Lrbever

Last year, Marjorie Silva, owner of Denver, Colorado’s Azucar Bakery, was asked by a customer to make a cake featuring homophobic language and imagery. Silva agreed to make the cake and offered to furnish decorating instruments if wanted but said that the bakery would not inscribe the cake with the offensive language. The customer, Bill Jack, subsequently filed a religious discrimination complaint against her with the Civil Rights division of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Silva says Jack pulled out a piece of paper with phrases like “God hates gays” and requested her to write them on his cakes.

He wouldn’t let employees make a copy of the paper and would not read the words out loud, Silva claims. The bakery owner also says the customer wanted an image of two men holding hands with an “X” on top.

While Silva agreed to make the Bible-shaped cake, she would not write the messages requested. This did not sit well with Jack, who believes Silva is guilty of discrimination.

In a statement to 9NEWS Jack said, “I believe I was discriminated against by the bakery based on my creed.”

Jack’s beliefs about homosexuality are no doubt informed by his religion. He is a founder of the Christian Worldview Academy, which has a very blunt mission: “helping Christians to think and to live in accord with a biblical worldview so that they will serve Christ and lead the culture.” His bio describes him as

… an educator with ten years experience in public schools and 14 years with The Caleb Campaign, a creationist youth ministry… As a founder of Worldview Academy he continues to pursue his passion to raise up a generation who have the vision to reach their culture with the gospel, who have the valor to engage that culture with the truth and who rely on the virtue of the Word of God.

It’s doubtless true, then, that his anti-LGBT sentiments are inspired, or at least supported, by his religious beliefs. Because of this, anti-LGBT activists are drawing parallels to last year’s ruling against a Christian baker who refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple.

There are some distinctions worth noting, however.

The first is that Silva did not apply a standard to Jack’s request that she wouldn’t to anyone else’s:

“But I wouldn’t write an anti-Christian message, either,” said Silva.

The Masterpiece Cakeshop decision involved a baker who offered wedding cakes (even for dogs) but refused to sell wedding cakes to same-sex couples. As Silva refuses to write messages advocating hate (quite literally, with phrases like “God hates gays”) in general, the denial of Jack’s request seems to have nothing to do with his religion, but with the nature of his request.

Furthermore, Masterpiece Cakeshop outright denied service. This is not the case of Azucar Bakery. As University of Denver law professor Nancy Leong notes,

“This is not a situation where a business owner denied service to somebody,” Leong said. “She offered to accommodate him to the extent that she could. In fact, requiring her to write that message would infringe on her own free speech rights.”

DORA has requested an extension as it considers the matter, so a decision is unlikely to come for a while. But I’ll be surprised if they decide that a baker is required to write a message advocating hate when they would not otherwise (or in another context) do so, just because the person requesting the hateful message does so with religious motivation.

(Image via Facebook)

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It's not often we see a Photo Finish... anything.  Season one ponies tend to die out over time.  She really did always have an awesome model for a Twilight Sparkle recolor.

Now go get some Cosplay stuff below the break!

[1] Source
Photo Finish 4

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It wasn’t Windows 10, or even Cortana that stole today’s Microsoft show. Everything seemed elementary compared to Microsoft’s HoloLens, which is an augmented reality concept that the company promises will be the future of computing. With the release of Microsoft’s untethered headset (no PC or wires required), wearers will be able to beam apps developed for the technology to the world around them; Skype, Office and, my favorite, Minecraft.

The sizzle reel Microsoft showed off during the event didn’t quite match the real-time demonstration onstage, but it was impressive nonetheless. (You’ll look silly using this thing no matter what, so we better start getting used to it now.) To see the potential of HoloLens, Microsoft shared a couple of videos to really push the point that, yeah, this is pretty cool. Can I please use HoloLens to play a game like Resident Evil? Boom, now there’s a zombie in your home. Terrifying! But possibly the future.

Microsoft really believes its Windows Holographic project will be the future of computing, bringing the digital experience into the analogue world. Early impressions for those who have used it (Wired got an exclusive scoop, and Take-Two Interactive CEO also praised the headset) are positive, though Microsoft has a long way to go. But the potential is huge, and if developers can create worthwhile experiences, HoloLens might be the next way to experience content.

If only we had a price.

Source: Microsoft (1), Microsoft (2)

The New England Patriots had 11 of their 12 allotted game footballs underinflated by 2 pounds of air (PSI) less than what's required by NFL regulations, according to sources either involved or familiar with the investigation of Sunday's AFC title game.

Windows 10 will be a free upgrade, but only for the first year of its existence. That includes upgrades from Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, along with smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1. Once you’ve updated your device, Microsoft says it will keep the software current for its “supported lifetime.”

