Saturday, January 31, 2015

Thoughts for March 2015


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  1.  "If we like a man's dream, we call him a reformer; if we don't like his dream, we call him a crank." ~ William Dean Howells

  2.  "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go." ~ Dr. Seuss

  3.  "The proper method for hastening the decay of error is not by brute force, or by regulation which is one of the classes of force, to endeavour to reduce men to intellectual uniformity; but on the contrary by teaching every man to think for himself." ~ William Godwin

  4.  "The most important leadership trait is to be a man or woman of Character. Here, I define Character as (1) being selfless, (2) having moral courage, and (3) having Integrity. Most leadership traits are gifts, either heredity or, if you believe in God, they are God-given. Character is a choice. You choose to be a man or woman of character. Leaders are in the inspiration business and anyone who seeks to inspire must have the character to inspire." ~ Gen. Charles Krulak, USMC

  5.  "The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim Him with their mouths and deny Him with their actions is what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable." ~ Karl Rahner

  6.  "Capitalism is based on self-interest and self-esteem; it holds integrity and trustworthiness as cardinal virtues and makes them pay off in the marketplace, thus demanding that men survive by means of virtue, not vices. It is this superlatively moral system that the welfare statists propose to improve upon by means of preventative law, snooping bureaucrats, and the chronic goad of fear." ~ Alan Greenspan: "The Assault on Integrity", 1963

  7.  "Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb. Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education." ~ Luther Burbank

  8.  "Most of the things we do, we do for no better reason than that our fathers have done them or our neighbors do them, and the same is true of a larger part than what we suspect of what we think." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: "The Path of the Law" (25 March 1897)

  9.  "Nothing is so well calculated to produce a death-like torpor in the country as an extended system of taxation and a great national debt." ~ William Cobbett

10.  "What, if anything, do the infinity of different traditional and individual ideas of a garden have in common? They vary so much in purpose, in size, in style and content that not even flowers, or even plants at all, can be said to be essential. In the last analysis there is only one common factor between all gardens, and this is the control of nature by man. Control, that is, for aesthetic reasons. . . . The essence is control. Without constant watchful care a garden - any garden - rapidly returns to the state of the country all around it." ~ Hugh Johnson

11.  "The Christian life is not about pleasing God the finger-shaker and judge. It is not about believing now or being good now for the sake of heaven later. It is about entering a relationship in the present that begins to change everything now. Spirituality is about this process: the opening of the heart to the God who is already here." ~ Marcus J. Borg

12.  "A good deal of frustration and unhappiness could be avoided if people would just do what they know they should do." ~ Earl Nightingale

13.  "The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life." ~ Hugh Walpole

14.  "Adventures come to the adventurous, and mysterious things fall in the way of those who, with wonder and imagination, are on the watch for them; but the majority of people go past the doors that are half ajar, thinking them closed, and fail to notice the faint stirrings of the great curtain that hangs ever in the form of appearances between them and the world of causes behind." ~ Algernon Blackwood

15.  "As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience, and of the press, it will be worth defending." ~ Andrew Jackson: First Inaugural Address (4 March 1829)

16.  "A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." ~ James Madison, Letter to W.T. Barry

17.  "If there is a god, I think he has a sense of humour. He does not require human beings to protect him from satire." ~ James K. Morrow

18.  "When more of the people's sustenance is exacted through the form of taxation than is necessary to meet the just obligations of government and expenses of its economical administration, such exaction becomes ruthless extortion and a violation of the fundamental principles of free government." ~ Grover Cleveland, Second Annual Message (Dec 1886)

19.  "You cannot judge a man's life by the success of a moment, by the victory of an hour, or even by the results of a year. You must view his life as a whole. You must stand where you can see the man as he treads the entire path that leads from the cradle to the grave — now crossing the plain, now climbing the steeps, now passing through pleasant fields, now wending his way with difficulty between rugged rocks — tempted, tried, tested, triumphant." ~ William Jennings Bryan

20.  "He who possesses liberty otherwise than as an aspiration possesses it soulless, dead. One of the qualities of liberty is that, as long as it is being striven after, it goes on expanding. Therefore, the man who stands still in the midst of the struggle and says, "I have it," merely shows by so doing that he has just lost it." ~ Henrik Ibsen

