Thursday, December 26, 2013

In the news, Tuesday, December 17, 2013


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DEC 16      INDEX      DEC 18
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Some dates to be corrected.
Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.


Some sources may require subscription.

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from The American Spectator

A new tax collector for the welfare state.

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from AsiaNews

Card Koch: tomorrow's meeting with Kirill to focus on Middle East and ecumenism
The cardinal will discuss the meeting between the pope and the patriarch, but no date has yet to be set. "The first meeting in history between the pope and the patriarch must be prepared so that it is really a step of hope for the future," he said.

As they wait for his visit to Asia, Sri Lankans send their birthday wishes to Pope Francis
Sister Deepa Fernando (Sisters of the Holy Family) expresses the affection the people of Sri Lanka have for the Holy Father. According to the nun, the Pope calls for "men and women to enjoy equal and inviolable dignity," urging the clergy to "proclaim the Word in a missionary way, focusing on the essentials, giving priority to the Gospel and its freshness."

'The Walking Apostle': a documentary film to restart the mission among Indonesian Catholics
The Archdiocese of Semarang produced ​​a documentary on the life of Austrian-born Jesuit Fr Y B Prenthaler, who played a leading role in the evangelisation of Java in the early 1900s. Some 133 Catholics and a 70-member crew took part "with joy and serenity" in the making of the docu-film. For an Indonesian priest, "it was an experience of faith." The film will be broadcast nation-wide.

Chang'e 3 mission: 'Jade Rabbit' sends first pictures/data from lunar surface
The high-tech Yutu rover is already vetting lava flows from the moon's Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains). Its analyses could reveal important geological activity on the earth's natural satellite. After landing on Saturday, the Chinese rover will be the first man-made object in history to study the stratigraphy of the lunar surface, which could lead to the development of the moon's natural resources.

Pyongyang: the anniversary of the death of his father used to honour the young Kim
Two years after the death of the 'dear leader', a huge military parade in front of the Kumsusan Palace (final resting place of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il) shows young Kim Jong-un's total hold on power. The dictator's aunt and wife were absent from the ceremony, reigniting the rumour mill about a new purge.
India, a missionary among the Mundari tribals to bring the spirit of Advent
Fr. Lino Fernandes SFX, a priest from Pilar, administers to the parish of Blessed Mother Teresa Siadih (Jharkhand). For Christmas, he visited 10 remote villages of his mission to bring the Gospel to them and celebrate mass. A difficult journey through forests and dirt roads, rewarded "by these people’s thirst for the Word of God and the sacraments".

Japanese Church calls on the faithful to donate as much as possible to help the Philippines
In a letter to Japan's Filipino community and to the country's Catholic parishes, the president of the Episcopal Commission for Migrants and Refugees highlights the "great help" provided by the Philippines following the 2011 disaster. In it, he expresses a desire to "do the same". All donations will go to Caritas Japan, which will distribute them in the areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Pope: birthday wishes from employees and four homeless
“Family" atmosphere at the Mass celebrated by Francis on his 77th birthday. God "has made history. God chose to become history. He is with us. Has made the journey with us". "But what is the name of God? We are, each of us . He takes His surname from each of us. ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Pedro, of Marietta, Armony, Marisa, of Simon, of all!'

Advent in Bangkok: prayer and sharing, stronger than the political and social tensions
In a period characterized by a major tension between the government and opposition, the Thai Catholic community "is preparing for Christmas with great enthusiasm”. Fr. Pelosin , PIME missionary , explains, in a situation of uncertainty, the desire to "get closer to God” grows. A desire that touches even the Buddhists, who will take part in the celebrations on Christmas Eve.

Another car bomb targets Hezbollah
The overnight explosion affected some people, but still there is no toll of possible victims. Talk of a possible connection with the war in Syria, because the attack follows others against the Shiite party and Iran.

India: The Church wishes Happy Birthday to Pope Francis, in memory of Mother Teresa
The Archbishop of Mumbai, Card. Oswald Gracias, pray to the Lord "to grant the Holy Father health , wisdom and grace, to continue to lead the Church and be an inspiration to us all." This week he will celebrate a Mass in the house of Mumbai for abandoned children, opened by the founder of the Missionaries of Charity.

