Harlem Churches See A Boom Of Tourists Seeking Gospel Music, But Congregants Bristle At Rudeness

NEW YORK -- The stern warning issued from the pulpit was directed at the tourists – most of whom had arrived late – a sea of white faces with guidebooks in hand. They outnumbered the congregation itself: a handful of elderly black men and women wearing suits and dresses and old-fashioned pillbox hats.

"We're hoping that you will remain in place during the preaching of the Gospel," a church member said over the microphone at this Harlem church on a recent Sunday morning. "But if you have to go, go now. Go before the preacher stands to preach."

No one left then. But halfway through the sermon, a group of French girls made their way toward the velvet ropes that blocked the exit. An usher shook his head firmly, but they ignored him and walked out.

The clash between tourists and congregants plays out every Sunday at Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the oldest black church in New York state. It's one of many Harlem churches that have become tourist attractions for visitors from all over the world who want to listen to soulful gospel music at a black church service. With a record number of tourists descending upon New York City last year, the crowds of foreigners are becoming a source of irritation among faithful churchgoers.

Opinion

The Go-Nowhere Generation

Christians have no right to wear cross at work, says Government

Christians do not have a right to wear a cross or crucifix openly at work, the Government is to argue in a landmark court case.

In a highly significant move, ministers will fight a case at the European Court of Human Rights in which two British women will seek to establish their right to display the cross.

It is the first time that the Government has been forced to state whether it backs the right of Christians to wear the symbol at work.

Santorum supports Puerto Rico statehood with English language condition

 Campaigning on this island U.S. territory Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum spoke out in favor of statehood for Puerto Rico but said he also favored requiring it to adopt English as its official language. Puerto Ricans generally speak both Spanish and English.

Throughout the day, the former Pennsylvania senator was asked repeatedly about his position on the territory becoming the 51st state.

"I would support the people of Puerto Rico if they make the decisive decision to move forward with that, I would support it," he told a group of about 50 people at a town hall meeting. "But that's a decision the people of Puerto Rico have to make and so far they've chosen not to make it. And so talk to your friends, and see if you can work that out."

NOAA changes hurricane categories scale

Stronger hurricanes have been given a statistical nudge starting this year. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the Category 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 designation of the tropical cyclones, has been adjusted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Category 3 hurricanes (formerly 111 mph to 130 mph) 111 mph to 129 mph.
Category 4 (131-155 mph) 130 mph to 156 mph.

LinkedIn is a Hacker's Dream Tool

If you use LinkedIn, you've probably told the site where you work, what you do and who you work with. That's a gold mine for hackers, who are increasingly savvy in using that kind of public -- but personal -- information for pinpoint attacks.

It's called "spear phishing," and it paid off last year in two especially high-profile security breaches: a Gmail attack that ensnared several top U.S. government officials and a separate attack on RSA, whose SecurID authentication tokens are used by millions.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/03/14/2192360/noaa-changes-hurricane-categories.html#storylink=cpy