21.  "The last, best fruit that comes to perfection, even in the kindliest soul, is tenderness toward the hard; forbearance toward the unforbearing; warmth of heart toward the cold; and philanthropy toward the misanthropic." ~ Johann Paul Friedrich Richter

22.  "Up to a point a man's life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him; then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say , this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds." ~ Louis L'Amour

23.  "If our intention had been merely to bring back a handful of soil and rocks from the lunar gravel pit and then forget the whole thing, we would certainly be history's biggest fools." ~ Wernher von Braun

24.  "One of the foundations of our American civilization is equality of opportunity, which presupposes the right of each man to enjoy the fruits of his labor after contributing his fair share to the Government, which protects him and his property. But that is a very different matter from confiscating a part of his wealth, not because the country requires it for the prosecution of a war or some other purpose, but because he seems to have more money than he needs." ~ Andrew Mellon

25.  "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire!" ~ St. Catherine of Siena

26.  "I shall be telling this with a sigh
        Somewhere ages and ages hence:
        Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
        I took the one less traveled by,
        And that has made all the difference."
        ~ Robert Frost

27.  "People say, 'Don't live in the past.' But I guess it depends on how interesting your past is." ~ Effa Manley

28.  "What you believe matters, however. It’s all anyone has to act on. And since what you do is who you are, your actions define you. If you don’t believe anything is true simply because you can’t logically prove what’s true, you won’t do anything. You won’t be anything. You’ll end up spending your life in a rocking chair looking out at the horizon waiting for an answer that never comes." ~ Russell Banks

29.  "The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is inefficiency. An efficient bureaucracy is the greatest threat to liberty." ~ Eugene McCarthy

30.  "It is no wrong or injustice that one has many bags of the finest myrrh and garments embroidered with gold, while another has not those things, which are not necessary for our maintenance; he who has them has not thereby obtained control over anything that could be an essential addition to his nature, but has only obtained something illusory or deceptive." ~ Moses Maimonides

31.  "Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has." ~ RenĂ© Descartes


In the news, Friday, January 23, 2015


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JAN 22      INDEX      JAN 24
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Alex Jones (INFOWARS.COM)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

HARVARD PROF: GOVERNMENT MOSQUITO DRONES WILL EXTRACT YOUR DNA
Harvard Professor Margo Seltzer warned that miniature mosquito drones will one day forcibly extract your DNA on behalf of the government and insurance companies as she told elitists at the World Economic Forum in Davos that privacy was dead.

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from Allen West
from Americas Freedom Fighters
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

TED CRUZ FILES BILL TO BAN AMERICANS WHO JOIN TERRORISTS FROM RETURNING TO AMERICA!
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from The Atlantic

The New Measles
One of the most infectious viruses on the planet is making a comeback in the United States, and many doctors have never even seen it.

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from BBC News (UK)

A Point of View: Why tyrants are afraid of art and beauty
Beauty - and art - may seem unnecessary luxuries, but they're are as essential to our survival as food and water, argues AL Kennedy.

THE 25 BIGGEST TURNING POINTS IN EARTH'S HISTORY
Our planet has existed for 4.5 billion years, and it has been a busy few eons. Here are the 25 biggest milestones in Earth's history. From leaps forward in evolution to devastating asteroid impacts, these were the turning points that shaped our world.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
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from Breitbart

STOP BIBI: J STREET GIVES NETANYAHU THE SARAH PALIN TREATMENT
J Street, a George Soros-funded, far-left organization that styles itself as “pro-Israel” but spends its energy opposing Israeli policies, is trying to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from addressing Congress in a special session in March.

COLORADO GOV: LEGALIZING POT ‘WAS A BAD IDEA’
Democratic Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper says his state’s decision to legalize pot “was a bad idea” that other states should avoid for several years until more is known.

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from Britain Magazine

Winston Churchill remembered
To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, we take a photographic tour through the life of our wartime prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill.

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)

Rob Lowe Demolishes Obama For Meeting With Youtube Star Who Eats Cereal Out Of A Bathtub

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from ConservativeByte

Michael Brown Family Considering Civil Suit Against Darren Wilson After Report DOJ Will Clear Him

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from Daily Kos
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Rand Paul's '47 percent' momentYou probably recall the surfaced video of Sen. Rand Paul supposing and/or implying that the majority of Americans on federal disability programs were "gaming the system."