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from BBC News

WILL PRISON VIDEO CHAT REPLACE FAMILY VISITS?
Prisons and jails in the US are increasingly adopting video visitation technology, but there are significant concerns about the cost to inmates' families and fears video chat will eventually lead to the elimination of in-person visits.

The discovery of an ancient bone at a burial site in Kenya puts the origin of human hand dexterity more than half a million years earlier than previously thought.

Commercials will play automatically on desktops, although sound will only be activated by clicking on them. They'll be downloaded to mobiles only when devices are connected to wi-fi, which Facebook says will protect your data allowance.

The Supreme Court in Colombia has acquitted Jose Crisanto Gomez, who had been sentenced to 33 years in jail for kidnapping the son of a Farc hostage.

Six American soldiers have died in a crash involving an aircraft in southern Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) says.

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from The Blaze

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from CNSNews.com (& NewsBusters)

Slobbering 'View' Crew Loves Gun-Grabbing Bloomberg: Ban Sodas and Cigarettes 'Outright'

Colorado Sheriffs Refuse to Enforce Dysfunctional New Gun Laws

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from Daily Mail

Obama 'hijacks' tech executive meeting to make 'PR pitch' on Obamacare website fix instead of dealing with NSA surveillance
'We didn't really care for a PR pitch' about Obamacare, said one executive
The White House telegraphed in advance that the president wanted to talk up his efforts to fix healthcare.gov, but no one in the room was interested
Tech executives gathered in the Roosevelt Room to discuss the NSA's overreach in seizing their digital records
A federal judge ruled Monday that the practice violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantees against unreasonable searches

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from EarthSky

This date in science: Wright brothers’ first flight

Can you tell me the full moon names?
One of the more interesting names for December's full moon is the Oak Moon. In Europe during and before medieval times this moon was considered a time of mystery, magic and rituals. The ancient druid priests of the British Isles held the oak tree very sacred and would preform rituals in the December full moon using acorns and candles to renew their commitment to the gods. The December full moon is the closest to the winter solstice. For this reason some cultures call it the Long Night Moon. The Chinese call it the Bitter moon while the Cherokee Indians referred to it as the Snow moon. Source: Moongiant. Feel free to share.  Other names for the December full moon are Long Night Moon and Cold Moon (in the Northern Hemisphere].

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from Facecrooks

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from Fox News

PETA Reprimands Teen Hunter After She’s Attacked by a Bear

Marine Could Be Discharged For... Warning About a Threat?
A Marine Corps reservist could be dishonorably discharged for trying to warn about an Afghan police chief ahead of a fatal attack that killed three Marines.

Were Obama's 'Pinocchio' Claims Mistakes or Outright Distortions?

Judge Nap: 'NSA Couldn't Even Prove Its Phone Surveillance Stopped an Attack'

NASA orders urgent spacewalks to fix space station

Budget bill clears key test vote in Senate
The House-approved budget bill has cleared a key test vote in the Senate, despite last-ditch efforts by Republicans to strip a provision that cuts into military retiree benefits.

Krauthammer: 'Let Congress Decide Constitutionality of NSA Data Collection'

6 American troops killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

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from Freedom Foundation

State law governing labor unions currently permits a gross injustice by requiring workers to, as a condition of employment, (1) be represented by a union that (2) overcharges them for workplace representation and (3) spends the excess on political activity individual workers may disagree with.

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from The Heritage Foundation
MORNING ACTION: OBAMACARE WEBSITE STILL DYSFUNCTIONAL, DESPITE PROMISES OTHERWISE

Washington Post: Obama Administration Slowed Red Tape to Avoid 2012 Election Backlash

How the EPA Plans to Kill Jobs and Reduce Your Income

How the EPA Plans to Kill Jobs and Reduce Your Income

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from International Christian Concern
(PERSECUTION.org)

Christian Leaders in India Denounce ‘Brutal’ Attack on Christian Demonstrators
Christian leaders in India have denounced police attempts to disburse a peaceful demonstration led by Christians and Muslims demanding equal rights for Christian and Muslim Dalits. Police reportedly sprayed the demonstrators with muddy water and beat those that were not driven away by the fire hoses. Over 400 demonstrators were arrested including bishops, nuns and leaders from other religious groups. Although India's government has openly apologized for the mishandling of the demonstrations, Christian and Muslim Dalits continue to be denied equality.

