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from Anglican Communion News Service
The bishops of the Church of England have ruled out any change to the Church’s doctrine on marriage and sexuality; while calling for a “fresh tone” in the way the issue is handled. In a report on behalf of the House of Bishops published today (Friday) ahead of next month’s meeting of the General Synod, the Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, said that Anglicanism has always been “a contested tradition” where different views are held together; and he suggests that that this approach should be extended to sexuality. The bishops propose that existing law and guidance should be interpreted with “maximum freedom” without changes to the law, or the doctrine of the Church.
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from Anglican Journal
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has urged people to resist a “post-truth” culture “at every level and in every conversation and debate”. He made his comments in a speech at a memorial service in Westminster, London, last night (Thursday) in advance of Holocaust Memorial Day. Each year on 27 January – the anniversary of the liberation of Birkenau-Auschwitz – the international community reflects on the holocaust and other genocides.
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from Asia Times Online
The statement in Islamabad on Wednesday by Alaeddin Broujerdi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s committee on foreign and security policies, while on a 3-day visit to Islamabad, to the effect that ‘no one can influence the deep-rooted cooperation’ between Iran and Pakistan, may not necessarily amount to a reference to India’s regional strategies.
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from BBC News (UK)
The Church of England should not change its opposition to same-sex marriage but it should adopt a "fresh tone and culture of welcome and support" for gay people, a [House of Bishops] report has said.
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from Bloomberg
Google Recalls Staff to U.S. After Trump Immigration Order
Alphabet Inc.’s Google delivered a sharp message to staff traveling overseas who may be impacted by a new executive order on immigration from President Donald Trump: Get back to the U.S. now. Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai slammed Trump’s move in a note to employees Friday, telling them that more than 100 company staff are affected by the order.
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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)
What Trump's Wall Says to the World
In 1960, we were a Western Christian country. Ninety percent of our people traced their roots to Europe. Ninety percent bore some connection to the Christian faith. To the tens of millions for whom Trump appeals, what the wall represents is our last chance to preserve that nation and people. To many on the cosmopolitan left, ethnic or national identity is not only not worth fighting for, it is not even worth preserving. It is a form of atavistic tribalism or racism. The Trump wall then touches on the great struggle of our age. President Trump's wall is a statement to the world: This is our country. We decide who comes here. And we will defend our borders.
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from Competitive Enterprise Institute
Union membership rate has declined, this time to the lowest point since the government began keeping track.
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from Daily Kos
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
Evan McMullin Is Running A Terrific Trump/Putin Ad.
Yes, we are going to disagree with almost all of Evan McMullin’s policies. But anyone who thinks we can continue politics as usual, has their head in the sand and doesn’t begin to comprehend the threat to our future. During this very real threat to our democracy, our country, and our lives, we need to make alliances to fight GOP fascism wherever we find it.
Evan McMullin Is Running A Terrific Trump/Putin Ad.
Yes, we are going to disagree with almost all of Evan McMullin’s policies. But anyone who thinks we can continue politics as usual, has their head in the sand and doesn’t begin to comprehend the threat to our future. During this very real threat to our democracy, our country, and our lives, we need to make alliances to fight GOP fascism wherever we find it.
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from EUobserver
EU diplomats blame Israel for Jerusalem volatility
EU states’ diplomats have once again blamed Israel for violence in East Jerusalem and called for sanctions against settlers. The EU ambassadors to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories set out their views in an internal report, filed in December and seen by EUobserver.
Europeans in US 'not optimistic'
European diplomats in Washington are concerned EU-US relations are growing more uncertain as the new White House administration appears to be moving away from free trade with Europe and closer to Russia. "We're not optimistic", a senior German diplomat told EUobserver, who said it was "very difficult to gain access" to the Trump administration.
Europe must empower its cities to respond to refugee crisis
The refugee crisis is one we must address in our cities. I know this from experience: cities like Barcelona have become hubs for thousands of people seeking international protection. Long before Germany opened its borders in September 2015, ahead of the height of the crisis, cities like mine have been calling for a more constructive and humanitarian response.
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from Fox News (& affiliates)
Officials announce proposal that would establish California as separate nation
A proposal for California to secede from the United States was submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office Thursday. The proposed “Calexit” initiative - its name borrowed from the UK's "Brexit" departure from the EU - would ask voters to repeal part of the state constitution that declares California an inseparable part of the U.S.