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from Forum for Middle East Understanding
(FFMU) (Shoebat.com)  [Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Obama About To Show His True Hatred Of Israel And The JOOOOOOOOOOS!
Back in October 2014 a senior Obama administration official called the prime-minister of Israel Benjamin Natanayu “Chicken S**T.” It is very obvious based on the behavior of the administration since it came to power in 2009 that the prime-minister of Israel has been treated with disdain and disrespect, but when the boot is on the other foot (perception of the White House) then the gloves come off. Today it was reported in the media that a senior official from the administration threatened: ‘Netanyahu spat in our face. There will be a price,’

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from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

This Professor Says Learning To Be Happy Is 'No Different Than Learning The Violin'
Richard Davidson, professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, touted the importance of being mindful, especially in the workplace.

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from Independent Journal Review

Ted Nugent Rocks National Anthem in Defiant Salute to ‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle and U.S. Military

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from National Geographic

Watch Jumbo Asteroid Zip Past Earth
A passing space rock should offer a rare, bright viewing treat for sky-watchers.

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from NaturalNews.com
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from NBC News (& affiliates)

Scottish scientists slow down speed of light
The speed of light might not be so constant after all. A team of Scottish scientists found a way to slow down the speed of light, even in a vacuum, by changing its shape.

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from New York Times

After a Deal, British Chocolates Won’t Cross the Pond

Playing Politics on Iran
Normally, the visit of a world leader to the United States would be arranged by the White House. But in a breach of sense and diplomacy, House Speaker John Boehner and Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, have taken it upon themselves to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to Congress to challenge President Obama’s approach to achieving a nuclear agreement with Iran.

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from Right Wing News

George Bush Destroyed Obama’s Ego in His Own House, This is Epic!  [VIDEO]

The speed of light (in a vacuum) may not be constant after all
It’s considered one of the most important constants in the physical universe, but a new study has shown light doesn’t always travel at light speed inside a vacuum.

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from ScienceAlert



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from ScienceDaily

Scientists slow down the speed of light travelling in free space
Scientists have managed to slow photons in free space for the first time. They have demonstrated that applying a mask to an optical beam to give photons a spatial structure can reduce their speed.

Why all-nighters don't work: How sleep, memory go hand-in-hand
Scientists have long known that sleep, memory and learning are deeply connected but how has remained a mystery. The question is, does the mechanism that promotes sleep also consolidate memory, or do two distinct processes work together? In other words, is memory consolidated during sleep because the brain is quiet or are memory neurons actually putting us to sleep? In a recent paper, researchers make a case for the latter.

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from Slate

Measles Is Horrible
The anti-vaccine movement is wrong to dismiss the disease’s dangers (as it is wrong about so many things).

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from Space.com (& CollectSpace)

Smithsonian's 'Star Trek' Enterprise Docks for Museum Restoration

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from The Spokesman-Review

Saudi King Abdullah, powerful U.S. ally, dead at 90
A royal court statement said the king died at 1 a.m. today. His successor was announced as 79-year-old half-brother, Prince Salman.

Catholic church settles lawsuit against lawyers
The law firm of Paine Hamblen has settled a bankruptcy malpractice case regarding its multi-million dollar representation of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane.

Idaho hits record-low unemployment in December
Idaho finished 2014 with an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent in December, which represents a seven-year low, according to preliminary state forecasts.

‘Instant racing’ machines draw ire of Idaho lawmakers
 Idaho lawmakers expressed deep concern Thursday about “instant racing” betting machines that have been installed in Post Falls, Idaho Falls and the Boise area.

Idaho senators introduce bill to repeal law that allowed ‘instant racing’ machines
An Idaho Senate committee agreed unanimously Friday to introduce legislation to repeal the 2013 law that authorized betting on “historical” horse races, and led to slot machine-like “instant racing” machines in three locations around the state, including the Greyhound Park.

Sheriff: Deputy should recover from crash injuries
Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said he is optimistic one of his deputies will recover and return to work after a collision with a semitruck Tuesday left the deputy with critical injuries.

House OKs bill blocking funding for abortions
WASHINGTON – With thousands of abortion protesters swarming the city in their annual March for Life, Republicans muscled broadened abortion restrictions through the House on Thursday after a GOP rebellion forced leaders into an awkward retreat on an earlier version.