Interview with a Persecuted Pastor in Bhutan
Bhutan is a small South Asian country located in the Himalayan mountain range. Traditionally, Bhutan was a Buddhist kingdom dominated by Buddhism. In recent years, Bhutan has opened up to the Gospel and a small community of Bhutanese believers has been established. Unfortunately, Christianity is seen as a foreign religion contrary to the religious tradition of Bhutan. Bhutanese Christians are often ostracized from society and are forced to worship in secret to avoid persecution and discrimination. In this Open Doors interview, one pastor from Bhutan describes his experiences.

United States Should Press Vietnam on Religious Freedom, Human Rights
The following excerpt is an opinion piece written by Mr. Scott Flipse at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Mr. Flipse argues that the U.S. should use what leverage it has in its relationship with Vietnam to push for reform on human rights, including religious freedom. One of the five remaining Communist nations on earth, Vietnam regularly harasses Christian groups and restricts their activities. ICC currently is aware of at least four dozen Christian pastors and church leaders serving prison time in Vietnam for operating churches without government permission. Secretary of State John Kerry also recently completed a visit to Vietnam.

Christian Lawyers Beaten, Reporters Attacked by Chinese Gov’t
In yet another chapter involving the escalating persecution of the Nanle County Christian Church in Henan Province, lawyers for the church found themselves being mobbed by gov't "rent-a-thugs" last Friday. Three British reporters writing a story on the church were also attacked and forced to flee to a nearby building where they barricaded themselves in. Eventually the reporters were escorted out of the area by police and told to leave. The attack is the latest episode in a story which drew international attention after Pastor Zhang Shaojie and 23 of his church members were detained by police in November. The arrest was all the more shocking because the church is a legal, government sponsored "Three-Self Church."

Once Protected, Christians have Become Fair Game in Iraq and Syria
The intentional targeting of Christians in Syria and Iraq has taken a tragic turn as radical Islamist organizations are seeking to drive them out to advance the cause of establishing an Islamic state. In Syria, where there remains an active conflict, there have been five Christian schools attacked in just the past few days a Syrian parliamentarian said. They see attacking children as one of the best ways to force their parents to leave the country. This is creating a repeat of what Iraq has witnessed over the past decade, with a mass exodus of Christians fleeing the country.

Religious Minorities Still at Risk in Iran
Iran appears to be putting forth some efforts towards developing rights that improve its horrific human rights record, yet many of these efforts still contain significant flaws that may further enable the abuse of religious minorities. President Hassan Rouhani released a draft of a Charter that puts forward an understanding of fundamental rights of its citizens. While there are some improvements, massive holes in regards to the treatment of religious minorities remain in place. In addition, the actions do not match the rhetoric as new Christians continue to be rounded up and sentenced to lengthy prison terms on purely religious grounds. American Pastor Saeed Abedini continues to serve out an eight year sentence for basic religious activities, from as far back as 13 years ago.

Turkey Blacklists Foreign Evangelist without Explanation
In the second such incident within the past six months, a foreign Christian has been blacklisted and effectively banned from the country of Turkey. David Byle, Chairman of the Bible Correspondence Course, has opened a court case against the government to appeal the ruling and have his name removed from the blacklist. Byle, has lived in Turkey since 1999, has been forced to leave behind his wife and five children while he attempts to re-apply for permission to live in Turkey. There have been between 5-10 families who have faced similar experiences over the past few years,  said Umut Sahin of the Alliance of Protestant Churches.

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from The Jerusalem Post

In Amona petition, Palestinians claim purchase document a forgery
42 families currently live on hilltop near Ofra settlement; High Court asks for information on earlier court cases regarding outpost.

Lawmakers begin probe of government response to snowstorm
Home Front Preparedness chairman Eli Yishai says "system did not work properly"; committees to investigate failures, including of Electric Company.

West signals to Syrian opposition Assad may stay
Western nations fear Assad ceding power will lead to Islamist militants taking over Syria.

Ambassador Dermer: Academic boycott of Israel 'a travesty'
Israeli envoy to US implies anti-Semitism behind move by American Studies Association to boycott Israeli universities.

