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A&E Reverses Phil Robertson’s “Duck Dynasty” Suspension, Says Core Values of “Inclusion” Caused it to React So Strongly

duck duckDuck
Dynasty
reruns have been getting a lot of play on A&E, and
given the backlash to its suspension of the show’s star, perhaps it
shouldn’t come as a surprise the network’s
reversed itself
.

From USA Today:

A&E has ducked away from a controversy surrounding
the stars of its hugely popular reality series Duck
Dynasty

In a statement, the network cited its “core values” of “inclusion
and mutual respect” to explain why “we reacted so quickly and
strongly.” “While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his
personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal
journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the
‘coarse language’ he used and the misinterpretation of his core
beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would
‘never incite or encourage hate.’ We at A+E Networks expressed
our disappointment with his statements in the article, and
reiterate that they are not views we hold.”

More Reason on the Duck Dynasty brouhaha
here
,
here
, and
here
.

Follow these stories and more at Reason 24/7 and don’t forget you
can e-mail stories to us at 24_7@reason.com and tweet us
at @reason247.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/ae-reverses-phil-robertsons-duck-dynasty
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A&E Reverses Phil Robertson’s “Duck Dynasty” Suspension, Says Core Values of “Inclusion” Caused it to React So Strongly

duck duckDuck
Dynasty
reruns have been getting a lot of play on A&E, and
given the backlash to its suspension of the show’s star, perhaps it
shouldn’t come as a surprise the network’s
reversed itself
.

From USA Today:

A&E has ducked away from a controversy surrounding
the stars of its hugely popular reality series Duck
Dynasty

In a statement, the network cited its “core values” of “inclusion
and mutual respect” to explain why “we reacted so quickly and
strongly.” “While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his
personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal
journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the
‘coarse language’ he used and the misinterpretation of his core
beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would
‘never incite or encourage hate.’ We at A+E Networks expressed
our disappointment with his statements in the article, and
reiterate that they are not views we hold.”

More Reason on the Duck Dynasty brouhaha
here
,
here
, and
here
.

Follow these stories and more at Reason 24/7 and don’t forget you
can e-mail stories to us at 24_7@reason.com and tweet us
at @reason247.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/ae-reverses-phil-robertsons-duck-dynasty
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Tragic But Avoidable Christmas Deaths Don’t Result in New Safety Regulations

Adding "No, really!" probably wouldn't have mattered.On Christmas Day, a
father-and-son team
drowned
in an underwater cave in Florida. Darrin Spivey, 35,
and Dillon Sanchez, 15, decided to try out their Christmas
presents, diving equipment, in a dangerous underwater cave that had
previous claimed six other lives. The two of them died as well,
their bodies recovered later that evening.

A terrible tragedy, but also notable is the state of Florida’s
response. They’re not going to change anything. From the
Tampa Bay Times
:

The treacherous, isolated cave system where a Brooksville man
and his teenage son drowned Wednesday claimed at least six other
lives since 1981. But Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission officials said they have no plans to restrict access to
the Eagle Nest Sink.

A local diver, Larry Green, pushed for the cave to be opened for
access but wanted it regulated:

Yet while Green wanted the caves to be accessible, he and other
members of the diving community also recommended the Wildlife
Commission regulate the people who dive there. He pointed to nearby
Sand Hill Scout Reservation, a privately-owned Hernando County
location that requires two separate permits and 100 hours of cave
diving experience before allowing divers access to its underwater
system.

When the commission took over, it installed large signs warning
of the danger. They also built a pier to make it easier to
access.

“There’s very little to no supervision over it to check that
people with certification came out there,” Green said.

Spivey was apparently a certified diver but not a certified cave
diver. Sanchez was not a certified diver of any kind. A couple of
things to note:

  • There is a huge warning sign about the dangers of exploring the
    cave. As sad as it was for these two to have died in this way, they
    chose to ignore the sign.
  • The privately owned diving area has a vested interest in making
    sure safety is a top priority.

Every so often there’s a death in a state or national park and
inevitably somebody asks, “Can’t something be done?” But when
people choose to ignore the efforts to inform them of significant
risks, then they take on the responsibility for what happens
afterward.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/tragic-but-avoidable-christmas-deaths-do
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Clinton Versus Christie, Deportations Dropped in 2013, Florida Bypasses New York in Population: P.M. Links

Get Reason.com and Reason 24/7
content 
widgets for your
websites.

Follow us on Facebook
and Twitter,
and don’t forget to
sign
up
 for Reason’s daily updates for more
content.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/clinton-versus-christie-deportations-dro
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Betty Block of Peachtree City

Betty Block of Peachtree City passed away un-expectedly at age 87 on December 20th, 2013.

Betty was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 12, 1926. Upon retirement, she and her husband of 67 years, John, retired to Florida but have resided in Peachtree City for the last 15 years.

