Thursday, December 26, 2013

In the news, Thursday, December 19, 2013


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DEC 18      INDEX      DEC 20
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from AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

‘Every Democrat Should Be Scared’ of this Obamacare Ad

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from The American Spectator

TED CRUZ: MAN OF THE YEAR
He's both principled and effective

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The outgoing ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Vatican gives his thoughts at the end of his mandate, talking about the fruitful influence of Christianity on his country where the Catholic Church is the most respected institution. Within 30 years, Catholics will represent 50 per cent of the population. He talks about his countrymen's hopes for a visit of Pope Francis and makes some suggestions to China.

As negotiations for the release of the Maaloula nuns continue, Homs bishop makes an appeal
As the nuns' fate remains unclear, the authorities and foreign diplomats continue working on their release, said Mgr Mario Zenari. Meanwhile, Boutros Selwanos Alnemeh, Syriac Orthodox archbishop of Homs, slams Islamists for their "crime," noting that "The abductors want to demonstrate that they show no mercy."

Putin 'ready' to release Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Former Yukos tycoon has already spent more than a decade in prison. Grace is motivated by "humanitarian circumstances." Mystery on the document: the detainee's lawyer denies that he did it to present it.
For Mgr Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, the Catholic community is trying to participate actively and with "enthusiasm" to the "New Evangelisation." Although the authorities have attacked the diocese, the faithful "are not afraid," showing instead "strong faith and unity." Our goals, said the prelate, remain "dialogue, peace, love and forgiveness."

Party orders a "Marxist exam" for all Chinese journalists
The exam will be based on a 700-page manual being sold in bookshops. The manual is peppered with directives such as "it is absolutely not permitted for published reports to feature any comments that go against the party line." Those who fail the test will lose the press card. Increase control over the media in the era of Xi Jinping.
Bakhti Prabodhanaya has been published by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate since 1899. International schools and the country's Tamil community had been asking for an English edition. The magazine sells 12.000 copies per month focusing on the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, family issues and ethics.

Francis speaks of the gospel of Elizabeth, who from a state of bareness became the mother of John the Baptist. The desert and bareness are rendered fruitful by His power. In these days before Christmas, have the humility to recognize our own misery and pray for the grace to bear fruit.

Pope Francis and his invitation to dialogue with Islam
There are so many positive things in Evangelii gaudium , pushing Christians and Muslims towards a relationship in love and truth, to work for peace, to enrich each other, to welcome immigrants ... But there are also some points that provoke criticism: is the God of the Muslims "compassionate and merciful" God of the Muslims really the same as the Trinity? And are the Jesus and Mary in the Koran the same as the Gospels? And is Christian fundamentalism the same as Muslim fundamentalism? What is really urgent - as suggested by Francis – is "a proper reading of the Koran," which Muslims resist.

Christmas in Singapore, a catholic market becomes a way to talk about God
A South Korean religious Pauline manages with her sisters a little "Areopagus" in the center of the city-state, where they sell nativity scenes and other Christmas items. But passers-by are more interested to renew their faith and to ask questions about the meaning of life, proving that "everything passes except the thirst of the Lord."

Tug of war between government and faithful over burial of Tangshan bishop Liu Jinghe
Faithful hold vigil over the body for two days. They expect a police raid to force them to bury the bishop in common ground. Bishop Liu wanted to be buried in the Catholic cemetery, seized by the Party in the 50s. Diocese website shut down. Telephones of priests and nuns under control.

Patriarch of Moscow: Great expectations for Francis’ pontificate
Kirill met with the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, and proposed closer collaboration with the Vatican on the Middle East and traditional values.

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from BBC News

Militants preventing polio vaccination in Pakistan
Armed militants are killing health workers in Pakistan, tasked with protecting children against polio, because of suspicion over western made vaccines.

UK 'was inappropriately involved in rendition'
Retired judge Sir Peter Gibson reviewed 20,000 top secret documents after allegations of wrongdoing by MI5 and MI6 officers in the wake of 9/11. He found no evidence officers were directly involved in the torture or rendition of suspects.