‘Sheena’s Law’ a lifesaver, dad says
OLYMPIA – Six months after Sheena Henderson was shot and killed by her estranged husband at Deaconess Hospital, her father is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that he believes could save others from the same fate.
Companion bill on gun returns
A second bill, also named for Sheena Henderson, addresses another aspect of the shooting: the gun.
Laws seek to find beds, fund treatment
Lawmakers face pressure from state and federal court rulings to pay to increase the number of beds and improve treatment for Washington’s mentally ill. The alternative, judges observed, is to continue jailing suspects while they wait for space to open up at one of the state’s two psychiatric hospitals.

The first U.N. General Assembly meeting on anti-Semitism Thursday sparked calls for global action to combat the rising hatred of Jews and a denunciation from the world’s 57 Islamic nations of all words and acts that lead “to hatred, anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia.”

‘Doomsday Clock’ edges slightly closer to witching hour
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists says Earth is now closer to human-caused doomsday than it has been in more than 30 years because of global warming and nuclear weaponry. But other experts say that’s way too gloomy.

Yemen’s US-backed president quits, country could split apart
Yemen’s U.S.-backed president quit Thursday under pressure from rebels holding him captive in his home, severely complicating American efforts to combat al-Qaida’s powerful local franchise and raising fears that the Arab world’s poorest country will fracture into mini-states.

U.S.: Ousting IS will take time
The U.S. and its allies sought to put a good face on the coalition’s deliberate campaign to roll back the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, boasting of having killed thousands of militants while acknowledging that ousting the group from key cities remains a distant aspiration.

Obama passes on meeting Netanyahu
On Thursday, the White House said President Barack Obama would not meet the prime minister when he comes to the U.S. to address a joint session of Congress. The official White House explanation was that Netanyahu’s visit fell too close to the Israeli election and the Obama administration wanted to avoid the appearance of taking sides.

In brief: Bus stop attack dashes peace hope
Hours after a new peace initiative for Ukraine began taking shape, mortar shells rained down Thursday on the center of the main rebel-held city in the east, killing at least 13 people at a bus stop.
Death not suicide, president now says
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – President Cristina Fernandez made an about-face Thursday, saying she now is “convinced” prosecutor Alberto Nisman’s death was not a suicide just days after she suggested the man who accused her of protecting Iranians charged in Argentina’s worst terrorist attack had killed himself.
Hostage’s mother appeals for rescue
TOKYO – The deadline to pay ransom for two Japanese hostages of the Islamic State group was fast approaching today, as the mother of one of the captives appealed for her son’s rescue.

US, Cuba move toward embassies, disagree on human rights
The United States and Cuba closed two days of historic talks in Havana with some progress toward restoring diplomatic ties after a half-century of estrangement, but sharp differences over the role of human rights in their new relationship.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who bent state government to his will for more than 20 years as one of New York’s most powerful and canny politicians, was arrested Thursday on charges of taking nearly $4 million in payoffs and kickbacks.
Barriers set, water tested at spill site
BISMARCK, N.D. – Earthen barriers have been set up across a creek, and water was being tested Thursday, around the site of a nearly 3 million-gallon leak of saltwater generated by oil drilling, the largest spill of its kind during North Dakota’s current oil rush.
Big storm expected to hit Northeast
PHILADELPHIA – The first significant winter storm of the season is expected for the Northeast’s major cities this weekend in the form of a messy mix of rain, snow and sleet along Interstate 95, according to the National Weather Service.

Measles tied to lower rate of vaccination
A major measles outbreak traced to Disneyland has brought criticism down on the small but vocal movement among parents to opt out of vaccinations for their children.

Hollywood producer Michael Bay apologized Wednesday for including a two-second clip that appears to be the fiery plane crash of a B-52 bomber that went down while practicing for an air show at Fairchild Air Force Base in 1994. The footage in the movie “Project Almanac” has been removed, according to the Air Force Times newspaper.

Washington State University wants to continue to collaborate with the University of Washington on medical education, WSU President Elson Floyd told legislators Thursday. But it wants its own medical school in Spokane, too.

Spokane Public Schools administrators are reporting high rates of students who likely are sick with the flu.
Sawmill fined $151,800 for safety violations
The Columbia Cedar sawmill in Kettle Falls has been fined $151,800 for safety violations and failing to report an accident last year that seriously injured a worker.

