these effects are preventable with early antiretroviral treatment, which can preserve the immune system. However, for anyone without access to effective antiretroviral treatment, these effects remain possible
 

Immune System

Your immune system prevents your body from acquiring the diseases and infections that come your way. White blood cells defend you against viruses, bacteria, and other organisms that can make you sick.

When HIV enters the body, it goes straight for the CD4+ T cells that are a lynchpin for the operation of the entire immune system. As the virus infects and kills more of these T cells, your immune system grows weaker, and you become more susceptible to illness.

Early on, symptoms may be mild enough to be dismissed. Within a few months of becoming infected, most people experience a flu-like sickness that lasts a few weeks. Symptoms may include:

• fever
• chills
• night sweats
• diarrhea
• headache
• muscle aches
• joint pain
• sore throat
• rash
• swollen lymph glands
• mouth or genital ulcers

The first stage of HIV is called the acute infection stage. The virus reproduces rapidly at this stage. You may not have much in the way of serious symptoms, but there are usually large quantities of virus in your blood.

Many people are unaware of their HIV status at this point, but the risk of transmission during the acute infection stage is very high. Acute infection may cause flu-like symptoms, including decreased appetite, headache, night sweats, and others.

The next stage is called the clinical latent infection state. On average, it lasts 8 to 10 years. In some cases, it lasts much longer than that. You may or may not have symptoms during this stage.

As the virus advances, CD4 count decreases more drastically. This can lead to symptoms like:

• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• cough
• fever
• swollen lymph nodes
• weight loss
• diarrhea

If HIV infection advances to AIDS, the body becomes prone to opportunistic infections. People with advanced HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of a number of infections, including a herpes virus called cytomegalovirus. It can cause problems with your eyes, lungs, and digestive tract.

Kaposi’s sarcoma, another possible infection, is a cancer of the blood vessel walls. It’s rare among the general population, but common in people who are HIV-positive. Symptoms include red or dark purple lesions on the mouth and skin. It can also cause problems in the lungs, digestive tract, and other internal organs.

HIV/AIDS also puts you at higher risk of developing lymphomas. An early sign of lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes.

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems

HIV increases the risk of colds, influenza, and pneumonias. According to the American Lung Association, HIV/AIDS can lead to opportunistic lung diseases. Without preventive treatment, people with advanced HIV are susceptible to tuberculosis, pneumonia, and a disease called pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). PCP causes trouble breathing, cough, and fever.

HIV raises the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH s a type of high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs. It puts added strain on the heart.

If you have HIV and have become immunocompromised (have a low T cell count), you’re susceptible to tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of death in people who have AIDS. TB is an airborne bacterium that affects the lungs. Symptoms include chest pain and a bad cough that may contain blood or phlegm. Symptoms can linger for months.

Digestive System

A common HIV-related infection is called candidiasis. Symptoms include inflammation of and a white film on the tongue. It can also cause inflammation of the esophagus, which can make it difficult to eat. Another viral infection that affects the mouth is oral hairy leukoplakia, which causes white lesions on the tongue.

Salmonella infection is spread through contaminated food or water and causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Anyone can get it, but if you have HIV, you’re at higher risk of serious complications from this infection.

Consuming contaminated food or water can also result in a parasitic intestinal infection called cryptosporidiosis. It affects the bile ducts and intestines. It can be particularly severe and cause chronic diarrhea in people who have AIDS. Cryptosporidiosis infection can occur in people with effective immune systems, but it can become a chronic problem in people with CD4 levels under 200.

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is when the filters in your kidneys become inflamed, making it harder to remove waste products from your bloodstream.

Problems with your digestive tract can decrease your appetite and make it difficult to eat properly. Weight loss is a common side effect of HIV.

Central Nervous System

There are significant neurological complications of AIDS. Even though HIV doesn’t generally directly infect nerve cells, it does infect the cells that support and surround nerves in the brain and throughout the body.

All of the mechanisms of HIV-associated neurologic damage aren’t completely understood, but it’s likely that infection of these support cells contribute to nerve injury. Advanced HIV infection can damage nerves (neuropathy). Small holes in the conducting sheaths of peripheral nerve fibers (vacuolar myelopathy) can cause pain, weakness, and difficulty walking.

HIV/AIDS can cause HIV-associated dementia or AIDS dementia complex, two conditions that seriously affect cognitive function.

Toxoplasma encephalitis is another possible complication of advanced HIV. People with AIDS are at increased risk of inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to this parasite found commonly in cat feces. Symptoms include confusion, headaches, and seizures.

Some common complications of AIDS include memory impairment, anxiety, and depression. In very advanced cases, hallucinations and frank psychosis can occur. Some people experience headaches, balance issues, and vision problems.

Skin

One of the more obvious signs of HIV/AIDS can be seen on the skin. A weakened immune response leaves you more vulnerable to viruses like herpes. Herpes can cause you to develop sores around your mouth or genitals.

People with HIV are at increased risk of shingles, which is caused by herpes zoster, the virus that gives you chickenpox. Symptoms of shingles include a painful rash, often with blisters.

A viral skin infection called molluscum contagiosum involves an outbreak of bumps on the skin. Another condition is called prurigo nodularis. It causes crusted lumps on the skin, as well as severe itching.

Florida AG Pam Bondi files opposition to same-sex couple’s divorce

ASSOCIATED PRESS: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Attorney General Pam Bondi is opposing a bid by a gay South Florida woman to obtain a divorce from her former partner.

Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-Fla.)

Bondi’s office filed papers late Wednesday in Broward County Circuit Court saying a judge should not grant Heather Brassner’s petition for a divorce from Megan Lade.

The couple was united in a 2002 civil union in Vermont but broke up several years ago.
Among other things, the attorney general’s filing says a civil union is not the same as a marriage and should not be the basis to declare Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

Bondi has defended the ban enacted by voters in 2008 in several state and federal lawsuits in which judges have ruled it violates constitutional equal protection guarantees. Those rulings have all been appealed.

 LOVE

By Bob Marley

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”

ANNIE

October 21-26, 2014

Annie opened last evening in Jacksonville, FL to a packed house. Full of young to old that has loved Annie before she walked onto the stage last evening.

Directed by original lyricist Martin Charnin, this new production of ANNIE will be a classic incarnation of the beloved original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”

Florida's own, Issie Swickle plays Annie. Swickle is the young and energetic talents that bounced around on the stage making you believe that the 'sun would come up tomorrow.' Her talents have only started to reveal themselves, but it was such a pleasure to hear such a sweet voice echo through the theater.

Swickle's not alone in her scene-stealing power. Lynn Andrews (Promises, Promises) brings the perfect dose of tragedy to the boozy orphanage matron Miss Hannigan while relishing every second of venom-filled numbers like 'Little Girls.'

Annie is now playing at the Times-Union Center - Moran Theater in Jacksonville, FL.

Wednesday, October 22 - 7:30pm
Thursday, October 23 - 7:30pm
Friday, October 24 - 8:00pm
Saturday, October 25 - 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, October 26 - 1:30pm & 7:00pm

Great seats still available for most sections across all performances!

Tickets are available by clicking on photo below. Don't miss one of the greatest shows this season.