Gaia 'billion-star surveyor' lifts off
Europe has launched the Gaia satellite into space to map the precise positions of more than a billion stars. It has been described as one of the most ambitious space projects in history. Citizen scientists will be able to mine Gaia's data to detect celestial objects, such as failed stars.

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from Breitbart

'BOYCOTT A&E' FACEBOOK SUPPORT PAGE FOR PHIL ROBERTSON GETS OVER 1M LIKES
A Facebook page dedicated to defense of Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” has received well over 400,000 likes since it was launched just 14 hours ago. The page was created late on Wednesday evening, after news broke that A&E was suspending Robertson over his comments on homosexuality.

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from CNSNews.com (& NewsBusters)

Fans Go Online to 'Bring Back Phil Robertson'

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from Columbia Basin Herald

Former Moses Lake man's identify released in shooting death
A former Moses Lake resident who was shot to death in his home in Spokane's South Hill neighbor-hood was identified by the Spokane County Medical Examiner on Tuesday as Douglas Carlile, 63.

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from Duck Commander
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from EarthSky

A billion stars here we come! Gaia galaxy surveyor lifts off
Gaia is designed to make accurate measurements of the positions and motions of 1% of the total population of roughly 100 billion Milky Way stars.

Globally, November 2013 was warmest November ever recorded
Maybe it’s been cold where you live. Still, globally, November 2013 is the warmest November on record and the 345th consecutive month with temps above the 20th century average.

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from Environmental Protection

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from Facecrooks

Facebook Can See What You Type – Even if You Don’t Post It
Facebook is known for tracking any and all activity on the site.

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from The Federalist Papers

Dramatic Video Shows Bus Passengers Taking Down Armed Man

The ‘Tolerance’ Society Demands Compliance
Let the record show which side of this debate is pushing their agenda on everyone else, and using the coercive force of government and bullying tactics in the media and pop culture to do so. It is not the Christians.

Phil Robertson Talks About Why This Country Needs More Jesus And Why The Founders Would Agree

Phil Robertson, Duck Commander, on Love and Hate

Armed response, not gun control laws, ended most recent school shooting

What James Madison teaches us about NSA surveillance

Many Options Exist Outside Anti-Christian Hollywood For Duck Dynasty

Fight to save Mount Soledad cross continues

‘Duck Dynasty’s’ Phil Robertson on Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-Gay Remarks

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from Fox News

Medicinal attributes of mistletoe
Mistletoe, the same plant you kiss under at holiday time, may be an effective aid against certain types of cancer.

Administration faces backlash over new ObamaCare exemptions
The Obama administration announces it will potentially allow hundreds of thousands of people to sign up for "catastrophic" coverage plans, a move the insurance industry claims will cause "tremendous instability."

'Superbug' bacteria widespread in US chicken, consumer group finds

Democratic, GOP senators defy Obama with Iran sanctions bill

Judge claims DHS delivering smuggled children to illegal immigrant parents

Target says 40 million credit, debit card accounts may be affected by data breach

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from GQ

What the Duck?
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Gives Drew Magary a Tour. The stars of A&E's Duck Dynasty, reality TV's most popular show, drop knowledge on Drew Magary. How in the world did a family of squirrel-eating, Bible-thumping, catchphrase-spouting duck hunters become the biggest TV stars in America? And what will they do now that they have 14 million fervent disciples? Our Drew Magary toured the Louisiana backwater with Phil Robertson and the Duck Dynasty gang to find out.
This is the article that started the controversy.

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from The Heritage Foundation
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from International Christian Concern
(PERSECUTION.org)

Religious Minorities in India Observe Minorities Rights Day
Christians and other religious minorities observed Minorities Rights Day in India on December 18. As a part of the key note speech, the leaders of the celebration noted how India's government continues to deny equal rights to Christians and Muslims. It also highlighted the persecution faced by these two groups as Hindu nationalists gain power in India's government and Hindu community.

Indonesia: Thousands of Police Mobilized to Protect Churches Over Christmas
Indonesia's national police chief has called up thousands of extra police personnel to focus on preventing terrorist attacks over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Despite a reputation for religious tolerance, anti-Christian sentiment remains strong among radical organizations and in some hotbeds of radical activity in the country. Since the start of December, ICC has recorded five incidents of church services shut down after Islamist protests forced the churches to close.