FBI contact unwarranted, environmental activists say
Helen Yost found the text message unsettling. “I need to speak with you,” it said. “Please give me a call. I am an FBI agent.” Yost is one of a dozen such activists in Idaho, Washington and Oregon who’s been contacted by the FBI in recent months, said Larry Hildes, a Bellingham civil rights attorney. Agents have shown up on their doorsteps, at their workplace or contacted them by phone, he said.

Medical pot growers have unfair advantages, say counterparts
Medical marijuana growers and sellers have a series of unfair business advantages, their recreational pot counterparts told legislators Thursday.

Prosecution of juvenile charged with murder will remain in adult court
The prosecution of a Coeur d’Alene juvenile charged with murdering two family members will remain in adult court, a Kootenai County judge said Thursday.

Idaho wolf survey reveals thriving breeding numbers
Although fewer than half of Idaho’s wolf packs have been surveyed this winter, state wildlife officials already have documented the number of breeding pairs exceeds federal requirements.

Family Dollar shareholders OK takeover bid
The battle over dollar stores is nearly over. Family Dollar shareholders voted on Thursday to approve a takeover bid by rival Dollar Tree, despite higher competing offers from Dollar General.

Survey: 38 percent of businesses plan to increase salaries in 6 months
Nearly 2 in 5 small and midsize U.S. businesses, or 38 percent, said they plan to increase salaries in the next six months, the highest level in six years, PNC Financial Services found in a fall survey.

Briefs: Spokane girl’s treat dispenser is finalist in Microsoft contest
A Web-enabled pet treat dispenser invented by a Spokane girl is a finalist in the Microsoft Small Business Contest. The product, iCPooch, is a device that allows pet owners to video chat with their pets and deliver treats using smartphones or tablets. Brooke Martin came up with the idea for iCPooch when she was 12 and her father Chris Martin has helped bring it to fruition.
Litehouse company now fully owned by employees
Sandpoint-based food maker Litehouse Inc. became fully owned by its employees last month. Litehouse has been family owned for more than 50 years. As of Dec. 22, 100 percent of company stock had been sold to employees through a stock ownership plan that began in 2006.
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fall for fourth straight week
WASHINGTON – Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell for the fourth straight week, with the benchmark 30-year rate again marking its lowest level since May 2013. Mortgage company Freddie Mac said the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage declined to 3.63 percent this week from 3.66 percent last week. The rate for the 15-year loan slipped to 2.93 percent from 2.98 percent last week.

Southwest Airlines earnings hit record $1.1 billion
Southwest Airlines said Thursday it earned a record $1.1 billion in 2014, the first time the Dallas-based carrier has gone over the $1 billion mark.

Eurozone getting bond stimulus
Europe’s ailing economy will get a major dose of stimulus from the European Central Bank – a bond buying program designed to make loans and exports cheaper so companies can hire and expand.

Amy Goodman: Obama offers some good ideas

Editorial: Medical pot unregulated too long in Washington

New service offers free streaming movies
Humor website Break.com has partnered with Lionsgate to launch a free streaming movie channel. There are about 80 films to start, from Oscar nominees like “Winter’s Bone” (the film that launched Jennifer Lawrence) and “Requiem for a Dream” to pre-sorted junk like “Kickboxer” and “Leprechaun” sequels, and new titles will be added each week. It’s ad supported, and there are apps to stream it on your media devices. Check it out at www.break.com/ movies/.

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from TPNN (Tea Party News Network)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
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from The Wall Street Journal

Outsider Ben Carson Rises in 2016 GOP Field
Despite Brief History in Party, Retired Neurosurgeon Builds Strong Iowa Organization

Greece: Austerity, Relief or Exit?
Greek leftwing party Syriza is expected to form an antiausterity government with support from the nationalist Independent Greeks, after Syriza won the country’s elections Sunday but fell just shy of an absolute majority in parliament.

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from The Washington Examiner (DC)

White House: Obama will not sit down with Netanyahu
President Obama will not sit down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits Washington in March to address a joint session of Congress, the White House said Friday.

