WHAT: Summer Marriage Equality Campaign Kickoff
WHO: Local activists, advocacy organizations, elected officials, and you
WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
WHERE: Montgomery College, Charlene Nunley Student Services Center Atrium
(7600 Takoma Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912)
HOW: Purchase tickets online here

WHAT: Happy hour with fellow supporters of equality
WHO: Marylanders for Marriage Equality's campaign manager Josh Levin,
HRC's new president Chad Griffin, and you
WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: Bay Cafe (2809 Boston St, Baltimore, MD 21224)
HOW: RSVP online here

WHAT: Reception with the LGBT Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly
WHO: Pro-quality champions from the Maryland General Assembly and you
WHEN: Saturday, June 16th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
WHERE: City Cafe (1001 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201)
HOW: Purchase tickets online here

WHAT: Summer Marriage Equality Campaign Kickoff
WHO: Local activists, advocacy organizations, elected officials, and you
WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
WHERE: Montgomery College, Charlene Nunley Student Services Center Atrium
(7600 Takoma Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912)
HOW: Purchase tickets online here

WHAT: Happy hour with fellow supporters of equality
WHO: Marylanders for Marriage Equality's campaign manager Josh Levin,
HRC's new president Chad Griffin, and you
WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: Bay Cafe (2809 Boston St, Baltimore, MD 21224)
HOW: RSVP online here

WHAT: Reception with the LGBT Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly
WHO: Pro-quality champions from the Maryland General Assembly and you
WHEN: Saturday, June 16th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
WHERE: City Cafe (1001 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201)
HOW: Purchase tickets online here

Should an introductory Computer Science course fall within the cadre of General Education Requirements (GEP)—like Math, Science, and English—that are required of all undergrads?

According to a USA Today College article, the answer is yes.

In the article, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering professors Marie desJardins and Penny Rheingans talk about the importance of having, at least, a basic knowledge of how computers work, especially in a world that is quickly evolving in the hands of technology: 

“Inevitably, by the time today’s college students are middle-aged, technology will be unimaginably faster, more powerful and more integrated into our daily lives,” said desJardins, “and the people who understand how it works are the ones who will be helping society to take advantage of it and use it to improve people’s lives.”

For non-technical students who recoil at the thought of taking a computer course, Dr. Rheingans is an example of what can happen when you take a chance. Originally planning to major in the social sciences, says the article, a computer science course during Dr. Rheingans' first semester changed her entire career projection:

“I found computing to be both incredibly frustrating and incredibly addicting,” Rheingans said in an email. “I love the challenge of building something to solve a problem and the satisfaction of figuring out why my creation isn’t working and fixing it.”

Check out the entire article, “The Power of Computing,” to hear more of what professors desJardins and Rheingans have to say about the increasing importance of computer science comprehension. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (NIV)

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Reflection:

Professional bodybuilders are somewhat peculiar in their ways. They are incredibly disciplined and detailed in their workouts, as they understand the value and significance of every single part of the body. There can be no undeveloped or lagging parts. Every body part must develop symmetrically and function at its absolute best in order to win a competition. God is also interested in bodybuilding of a different nature. He wants His church to belong to one another as part of one body. And he desires to build every muscle in church with no superior or inferior body parts; everything symmetrical. If one part is weak then the whole body is weak. Just as a simple cold, cough or sore throat can affect your whole body, when one part of the body of Christ suffers, the whole body is brought down or when one part is honored, the whole body can rejoice.

As we gather together as God’s people, Paul focuses on the importance of health, unity, and the well being of the whole church. Every part of the body is to grow and do its work. Paul reminds us through these passages that everybody is somebody because we’re in this together.

Response:

Let us pray that we would grow together as His church; belonging to one another and coming to a greater understanding of the depth of loving and caring for one another as part of his body.

When is a recession truly over? Technically, it’s over when the economy starts producing again. But if you think about it, the recession isn’t really a distant memory until the economy reaches pre-recession levels.

So, the good news first. Despite recent weak job numbers, overall the economy has been adding an average of 172,000 payroll jobs per month. The bad news comes when you look at the big picture we won’t be at pre recession levels until sometime in 2015. (Assuming the rate stays consistent)

The graph shows the difference between a sluggish recovery of 125,000 payroll jobs per month and more healthy growth of 200,00 per month.

(The graph and figures do not include population growth or new entrants into the workforce)

When compared to previous recessions we can see that the current one has been the deepest.Barring some crazy resurgence in job growth, recovery will be long, lacklustre and lousy.

Anyone remember Zach Wahls? The 19-year old University of Iowa student who spoke to Iowa lawmakers before their vote on banning gay marriage in the Iowa Constitution?

After his eloquent speech about the strength and validity of his family of two mothers, Zach finds himself in the news again as he speaks out against the Boy Scouts of America’s policy which disallows any openly gay member.

Wahls is an Eagle Scout, which is the highest possible rank in B0y Scouts. He spoke recently at the Boy Scouts of America Conference, and presented  a petition signed by 280,000 people calling for Boy Scouts to change their policy.

The woman who created the petition, Jennifer Tyrrell, is a mother of a Cub Scout who was forced to leave her leadership position by the BSA because of her sexual orientation.

The Boy Scouts of America’s values include “good conduct, respect for others, and honesty.” The skills they learn include “basic outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship skills, leadership skills, and how to get along with others.” If a boy is openly gay and a Boy Scout will he be hindered from learning these values? Should the BSA lift the ban on openly gay members?