"So help me God"

The oath of office of the President, dictated by the Constitution, is 35 words long and reads: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

There never was a "So help me God." Historians have searched for support for the urban legend that George Washington added it, but no one has been able to support the theory.

Nevertheless, U.S. Dist. Judge Reggie B. Walton refused to grant an injunction in a lawsuit brought by a group who were seeking to prohibit public prayers and all references to God at the ceremony. Judge White ruled the reference to God was a quaint historical reference that had little religious weight.

Wait...?

That's right. Judges can't exactly say that it's okay to favor one religion over any religion or no religion. That's clearly unConstitutional. So, to get the result they want, in order to leave the religious references undisturbed, they have to say sacred symbols are meaningless historical references of limited religious importance.

Surprised? Don't be. This Supreme Court has already ruled that affirming a belief in a Supreme Being is a quaint but mostly meaningless historical tradition. Here is an explanation:

The Supreme Court determined that a city's inclusion of a creche in its Christmas display merely recognizes NOT religion but ''the historical origins of this traditional event long [celebrated] as a National Holiday,'' 167 and that its primary effect was not to advance religion. The benefit to religion was called ''indirect, remote, and incidental...''

In some countries, suggesting that the holiest day of the year is significant only because some offices close that day might start a riot. Here, people ignore the suggestion that the holiest day of the year is a cute little tradition in order to get the chance to shoehorn a creche on a plot of government land at taxpayer expense. Instead they could proudly show off their freedom of speech and religion in their own front yard.

Like this guy, every year, near the DC line in Silver Spring.

How impressed would Jesus be with knowing that a group of taxpayers, even a majority of taxpayers, was forcing other taxpayers to help foot the bill for his celebration?

Here is a good wrap up of what is allowed under almost all interpretations of the First Amendment.

Immigrants pay your taxes

Are immigrants paying taxes so you don't have to? Apparently so.


Hat Tip to Tom Paine.

[Texas] Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn was quick to point out that this was the first time any state agency in the country presented "a comprehensive financial analysis of the impact of undocumented immigrants on a state’s budget and economy, looking at gross state product, revenues generated, taxes paid and the cost of state services."

The report titled "Undocumented Immigrants In Texas: A Financial Analysis of the Impact to the State Budget and Economy" found that “the absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion. Undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, which exceeded the $1.16 billion in state services they received."

Margaritas, Drugs, Devices and Biologics

RAPS’ Washington/Baltimore Metropolitan Area Chapter is pleased to announce a Summer Happy Hour Network Event.

This event provides an opportunity to informally meet other RAPS members in the area in a casual atmosphere. Chapter leaders have asked several local industry representatives and others in the area of drug and device development/regulations to join us.

This is an unofficial event, but we would like to know in advance if you plan to attend. This will help us know how many folks we are looking for upon arrival.

When: 22 August 2007 (Wednesday)

Where: Guapos Cantina at the Washingtonian, Gaithersburg, MD

Time: 5:00–8:00 pm

R.S.V.P to chapters@raps.org.

Please note that RAPS is assisting us in getting out the message, however, this is not a RAPS Headquarters-sponsored event. There will be a cash bar for this event. The cost for food will be the responsibility of each attendee.

Feel free to comment, especially if you can attend!

Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 1000,
Rockville, MD 20852
Main Phone: 301.770.2920; Fax: 301.770.2924
RAPS Solutions Center: 301.770.2920, ext. 200
Email: raps@raps.org; website: http://www.raps.org/
RAPS® —Making better healthcare products possible

Silver Spring not so Forward: Birchmere in doubt

Only one side of the street of downtown Silver Spring is renovated, while the other side contains an ugly hulking space of the old JC Penney building. There is a huge outpouring of support for the anticipated arrival in the space for the Birchmere, shown by groups like silverspringforward.org.

The latest news is the county has cancelled its negotiations with the Birchmere for the space, according to the Express, the Gazette and the Washington Business Journal.

Take action:

• Find out if your county representative supports the Birchmere in Silver Spring. Contact the Council today.


• Sign the E-Petition simply by sending a supporting e-mail to: editor@silverspringforward.org

WaPo's Community Guide for Montgomery County, MD

Things to do listed in the Community Guide (and here's community events).

10 Places to Eat That You Should Know About

1. Tower Oaks Lodge, 2 Preserve Pkwy., Rockville. 301-294-0200. http://www.clydes.com
2. Sunshine General Store, 22300 Georgia Ave., at New Hampshire Avenue, Brookeville. 301-774-7428.
3. The Inn at Brookeville Farms, 19501 Georgia Ave., Brookeville. 301-924-6500. http://www.brookevilleinn.com.
4. East Gude Drive, between Norbeck Road and Southlawn Lane, Rockville
   Jon Won Restaurant (1613 E. Gude Dr., Rockville, 301-309-1870) and Arirang Restaurant (1326 E. Gude Dr., Rockville, 301-279-0023) both feature light wood in small, tidy spaces. Jon Won has tables with grills built into the middle for cooking Korean barbecue. Both specialize in Korean soups.
   The seafood scallion pancake at Arirang was the freshest and best I have found in the Washington area, and the restaurant's version of dulsot bibimbap (rice with beef and vegetables in a hot stone pot) is not only generous in size, but the pot arrives at the table so hot that the rice forms the prized crust in the bottom of the bowl that is the hallmark of this dish.
5. Fox Chapel Shopping Center, Germantown
   Yuraku Japanese Restaurant (19773 Frederick Rd., 301-515-7440)
   India Palace (19743 Frederick Rd., 301-540-3000) and
   Cafe Tacuba (19741 Frederick Rd., 301-540-8310).
6. Rockville Pike, from Twinbrook Parkway to Ritchie Center
   Try Sichuan at Joe's Noodle House (1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, http://www.joesnoodlehouse.com);
   Taiwanese dim sum at A & J Restaurant (1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878);
   Mexican at El Mariachi (765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177. http://www.elmariachirestaurant.com);
   Spanish at Sol de Espa?a (838 Rockville Pike, 240-314-0202);
   Japanese at Temari Cafe (1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720);
   Urban Bar-B-Que Co. (2007 Chapman Ave., 240-290-4827, http://www.urbanbbqco.com).
   Las Americas International Market (785-E Rockville Pike, 301-424-9550)
7. Downtown SilverSpring
   Jackie's (8081 Georgia Ave., though the entrance is on Sligo Avenue, 301-565-9700)
   Ray's the Classics (8606 Colesville Rd., 301-588-7297) has
8. DowntownWheaton
   Pearl Seafood Restaurant (11230 Grand View Ave., 301-962-8888).
   Ruan Thai (11407 Amherst Ave., 301-942-0075)
   Nava Thai (11315 Fern St., 240-430-0495)
   Nut House Pizza (11419 Georgia Ave., 301-942-5900)
   Max's Kosher Cafe and Marketplace (around the corner at 2319 University Blvd. West, 301-949-6297, http://www.shalomgroup.com)
9. DowntownBethesda
   David Craig (4924 St. Elmo Ave., 301-657-2484, http://www.dcbethesda.com),
   Persimmon (7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, http://www.persimmonrestaurant.com).
   Cafe Gelato (4823 St. Elmo Ave., 301-913-0050)
10. Two Wine Places
    Finewine.com (20A Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg, 301-987.5933, http://www.finewine.com)
    Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe (8519 Fenton St., Silver Spring, 301-608.2200, http://www.adegawinecellars.com)