Betty was an avid bridge player and reader. She loved to play golf until a few years ago. Her passion for life always included a smile, a friendly “hello,” and a meaningful  “how are you?” She recently became a great grandmother which brought a renewed bounce to her step.

read more

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/12-27-2013/betty-block-peachtree-city

Harvard Researchers Reverse Aging

antiaging… in mice.

Anti-aging researchers at Harvard University note, “Current
dogma is that aging is irreversible.” But maybe that dogma is
wrong. In a new
study
in the journal Cell, the researchers report that
they have found a way to manipulate a molecular pathway such they
can restore “key biochemical markers of muscle health in a
22-month-old mouse to levels similar to a 6-month-old mouse.” The
biochemical markers were inflammation, insulin resistance, and
muscle wasting. They did not observe an increase in muscle
strength.

The researchers identified how the decline of a specific
compound – nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) – results in
the disruption of molecular commication between the nuclear genomes
in cells and their mitochondrial genomes. Mitochondria are the
powerhouses of cells. Falling NAD leads to decline in mitochondrial
function that eventually produces the cellular breakdowns that are
associated with aging.

Seeking to reverse the decline in NAD, the researchers injected
the NAD precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) into the mice
for one week. It worked, at least in their muscles. Now the
researchers plan to administer the treatment longer term to see if
it will give the mice longer, healthier lives.

H/T Nick Schulz

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/harvard-researchers-reverse-aging
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Book Censorship Spiked in 2013

Censorship of books rose
dramatically in the U.S. in 2013, according to a major watchdog and
advocacy organization.

The Kid’s Right to Read Project (KRRP), an arm of the National
Coalition Against Censorship, reports that, compared to last year,
it has investigated 53 percent more cases of books being
“challenged.” Shelf-Awareness, an industry newsletter,
states
that in November alone, KRRP “investigated three times the average
number of incidents,” and that “during the second half of 2013, the
project battled 31 new incidents, compared to only 14 in the same
period last year.” In total, they’ve grappled with 49 incidents in
29 states. Luckily, many of their efforts have successfully put
books back on the shelves.

KRRP coordinator Acacia O’Connor told the newsletter, “It has
been a sprint since the beginning of the school year,” said
O’Connor. “We would settle one issue and wake up the next morning
to find out another book was on the chopping block.” She
highlighted that the majority of books that were challenged dealt
with sensitive topics like race and sexuality.

The KRRP warns of the
serious repercussions that come with restricting children’s access
to literature:

Censorship is about more than a single book. It is about the
intellectual, cultural and political life of the community and the
people in it.

Each time a book is a removed it reinforces the idea that books
and ideas are off-limits if someone doesn’t like them. It
contributes to a culture where it’s better to hide from
controversial or difficult topics, than to acknowledge or discuss
them.

[…]

It’s censorship whenever anyone in the government – including
public schools and library – restricts access to a book because
they dislike it or disagree with what it says.

Who is trying to ban books? “Most of the challengers were
parents of district students or library patrons, though a handful
were local or state government officials,” according to The
Guardian
. As little provocation as a single complaint can take
books out of classrooms. A notable
case
 of this happened to Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere
in a New Mexico high school in October.

Although the advocacy group suggests that determining the merits
of a book should not be left up to “squeaky wheels” or “majority
opinions,” they believe in “the professional judgment of
individuals with training and expertise.” This stance,
unfortunately, also falls short of actually preventing censorship.
The real way to protect books is by not putting authority in the
hands of any, but by allowing each individual to decide for
himself—and only himself—what information he consumes.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/book-censorship-spiked-in-2013
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PTC author unveils new book

Author David Sterling, a resident of Peachtree City, has just released the second book in his “Bennett Mills Mystery” series.  The book is titled, “The Dream Maker” and is a sequel to his previously released book “Do As I Say”. 

Sterling said that “The Dream Maker” picks up on the life of Agent Bennett Mills almost a year after his last adventure concluded.
“One might say that life in general is going well for Agent Mills but, as the saying goes, ‘Nothing good lasts forever.”

read more

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/12-27-2013/ptc-author-unveils-new-book

Decisions and regrets

I have been told that, when we look back over our lives and the paths we have taken, we do not generally regret the things we have done but the things we have not done. I think, for the most part, that is true.

Some of the decisions I made that I do not regret include:
• Playing football in junior high and in high school.
• Taking up the martial arts at the age of 15.
• Enlisting in the U. S. Marine Corps.
• Returning to college and graduate school.
• Getting married and having children and, eventually, grandchildren.
• Going into the ministry (usually, but there are days …).

read more

via The Citizen http://www.thecitizen.com/blogs/david-epps/12-27-2013/decisions-and-regrets