African migrants sent back to prison after protest walk to Jerusalem
Netanyahu says migrants moved to "Holot" detention center can "either stay there, or return to their countries."

Report: Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in talks to form unity government
Abbas in talks with Hamas heads Mashaal and Haniyeh to form unity government ahead of elections, reports Palestinian news agency Ma'an.

'Netanyahu broke personal promise to let gov't agent testify against Bank of China'
Official in PM's office promised terror victim's family that Netanyahu would let gov't agent testify, family's lawyers tell court.

Last man to see missing 'CIA rogue operative' claims he saw Iranians arrest him
Dawud Salahuddin, an American fugitive in Iran, says he and Robert Levinson were detained together in March 2007.

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from KHQ Local News (Spokane)

Big Jump In Wash. Pot Business Applications
Washington's Liquor Control Board said Tuesday it has received 2,444 applications to grow, process or sell cannabis under Washington's recreational pot law passed by voters last year. As of a week ago, that figure was just under 1,700.

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from KING 5 (Seattle)

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from KOMO News (Seattle)

Some Boeing machinists feeling 'buyer's remorse' about vote
Some Boeing machinists say their co-workers are feeling "buyer's remorse" after turning down the first proposal in November. That vote overwhelming said "no" to Boeing's proposal.

Facebook imposter posing as US Attorney to bilk victims

Sawant fires first volley in Seattle minimum wage debate
She's yet to take office as Seattle's first socialist City Councilmember, but Kshama Sawant is already rattling the ranks with a new minimum wage mandate.

Federal judge approves Seattle police use-of-force policy
A federal judge on Tuesday approved a new Seattle Police Department policy detailing when officers can use force and requiring all but minimal force to be reported.

Washington state courts Airbus amid Boeing tension
During the past several months, state officials have traveled to the U.S. headquarters of Airbus SAS in Virginia, moved to connect Airbus with Washington state suppliers, and signed a five-year confidentiality agreement with the company to allow further exploration of business opportunities, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under public disclosure laws.

In 121 years of Seattle rain records, it's never done this before... until now
It's going to crown September as its wettest month of the year.

Amanda Knox sends email to court: 'I didn't kill Meredith'
Amanda Knox declares her innocence in her roommate's 2007 murder in a highly unusual email Tuesday to the Italian court hearing the case against her.

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from KREM 2 News (Spokane)

Kootenai Co. leaders call GOP gun resolution "unenforceable"
In November, Kootenai County GOP leaders passed a resolution asking the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office to make any federal laws which violate the second amendment unenforceable there. On Tuesday, Kootenai County leaders said that they understand the importance of protecting firearms. All three commissioners admitted that they each own guns themselves. However, they had issue with how this resolution was worded and ultimately said that it was not enforceable.

New push for cost of living increase in Wash.
There's a new push for a cost of living increase for teachers, which has been withheld every year since 2008. It's possible the increase will be included in Gov. Inslee's supplemental budget, which he'll unveil today.

Spokane City Council expands sidewalk ordinance aimed at homeless

USS Nimitz arrives home just in time for Christmas

Started, but didn't finish GED? Deadline looms
Thousands of Washington residents who started the GED high school equivalency test sometime this past decade but never finished have just a few weeks to complete their exams, or they'll have to start over.

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from KXLY 4 News (Spokane)

Target: 40 million credit cards compromised
Secret Service investigating breach

Spacewalks set to fix station cooling pump
Astronauts to start work outside ISS on Dec. 21

More students think marijuana is OK
6.5% of HS seniors reported using marijuana daily

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from Money Talks News

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from Mother Nature Network

How to use native plants in your holiday decorations
Making a unique holiday plant arrangement is as easy as going into your backyard.

10 uses for lemons
From whitening laundry to keeping insects away, here are 10 uses for lemons around the house.

How to use fruit peels to filter your water
Who needs fancy water purifiers? Try this easy water treatment technique instead, using nothing more than fruit peels and rubbing alcohol.

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from Natural Society

Follow-Up: Exposing Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics & Providing 7 Solutions

from NPR

Why We Need Grandpas And Grandmas (Part 1)
The idea seemed sensible: Send young elephants from a crowded national park in South Africa to an emptier one, where they could form a new herd and thrive. The problem? Elephants need elders. Without them, all hell breaks loose.

