Organization of the Week:
ASA, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
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No beer at the barber shop in my town...
"Barbershop asks attorney general to OK free beer "
Here's the thing...I know a woman who goes to a particular beauty salon because they give her champaign during her hair cut. But the guys can't get a beer?
I think that it should either "cut" both ways or not at all.
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The Amish are being prosecuted for not keeping up with technology...
MORRISTOWN, N.Y. (AP) _ The religious rights of 10 Old Order Amish men are being violated by an upstate New York town that is selectively prosecuting them for building homes without permits, a national public interest group charged Tuesday.
Meanwhile, elected officials in rural Morristown accuse the state of turning its back on them in the dispute, which the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said involves discrimination against the Amish.(...)
The fight began in July 2006 when a member of the conservative Swartzentruber sect was charged with building a house without a permit. Since then, nine other Amish men have been cited for failing to adhere to the town's building code.
Building codes are established by the state and enforced by towns, villages and cities. Morristown updated its 22-year-old building codes in 2006 based on a model law provided by the state. The code requires new and existing structures "to keep pace with advances in technology in fire protection and building construction."
"The basis of the Old Order Amish faith is that they don't conform to new technology," said Steve Ballan, the St. Lawrence County assistant public defender who is representing the Amish men. "So if you have a law that says you have to keep pace with technology, that's the same as having a law that says no Amish allowed."
The men do not deny building houses without permits. They are willing to purchase building permits, but contend the requirements of the codes _ such as having smoke detectors, submitting engineering plans and allowing inspections _ violate their religious beliefs, Ballan said.
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MMM...chocolate.
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Moonshadow
the requirements of the codes _ such as having smoke detectors, submitting engineering plans and allowing inspections _ violate their religious beliefs
the razing of any structures they build illegally.
That's an amazing story.
Building Code Violations
I think they can make an argument on the fact that the code says they must keep up with technology but that has little to do with Building Oficials performing inspections. The Building Code's primary concern is Life Safety. If the builders can prove that their passive methods of construction can perform the same as the most advanced technological methods then they have a great argument but refusing any inspections seems irresponsible for publics safety.
orlando lamas
http://www.fixmycodeviolation.com
http://www.fortislamas.com