It’s a smart move from Microsoft, which struggled to convince people to upgrade to Windows 8 when it first launched. There’s still no word on when the Windows 10 update will actually become available, but we’ll let you know as soon as that news is announced.

Developing…

Project Spartan is Microsoft’s brand new Web browsing experience for Windows 10. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore said the new browser (which is still codenamed) is built on a new rendering engine, and it looks very, very clean and minimal—precisely as the rumors said.

Aside of looks, there are some great tools included that makes the browsing experience much more powerful than your typical Chromes and Firefoxes. There’s a neat “noting mode,” which allows users to draw all over Web pages; you can comment, scribble and then share notes with friends and family.

Worth noting is that drawing all over the browser isn’t exclusive to touch and pen, which means you can easily use this feature on your regular old desktop. It doesn’t looks quite as nice and elegant, but you can still very easily share notes and add comments; click anywhere on the page and you’re good to go.

Spartan is every

Developing…

»applause« by mark melvin

Chrysalis was arguably the most popular villain of the last few years.  With ridiculous amounts of fan art, an awesome character model, and an entire race backing her that has an almost unlimited amount of possibilities, that isn't too surprising.

She will be the last in the series of five comics making up the Fiendship is Magic series.

Get the added infos below the break, along with synopsis! And get the full Fiendship is Magic series over here.


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Earlier today Enterplay posted a video preview of one of the new lenticular cards featured in MLP Trading Cards Series 3!

Not sure what a "lenticular" card is? I didn't either until last year: it's those cool cards that are either 3D or have motion when you tilt them in different directions. In this case these lenticulars are of different iconic scenes from Friendship is Magic, like this one where Pinkie and Maud both express their epic levels of enthusiasm!

More details to come on how to get some of these sweet lenticulars. For now, be sure to check out the preview video!

Yesterday we had a new, potentially movie related Equestria Girls lineup appear over at Toy Fair 2015 in London, and today, we have an item that just might be involved in it with a brand new character.  Zulilly is running a sale on pony merchandise, and mixed into their swarm of random items was the a sketch portfolio set with a brand new, bow wielding character.

Considering Applejack had a bow yesterday, and this new character joins Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle with bows of their own, I think that may be the theme of the set.  Perhaps "Friendship Games" is actually a PG version of the Hunger Games? We know Hasbro just loves banking on trends, and considering their girls Nerf bow is doing so well with Katniss Everdeen rockin it in the movies, it wouldn't be too far fetched to snag some of the spotlight.

Expect more Friendship Games coverage as it appears! But for now, feel free to brainstorm. 

Thanks to Julie for the heads up! 

At the London Toy Fair 2015, attendees were treated to a sneak peek at a lot of new Hasbro toys that are potentially down the line. One such set dealt with new Equestria Girls products for the supposed next movie which is to be called Friendship Games.

According to an attendee to the fair who posted information on the UK of Equestria page the movie is likely to be coming out this August and a potential synopsis for the new movie was included in the guide handed out to those who went.

We don't have a picture of the guide so it's just a rumor so far, but we do have concept art of the potential new logo for the next movie as well as possible toys that you can see above which are located here.

Check on after the break for what the attendee saw in their guide in case you want to avoid any potential spoilers. Also available after the break are a number of toy concepts found on the Canal Toys website.

Thanks to Ayu for sending it in!

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We saw teasers all day for Fiendship is Magic, and now finally have something official to go on for the full release of the Fiendship is Magic series! I'll be splitting these into parts so you can all discuss whatever you wish over night with each.  April is going to be crazy!

Comic #1 is dedicated to Sombra.  We are getting a full history lesson out of it from the synopsis, though it doesn't go much further than that.

Get the details below the break! And get the full Fiendship is Magic series over here! 

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Moonbutt sat her butt on the moon for 1000 YEARS. Time to explore THAT.  What do you even do for that long? What could you possibly keep yourself occupied with?

Get the synopsis below the break, along with the other infos.  And get the full Fiendship is Magic series over here.

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Tirek actually has a bit of history from the first generation of ponies, but as most things are completely different in our Equestria, chances are it's going to follow the same rule.

Head on down below the break for the writers, synopsis, and release date! And get the full Fiendship is Magic series over here.

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Outside of their exploits in Equestria Girls, we didn't get a whole lot of information on the sirens from the Equestrian perspective. Here's to hoping Sonata Dusk stays cute.  Best seapony thing.

Sirens will arrive 3rd once April's FIEND series begins.  Get the synopsis and stuff the break! And get the full Fiendship is Magic series over here.

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