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from The Washington Free Beacon (DC)
from The Weekly Standard

Kerry: Violent Extremism Is Not Islamic
Secretary of State John Kerry argued that, as the Associated Press phrased it, "violent extremism is not Islamic" in a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Jindal: 'Shame' House Put Aside 20-Week Abortion Ban
Louisiana governor and potential presidential candidate Bobby Jindal said it was a "shame" that House Republican leaders had to put aside a bill banning abortions occuring after the 20th week of pregnancy. Speaking on Fox News Thursday night, the Republican said, "it shouldn't take a lot of political courage to stand up and say we are going to end late-term abortions in America." The House did pass a bill to prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortions.

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from The Western Center for Journalism
(Western Journalism)

Here’s How A Furious Obama White House Is Reportedly Freaking Out Over Israel’s Defiant Netanyahu

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from 100 Percent FED Up
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

WHITE HOUSE THREATENS NETANYAHU For Meeting With Congress...Says He Will "Pay A Price"

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In the news, Thursday, January 22, 2015


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JAN 21      INDEX      JAN 23
________


Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from Alex Jones (INFOWARS.COM)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

“IF YOU QUESTION AUTHORITY, YOU ARE MENTALLY ILL”, REPORT FINDS
Only the Sheeple Are Sane

BILL GATES PUSHES CASHLESS SOCIETY
Scheme would allow government to confiscate money at will

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
________

from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)
from Examiner.com
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]
________

from Forum for Middle East Understanding
(FFMU) (Shoebat.com)  [Information from this site may be questionable.]

Muslims Take Two Women, And Shoot Each Of Them In The Back Of The Head
In November, ISIS militants in Mosul shot two women in the back of the head, both of whom ran for Iraqi political office earlier last year.

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from The Heritage Foundation
from Le Monde diplomatique in English

When it comes to the national security state, our capital has become a thought-free zone. The airlessness of the place, the unwillingness of leading players in the corridors of power to explore new ways of approaching crucial problems is right there in plain sight, yet remarkably unnoticed. Consider this the Tao of Washington.

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from Money Talks News
from RT (Russia Today)
from The Spokesman-Review

President Obama promotes economic plan in Idaho
President Barack Obama wanted to make a statement by picking Republican-dominated Idaho for his first public appearance after his State of the Union. “There’s not a liberal America or a conservative America, but a United States of America,” he told the cheering crowd Wednesday at Boise State University. Before his talk, Obama met privately for 10 minutes with Naghmeh Abedini, whose husband, the Rev. Saeed Abedini, has been imprisoned in Iran for two years. “It was just the kids and I and the president,” she said afterward. “His first words were that he is trying everything.”

Flu season, only halfway through, claims six lives in Spokane County
This flu season has claimed six people in Spokane County, including Chad Rattray, who was 37, vaccinated against the flu and generally in good health. The previous three flu seasons had an average of 150 flu-related hospital admissions in total. This season, which began three weeks ago, there have been 215 such hospitalizations.

Hot dog stand owner dies from flu
Chad Rattray wasn’t only Cheddar Chad. He wasn’t simply the guy who sold dollar dogs, occasionally slathering on the mustard and handing it over – on the house – to a homeless person with no cash. He wasn’t only a newly trained bus driver who had driven his first route this weekend, or someone with a deep affinity for Africa, where he traveled for three months. Mainly, for those who bought his hot dogs in front of the Bank of America building in downtown Spokane, he was Chad.

Beard of Egypt’s King Tut hastily glued back on with epoxy
The blue and gold braided beard on the burial mask of famed pharaoh Tutankhamun was hastily glued back on with epoxy, damaging the relic after it was knocked during cleaning, conservators at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo said Wednesday.

North Dakota pipeline spills 3 million gallons of saltwater
Nearly 3 million gallons of saltwater generated by oil drilling have leaked from a North Dakota pipeline, an official said Wednesday, the largest such spill since the state’s current oil boom began and nearly three times worse than any previous spill. Two creeks have been affected, but the full environmental effect might not be clear for months.

Washington smoking age could jump from 18 to 21
Young adults would be barred from cigarettes under a proposal unveiled Wednesday by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

Boehner defies Obama on Iran sanctions, invites Netanyahu
Boehner’s decision to bring Benjamin Netanyahu before a joint meeting of Congress on Feb. 11 seemed to catch the White House by surprise. And it added fuel to a drive by lawmakers from both parties to pass legislation calling for fresh penalties if there is no deal soon to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Senate says climate change real, disagrees on cause
The Republican-controlled Senate acknowledged Wednesday that climate change is real but refused to say humans are to blame.

