At the Democratic National Convention in 2004, freedom of speech zones were set up. Apparently the entire country is not a free speech zone, but there are little areas where we can congregate and speak freely.

4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

DUI checkpoints- While I in no way endorse drunk driving as thousands are killed annually from it, DUI checkpoints are a direct violation of the 4th amendment. Random search and seizures based solely on where one is driving is unconstitutional.

The TSA’s controversial patdowns are another violation of the 4th amendment, but there’s a simple solution to this one: Don’t fly. However that’s not an option for many, so thousands of Americans unwillingly get groped by people in the name of security. Benjamin Franklin once said "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.", and that’s as true now as it was back then.

5th Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

This one just became public, but it’s a big one. Terrorist and American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki was recently killed in a drone strike. This blatantly violates the 5th amendment beacuse he was not given a trial, but he was "deprived of life…without due process of law". The president can now order the assassination of an American citizen who he thinks is bad.

Our constitutional rights are constantly being disregarded. Only a moral society can have rights. Ours is immoral.

Further, I’ve read the BF&M, I know what basics of the Baptist denomination are. I’m looking for specifics; thus I’ll ask a few pointed questions. Any of the workings of the SBC you’re willing to share outside my questions is fine as long as its facts or your interpretation of facts; again, no preaching.

About the Southern Baptist Convention church service:
1) Are there many hymns? Is this done with a choir or is it just the congregation?

2) Is there any specific order to the service? Any specific prayers or doxologies that are usually present? Passing the peace?

3) What kind of tone does the pastor tend to use? Does he preach forcefully or more conversationally? Is it generally loud or soft?

4) Is the topic more often about fearing or rejoicing? Is it more about "With God there is heaven" "Without God there is hell" or is it more lessons on how to live ones life? How many times (if at all) in a given church service does the Pastor refer to the congregation as "sinners"?

5) Do all churches have a deacon or just the moderate to large one?

6) What is worn to church? I’ve heard suits and dresses, but I was reading that the SBC churches in my (northern) city have people attend with jeans, shorts, sandals, etc. Is this generally accepted at other churches (particularly in the rural south) or are other churches more formal?

About the Southern Baptist Convention in general:
1) Are they totally against evolution? Because of individual soul liberty and responsibility, I would think they’d leave that up to the individual, but the only thing I found said "they generally reject evolution". What do they preach at church about it?

2) Are they accepting of personal interpretations of the Bible? I would guess they are (individual soul liberty and responsibility and all) but the perception seems to be that they’re really strict.

3) The BF&M seems pretty open-minded. However, the perception of Southern Baptists seems to be that they hold very fast to some principles that many Christians don’t. Not drinking is just one of them (and from what I’ve read, the SBC is actually divided on the issue) If these principles exist, what are they and to what extent are they followed?

Alright, I think that’s about everything. Sorry for writing a book there. However, the more you can give me the better. Thanks in advance for your help.

One last thing: I can see how some of these questions could be interpreted as offensive. I truly don’t intend it and am sorry if I have offended you. I plan to portray Christianity and the SBC in a positive way.

1. Some SBC have a choir, and in some the body does all the singing, there are at least 4 hymns
2. Yes, there is a specific order to the service, but the order is set by the body. The basics though are, Opening Hymn, Offering Hymn, Offering Prayer, Hymn, Messages, Hymn, Sermon, Invitational Hymn, Invitation, Closing.
3.Depends on the Pastor.
4.I have seen Hellfire preachers and Fluffy Jesus preachers.
5. All SBC have Deacons, none have just one.
6. There is one body I know of where the dress code makes you feel like you are back in the 1950s when you walk in the door, and another in which the dress code was a loin cloth, like John the Baptist wore. And everywhere in between.

1.Evolution is unproven, and not accepted as policy by the SBC. It is taught in SBC schools though.
2. Somewhat accepting, but it is a very limited acceptance. They are more accepting of a body-wide interpretation
3. Not drinking and not dancing are firm principles of the SBC. My guess would be that only 1/2 the members abide by those restrictions.

If you really want to know about the SBC, go attend a few services at different bodies. There are differences between bodies. There is one I know of which will not do any contemporary Christian songs in their worship, and another one which has their own Christian Rock band. There is one body I know of where the dress code makes you feel like you are back in the 1950s when you walk in the door, and another in which the dress code was a loin cloth, like John the Baptist wore.

Now that you have responded to a scammer, you are on his ‘potential sucker’ list, he will try again to separate you from your cash. He will send you more emails from his other free email addresses using another of his fake names with all kinds of stories of great jobs, lottery winnings, millions in the bank and desperate, lonely, sexy singles. He will sell your email address to all his scamming buddies who will also send you dozens of fake emails all with the exact same goal, you sending them your cash via Western Union or moneygram.

You could post up the email address and the emails themselves that the scammer is using, it will help make your post more googlable for other suspicious potential victims to find when looking for information.

Do you know how to check the header of a received email? If not, you could google for information. Being able to read the header to determine the geographic location an email originated from will help you weed out the most obvious scams and scammers. Then delete and block that scammer. Don’t bother to tell him that you know he is a scammer, it isn’t worth your effort. He has one job in life, convincing victims to send him their hard-earned cash.

Whenever suspicious or just plain curious, google everything, website addresses, names used, companies mentioned, phone numbers given, all email addresses, even sentences from the emails as you might be unpleasantly surprised at what you find already posted online. You can also post/ask here and every scam-warner-anti-fraud-busting site you can find before taking a chance and losing money to a scammer.

Making a scammer’s scam googlable on every scam-warner-anti-fraud-busting site you can find is a great way to slow that scammer down when a suspicious potential victim goes looking for information, finds your post containing the name the scammer is using, his email address, phone number and the emails themselves and then that potential victim does not become a scam victim because you took the time "get the word out".

Wasting a scammer’s time legally and safely is called "scambaiting". If you google that word, you will find sites where you can read scambaits, post up the emails and email addresses of scammers, post up a fake website, read up on how to alert a hosting company that they are hosting a fake website, ask questions and learn all about the hobby of scambaiting.

If you google "fake check cashing job", "fraud Western Union scam", "money mule moneygram scam" or something similar you will find hundreds of posts from victims and near-victims of this type of scam.

Megrhi would have a complete suite to himself to avoid reprisals from other prisoners, so letting him go make a complete suite free to overfill with many more prisoners, so is it all about numbers and to hell with justice

He was released for compassionate grounds.

situation

Marvin manufacturing has booked meeting for the first week of march. the convention services supervisor notices that its the same week for that shaw equipment holds their annual sales meeting
they have book the same week for the last four years. both groups cannot be accomodated during same week.
its still six month out and the hotel has availability during the second week of march

what steps do you guys should suggest and what might have prevented this situation??
What do you guys suggest for a possible strategy

You should call Shaw Equipment immediately and tell them what has happened.

Nothing is more important than communication, and by calling is also showing a lot of appreciation.

If Shaw equipment are a valued customer, then things often work both ways, and they would (I expect) be willing to accommodate a different date for their annual function.

Really, what difference is 1 week?

You shouldn’t do anthing with Marvin right now. Call Shaw, and with a whole 6 months ahead they will have ample time to book for the next week.

Good luck.