Bridge Controversy Could Take Toll On Chris Christie's Future
What began as a local story has snowballed into an alleged case of political revenge and abuse of power.

Romanian Project Reunites Abandoned Children With Families
Romania continues to struggle with the legacy of abandoned children nearly a quarter-century after the fall of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. A half-million-dollar program to reintegrate children into their biological families is offering material goods to participants, based on individual need.

Chinese-American Descendants Uncover Forged Family Histories
What if you discovered the last name you've lived with since birth is fake? Thousands of Chinese immigrants were "paper sons and daughters," "children" of Chinese-American citizens only on paper - fraudulent documents with false names, to skirt the Chinese Exclusion Act in the last century.

Doctor Helps Iowa Couple Face Illness On Their Own Terms
"He asked my mom what are the three most important things for her," remembers Patty Aslesen. "She said, 'My girls, playing cards on Wednesdays, and counting money for the church once a month.' And Dr. Tim said, 'Well, then our goal is to let you do those things as long as you can.' "

Forrest High Name Change Heralds 'A New Jacksonville'
In 1959, Forrest High was named for Nathan Bedford Forrest — the Civil War general and early leader of the Ku Klux Klan. After more than a half century of controversy, Nathan B. Forrest High School in Jacksonville is looking for a new name. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says Nathan B. Forrest High's new name will be chosen by students and the community, after a school-board vote to change the school's KKK-affiliated name.

Can Science Explain Everything?
We turn to science for answers about a lot of things. But its grand theories about life, the universe and everything should be seen for what they are: more tools to think about the big questions than answers in-and-of themselves.

With Little Fanfare, D.C. Council Gives Final Approval To Minimum Wage Hike
D.C.'s minimum wage will be increased to $11.50 by 2016.

Part-time Michigan Legislature could mean more power for bureaucrats and lobbyists

The Case Against Multivitamins Grows Stronger
Evidence continues to mount that vitamin supplements don't help most people, and can actually cause diseases that people are taking them to prevent, like cancer.

Behind the scenes on a pot farm in Mendocino
Federally, marijuana production is still a major crime. Yet, in northern California, there’s a whole economy built around it.

Pastor Says He Will Minister To Gays Even If He's Defrocked
A Methodist minister in Pennsylvania who was suspended after defying church authorities by presiding over his gay son's wedding has vowed to continue his work as a clergyman even if he is defrocked.

Forget Golf Courses: Subdivisions Draw Residents With Farms
Farms - complete with livestock, vegetables and fruit trees - are serving as the latest suburban amenity.

Even An 85 MPH Highway Can't Fix Austin's Traffic Tangle
A toll road was built east of the Texas capital to address its traffic woes, but few drivers use it.

All Aboard! Real-Life Polar Express Chugs Through Michigan
Every brake screech, whistle and rattle in the movie The Polar Express came from a real locomotive. The Pere Marquette 1225 has its own Christmas story to tell.

To Make Science Real, Kids Want More Fun And Fewer Facts
Some parents say too much emphasis on memorization prevents kids from getting excited about science.

Novice Neurosurgeons Train On Brains Printed In 3-D
This way, students can learn by making mistakes, without endangering any lives.

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from One Minute Healings

12 Natural Toothpaste Alternatives
[from The Nourished Life]

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from PreventDisease.com

from POLITICO

from The Right Scoop

Mark Levin to Johnny Boehner: We don’t give a damn if you like us or not

Congrats John Boehner, Chris Matthews is still praising you

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from Slate

There’s No Defense for Affluenza
The claim that a rich kid didn’t understand consequences is a distortion of psychology.

“A Mistake Has Been Made Here, and No One Wants to Correct It”
Without DNA evidence, how could we challenge the eyewitness testimony that sent our client to prison for 34 years?

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from Space.com (& CollectSpace)


from The Spokesman-Review

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from The Wenatchee World

George Batterman Sr. hauls plaster lath to a construction
job in downtown Wenatchee in 1908.
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from 100 Percent FED Up

Pro-Life Teacher Fired Who Kicked Planned Parenthood Out of His Class


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