Hope for Religious Freedom under Nepal’s New Government
Political leaders in Nepal have welcomed Pope Francis's calls for peace and reconciliation and have committed themselves to drafting a new secular constitution in Nepal. This have given many hope that the newly elected government in Nepal will uphold the right to religious freedom. In turn, it is hoped that the upholding of this basic right will help reduce the amount of persecution felt by Nepal's Christian community. Please pray for this peace and reconciliation process.

Bill to Promote Religious Freedom in Middle East Passes Key Committee in Senate
Yesterday, the Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2013 was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Introduced by Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, this important bill would provide for the creation of a State Department Special Envoy to promote religious freedom in the Middle East. The legislation comes at a time when the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East is gaining widespread attention, both in the United States and in the UK. The bill was introduced and passed overwhelmingly in the House back in September, and now awaits a floor vote by the Senate.

Six Christian Families Leave Iraq Every Day
The Eastern churches of Iraq have spoken out about the disturbing trend of Christians leaving the Middle East. “Their presence, competence and liberality are vital to the society and the Muslim majority appreciates that,” one leader said. The pace in Iraq continues at an alarming rate, as 6 families leave Iraq daily according to one calculation. The danger they leave behind is very real, but the loss for the future of the region is even more troubling.

Syria: The End of Christian Civilization?
As the intensity of the violence towards Christians escalates in Syria, many are beginning to recognize the impact of religious identity on the conflict. "It is believed that religious wars are a matter of the past. But they have become a matter of the past only for those western politicians that are not paying attention to them,” Eugeniy Satanovsky said. This is highlighted by the rising power extremists groups who have specifically declared their agenda is to establish Islamic law in Syria.

New Rash of Church Closings Sweeps Across Indonesia
It was May 18th, 2012, and there were hundreds upon hundreds of screaming fanatics hurling rocks, dirt, and even bags filled with urine at his congregation as the police stood by and watched. Signs hanging near his church read “Jesus is a dog” and “Kill the Christians.” The rioters claimed the pastor had never obtained the proper permits to operate his church, and the local government agreed, sealing the building and prohibiting the pastor and his congregation from ever returning. For years the world, including the United States, has lauded Indonesia as the prime example of a tolerant, Muslim democracy. The largest Muslim-majority nation in the world, Indonesia embraces a welcoming political philosophy known as “Pancasila,” composed of five “inseparable” principles, including social justice. The vicious attack hardly seemed synonymous with Indonesia’s pristine reputation. After further investigation, it proved to merely be the tip of the iceberg.

Persecution Report from Across the Middle East
In a summary of persecution from the month of October, there is a disturbing trend of the abuses specifically targeting women and children. While not all of the events cited here are clearly persecution of Christians for specific acts of faith, they do show a level of hostility of those who are identified as Christians. Many of the attacks have been at the hands of extremist militant groups who are hostile towards all. The more troubling instances, such as in Egypt, are the blatant disregard for the safety of citizens shown by security forces.

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from The Jerusalem Post

Bill would trigger new sanctions against Iran should six months pass without a comprehensive agreement; White House press secretary Jay Carney says bill is illogical and President Obama would veto the bill if it were passed.
"Trigger" bill calls for automatically sanctioning Iran if no comprehensive nuclear deal is reached by deadline; Iran has warned that new sanctions action would render interim deal "entirely dead."

Liberman: Israel 'serious' in its intentions to reach agreement with Palestinians
Foreign minister meets his Chinese counterpart in Jerusalem; calls on Palestinians to refrain from taking unilateral actions that hurt peace efforts; says Iran's threats to destroy Israel must be taken seriously.

PA: IDF killing of 2 Palestinians in West Bank aims to foil peace process
After 2 Palestinians killed in separate IDF raids in West Bank in the span of hours, Abbas spokesman calls on international community to help end "dangerous Israeli aggression."