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from The Guardian (UK)
C of E bishops refuse to change stance on gay marriage
Report says marriage can only be between a man and a woman but says church must stand against homophobia
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from The Heritage Foundation
Fossil Fuel Divestment Foolishness on Our College Campuses
Fossil fuel divestment is foolish for many reasons. First, it weakens the diversification of a university’s endowment, harming future generations of students. Second, it won’t work. Divesting certain industries through political activism has a poor track record of effectiveness. The companies in question are almost always able to continue to finance their operations and raise capital efficiently. Most important, however, is the potential harm to society should divestment actually succeed.
On March for Life Week, Trump and Congress Take Steps to Defend Life
This was a big week for the pro-life community. President Donald Trump and the House of Representatives started the week by taking action to defend life and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not entangled with abortion, both at home and abroad. Then on Friday, tens of thousands of Americans converged on Washington, D.C., for the 44th annual March for Life. On Monday, Trump reinstated the life-affirming Mexico City policy, which ensures that American taxpayers do not fund international organizations that perform or promote abortions. Since 1984, this policy has been enforced by every Republican president and rescinded by every Democratic president.
Court Checks Overreach by Obama Justice Department in Mail Fraud Case
Courts have begun to restrain the growing scope of federal criminal law in certain areas, which often overlap with state laws. Several recent cases have checked the government for overstepping its bounds.
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from Intellihub
CRA: The “regulatory game changer” that could wipe out 8 years of Obama regs in an hour
The problem with “legislating from the White House” is that all those rules and regulations can be undone by the next administration. And, as Kimberley Strassel points out in a Wall Street Journal Opinion piece today, a little know tool within the Congressional Review Act could allow Republicans to wipe out 8 full years of Obama’s liberal agenda, with a simple majority vote, all while preventing similar rules from every being recreated by future administrations.
Bombshell evidence shows at least 25 million dead and fraudulent “registered voters” in 2016
A study revealing that over 800,000 non-citizens voted for Hillary Clinton doesn’t account for dead and fraudulent voters, which accounted for over 25 million “registered voters” during the 2012 presidential election – and little has changed since then.
The problem with “legislating from the White House” is that all those rules and regulations can be undone by the next administration. And, as Kimberley Strassel points out in a Wall Street Journal Opinion piece today, a little know tool within the Congressional Review Act could allow Republicans to wipe out 8 full years of Obama’s liberal agenda, with a simple majority vote, all while preventing similar rules from every being recreated by future administrations.
A study revealing that over 800,000 non-citizens voted for Hillary Clinton doesn’t account for dead and fraudulent voters, which accounted for over 25 million “registered voters” during the 2012 presidential election – and little has changed since then.
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from LifeZette (& PoliZette)
Trump, May Vow to Stand for Working People
U.S.-UK economic cooperation dominates first official state visit at the White House
In the middle of a great imbroglio with Mexico over borders and trade, President Trump hosted his first foreign leader at the White House on Friday. Trump was congratulated on “a stunning election victory” by Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom as the two held a brief news conference in the East Room. But despite the warm relationship between Trump and May, questions arose about how the two leaders would proceed on such touchy issues as the NATO alliance, trade, regulation and Russian aggression in the Ukraine.
Trump Prepares U.N. Takedown
President Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order that will significantly reduce U.S. involvement in the United Nations. The draft order, “Auditing and Reducing U.S. Funding of International Organizations,” would terminate funding completely for any international organization that meets one or more of several criteria. The criteria include those that recognize the Palestinian Authority or PLO, fund abortion, or work to circumvent sanctions against Iran or North Korea. The order also calls for “at least a 40 percent overall decrease” in funding to international groups overall.
Miami Mayor Explains Ditching ‘Sanctuary’ Policy
Giménez will comply with Trump executive order, says not worth loss of federal funds
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from The Living Church
Report Urges ‘Maximum Freedom’
The Church of England has released “Marriage and Same-Sex Relationships after the Shared Conversations: A Report from the House of Bishops.” A press release from the church offers a summary: The Church of England’s law and guidance on marriage should be interpreted to provide “maximum freedom” for gay and lesbian people without changing the Church’s doctrine of marriage itself, bishops are recommending.
