Posts by closer2fine

Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Ltd. is a movie house and restaurant under one roof. Customers can order beer, wine, burgers, sandwiches and pizza (with names such as "Porky's" pepperoni and "Poultrygeist" chicken pesto) at their seats as they watch new releases, independent or older films.

The chain, which has three Austin locations and one in Houston, also has special promotions like showing a kung fu movie and offering a full Asian menu, or serving spaghetti with "spaghetti westerns."

The company hopes to eventually grow to 200 U.S. franchises. It's an ambitious project for a small chain founded in 1996 with one screen that showed second-run films and hosted to eccentric events - like a showing of "Jaws" at a lake where moviegoers watched from inner tubes while underwater swimmers pinched their legs.

"They love cinema more than just about any theater that exists in the country," said Harry Knowles, creator of the "Ain't It Cool News" film Web site, who has used the Drafthouse to host events. "They have an independent spirit and an outside-the-norm sensibility that is quirky enough to fit with my own."

One of the most popular events is Mr. Sinus Theater - three comedians sitting at the front of the theater with microphones, making quips and heckling movies such as "Dirty Dancing,""Pretty in Pink" and "Karate Kid."

Director Quentin Tarantino has hosted film festivals at the original downtown Austin location, and the Drafthouse showed a premiere of his "Kill Bill - Vol. 1." Last December, Mel Gibson attended a screening of an unedited cut of "The Passion of The Christ" that Knowles hosted as part of his "Butt-Numb-A-Thon" film festival.

A side project of the Drafthouse is a traveling giant inflatable movie screen. The Rolling Roadshow, as it is known, aired "Caddyshack" on a golf course, "Deliverance" along the Guadalupe River and "Goonies" at Longhorn Caverns. It recently was used to show Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9-11 in Crawford, near President Bush's Texas ranch.

The original Drafthouse owners, Tim and Karrie League, sold the name and all franchise rights to a couple of Austin businessmen who want to expand the franchise. The Leagues will keep ownership of the Rolling Roadshow, Drafthouse president John Martin said.

Franchises will be based on a prototype Alamo Drafthouse theater in Austin that shows new releases, some with a twist, as well as offbeat viewings. One recent example: Moviegoers who saw "Garfield" this summer were treated to the orange cat's favorite food, lasagna. A giant scratching post was set up in the lobby and the theater hosted a fat cat contest.

Drafthouse CEO Terrell Braley said most people who see movies go out to eat before the show, and the chain gives customers a place to do both.

"Rather than two irritations, two looking for seats, two bad services, you have one enjoyable, wonderful experience without irritation," Braley said.

Michael Rivera, 29, brought his father to "Caddyshack" on the golf course. He said he would not see a new release at the Drafthouse because the waiters were distracting, even though they sort of slouch to stay out of the way.

"But for something like a cult classic, or something I missed the first time, I'll definitely show up there," he said from a lawn chair on the back side of the driving range. "Or, for things like this, which is awesome."

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On the Net:

www.alamodrafthouse.com

40

Fired for eating pork........

by closer2fine in

jw
friends

orlando, fla. -- a central florida woman was fired from her job after eating "unclean" meat and violating a reported company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises, according to local 6 news.

" holfeld asked.

"we do, we can," kweli said.

closer2fine

http://www.local6.com/money/3614199/detail.html

Woman Fired For Eating 'Unclean' Meat

Attorney: 'It's A Classic Case Of Religious Discrimination'

POSTED: 5:46 am EDT August 4, 2004 UPDATED: 2:53 pm EDT August 4, 2004 ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Central Florida woman was fired from her job after eating "unclean" meat and violating a reported company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises, according to Local 6 News. Lina Morales was hired as an administrative assistant at Rising Star -- a Central Florida telecommunications company with strong Muslim ties, Local 6 News reported.

However, 10 months after being hired by Rising Star, religious differences led to her termination.

Morales, who is Catholic, was warned about eating pizza with meat the Muslim faith considered "unclean," Local 6 News reported. She was then fired for eating a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, according to the report.

"Are you telling me they fired you because you had something with ham on it?" Local 6 News reporter Mike Holfeld asked.

"Yes," Morales said.

Holfeld asked, "A pizza and a BLT sandwich?"

" Yes," Morales said.

Local 6 News obtained the termination letter that states she was fired for refusing to comply with company policy that pork and pork products are not permissible on company premises.

However, by the company's own admission to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that policy is not written, Local 6 News reported.

"Did you ever sign to or agree to anything that said I will not eat pork?" Holfeld asked Morales.

"Never," Morales said. "When I got hired there, they said we don't care what religion you are."

Attorney Travis Hollifield is representing Morales in a lawsuit against the company.

"It's just un-American," Hollifield said. "It's not in compliance with the laws of this country."

Local 6 News reported that the case has precedent-setting issues because it addresses employee rights and religion in the workplace.

"It's a classic case of religious discrimination," Hollifield said. "They have not articulated a single reason other than religious reason behind the policy."

The CEO of Rising Star, Kujaatele Kweli, told Local 6 News that they have tried to create an office that accommodates anybody's religion -- not just Islam.

"Clearly you're accommodating," Holfeld said.

"Yes." Kweli replied.

"And you have an ecumenical philosophy," Holfeld said.

" Yes," Kweli replied.

"(Then) shouldn't you be able to accommodate all faiths in the same lunch room?" Holfeld asked.

"We do, we can," Kweli said.

"But you've dismissed one of your employees for eating pork in the lunch room," Holfeld said.

"Yes, pork is considered unclean," Kweli said.

The Koran forbids Muslims from eating pork. And according to Kweli, Morales and every employee at the company is advised of the no pork policy.

"Our point of view is to respect the laws of the land and the laws of the land as I understand it is to the accommodate people's right to practice their religions if you can," Kweli said.

"Even if it impacts other people?" Holfeld asked.

"Well, it always impacts other people," Kweli replied.

Orlando attorney Mark Nejame is close to the Muslim community, Local 6 News reported. He said Kweli's intentions may cross constitutional parameters, according to the report.

"They're making it seem that if you don't follow a certain set of religious practices and beliefs then you're going to be terminated and that's wrong," Nejame said. "If this case prevails, what it will mean -- the implications of this case -- is it will eliminate accommodations of religion."

Both sides are steadfast in their belief that they are right. Morales is taking the company to court charging discrimination, Local 6 News reported.

4

Anyone notice "Road Rules" on MTV tonight?

by Armistead in

jw
friends

the new contestant is a former jw and spoke fairly extensively about her experience growing up and how she was abused by the organization and raped by someone in her congregation.

closer2fine

The re-run episode is on in an hour!!!!

14

How would you answer these questions?

by closer2fine in

jw
friends

a non-jw family member sent me an email asking these questions:1. what is the position of the jehovah witness belief regarding gays?

if you associate with one, will you be disfellowshipped?2.

when you go to church, do you call it a meeting at the hall or the kingdom hall?3.

closer2fine

a non-jw family member sent me an email asking these questions: 1. What is the position of the Jehovah Witness belief regarding gays? If you associate with one, will you be disfellowshipped? 2. When you go to church, do you call it a meeting at the hall or the Kingdom Hall? 3. Who is in charge? A group of elders or a committee? I can answer the second two, but the first one is giving me troubles. Thanks for your input! closer

3