Tempest in a teapot: Man arrested for pouring hot tea on MK Tibi
UAL-Ta'al MK lightly injured during incident at protest against controversial Beduin resettlement bill.

Peres to Chinese FM: Peace is Israel's greatest desire, Iran is the greatest problem
President tells Wang Yi, like China, Israel prefers diplomatic solution to Iran's disputed nuclear issue; warns alternative to peace, two-state solution with Palestinians is ongoing conflict.

‘Almost 2,000 Palestinians have died in Syrian war’
Palestinians living in harsh conditions in refugee camps; Syrian army prevents food, medicine from reaching camps.

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from KING 5 (Seattle)

'Food fraud' a growing problem in grocery stores
Fish, honey, milk, orange juice, and olive oil - what do they all have in common? They top the list when it comes to food fraud. 
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from KIRO 7 Eyewitness News (Seattle)
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from KOMO News (Seattle)
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from KREM 2 News (Spokane)

WSU researcher's find could alter perception on genetics
Dr. Michael Skinner is credited for revealing unexpected consequences of chemicals passing from generation to generation. He suggested toxins and other influences can change how our DNA functions along with what genes are turned on and off.

Samsung, LG to unveil 105-inch curved TVs
Samsung and LG say their curved TVs will get bigger and sport the sharpness four times the regular HD television sets.

What to do if you're a victim of the Target data breach
Target says anyone who made purchases by swiping cards at terminals in its U.S. stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 may have had their accounts exposed.

Bill would require 'kill switch' for smartphonesTwo California officials have announced plans to introduce legislation requiring smartphones to have a "kill switch" that would render stolen or lost devices inoperable.

Target customers hit major credit card breach
Target confirms 40 million accounts may have been affected by a data breach during the busy holiday shopping season. 

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from KXLY 4 News (Spokane)

4 things to do after your credit card has been hacked
As many as 40M Target shoppers had their credit, debit card info stolen

High blood pressure? Well, maybe not
New guidelines could affect millions

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from London Review of Books (UK)
Magazine

While the Syrian regime continues the process of eliminating its chemical arsenal, the irony is that, after Assad’s stockpile of precursor agents is destroyed, al-Nusra and its Islamist allies could end up as the only faction inside Syria with access to the ingredients that can create sarin, a strategic weapon that would be unlike any other in the war zone. There may be more to negotiate.

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from Money Talks News

What’s the Big Deal About Tiny Houses?
The tiny house movement is a social and philosophical movement driven by people who choose to scale back their living space in order to be mortgage-free, reduce their environmental impact, and enjoy a more flexible and mobile lifestyle.

5 Sneaky Jeweler Tricks of the Trade
Nearly 25 percent of us will give jewelry this holiday season. Learn how to avoid tricks from jewelers to keep more money in your pocket.

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from Mother Nature Network

How to grow and re-bloom poinsettias
Pinching them back, giving them good sunlight and a night rest in the fall are the keys to re-blooming the signature plant of Christmas.

Have we reached 'peak car'?
An intriguing idea circulating around -- Is the car losing its central place in our culture? People under the age of 30 are waiting longer to get their driver's licenses and buying fewer cars. 88 percent prefer walkable downtowns to traffic-choked freeways. Welcome to the post-automobile age.

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from National Review
from Natural Society

Florida Couple Forced to Dig Up 17-Year Old Organic Garden

100′s of Studies Prove this One Plant Compound Kills Cancer, Protects Against Radiation

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from NBC News (& affiliates)

from NPR
Sarah Ramirez left a high-prestige career to bring California's bounty of unsellable fruit to food banks in the state's Central Valley. Her grassroots organization is trying to address a regional conundrum: While many area farms end up with imperfect fruit that can't be sold to supermarkets, local farmworkers struggle to afford fresh produce.

How To Make Sense Of Confusing, New Blood Pressure Advice
If you're confused about the latest recommendations for treating high blood pressure, take heart. Doctors are confused, too. For older people with mildly higher blood pressure, there's a lack of proof that drugs would help.
A federal judge ruled that the contraceptive can't be withheld from girls 16 and younger. Despite the legal ruling, many Americans support age minimums and parental consent for emergency contraception.
Despite Thursday's commutations for crack cocaine cases, Obama still trails all modern presidents in the use of his constitutional pardon power.