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from Mises Institute
In the quest to explain economic development, institutional competition has been almost systematically ignored by many economists and historians alike who have fallen under the spell of the interpretation of nineteenth-century German historicists.
Asset-Price Inflation Heating Up with Nothing to Show For It
Not only has the Fed successfully stagnated the economy, but we are still getting the same tired talk of a push toward interest rate normalization. With a stagnating economy and rising prices, they used to call this stagflation. Now it is dismissed as “the new normal.”
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from New Statesman
"The leading voice of the British left, since 1913."
As the Prime Minister visits the US President, she shouldn’t shy away from the subject of women’s rights.
Anti-racism and feminism activists must find a way to join forces.
May's speech has big repercussions for British foreign policy, and not just towards the United States. There was a robust defence of Nato and the United Nations.
from The Spokesman-Review
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from Time
Trump Wants to Slash the EPA's Workforce and Budget, Transition Official Says
The former head of President Donald Trump's transition team at the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday he expects the new administration to seek significant budget and staff cuts. Myron Ebell said in an interview with The Associated Press that Trump is likely to seek significant reductions to the agency's workforce — currently about 15,000 employees nationwide. Ebell, who left the transition team last week, declined to discuss specific numbers of EPA staff that could be targeted for pink slips.
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from UPI News Agency - United Press International
President Donald Trump on Friday made good on two more central campaign promises -- signing orders to strengthen the U.S. military and double-check foreign nationals seeking a visa to enter the United States.
Days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly canceled a climate change conference scheduled for next month in Atlanta, former Vice President Al Gore announced another summit would be held in its place. With the help of the American Public Health Association, Gore will host the Climate and Health Meeting on Feb. 16 in Atlanta because there is "still a void and still a need" for the meeting to happen. The original summit had been scheduled by the CDC as it helps battle climate-related health concerns such as the Zika virus outbreak, rain and floods spreading water-borne disease, and other conditions linked to heat waves and pollution.
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from The Washington Post
Sen. Franken: No Democrat will vote for Betsy DeVos as education secretary — and we’re seeking Republicans to oppose her
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) told Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show Thursday night that no Democrat will vote to confirm Betsy DeVos, the Michigan billionaire tapped by President Trump to be his education secretary. He also said Democrats were actively looking for Republicans to vote against her.
Christians, don’t be fooled: Trump has deep religious convictions
Many Americans appear ready to give President Trump a pass when it comes to his lack of religious knowledge, sensibilities or behavior, but I think that’s a mistake. Trump is quite pious and his religious convictions run dangerously deep. But his piety is not a reflection of a Christian faith. His piety is formed by his understanding of what makes America a country like no other.
Senate Democrats have the power to stop Trump. All they have to do is use it.
We're inclined to compromise. But if we want to hold this administration accountable, we'll need to play hardball.
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from The Washington Times
Trump argument bolstered: Clinton could have received 800,000 votes from noncitizens, study finds
Political scientist Jesse Richman of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, has worked with colleagues to produce groundbreaking research on noncitizen voting, and this week he posted a blog in response to Mr. Trump’s assertion. Based on national polling by a consortium of universities, a report by Mr. Richman said 6.4 percent of the estimated 20 million adult noncitizens in the U.S. voted in November. He extrapolated that that percentage would have added 834,381 net votes for Mrs. Clinton, who received about 2.8 million more votes than Mr. Trump.
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from Zero Hedge
CRA: The "Regulatory Game Changer" That Could Wipe Out 8 Years Of Obama Regs In An Hour
" ... [T]he Congressional Review Act could allow Republicans to wipe out 8 full years of Obama's liberal agenda, with a simple majority vote, all while preventing similar rules from every being recreated by future administrations."
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from 604Now
Media/News Company in Vancouver, B.C.
THE LAST TIME THE FRASER RIVER FROZE OVER
We aren’t experiencing a cold snap like we did in 2017 – but there’s no doubt it’s freezing out there. If we look back further in time, it wasn’t too long ago that BC’s longest river was frozen almost solid. While it’s not uncommon for ice to float down the Fraser River in winter, the Fraser River used to freeze over so that people could not only walk across it but even skate and play hockey across its smooth surface.
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