House drops abortion bill debate
In an embarrassing setback, House Republicans abruptly decided Wednesday to drop planned debate of a bill criminalizing virtually all late-term abortions after objections from GOP women and other lawmakers left them short of votes.

U.S., Cuba spar over immigration policies
The United States said Wednesday it dispatched additional ships to the Florida Straits to halt Cuban rafters but rebuffed demands for broader changes to U.S. migration rules that dominated the first day of talks between Cuban officials and the highest-ranking U.S. delegation to the island in more than three decades.

In brief: FBI completes Ferguson probe
The FBI has completed its investigation into the police shooting of an unarmed, black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
Sandy Hook killer’s home to be razed
Officials in Newtown voted Wednesday night to tear down the home where Adam Lanza lived before he carried out the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Navy officer fired, under investigation
The Navy captain in charge of the naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been fired and is being investigated in connection with an alleged affair with a woman on the base and the recent death of her husband, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Yemen rebels gain say in government
Shiite rebels holding Yemen’s president captive in his home reached a deal with the U.S.-backed leader Wednesday to end a violent standoff in the capital, fueling fears that a key ally in the battle against al-Qaida has been sidelined.

In brief: Palestinian stabs 11 people during Tel Aviv rush hour
A knife-wielding Palestinian stabbed 11 morning commuters on and near a bus Wednesday, striking in the heart of Tel Aviv and reigniting fears of continued violence ahead of Israeli elections in March.
Russia and Ukraine agree on demarcation line
Diplomats from Russia and Ukraine agreed Wednesday on a dividing line from where both sides should pull back their heavy weapons, just hours after separatist forces deployed more arms and manpower to an emerging flashpoint in eastern Ukraine.
France anti-terror plan calls for hiring more agents
Reeling from the Paris terror attacks, France announced broad new measures to fight homegrown terrorism, such as giving police better equipment and hiring more intelligence agents.
Boko Haram leader claims massacre, makes threats
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the mass killings in the northeast Nigerian town of Baga and threatened more violence.

Doris Nelson’s Little Loan Shoppe victims get compensation
The first repayments to investors who lost millions to fraudster Doris Nelson began trickling out last month, even as a court-appointed trustee continues to claw back money in legal battles with financiers.

Bonds are for buildings; levies are for learning.
The two are often confused or combined, but each helps pay for distinctly different things in K-12 public school districts. Ballots are expected to arrive Friday for a Feb. 10 special election that will ask Spokane County voters to consider both.

WSU medical school in Spokane gets legislative support
Identical bills that could pave the way for Washington State University to start its own medical school in Spokane were filed Wednesday in the Senate and House.

Delay sought in Coeur d’Alene juvenile’s murder trial
The lawyer for a Coeur d’Alene juvenile accused of murdering two family members asked a judge Wednesday for a delay in the trial, which is scheduled to start March 2.

Guilty plea for pot extract blast in car
A Spokane man will serve no jail time after pleading guilty to manufacturing marijuana extract in his car, causing an explosion that injured his 3-year-old daughter.

In brief: Bonner County deputy hurt in semitruck collision
A Bonner County Sheriff’s deputy was critically injured Tuesday evening after his SUV was hit by a semitruck on U.S. Highway 95 near Cocolalla.
Former city clerk of Athol pleads guilty to wire fraud
The former city clerk of Athol pleaded guilty Wednesday to writing 227 checks to herself and her husband from a city bank account totaling more than $417,000.
Woman arrested after toddler left in vehicle
A Spokane Valley woman was arrested Tuesday evening after deputies say she left her car along the road with her 2-year-old daughter inside and couldn’t remember where she parked.
Police investigate death of man found in home
Police are investigating the death of a man found lying on his living room floor surrounded by broken glass and other items indicating a possible struggle.
Downtown fight ends in stabbing, hospitalization
Police responded to a reported stabbing at an apartment building in the 200 block of South Wall Street in downtown Spokane about 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Man pleads guilty to possession of child porn
Randy James Hirst, 57, of Rathdrum pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said.

Toyota remains tops in global vehicle sales, beats VW, GM
Toyota Motor Corp. stayed at the top in global vehicle sales in 2014, taking that auto industry crown for the third year straight, but was less upbeat about this year.