How South Florida Jews Shaped The State's Food History

Is Dallas Segregating Low-Income Housing Once Again?
The city, which is the subject of a federal investigation, says it's complied with regulations. Critics say saturating certain areas with low-income housing stunts economic growth. One report says that 80 percent of affordable housing has been placed in southern Dallas since 2000.

Why Washington State Was Named #1 Most Innovative State by Bloomberg
The publication ranked the states using a points system based on six criteria, which heavily favored the tech industry. The ranking tallied the numbers of STEM professionals, innovation patents and holders of degrees in science and technology in each state. Bloomberg also considered the intensity of research and development, productivity and the gross state product based on each employed resident. While Washington state didn’t top other states in any single category, its total score of 83.25 topped the list. California ranked second, followed by Massachusetts. Oregon ranked fifth.

'Duck' And Cover: What, Exactly, Is The Point?
Duck Dynasty is without Phil Robertson for a while, but it's not clear what that accomplishes.

Many San Francisco Taxi Drivers Earning Less Than Minimum Wage
Unofficial tips get taxi drivers better cabs and better fares, but cut into an already precarious livelihood.

Mapped: How Do St. Louis' Earnings Stack Up?
In a geographical "keeping up with the Joneses" our friends at WNYC have put together a map of median household incomes across the United States.

Finding Grandpa On My Dinner Plate (Part 2)
You order a lobster and the waiter shows you an animal that is, he says, older than you are. It's had more birthdays than you. For some people, this is a meal-stopper. Especially, if you are on in years, and what's on the plate is just as elderly (and just as wise?) as you are.

'Duck Dynasty' Dad Doubles Down; Palin Defends Him
Saying that his mission "is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together," Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson isn't backing away from the comments he's made.

Prescribing either an apple a day or a statin a day to everyone over 50 years old is likely to have a similar effect on population vascular mortality.

After federal district Judge Clark Waddoups' decision, Utah still prohibits bigamy — a marriage license can only be issued for one spouse at a time. But the ruling does prevent the state from using "cohabitation" as a basis for prosecution. Previously, authorities could prosecute men and women for living together in what appeared to be a polygamous relationship.

The White House is sending a signal by announcing who will -- and who will not -- be attending the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Simply put, compulsive buying is "when we spend so much time, energy and/or money shopping ... or even thinking about shopping and buying that it is impairing our life in a significant way."

What was there before the universe began? It's not a question we can really answer with the science we have at hand, says commentator and physicist Marcelo Gleiser.

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from PreventDisease.com

Broiler Chickens Found At Grocery Retailers Grow Three Times Faster Than Normal Chickens, Plagued With Lameness and Disease
Billions of chickens around the world suffer in the intensive farming systems every year. Broilers chickens have been selectively bred and genetically modified so that they are reared quickly and cheaply to have enough meat to fulfill demand. Most these chickens suffer from painful lameness and disease related to their growth rates.

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from The Spokesman-Review

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from ThatsNonsense.com

Don’t broadcast your vacation plans this Christmas!
Leaving the home this Christmas? Be careful who you tell, you may just find yourself the victim of the openly-open-house scam.

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from Time

The Duck Dynasty Fiasco Says More About Our Bigotry Than Phil’s
Why is our go-to political strategy for beating our opponents to silence them? Why do we dismiss, rather than engage them?

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from Truth Revolt

FLASHBACK: A&E Tried to Cut 'Jesus' from 'Duck Dynasty' Family Prayers
"So I said, ‘Why would you cut out ‘In Jesus’ name?'"

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from The Vancouver Sun
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from The Weekly Standard

Jindal: 'Messed Up Situation When Miley Cyrus Gets a Laugh, and Phil Robertson Gets Suspended'
'The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with.'

We’re All Hardliners Now
New legislation shows Congress and American public are united in their distrust of Obama's Iran deal.

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from The Wenatchee World

E.J. Stutzman packing shed on Easy Street in lower Sunnyslope in 1920.

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