European Central Bank’s stimulus faces unique hurdles compared to Fed, analysts say
Big bang or disappointment? Markets are waiting to see just how much financial firepower the European Central Bank will unleash today, when it is expected to announce large-scale purchases of government bonds with newly printed money to stimulate a sluggish economy.

Microsoft Windows 10 aspires to capture more consumers
Microsoft upped its bid to capture the hearts and minds of technology consumers Wednesday with Windows 10, announcing everything from free upgrades for the majority of Windows users to support for nascent holographic display technology. For the first year after the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft will offer users of Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 7 free upgrades to the new operating system.

S&P settles suit over bogus securities rating
Standard & Poor’s agreed Wednesday to pay the U.S. government and two states more than $77 million to settle charges tied to its ratings of mortgage-backed securities.
Homebuilding in 2014 hits post-boom high
Construction of new homes rebounded in December, helping to push activity for the entire year to the highest level since the peak of the housing boom nine years ago.
Kinder Morgan gains Bakken stake in deal
Kinder Morgan is acquiring oil and gas processing company Hiland Partners in a deal worth $3 billion, including roughly $1 billion in debt. The deal includes oil-gathering and transportation pipelines, as well as gas-gathering and processing systems for the Bakken Formation in North Dakota and Montana.

Standards aim to cut down on salmonella in poultry industry
The government is pushing the poultry industry to make its chicken and turkey a little safer with new standards aimed at reducing the number of cases of foodborne illness by 50,000 a year.

Dana Milbank: State of the Union address strangely quiet on terrorism

Editorial: MAC foray into entrepreneurship will create better museum

Doctor K: Testicular cancer one of curable kinds

Two houses to undertake archaeological study before demolition
The owners of two old houses that were long ago converted to apartments are going to undertake an archaeological study of the properties in Browne’s Addition before the city of Spokane will let them tear down the houses to make room for a new apartment building.

Three Spokane homes listed on National Register of Historic Places
The Kiesow-Gentsch House, 618 W. 23rd Ave., the Seligman House, 2203 S. Manito Blvd., and the Canfield House, 1301 N. Sherwood St., have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places after being accepted to the Washington Heritage Register in October.

Spokane Valley brushing up on history
When the Plantation Restaurant was torn down late last year, many Spokane Valley residents were confused: How could a Spokane Valley landmark like that be torn down?

111-year-old Carnegie Library is testament to Spokane’s early growth
The Carnegie Library at 10 S. Cedar St. is the first true library building in the city of Spokane. The neoclassical structure was built in 1904 courtesy of a donation by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and a concerted effort by area residents.

New voice of the West
Spokane author Sarah Hulse’s debut novel “Black River” is the furthest thing from chick lit possible. This lean, taut debut book tells the story of Wes, a 60-year-old former prison guard from Montana who returns to his hometown after his wife’s death.

Youth Center completes relocation to Browne’s Addition
The Peaceful Valley Youth Center has completed its move to Browne’s Addition and settled in the downstairs area of All Saints Lutheran Church on Spruce Street, just across from Coeur d’Alene Park in Spokane.

Northeast area would get STA upgrade
About 9,700 Spokane residents living in northeast Spokane north of Francis Avenue do not receive convenient bus service on Sundays or after 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Landers: Reardan wildlife area shows what community effort can accomplish
A nonprofit land trust stepped up last week to secure wetlands important to migrating waterfowl and other birds in Lincoln County along U.S. 2 west of Spokane.

Randy Mann: Snow total far below normal

Pat Munts: Keep backyard flocks safe from avian flu

Obituary: Quinn, Carolyn Jean (Sevigny)
23 Sep 1943 - 18 Jan 2015

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from TPNN (Tea Party News Network)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
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from The Washington Free Beacon (DC)
from The Washington Post (DC)
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from The Weekly Standard

Green-Lipstick Wearing YouTuber Tells Obama She's Worried 'Po-Po' Will Kill Husband
The green-lipstick wearing interviewer of President Barack Obama expressed her concern that the "po-po" (meaning: police officer) might shoot and kill her husband. The interviewer, GloZell Green, made the remarks to the president in an "interview" held today at the White House.

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from The Western Center for Journalism
(Western Journalism)

Obama No Longer Trying To Eliminate Iran’s Breakout Capacity

DOJ Likely Won’t File Civil Rights Charges Against Darren Wilson
Reports indicate a recommendation will be issued for no charges to be brought against Wilson.

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